3.6: Types of Nonverbal Communication

Kinesics

Kinesics is the study of how we use body movement and facial expressions. We interpret a great deal of meaning through body movement, facial expressions, hand gestures, and eye contact. In the United States, engaging in consistent eye contact makes you appear confident, at ease, and interested. Use a relaxed, steady gaze and be careful not to stare at the other person. Looking directly at someone with sincerity reveals that you are open and engaging in your communication style.  Facial expressions are a primary method of sharing emotions and feelings (Ekman, 1965; Knapp, 1980; Malandro & Barker, 1983). For example, imagine yourself at a party and you see someone across the room you are attracted to.  What sort of nonverbal behaviors do you engage in to let that person know? Likewise, what nonverbal behaviors are you looking for from him or her to indicate that it’s safe to come over and introduce yourself?  Many people believe they can easily interpret the meanings of body movements and facial expressions in others. The reality is, it is almost impossible to determine an exact meaning. Even so, we know that kinesics can communicate liking, social status, and even relationship responsiveness (Mehrabian, 1981).

Haptics

Haptics is the study of touch. Touch is the first type of nonverbal communication we experience as humans and is vital to our development and health (Dolin & Booth-Butterfield, 1993; Wilson et al., 2008). Those who don’t have positive touch in their lives are less healthy both mentally and physically than those who experience positive touch. We use touch to share feelings and relational meanings. Hugs, kisses, handshakes, or even playful roughhousing demonstrate relational meanings and indicate relational closeness. In Western society, touch is largely reserved for family and romantic relationships. In contrast, an exchange student from Brazil recognized the differences in touch between cultures when arriving in the United States. She was surprised when someone hesitated to remove an eyelash from her face and apologized for touching her. In her country, no one would hesitate to do this act. She realized how much more physical touch is accepted and even expected in her culture. On the negative side, touch can also be used to intimidate others.  If in doubt about the appropriateness of touch in a specific situation, it is best to avoid it.

Personal Appearance

Personal Appearance is another type of nonverbal communication.  This category includes hairstyle and clothing, as well as objects you carry with you (mobile phone, purse, etc.) and artifacts you use to adorn the body, such as jewelry, piercings, and necklaces, Even the automobile you drive is a form of nonverbal communication. Your choices express meanings about what you value and the image you wish to put forth. As with most communication, our choices for personal appearance, objects, and artifacts occur within cultural contexts. Consider the recent trendiness and popularity of tattoos. While once associated primarily with prison and armed services, tattoos have become mainstream and are used to articulate a variety of personal, political, and cultural messages.

Proxemics

Proxemics is the study of our use of space. One aspect of proxemics has to do with how closely we stand to others. The distance may vary based on cultural norms and the type of relationship existing between the parties. Hall (1966) identified four distance zones that are commonly observed by North Americans.

• Intimate distance – (0″ to 18″) This zone extends from actual touching to eighteen inches. It is normally reserved for those with whom one is intimate. At this distance the physical presence of another is overwhelming. Those who violate the intimate space of others are likely to be perceived as intruders.
• Personal distance (18″ to 4′) This zone extends from eighteen inches to four feet. This is the distance of interaction of good friends or other close acquaintances.
• Social distance (4′ to 12′) This zone exists from four to twelve feet. It seems to be an appropriate distance for casual friends and acquaintances to interact.
• Public distance (12′ to 25′)  This zone extends from twelve up to twenty-five or more feet. This is the distance for most public speeches. At this distance, a speaker becomes formal.

Hall’s system provides useful insight into the constructive use of space for various interactions. It should be noted, however, that appropriate distance is determined by many variables, including the situation, the nature of the relationship, the topic of conversation, and the physical constraints which are present. Dr. Tricia Jones points out that vertical distance is also included in proxemics. Just as the horizontal distance between people communicates something, so does the vertical distance. In this case, however, vertical distance is often understood to convey the degree of dominance or sub-ordinance in a relationship. Looking up at or down on another person can be taken literally in many cases, with the higher person asserting greater status. People who work with small children should realize that children will interact more comfortably with a communicator when they are in the same vertical plane. On the other hand, in a situation of conflict, a person might stand to use vertical distance to their advantage (Jones, n.d.)

Our environment includes the way we use spaces we occupy, such as our homes, rooms, cars, or offices. Think of your home, room, automobile, or office space. What meanings can others perceive about you from these spaces? What meanings are you trying to send by how you keep them? Think about spaces you use frequently and the nonverbal meanings they have for you. Most educational institutions intentionally paint classrooms in dull colors. Why? Dull colors on walls have a calming effect, theoretically keeping students from being distracted by bright colors and excessive stimuli. Contrast the environment of a classroom to that of a fast-food restaurant. These establishments have bright colors and hard plastic seats and tables. The bright colors generate an upbeat environment, while the hard plastic seats are just uncomfortable enough to keep patrons from staying too long–remember, it’s FAST food (Restaurants See Color As Key Ingredient). People and cultures place different emphasis on the use of space as a way to communicate nonverbally.

Chronemics

Chronemics is the study of how people use time. Are you someone who is always early or on time? Or, are you someone who arrives late to most events? Our use of time communicates a variety of meanings to those around us. Think about the person you know who is most frequently late. How do you describe that person based on their use of time? Now, think about someone else who is always on time. How do you describe that person? Is there a difference? If so, these differences are probably based on their use of time. In the U.S., we place a high value on being on time and respond more positively to people who are punctual. However, in many Arab and Latin American countries, time is used more loosely, and punctuality is not necessarily a goal to achieve. You may have heard the expression, “Indian time” to refer to “the perception of time [that] is circular and flexible” (Harris, 2003; Shutiva, 1994). This is the belief that activities will commence when everyone is present and ready; not according to an arbitrary schedule based on a clock or calendar. Neither approach is better than the other, but the dissimilar uses of time can create misunderstandings among those from different cultural groups.

Paralanguage

While the types of nonverbal communication we’ve discussed so far are non-vocal, this form of nonverbal communication is actually vocal (noise is produced). Paralanguage is the term we use to describe vocal qualities or vocalizations. Our vocal qualities or the manner in which we say words often expresses greater meaning than the actual words themselves.

Paralanguage includes

• Volume: the softness or loudness of a voice
• Rate: how quickly or slowly we speak
• Pitch: highness or lowness of a voice
• Inflection: variations in pitch that add meaning to our sentences. An upward inflection is when there is a change in pitch going from a lower to a higher note. In most cases, an upward inflection is used for a question or to indicate insincerity or surprise. A downward inflection is a change in pitch from a higher to a lower note. A downward inflection is used when making a statement.
• Vocalizations: sounds that have meaning, such as “uh-huh,” “shhh,” and “mmm.”
• Silence/pause: a break where there is no sound. Sometimes silence is unintentional and other times intentional.  A well-placed pause or use of silence is an art that can add impact and emphasis to a message.
• Nonfluencies: words or sounds that interrupt the flow of your sentences. Examples of common nonfluencies are uh, uhm, like, and you know.

Paralanguage adds important information to our message.  Paralanguage can show our excitement and enthusiasm or can indicate our unease about what we are saying. It can keep our listeners alert or put them to sleep. The best paralanguage complements our words and makes our voice pleasing and interesting to our listeners.  Through effective paralanguage, we can emphasize important words in our sentences and can clue our listeners into whether we are asking a question or making a statement. There are also times when we can intentionally use paralanguage to contradict our words. Sarcasm and incongruence are two examples of this.  When you use sarcasm, your paralanguage is intended to contradict the verbal message. However, sometimes using sarcasm can backfire when listeners do not pick up our paralinguistic cues and focus primarily on the verbal message.

Silence also serves as a type of paralanguage. Have you ever experienced the “silent treatment” from someone? What meanings did you take from that person’s silence? Silence is powerful because the person using silence may be refusing to engage in communication with you. Likewise, we can use silence to regulate the flow of our conversations. Silence has a variety of meanings and, as with other types of nonverbal communication; context plays an important role in interpreting the meaning of silence.

Finally, we come to nonfluencies.  Nonfluencies are words or sounds that interrupt the flow of your sentences.  Most of us naturally use nonfluencies in conversation, with uh, uhm, like, and you know among the most common. Nonfluencies are often a way of buying time while we think of our next words.  Although common, they can become a distraction or even an annoyance to our listeners. Overuse of nonfluencies, particularly in professional communication such as a job interview or during a speech, can diminish a speaker’s credibility.  One of the best ways to limit nonfluencies is to simply practice pausing silently instead of filling each silence with a sound.

References

Dolin, D. J., & Booth-Butterfield, M. (1993). Reach out and touch someone: Analysis of nonverbal comforting responses. Communication Quarterly, 41(4), 383-393.

Ekman, P. (1965). Communication through nonverbal behavior: A source of information about an interpersonal relationship. In S. S. Tompkins & C. E. Izard (Eds), Affect, Cognition, and Personality. Springer.

Hall, E. T. (1966). The hidden dimension. Doubleday.

Harris, J. A. (2003). Learning to listen across cultural divides. Listening Professional, 2, 14-21.

Knapp, M. L. (1980). Essentials of nonverbal communication. Hold, Rinehart & Winston.

Malandro, L. A., & Barker, L. (1983). Nonverbal communication. Addison-Wesley.

Mehrabian, A. (1981). Silent messages: Implicit communication of emotion and attitudes (2nd ed). Wadsworth.

Shutiva, C. (2016). Native American culture and communication through humor. In Alberto González, Marsha Houston, & Victoria Chen (Eds.),Our voices: Essays in culture, ethnicity, and communication, an intercultural anthology (5th ed., Chapter 19). Oxford University Press.

Wilson, S. R., Roberts, F., Rack, J. J., & Delaney, J. E. (2008). Mothers’ trait verbal aggressiveness as a predictor of maternal and child behavior during playtime interactions. Human Communication Research, 34(3), 392-422.