Human Communication: Chapter-6: Non-verbal Communication (Part-A)

What is Non-Verbal Communication?

It is one form of communication which is without words. We communicate with others by using gesture, and our body without saying nothing.

There are two major benefits of non-verbal communication. The first one is as your ability of non-verbal communication, you will be more attractive, popular and better psychological well-being. And the next one is you can influence the others by your great skills of Non-verbal communication.

Further more, there are another 2 sub-topics in this chapter. These are

Functions of Non-verbal Communication and
Channel of Non-verbal Communication.

These two sub-topics can make us a bit confused especially in the exam, the lecturer said.
Functions of Non-verbal Communication

It consists of 6 functions.

Integrating with verbal messages
Forming impressions
Defining relationships
Structuring conversation
Influencing and deceiving
expression emotions

The first function, Integrating with verbal messages, is that using non-verbal messages in verbal messages in order to 1). accent, 2). complement, 3). contradict 4). regulate 5). repeat and 6). substitute.

Forming impressions is we form our impression based on a person's body size, skin colour, style of dress, eye contact and facial expression. And also we judge other others based on those impressions. Forming impression is happened 1). to be liked. 2). to be believed, 3). to excuse failure. 4). to secure help, 5). to hide faults, 6). to hide faults, 7). to be followed and 8). to confirm self-image and to communicate it to others.

We can define people relationships based on their non-verbal signals. For example, when we see a boy put his hand on the girl's shoulder while their walking, we can know that they are couple. They are not saying that they are couple but we can know from their non-verbal signals.

Moreover, non-verbal messages build the structure of conversation. For example, while we are discussing about our assignment and I asked their opinion without saying anything but with a nod of my head.

The fifth function of non-verbal communication is Influencing and deceiving. With non-verbal signals, we can influencing peoples' attention. For example, we use maker-pen to draw on the board for more information while we are presenting. Based on that we can get the others' attraction because they are interested while we picked the pen up. They want to know what I'm going to draw. For deceiving is almost the same as influencing. With our facial expression we can lie the others or we can say very seriously about the matter which is really not the much serious.

Non-verbal gestures and communications can express our emotions (happiness or sadness).

Channels of Non-verbal communication

There are 10 channels for non-verbal communication.

1). Body communication - this communication based on our body movement and appearance.
There are 5 major types of body movements.

Emblems which directly translate the gesture into words or phrases. (e.g. OK sign)
Illustrators which illustrate or enhance verbal messages they accompany. (e.g. a person asked my dad and i pointed to my right side means my dad is at that side)
Affect displays which is mostly depend on our face and emotion. (e.g. smile=happy)
Regulators are especially our behaviours while we are in a conversation.
Adaptors are movements to make stable our mind.