2

Contents

Introduction

1. History of Semiotics. Sign as a main obect of semiotics.

2. Non-verbal communication

2.1. Categories of non-verbal communication.

2.2. Static and dynamic features

2.3. Functions and uses of non-verbal communication

3. Non-verbal signs (indicators) of the self-defense.

Conclusion

References
 3

Introduction

When Demosthenes was asked what was the first part of oratory he answered,
"'action"; and which was the second, he replied, "action"; and which was third he still
answered, "action." People tend to believe actions more than words!

Today, many researchers are concerned with the information sent by

communication that is independent of and different from verbal information; namely,
the non-verbal communication. Verbal communication is organized by language;
non-verbal communication is not.

Communication is the transfer of information from one person to another. Most of

us spend about 75 percent of our waking hours communicating our knowledge,
thoughts, and ideas to others. However, most of us fail to realize that a great deal of
our communication is of a non-verbal form as opposed to the oral and written forms.
In person-to-person communications our messages are sent on two levels
simultaneously. If the nonverbal cues and the spoken message are incongruous, the
flow of communication is hindered. Right or wrong, the receiver of the
communication tends to base the intentions of the sender on the non- verbal cues he
receives.

Nonverbal communication, or body language, is a vital form of communication—a

natural, unconscious language that broadcasts our true feelings and intentions in any
given moment, and clues us in to the feelings and intentions of those around us.
When we interact with others, we continuously give and receive wordless signals. All
of our nonverbal behaviors—the gestures we make, the way we sit, how fast or how
loud we talk, how close we stand, how much eye contact we make—send strong
messages. These messages don’t stop when you stop speaking either. Even when
you’re silent, you’re still communicating nonverbally.
 4

Oftentimes, what we say and what we communicate through body language are
two totally different things. When faced with these mixed signals, the listener has to
choose whether to believe your verbal or nonverbal message, and, in most cases,
they’re going to choose nonverbal.

So, the aim of the research is to investigate non-verbal signs in communication and
their importance for it.
 5

1. History of Semiotics. Sign as a main obect of semiotics.

Semiotics (sometimes called semiosis or semiology) – theory or study of signs,

specifically the theoretical relationship between language and signs or symbols used
in the transmission of language.

People have been studying language and how it is communicated since they first
learned to communicate. Classically, the Greek Stoics considered the understanding
of natural signs and the relationship between objects and their referents. Socrates and
Plato presented discourses on the relationship between ideas and objects and/or
language about them.

The Christian Bishop Augustine of Hippo in Northern Africa picked up the Stoic
idea of signs, in particular the distinction between natural and conventional (or
learned) signs. He identified words as conventional signs and believed that it is
possible for words in different languages to share the same meaning.

The formal study of semiotics is associated with Ferdinand Saussure (1857-1913),

a Swiss linguist who’s posthumously published book became the foundation for
contemporary study of semiotics.

His premise was that an understanding of reality requires language, and that
without language we have no way of analyzing or understanding the world around us.
He also held that each language correlates sound and thought in its own way.

A sign is everything which can be taken as significantly substituting for something

else. This something else does not necessarily have to exist or actually be some where
at the moment in which a sign stands in for it. Saussure (1915) implicitly regarded
sign as a communicative device taking place between two human beings intentionally
aiming to communicate or to express something. Not all signs are, however,
communicative signs. For example, black clouds are a sign of rain, but we don not
communicate with it; the clouds do not respond to us. The communicative signs are
 6

all artifacts expressed by persons. Unless there is a response to a sign, the sing cannot
be interpreted and is not considered an communicative sign. As Cherry (1980) points
out, any artifact may possibly be a sign (a scratch on a stone, a printed mark, a sound
- anything), but its sign-hood arises solely from the observer's assumption that it is a
sign: 'Signs are outward happenings and thus are observable, which calls for
interpretation, or meaning. Such interpretation is of course mental (not observable) so
it is revealed by a response sign or reply. All signs require another sign to interpret
them; no event can exist as a working system of signs' (Cherry, 1980). Note that
nonverbal behaviour does fall within the system of signs directly and immediately,
because nonverbal behaviours are acts of communication.

Saussure identified two aspects of a sign: a “concept” or a signified (signifiant as

he wrote in French), and a “sound pattern” or a signifier (signifié).

Charles S. Peirce (1839-1914) is considered the founder of semiotics in the

American tradition. Peirce taught that a sign (which he called technically,
representamen) is the way human beings convey meaning. A sign consists of an
object (the idea or reality being conveyed) and an interpretant (the meaning of the
sign). For example, [drawing in history book] is the sign or representament of
[person], who is the object. The interpretant is the meaning that the reader draws
from the drawing, to which the reader adds his or her own knowledge of [history].
Advertisements are full of signs that seek to lead the viewer/reader/listener to an
interpretant.

Peirce identified three types of signs:

An icon is a sign that resembles its referent object. For example, a photo
identification card is an icon of the person identified on the card; a map is an icon of
the territory it lays out. Icons often are intuitively understood because of their close
relationship with their referents.
 7

An index is a sign that has a causal relationship with its referent; that is, with some
physical or presumed connection. For example, smoke is an index or indicator of the
presence of fire; sneezing is an indicator of allergies or a head cold. Some indices are
natural (such as smoke) and thus can be intuitively understood. Others depend more
on the informed understanding of the person receiving the indexed message. For
example, the Crescent represents an event important to Muslims, and the cross
represents a historic person and event for Christians – but neither can be understood
or appreciated outside the context of that history, culture and belief.

A symbol is a sign that is created arbitrarily, with no specific relationship to its

reference, such as the letter written as M in Roman script, which symbolizes the same
sound as the Arabic letter – the sound “mmm.” In general, words in any language are
conventional symbols because, as arbitrary sounds, they have no real connection with
their referent – “ab” in Arabic, “baba” in Turkish, “pere” in French, “ojciec” in
Polish, “chichi” in Japanese, all are arbitrary sounds to designate a person’s father.
Because of their non-natural association with their referents, symbols generally must
be learned. Sometimes both indexes and symbols are used. For example, the number
1 (in Arabic numerals) or I (in Roman numerals) or (in Japanese kanji numerals) all
are indexes because they look like a single finger indicating only one object.
However, the Roman system of numerals continues as an index with II, III, and so on
and the Japanese uses and while the Arabic system of numerals (2, 3, 4) becomes
purely symbolic in style.

Saussure identified three aspects of a sign: a signified (an abstract concept or idea
in the mind), a signifier (the vehicle carrying the meaning) and a sign itself.

Emile Benveniste introduced a third categorization of signs that distinguished

between form and substance, identifying the different types of signs.

• Linguistic signs are learned.

 8

• Iconic signs are pictures, television images, computer graphics, and so on.

• Social decorum signs include expressions of gratitude and courtesies.

• Regulative signs are used for social control, such as traffic signs or “No
Smoking” postings.

• Monetary signs reflect the values of economic life.

• Religious signs are used in rituals and in understanding and transmitting

beliefs.

• Artistic signs are figurative images used for music and fine arts, such as
musical notation or calligraphy.

The notion of semiotics has application in many different areas. Consider the
situation of a television interview, in which camera shots serve as signifiers to
various signified aspects of a screen.

A long shot, for example with the camera lens apparently far away from the
subject, signifies public distance and social relationships. A medium shot with the
lens moderately close to the subject signifies a personal relationship. A close-up show
signifies emotional intimacy.

Connotation and denotation also can be conveyed with camera angles. For
example, an eye-level shot suggests an equality between the interviewer and the
interviewee. A worm’s-eye view, with the camera pointed up on the interviewer,
suggests a relationship in which the interviewer is more powerful or more important
than the interviewee (or vice versa). Conversely, a bird’s-eye view, with the camera
looking down on the interviewer, would suggest lesser importance. An application of
linguistic principals to objects other than natural language, such as facial expression
or religious ritual academic study focusing on both the signification of language
(assigning and deriving meaning from signs ) as well as its codification (attachment
 9

of rules and procedures for correct use) the foundation of human communication is
speech, a natural capability but one that requires learning in a cultural context to
make it mutually understandable with others. During the course of human social
interaction, people have found it useful to add to their inventory of vehicles to
communicate. Particularly, they have tried to extend the possibility of communication
beyond the limits of speech (which is restricted to words uttered and heard in the here
and now; that is, with the hearer and listener in the same place at the same time). The
way to communicate beyond speech is to communicate through signs.

1. Nonverbal Communication.

While verbal communication is much studied and is the focus of much applied
attention in areas ranging from journalism to governance to entertainment, the fact is
that human beings communicate more through nonverbal means. Some estimates are
that so-called body language accounts for 65, 70, even 90 percent of human
communication. Using the 70-percent figure for body language, the voice accounts
for another 20 percent or so, and specific words only about 10 percent.

Research conclusions may vary a bit, but the consensus is clear: Nonverbal
communication is hugely important in human interaction. “Most social psychologists
will tell you that nonverbal communication makes up about two-thirds of all
communication between two people or between one speaker and a group of
listeners.”[1] Nonverbal communication can portray a message both verbally and
with the correct body signals. “There are numerous elements of what we call body
language. They include physical features, both changeable and unchangeable, your
gestures and signals you send to others at a conscious and unconscious level, and the
space that you use when communicating with others.”[3] The wrong message can be
established if the body language conveyed does not match a verbal message.
Nonverbal communication strengthens a first impression in common situations like
 10

attracting a partner or in a business interview. “You have less than ten seconds and
realistically close to four seconds to make a good impression on those with whom
you come in contact.”[1] First encounters or interactions with another person strongly
affect a person’s lifestyle. “People are more likely to believe that the first things they
learn are the truth.”[2] When the other person or group is absorbing the message they
are focused on the entire environment around them, meaning, the other person uses
all five senses in the interaction. “Sight makes up 83% of the impact on the brain of
information from the senses during a visual presentation. Taste makes up 1%,
Hearing makes up 11%, smell 3% and touch 2%.”[3]

Nonverbal communication also is bound to culture. In particular, there are

differences among cultures and nationalities about the relative value of speech versus
silence, the relative value of talk versus action, the social role of small talk or gossip,
and the role of animation, rhyme and exaggeration in speech. Because of these
differences, the study of verbal and nonverbal communication always must be done
within a social or cultural context.

As noted above, nonverbal communication may be vocal (focusing on vocal

characteristics such as pitch, rate, and so on) or nonvocal (focusing on body
language, environment, attire and the like).

Tortoriello, Blott, and DeWine have defined non-verbal communication as:

". . . the exchange of messages primarily through non-linguistic means, including:

kinesics (body language), facial expressions and eye contact, tactile communication,
space and territory, environment, paralanguage (vocal but non-linguistic cues), and
the use of silence and time."[1]

2. 1. Categories of non-verbal communication.

G. W. Porter divides non-verbal communication into four broad categories:

 11

 Physical. This is the personal type of communication. It includes

facial expressions, tone of voice, sense of touch, sense of smell, and body
motions.
 Aesthetic. This is the type of communication that takes place
through creative expressions: playing instrumental music, dancing, painting
and sculpturing.

 Signs. This is the mechanical type of communication, which

includes the use of signal flags, the 21-gun salute, horns, and sirens.

 Symbolic. This is the type of communication that makes use of

religious, status, or ego-building symbols.

Our concern here will be with what Porter has called the physical method of non-
verbal communication.

Some linguists identify an aspect of nonverbal communication called

paralanguage. This refers to a range of nonlinguistic elements of speech, such as
facial expressions, gestures, the use of time and space, and so on. However, most
linguists adhere to stricter categorization. Commonly, the study of nonverbal
communication is divided into several specific categories.

 Kinesics (simplistically called body language) deals with physical

movement, sometimes called affective displays. This study applies traditional
linguistic principles to the body as a whole or to specific parts, particularly the
face, hands and arms. It also deals with posture in standing and sitting, as well
as with eye and facial expressions, such as the arching of eyebrows or rolling
of the eyes. Kinesics vary culturally. For example, a person of Mediterranean
culture may use extensive hand movements and body gestures as an expression
of anger, whereas a Japanese person may be apparently less excited, but
perhaps no less angry. Kinesics also includes the use of smiling, frowning,
 12

giggling and so on, which also differs by culture. While universally, smiling
reveals happiness, in some cultures it also is used to mask sadness or to hide
embarrassment. Kinesics generally refers not to sign language that relies on
gestures and expressions in a grammatical context as an alternative to spoken
language. But it is associated with the use of emblems, physical gestures that
support or reinforce what is said verbally. Some emblems seem to be universal,
while others are cultural, with different interpretations in various cultures, or
perhaps with different uses by men and women. An example of a universal
emblem is the uplifted shoulders and upturned hands that indicate “I don’t
know” virtually everywhere in the world. An example of a culture-bound
emblem is the encircled thumb and forefinger. That gesture can be interpreted
as worthless in France, money in Japan, OK in the United States, a curse in
Arab cultures, and an obscenity in Germany, Brazil and Australia.
 Occulesics is closely related to kinesics. Occulesics deals with eye
behavior as an element of communication. Some aspects of occulesics deal
with a static or fixed gaze versus dynamic eye movement. This so-called eye
contact is the subject of much interpretation by the observer, making it difficult
to predict its exact communication impact. In the West, direct eye contact
(looking into the eyes of the other person) is common about 40 percent of the
time while talking and 70 percent while listening. In Japan, it is more common
to look at the throat of the other person. In China and Indonesia, the practice is
to lower the eyes because direct eye contact is considered bad manners, and in
Hispanic culture direct eye contact is a form of challenge and disrespect. In
Arab culture, it is common for both speakers and listeners to look directly into
each others’ eyes for long periods of time, indicating keen interest in the
conversation. In Mediterranean society, men often look at women for long
periods of time that may be interpreted as starring by women from other
cultures. Even the same kinesic gesture can be interpreted differently. For
 13

example, the facial gesture of downcast eyes during conversation can suggest
social deference, evasion, insincerity or boredom.

 Proxemics involves the social use of space in a communication situation.

One aspect of this is the closeness between and among people when they
speak, and the significant role that culture plays in this. Distance is generally
described on a continuum from intimate space (0-18 inches) to personal space
or informal distance (18 inches to 4 feet) to social space or formal distance (4-
12 feet), and public space or distance (beyond 12 feet). Proxemics also deals
with the effective use of space in social settings, such as businesses and homes,
ranging and the arrangement of space to encourage or inhibit communication.

 Haptics focuses on touching as an element of communication, indicating

both the type of touch as well as its frequency and intensity. Like many other
elements of nonverbal communication, haptics is very much a function of
culture. It has been noted, for example, that Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and
Latin American cultures employ much social touching in conversation,
including embraces and hand-holding; these are called high-contact (or high-
touch) cultures. In moderate-touch cultures such as North America and
Northern Europe, touching is used only occasionally, such as in handshakes
and sporadic shoulder touching or back slapping. In lowcontact cultures such
as in Northern Asian cultures, meanwhile, social touching is rarely used at all.
But the geography is by no means that simple. People in the Asian nation of
the Philippines, for example, use a large amount of social touching in
conversation and personal interaction. Even within a culture, haptics vary. For
example, handshakes vary in length and strength of grip depending on the
actual (or hoped for) degree of intimacy between the two people shaking
hands.

 Vocalics (also called paralanguage) deals with vocal cues, more

accurately referred to as the nonphonemic qualities of language. These include
 14

accent, loudness, tempo, pitch, cadence, rate of speech, nasality and tone,
insofar as these convey meaning. Vocalics is sometimes subdivided into
several categories. Vocal characterizers include laughing, crying, yawning, and
so on. These can be associated with culture, such as the different ways various
cultures accept the practice of belching. Vocal qualifiers such as volume, pitch,
rhythm and tempo also are associated with cultural distinctions. In Arab
culture, for example, speaking loudly connotes sincerity, whereas in North
America it often is interpreted as aggressive. Vocal segregates (sounds such as
mmmm, uh-huh, oooo) likewise also differ among various cultures. Vocal rate
deals with the speed at which people talk, another factor that offers various
interpretations.

 Chronemics deals with the use of time as an element of communication.

Formal time is measured in minutes, hours, days, and so on. Informal time is
measured relative to seasons, social customs, lunar cycles, etc. Chronemics
involves specifics such as punctuality (which can be monochronic or M-time
and polychronic or P-time) along with patterns of dominance or deference
within a communication situations. For example, studies show that men are
more likely than women to dominate a conversation and interrupt another
speaker. Chronemics also deals with time from the standpoint of social
settings, such as the likelihood among Americans of arriving early for business
meetings but being “fashionably late” for social activities, while in Latin
American and Arab culture, business people often arrive at a time Westerns
would consider “late,” taking business meetings as occasions for hospitality
and socializing. Meanwhile, the Sioux language doesn’t even have a word for
“late,” reflecting a very relaxed attitude toward time. Chronemics also
considers the use of monochronemics (doing one thing at a time, emphasis on
schedules and promptness, getting to the point quickly) versus
polychronemics(doing several things at a time, emphasis on people and the
whole of a relationship). Studies show that the monochronemic conversation
 15

(talking about one thing at a time) is common in Northern Europe and North
America. Meanwhile, Latin American, Asian, Middle Eastern and
Mediterranean cultures are more likely to use polychronemic conversation
(multiple conversations at the same time, and frequent interruption by other
speaker-listeners).

 Appearance deals with the communication role played by a person’s

look or physical appearance (as compared with physical gestures associated
with kinesics). It deals with physical aspects of body shape, hair color and skin
tone, as well as grooming, dress (both clothing and jewelry) and use of
appearance enhancements such as body piercings, brandings and tattoos.
Consider, for example, how attire is an essential part of nonvocal
communication among areas influenced by Arab culture. Among North and
Western Africans, public speakers prefer long robes and big sleeves so that
when they raise their hands, extra sleeve cloth slips through the arms and puffs
up their shoulder, making them look bigger and more elegant. The Arab and
North African head covering with different bands of cloth and the color of the
robes (white in daytime, dark at night) are more than fashion statements.

 Environment involves the communicative value of the physical space,

such as room size, color, accessibility and location. Business people, for
example, assume significant meaning about desk size, offices with (or without)
windows, and so on. Generally it is assumed that the most important people in
a company occupy the uppermost floor in a building.

 Artifacts similarly deals with the communicative aspect of apparent

objects visible in the room – art, possessions and so on – in that these may be
personal, indicative of status, and/or revealing of lifestyle. In some societies,
much meaning is presumed by one’s choice of automobile. Artifacts almost
always have cultural significance. For example, in many Western countries,
pets have great emotional significance; among many Arabs, rugs are
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prestigious. ƒ Olfactics is an aspect of nonverbal communication dealing with

smells. Though not widely studied from a communication perspective,
olfactics might include the use of perfumes and spices. It is associated with
proxemics in that, the closer people are in communication, the more likely that
the smell will be relevant. In some high-contact cultures such as Samoan or
Arab, it is customary to get close enough in conversation to smell the other
person. Indeed, Arabs and religious Muslims are known for using perfumes,
according to the teaching the Prophet that it is a charity to smell nice for others.

 Synchrony focuses on the amount of coordination in people’s behavior

when their nonverbal cues are in sync with one another. Some examples
include mirroring, mimicry, or behavioral meshing.

2. 2. Static and dynamic features

Knowledge of non-verbal communication is important managers who serve as

leaders of organizational "teams," for at least two reasons:

 To function effectively as a team leader the manager must interact with

the other members successfully. Non-verbal cues, when interpreted correctly,
provide him with one means to do so.
 The team members project attitudes and feelings through non-verbal
communication. Some personal needs such as approval, growth, achievement,
and recognition may be met in effective teams. The extent to which these needs
are met is closely related to how perceptive the team leader and team members
are to non-verbal communication in themselves and in others on the team.

If the team members show a true awareness to non-verbal cues, the organization
will have a better chance to succeed, for it will be an open, honest, and confronting
unit. Argyle and his associates have been studying the features of nonverbal
 17

communication that provide information to managers and their team members. The
following summarizes their findings:

 Static Features

 Distance. The distance one stands from another frequently

conveys a non-verbal message. In some cultures it is a sign of attraction,
while in others it may reflect status or the intensity of the exchange.

 Orientation. People may present themselves in various ways: face-

to-face, side-to-side, or even back-to-back. For example, cooperating
people are likely to sit side-by-side while competitors frequently face
one another.

 Posture. Obviously one can be lying down, seated, or standing.

These are not the elements of posture that convey messages. Are we
slouched or erect ? Are our legs crossed or our arms folded ? Such
postures convey a degree of formality and the degree of relaxation in the
communication exchange.

 Physical Contact. Shaking hands, touching, holding, embracing,

pushing, or patting on the back all convey messages. They reflect an
element of intimacy or a feeling of (or lack of) attraction.

 Dynamic Features

 Facial Expressions. A smile, frown, raised eyebrow, yawn, and sneer all
convey information. Facial expressions continually change during interaction
and are monitored constantly by the recipient. There is evidence that the
meaning of these expressions may be similar across cultures.

 Gestures. One of the most frequently observed, but least understood,

cues is a hand movement. Most people use hand movements regularly when
 18

talking. While some gestures (e.g., a clenched fist) have universal meanings,
most of the others are individually learned and idiosyncratic.

 Looking. A major feature of social communication is eye contact. It can

convey emotion, signal when to talk or finish, or aversion. The frequency of
contact may suggest either interest or boredom.

The above list shows that both static features and dynamic features transmit
important information from the sender to the receiver.

3. 3. Functions and Uses of Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal communication provides individuals and groups with many options for
presenting their messages. Argyle (1970) [8] put forward the hypothesis that whereas
spoken language is normally used for communicating information about events
external to the speakers, non-verbal codes are used to establish and maintain
interpersonal relationships. It is considered more polite or nicer to communicate
attitudes towards others non-verbally rather than verbally, for instance in order to
avoid embarrassing situations.[8]

Argyle (1988) concluded there are five primary functions of nonverbal bodily
behavior in human communication:[9]

 Express emotions
 Express interpersonal attitudes

 To accompany speech in managing the cues of interaction between

speakers and listeners

 Self-presentation of one’s personality

 Rituals (greetings)
 19

In regards to expressing interpersonal attitudes, humans communicate

interpersonal closeness through a series of nonverbal actions known as
immediacy behaviors. Examples of immediacy behaviors are smiling,
touching, open body positions, and eye contact. Cultures that display these
immediacy behaviors are considered high-contact cultures.

When communicating, nonverbal messages can interact with verbal

messages in six ways: repeating, conflicting, complementing, substituting,
regulating and accenting/moderating. Conflicting Verbal and nonverbal
messages within the same interaction can sometimes send opposing or
conflicting messages. A person verbally expressing a statement of truth while
simultaneously fidgeting or avoiding eye contact may convey a mixed message
to the receiver in the interaction. Conflicting messages may occur for a variety
of reasons often stemming from feelings of uncertainty, ambivalence, or
frustration.[8]When mixed messages occur, nonverbal communication
becomes the primary tool people use to attain additional information to clarify
the situation; great attention is placed on bodily movements and positioning
when people perceive mixed messages during interactions

Complementing

Accurate interpretation of messages is made easier when nonverbal and

verbal communication complement each other. Nonverbal cues can be used to
elaborate on verbal messages to reinforce the information sent when trying to
achieve communicative goals; messages have been shown to be remembered
better when nonverbal signals affirm the verbal exchange.[10]

Substituting

Nonverbal behavior is sometimes used as the sole channel for

communication of a message. People learn to identify facial expressions, body
 20

movements, and body positioning as corresponding with specific feelings and

intentions. Nonverbal signals can be used without verbal communication to
convey messages; when nonverbal behavior does not effectively communicate
a message, verbal methods are used to enhance understanding.[10]

3. Non-verbal signs (indicators) related to self-defence.

Non-verbal signs or indicators are ways we communicate non-verbally.

Many of these signs are involuntary and may give away our underlying
intentions. Some non-verbal indicators as related to self-defense are:

Clinching Teeth. Clinching the jaws in frustration and anger. A

manifestation of the biting defense mechanism.

Hands-on-Hips. Enlarges or exaggerates the body's size to dominate,

threaten, or bluff an opponent. Hands-on-hips shows that the body is prepared
to "take steps."

Fist. A gesture made with the hand closed, the fingers flexed, and the tactile
pads held firmly against the palm. Clenched fists signal an aroused emotional
state, as in anger, excitement (to cheer on a team), or fear. In Pakistan,
displaying a clenched fist toward another is a nonverbal sign used to display an
"obscene insult."

Hand Behind Head. Touching, scratching, or holding the back of the neck or
head with the opened palm, or reaching a hand upward to scratch an ear, grasp
an earlobe, or stimulate an ear canal, or touching, scratching, or rubbing the
cheek or side of the neck. In a conversation, hand-behind-head may be read as
a potential sign of uncertainty, conflict, disagreement, frustration, anger, or
 21

disliking. In the United Sates, leaning back and placing both hands behind the
neck in the bilateral head clamp posture is a nonverbal sign of dominance.

Lip Roll. A gesture produced by compressing, in-rolling, and narrowing the

lips to a thin line. A position of the mouth in which the lips are visibly
tightened and pressed together through contraction of the lip and jaw muscles.
Lip and jaw tension clearly reflect anxious feelings, nervousness, emotional
concerns, or anger. Thus a tense-mouth precisely marks the onset of a mood
shift, a novel thought, or a sudden change of heart.

Tone of Voice. The manner in which a verbal statement is presented, such as

its rhythm, breathiness, hoarseness, or loudness. Tone of voice reflects
psychological arousal, emotion, and mood. It may also carry social
information, as in a sarcastic, superior, or submissive manner of speaking. The
more threatened or aggressive a person becomes, the lower and harsher his or
her voice turns, thus, the person seem bigger.

Eye Contact. A visual connection made as one person gazes into the eyes of
another. Gazing at another's eyes arouses strong emotions. Thus, eye contact
rarely lasts longer than three seconds before one or both viewers experience a
powerful urge to glance away. Breaking eye contact lowers stress levels. In
Japan, listeners are taught to focus on a speaker's neck in order to avoid eye
contact, while in the U.S., listeners are encouraged to gaze into a speaker's
eyes.

Raising Eyebrows. To lift the arch of short hairs above the eye, as in
uncertainty, disbelief, surprise, or exasperation. Raising the eyebrows adds
intensity to a facial expression. Brow-raising can strengthen a dominant stare,
exaggerate a submissive pout, or boost the energy of a smile. In tandem with
head-tilt-back, raising one or both eyebrows suggests a supercilious air of
disdain, haughtiness, or pride.
 22

Down Gaze. Rotating the eyeballs in their sockets to a downward position,

or bowing or tilting the head forward so that the eyes face the downward. May
convey a defeated attitude, guilt, shame, or submissiveness. Gazing down
while speaking shows that a speaker may not believe his or her own remarks.
Blushing. Becoming red or rosy in the face from physical exercise,
embarrassment, shyness, anger, or shame. Blushing is caused by sudden
arousal of the sympathetic nervous system, which dilates the small blood
vessels of the face and body.

Blank Face. A neutral, relaxed, seemingly "expressionless" face, with the

eyes open and lips closed. The deadpan face we adopt at home alone while
resting, reading, and watching TV. Though "expressionless," the blank face
sends a strong emotional message "Do Not Disturb." In shopping malls,
elevators, or subways, we adopt neutral faces to distance ourselves from
strangers. The blank face is a subtle sign used to keep others a polite distance
away.

Head Tilted Back. Lifting the chin and leaning the head backward. Lifting
the chin and looking down the nose are used throughout the world as nonverbal
signs of superiority, arrogance, and disdain. In Greece and Saudi Arabia, a
sudden head-tilt-back movement means "No." In Ethiopia, the same gesture
means "Yes."

Bending Away. Flexing the spinal column sideward to increase the physical
distance between two people to enlarge or exaggerate the body's size to
dominate, threaten, or bluff an opponent.

Decision Grip. A manner of grasping an object securely between the inner

surfaces of the fingers and the palm. A clear indication of ownership.
 23

Disgust. A sickening feeling of revulsion, loathing, or nausea. Disgust shows

in a curled upper lip, digestive vocalizations, narrowed eyes, lowered brows,
backward head-jerks and side-to-side head-shakes, visible protrusions of the
tongue, wrinkled nose, raised nostrils, and lowered inner corners of the
eyebrows.

Shoulder Shrug. To lift, raise, or flex forward one or both shoulders in

response to another person's statement, question, or physical presence; or to
one's own inner thoughts, feelings, and moods. The shoulder shrug is a
universal sign of resignation, uncertainty, and submissiveness. Shrug cues may
modify, counteract, or contradict verbal remarks. A shrug reveals misleading,
ambiguous, or uncertain areas in dialogue.

Clearing Throat. A nonverbal vibration of the vocal cords caused by a

sudden, involuntary release of air pressure from the lungs. Suggests
disagreement, anxiety, doubt, deception, or to announce one's physical
presence in a room.
 24

Conclusion

Nonverbal communication is the process of sending and receiving messages from

another person. These messages can be conveyed through gestures, engagement,
posture, and even clothing and hygiene. Nonverbal communication can convey a very
different message than a verbal conversation. This can tell someone whether they are
liked, interesting or hated. Nonverbal communication can have meanings in objects
as well. Certain articles in a person’s life can say a lot about them and can sometimes
even talk for them. A person’s handwriting can also tell a lot about the way they can
communicate with others. Nonverbal communication can be easiest practiced when
the two communicators are face to face. The nonverbal aspect of communication is
easiest when the environment is right for all communicators involved, such as, when
the environment is right or the moment is right. Nonverbal communication is an
important aspect in any conversation skill people are practicing. Nonverbal
communication will inhibit someone to be able to tell other person how hey are really
feeling without having to voice any opinions. People can interpret body signals better
than they can talk most of the time.

Regardless of your position in the organization it is important for you to develop

some sensitivity to nonverbal messages. Cooperation improves as we recognize and
respond appropriately to non-verbal clues.
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References

1. Allan Canfield (2002). Body, identity and interaction: Interpreting nonverbal

communication. Etext.net: Custom Electronic Text Publisher.Full text.
2. Argyle, Michael. (1988). Bodily Communication (2nd ed.) Madison:
International Universities Press.

3. Chandler, D. (2001). Semiotics: The basics. London: Routledge.

4. G. Collier (1985). Emotional expression. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Oks

5. Cobley, P. (ed.). (2001). The Routledge companion to semiotics and linguists.

London: Routledge.

6. Crow, D. (2003). Visible signs: An introduction to semiotics. West Sussex,

UK: AVA Press

7. David F. Armstrong, William C. Stokoe, Sherman E. Wilcox (1995). Gesture

and the nature of language. Cambridge University Press.

8. Knapp, M.L. & Hall, J.A. (2001). Nonverbal communication in human action.
Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

9. Knapp, Mark L., & Hall, Judith A. (2007) Nonverbal Communication in

Human Interaction. (5th ed.) Wadsworth: Thomas Learning. ISBN 0-15-
506372-3
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10. Peter Andersen (1999). Nonverbal communication. Forms and functions.

McGraw-Hill. See also this webpage. See also Terrence L. Warburton's
review.

11.Vicky Bruce and Andrew Young (1998). In the eye of the beholder. The
science of face perception. Oxford University Press.

12. www.geocities.com/marvin_hecht/nonverbal.html – On-Line resource of

articles, journals and links