See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/323280914

Role of Paralanguage in Effective English Communication

Article · January 2008

CITATIONS READS

2 1,634

1 author:

Binod Mishra
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
193 PUBLICATIONS 87 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Binod Mishra on 26 May 2021.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 Role of Paralanguage
in Effective English Communication
Binod Mishra

modern orld, where we live amid the buzzes of machines and

wor
this
In it has become imperative to strike a balance between
ns of
of cell pho
cell phones,
eeps and communicating effectively
in to succeed
order
lyCommunicating
cross commercial world. Communication today is the
mern

in a fast
fast changing
cho
communication skills have proved to be
buzz word, and effective English
InwOd
However,
Sport to a plethora of opportunities around the globe.
mean only expressing our idea, statements and
ap

ommunication does not

c o m m u n i c a t i o

rievances, but it also means effectively disseminating information.

Th sQy more precisely, communication is not constricted to language
its relevance necessitates it to include paralanguage in its
alone, rather
and benignity of language that differentiates men
ambit. The beauty
seeks its nuances in various paralinguistic features, and
from animals
non-verbal attributes, like expression through face, eyes, space and time,
in addition to vocal characteristics. This paper stresses the role and
in various communication situations.
relevance of paralanguage

Introduction

English is an international language that sometimes lands difficulty because

the users in
it has been accepted
oftheir lack of control over appropriate expression required. Since
as a medium for handling all official purposes,
whether in spoken or written form, it
in terms
has become imperative to use it immaculately. The accuracy and authenticity
of its use depends largely on its communicative function. It is not an exaggeration to
say that English has become a functional language. Therefore, the crucial responsibility
of language teachers is to arm the learners not only with competence, but also with
performance for using English.
With the rush of multinational companies, the expectations of job providers has shifted
from content to quality. Our graduates and post graduates with thick testimonials often
Tal to chime in with the requirements of recruiters. Their inadequate spoken skills,
umbling for appropriate words, expressions without proper display of mood and lack
of proper intonation disqualify many Indian students from the standards set by job
providers.
Assistant Professor of English, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Roorke, India.
E-mail: binodfhs@iitr.ernet.in

2009 The Icfai University Press. Al Rights Reserved.

 English as a Medium of Communication
The present paper aims at underlining the importance of
communication. Paralanguage comprises the paralanguage in
non-linguistic
Communication is not merely the use of words, but it also aspects
of communication.
includes non-verbal cues,
such as, pauses and silence, in addition to the
demonstration of vocal characteristics
viz., pitch, quality and volume. In a broader sense, various non-verbal cues also come
under paralanguage, which of late has attained inevitable importance. Since job skills
in the present day world include the ability of reasoning. problem
solving and
convincing strategies, candidates need to hone their English communication skills.
It does not come
surprise when one sees thousands of graduates and
as a

postgraduates unable to produce grammatically correct and semantically subtle

sentences. It is all the more pathetic when these students happen to have had English
as their main subject in graduation and post graduation. Their long years with thick
volumes of poetry, fiction and drama seem to mock them before an
interview board.
The complex nature
of jobs these days has made recruitment policies more challenging
than in the past. Students in
colleges
and universities pursuing English develop their
interest in stories, but fail to learn the nuances of
language. The responsibility of paper
setters and evaluators also come into the Our students know
picture. literature, but
gnore language. The teachers of English too cannot shy away from their responsibilities.
This is where the functionality of
English comes into the picture, and where the
relevance of effective English communication rests.
A vast majority ofstudents are time bound workers, who always wait for the
our

closing hours. They put in their utmost efforts to cram expected answers for their exams.
The result is that they pass in exams, but fail to
qualify when it comes to job
recruitments. Passing in an exam is not as crucial as
standing out in the crowd. Surveys
among students not selected in interviews reveal that they knew the answer, but did
not know how to express it. What is more
alarming is that many students fail to
understand the questions asked by the interviewers. The reason behind all these
confusions can be traced to our callousness towards the
features in communication.
importance of paralinguistic

English as a lingua franca of the world has more users than any other language. Keeping
our discussion
away from the old language through literature or literature
debate, we need to develop a practical notion of using
through language
English as a functional language
The job market requires candidates with excellent communication skills.Content, of
bears importance, yet course
quality has an edge.
Technological Interference in Communication Situations
Technological innovations have, to a great extent, facilitated communication in a
tyot

ways. But the plethora of devices such as e-mails, SMS va

and chats have endang
30 2009

The Icfail University Journal of Soft Skills, Vol. II., No. 2.

 Still, certain serious tasks like writing business documents, mainly, business
Still,
writing.
art
of sales, complaint and adjustment), reports and proposals are not devoid of
l e t t e r s
vriting. In most cases, layouts and formats make writing such documents
of w r i t
lexities
om i
comp in spoken form that the candidates distinguish themselves and have an edge.
easier

communication is considered more authentic, our focus on orienting the

f a c e - t o -

As
students distinct paralanguage
with dis
is imperative.
with
Thestudentsstudents of today
need to display proficiency in spoken communication, which
and
without the presence of paralanguage in it. Interviews, meetings
be effective
the modus operandi
c a n n o t

ocentation in various situations where there is more stress on

A speaker attaches somespecific meaning to a n utterance, and
the content part. his
meaning depends on his ability to exploit
than
that intended
L
how he conveys
features. Kobert Frost has rightly said:
paralinguistic
D a r a

and can't, and

world is composed of people who have something to say
Half the it.
other half who have nothing to say and keep on saying
the

The Important Aspects of Paralanguage

hesitation o r speed
involves tone of voice,
kind of action language that
Paralanguage is a
than actual words.
of speech and certain variations other

Voice communication. The way one utilizes

decisive role in
Vocal characteristics also play a
about a person's nature and his attitude. Since English
one's voice gives adequate hint authentic m a n n e r . But because
has to be spoken in an
is an international language, it there
speakers of English. Yet,
are
far behind native
of our Indian grounding, lag we
students need to have
ourselves candidly. Our
certain ways in which w e can express and quality. It is quite
involves a proper
blend of force, pitch, rate
a qualitative voice. It
do not speak clearly. We need to train them to
students who
common to come across

speak their words clearly.

Volume should
should be audible. One
about volume, but o n e
ere cannot be any rigidity one's volume depending o n
the audience as well
Onscious enough to raise or lower be
of the audience also should
e

understanding/knowledge
acoustics of a room. The who is either too fast o r too
slow is n e v e r

n due consideration. A speakero w n requirements. While in a n interview, the

its
Ppreciated. Every situation has o n e needs to
strike a balance between
syndrome;
dlate has to follow a query-replyconsideration a n element of politeness. However,
SVoice and variety, taking into should be preferred,
conversational tone
a
Uations like professional presentations, and effectively.
clearly
ows one to pronounce words
31
Role of Paralanguage in Bffective English Communication
Pitch
15 the application of pitch
important aspects
of paralanguage h moveme-

One
ofthe most
sical scale.
musical scale. AA
while speaking. It is similar to
the placement
of voice on a
thin and tight. pitch usually rises
Our
voice whiech
n
is high pitched usually becomes
slow during moments of
often durmg
whereas it becomes
moments anger and stress,
of words when we speak fast. Moreo
oreover, a fas spain We
often tend to mispronounce certain
reflects our n e r v o u s n e s s and loosens
our control
over the audience. The

rate of words betwear

delivany
rate or the
audience. An average
speed may vary from audience to
the conditions. However, one can alun
175 per minute is suitable in most of
synergize
situation. An attempt to synergize rate,
rate.
alwaysni lesse
this speed as per the exigency of the pitch and
communication.
volume can provide a magical touch to effective
can have a c a n s
vone can
attribute and not everyone
Voice, no doubt, is a god-gifted
oft one's voice with proper trainina
captivatino
voice; but one can always improve the quality
can be rich and resonant, soft and alluring, thin and nasal, or hoarse and huskyVoises
and squeaky, and harsh and iritating. A deep and resonant voice is alwavs h
husky, shril
Students can seek inspirations from many etfective speakers, such as, Abraham Lino
sblesset
and Winston Churchil1, who have made a mark of distinction despite shortcomin
ngs in
their voices. At times, the tone and tenor of our voices become a victim of circumstanr
mstances
and we become losers because of our excessive emotional outbursts. One has to utfibe
one's intelligence and control such situations with the help of paralinguistic featime

in order to be effective.

Pronunciation
Again, what plagues our students' communicative performance is their fault
pronunciation. There is no denying the fact that we cannot have the accuracyof anative
English speaker. But there is always a chance to improve our pronunciation

Now-a-days, there are many facilities available to help us. Many institutes have the
facility of language laboratories, where, with the help of software, can inspire ou
we

students to overcome lapses in pronunciation. The impact of the regional language

ar

mother tongue on English also affects pronunciation. Teachers' can help students

recognize their lapses and correct them. They can be more particular while teaching
texts. This can become practically possible in a drama class. Roleplay can not on
motivates students, but also makes them aware. The class can be assigned certain rols
and students can imagine themselves as characters. The teacher's role in such a situation
is to check whether the dialogue delivery conforms to the display of emotions expecie
ot hin
of every character. The dramatist ensures these emotional swings with the help
dents
given in brackets. This will not only involve the entire class, but also help stu
visualize and thus encourage their understanding.
dend
Since it is difficult to acquire 1009% authenticity in terms of pronunciaiou.
can be persuaded to follow British pronunciation. Care has to be taken while
No.
32 The Icfai University Journal of Soft Skills, Vol. I,
r d and sentence stress. In order to bring a variety in various speech functions,

hudents can be trained to use intonation. Intonation can be defined as the rise and
st
fall in the pitch of one's volce. While making request and asking yes/no questions,
fall
rising tone is used. But while making statements, giving commands and asking
questions, seeking conirmation and showing protests, a falling tone is preferred.
quest
The use of intonation adds quality to a discourse and beautifies the speech pattern.
The importance of intonation is such that it can always help us overcome defects in
voice. The fault in speech is not only because of the defect in our voice, but also because
of the defect in our personality. We may observe that our voice is affected mostly because
of our resistance to change or because of our morbid nature at times. A famous voice
expert and diction trainer, Virgil A Anderson has rightly said:
Bluntly stated, one may have a dull, uninteresting or unpleasant voice because
his voice is defective or improperly used, but he may also have such a voice
because he is a dull, uninteresting or an unpleasant person.

Our nature and attitude thus have a great impact on our voice.

Non-Verbal Cues
Apart from our vocal characteristics, certain non-verbal cues can also be viewed as
paralanguage in effective communication. The way a communicator utilizes his kinesic
behavior during communication has an indelible impact on the communication process.
The term kinesics' was coined by Ray Birdwhistell, a researcher in body motion and
a pioneer in the field of non-verbal communication. Kinesics is the science that analyzes
individual gestures by considering their component parts. Birdwhistell says: "All
movements of the body have meaning. None are accidental." Thus, in order to attach
proper meaning to our message, the movements of the body are to be utilized properly.

An effective communication should ensure a cooperative and not a competitive

atmosphere, where one wants to dominate over others. Our facial expression should
regulate our feelings in a way that it serves the required functions. One may often have
to hide even one's genuine feelings at times lest, they obliterate one's chances of proving
one's mettle. We cannot ignore the words of Sigmund Freud, who says:

He who has eyes to see and ears to hear can convince that no mortal can keep
a secret. If his lips are silent, he chats with his finger tips, betrayal oozes out of
him at every pore.

Facial Expressions
Our facial expression is the summum bonum of our eyes, ears, hands, fingers and our
walking movements. Imagine a situation where the speaker while replying to a question
ooks outside the window and often has to repeat, 1 beg your pardon'. just to understand
the implication of the
question. This may be considered as the speaker's lack of
Role of
Paralanguage in Effective English Communication 33
 confidence to face
the interrogators/int.
concentration and also his
lack of
be taught to face the
crowd, but also to makeewers terviewer
use of ey
Our students must not only of maintaining eye contarsof
eye
c o m m u n i c a t o r s . The
importance tact with the
Contact with other
stressed.
needs to be
people you are communicating

Eyes of our souls and mirrors of our haas

describes eyes as 'the windows
Robert Whiteside truthfulness, intimacy
bodies, eyes reveal
The most expressive part of our
affection and love. People
who do not look at
naughtiness, joy, surprise, curiosity,
of being secretive. Hene
can be suspected he
other person while talking or listening s i t u a t o n s is
all communicative very importar
dexterous use of eyes in almost
effective communicator
utilizes eye contact
get
to
Our students should realize that an
the feedback of the audience and augments
his discussion. Or course, because of cultura
extra-cautious. Our legends ton
one needs to be
differences at workplaces, now-a-days,
in effective communication. In the Bihia
have emphasized on the importance of eyes
the forbidden fruit.
he had sinned by eating
Adam was afraid to look at God after

Body Movements
effective communication. Various hand
Gestures and postures also contribute to
movements and standing and walking positions
may lend meaning even without a
aware of these movements for desired
speaker's intention. Hence, one has to be quite
to foreign cultures. For example, in
effects. The problem occurs when we are exposed
East beckoning s o m e o n e with finger are
Greece, waving at someone and in the Middle
insults. When a Brazilian taps his head, he is indicating that he is going through a thinking

process, but the same gesture 'crazy' in other places. Tapping the nose also
stands for
a warning signal in
means 'keep it secret' in Britain, but
has different interpretations: it
show extreme disapproval, whereas in Japan,
Italy. The British hiss when they want to
deference.
hissing is an expression of social
Silence and Pauses
We often come across students who try to throw all ideas just in one shot, be it group
of silence and
discussions,meetings, interviews or debates. They ignore the importance
pauses in communication.
We have to make them understand the importance of these
dull
while communicating. Any attempt to avoid it may result in making their messages
and uninteresting. Moreover, it may also cause difficulty in understanding, thus,
affecting the audibility as well as effective listening

Conclusion
ons
Effective communication does not mean ceaseless talk. Strong messages and impress
re
are conveyed even without making any sound. Most speaking situations r
cation

inclusion of silence and pauses in communication. An effective Englishcommu

Vol. Il, No.

34 The Icfai University Journal of Soft Skills,
 ectifies its
fructi function only when the majority of audience are
taken in its Anne
Morow Lindbergh rightly puts it, "Good communication is as stimulating as grasp.
black coffee
just as hard to sleep after. We often find many speakers putting their audience

to sleep.

Speakers oftendo not remain

vigilant and instead find many non-words creeping
in their speech. This happens either because we are
not sure what to say or we derail
hecause of our speed. It is here that careful pauses come to our aid. Also we may remain
quiet for a while. This enables us to think and allows listeners
ASplit second silence is a blessing both for the speaker as well as thedigest
to our ideas.
listener. These
short silences are more meaningful than various non-words such as 'ah', 'um',
and 'oomph's'. Likewise, pauses too are helpful. They not only help break our'umph ideas
into units, but also help in commanding our audience. Sometimes, it creates more
eagerness than expected. It also helps in building a proper rapport with the crowd.
Pauses provide a speaker with more confidence and
help him understand the audiences'
reaction. In addition, it also allows careful speakers to make adequate use of accent
patterns and pronounce most of the words distinctively. Who can forget the subtleties
of former US President Kennedy's famous rhetoric: "Ask not what
your country can
do for you; ask what you can do for your Thecountry". immortality
of is this quote
woven not only in words, but also in the proper division of
pauses.
Group discussion, debate, meetings and oral presentations are discourses where
participants have ample scope for using language for functional purposes. These
situations require candidates to introduce, initiate, intervene,
argue, persuade and
emphasize in order to prove their line of thinking. Moreover, these occasions necessitate
participants to put their views, making proper use of intonation to ensure clarity and
interpretation. Success in any form of communication as a process can be achieved not
merely by a message well delivered but also by a message well received. Various
paralinguistic features, thus, play a complementary and mandatory role in achieving
such meanings. Most organizations spend generously on training their employees in
the hope that they will be more useful. Educational
institutions, especially colleges
and universities, can do
yeoman's service by preparing their students well in
advance lest they cut a sorry figure because of their deficiencies in
effective
communication skills. O

Bibliography
1. Andrea J Rutherford (2001), Basic Communication Skills
for Technology, Pearson
Education Asia.
2. Castle Dennis and John Wade (1980), Public Speaking, Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.,
Kent.

Role of
Paralanguage in Effective nglish Communication
35
 3. Halliday M A K (1978), Language as Social Semiotic: The Social Interpretation of
Language and Meaning, Arnold, London.
4. Halliday M A K (1985a), An Introduction to Functional Grammar, 1 Edition,
Arnold, London.
5. Halliday M A K (1985b), Spoken and Written Language, Deakin University,
Australia.
6. Lucas Stephen E (1983), The Art
of Public Speaking, 3 Edition, Mc-Graw Hill Book
Company, Singapore.
7. Penrose Raspberry Myers (2004), Business Communication for Managers, Thomson
Southwestern.
8. Ross Raymond (1980). Speech Communication, 4th Edition, Prentice-Hall,
Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

Reference # 50-2009-06-04-01

36 The Icfai University Journal of Soft Skills, Vol. II, No. 2, 2009

View publication stats