Introduction to Comm.
Media Reviewer (pdf-based)
Definition of Human Communication
- The process of understanding
experiences through the use of
verbal and non-verbal
communication.
Verbal Communication
- Has both the words/language,
together with the word fillers (uh,
hmm, etc.)
- Effective communication = accurate
interpretation
- The symbols communicators use are
vague, arbitrary and abstract
Meanings:
A. Vague – uncertain
B. Arbitrary – random
C. Abstract – no concrete evidence
- Communication affects the way on
how we are perceived by our
audiences
- Communication rules – shared
understanding of what
communication means and what
kind of communication it is
appropriate for.
- Regulative rules – describe when,
how, where and who to talk in
certain scenarios.
- Constitutive rules – prompting us to
count certain kinds of
communication (e.g: hugging –
comfort)
Non-Verbal Communication
- All the ways we communicate
without words.
- From Ivy and Wahl (2014), this is a
“communication other than written
or spoken that has meaning”
- 55% of the interpersonal
communication is non-verbal
(according to research)
- Your walk, stance and footsteps
have meaning, together with what
you wear; gestures, facial
expressions, how you look and
movements are a part of non-verbal
communication.
Functions:
A. Express emotion
B. Convey interpersonal altitudes
C. Present one’s personality
D. Accompany verbal communication
- When verbal and non-verbal
communication doesn’t match,
miscommunication or
misunderstanding will exist.
- Non-verbal communication can
complement with verbal
 Introduction to Comm. Media Reviewer (pdf-based)

Three dimensions on how we use non- c. Social zone (4-12 feet; for
verbal communication for personal and strangers and business matters)
professional contexts: d. Public zone (more than 12 feet;
public events)
1. Immediacy - reacting and evaluating
things (e.g: good or bad)
2. Status – perspective of life that
3. Environment
affects us (e.g: dominant or
- The natural surroundings that affect
submissive)
your way of communicating, attitude
3. Responsiveness – how we see
and such
activities that regard our feelings
- The environment we create speaks
about the topic (e.g: active or
for ourselves
passive)

Codes of Non-Verbal Communication: Six distinct ways to perceive the

environment:
1. Vocalics
a. Formality (comfort on how much
- Sometimes called as paralanguage,
they could behave which is more
using voice to express themselves
on the atmosphere of the place)
- Includes tone, volume, articulation,
b. Warmth (the sense of comfort)
speech, rate of speech and silence
c. Privacy (a perceived
- Voices reveal thoughts, emotions
environment for yourself)
and relationship towards others
d. Familiarity (the way we act
2. Space
towards people or environment)
- Also called proxemics, how people
e. Constraint (the amount of
create distance and space, together
privacy and space available to
with the ways on how they defend
us)
space.
f. Distance (physical
- Our relationship determine the
arrangements)
space we give them

Four zones:
4. Physical Appearance
a. Intimate zone (0-18 inches;
- The way we present ourselves
accompanied with high level of
physically represents who we are
relationship and is usually
- Others’ appearance affects our
reserved)
perspective about them
b. Personal zone (18 inches-4 feet;
- What you wear may also define you
for acquaintances and friends)
(clothing and artifacts)
- “appearance matters.”
 Introduction to Comm. Media Reviewer (pdf-based)
5. Body Movement
- Also called kinesics (defined as the
study of human movement, gestures
and posture.
Five categories of kinesics:
a. Emblems (gestures that is widely
understood)
b. Illustrators (substitute for the verbal
message; usually descriptive)
c. Affect displays (facial expression to
display emotions)
d. Regulators (for the turn-taking in
conversing)
e. Adapters (releasing tension)
6. Facial Behavior
- The face is a gallery of emotion
(including oculesics, the study of eye
behavior)
Four categories of managing facial
behavior:
a. Neutralization (having a poker
face)
b. Masking (hiding your true facial
expression by wearing an
appropriate one)
c. Intensification (exaggeration)
d. Deintensification (opposite)
- Eyes are important, as they give out
information, regulate interaction,
express intimacy, practice social
norms, and lead goals.
7. Touch
- Sometimes referred as haptics
- “the most powerful form of non-
verbal communication; also the
most misinterpreted.” (Ivy and
Wahl, 2014)
Classification of touches:
a. Functional/professional
(professionial relationship and
low in intimacy)
b. Social/polite (cultural norms and
low in intimacy)
c. Friendship/warmth (platonic
affection)
d. Love/intimacy (highly personal
and intimate)
e. Sexual arousal (extremely
intimate)
Forming Relationships with
Verbal and Non-Verbal
Communication
1. Content Layer
- Information are explicitly discussed
- May include descriptive and formal
discussions
2. Relational Layer
- Focuses on how you feel about the
person.
- Communicated by your choice of
words
- Non-verbal is effective
 Introduction to Comm. Media Reviewer (pdf-based)

KEYS to Excellence in Verbal

and Non-Verbal
Communication
1. K-now yourself
- See for yourself first on what kind of
non-verbal cues you should use to
support yourself verbally.

2. E-valuate the professional context

- Assess the signals that are
acceptable in your workplace

3. Y-our communication interaction

- Your inventory of reflexive non-
verbal communication together with
your partner.

4. S-step back and reflect

- Analyze what have you done after
the interaction.