NON VERBAL

COMMUNICATION
What do the following convey?
Receiving applause by a large audience at the end of
inaugural address...
A pat on your back by your elders ...
A risen eyebrow on a statement during a
conversation..
Meaning
 A system of symbolic behaviors that includes all
forms of communication except words.
Example: body language
 All the ways we convey messages and feelings without
words.
 It accounts for over 50% of communication , thus
needs serious consideration.
Classification of non verbal communication
Kinesics: Body Language
Proxemics : Space language
Time language
Paralanguage
Sign language
KINESICS
 Makes use of body movements
 Gestures, Hands, palm, handshakes, Finger Movements
and arm movements, postures
GESTURES
 May be classified as:
1. (R)Regulators
2. (E)Emblems
3. (A)Adaptors
4. (D)Displays
5. (I)Illustrators
 Illustrators :
Regulators:Displays:Gestures that
control oralindicates
accompany our
communicationemotional Adaptors:
speech and
by alerting States Unconscious
accentuate what
Emblems: sendere.g. Smiles and
we speak body
e.g. Noddingfrowns 
Direct movements
e.g. holding three
your of
translations head to fingersthat
whenoriginate
verbal indicate
messageinterest pointing to nervous
from
e.g. an ok sign or number 3 of mind
state
thumb’s up .e.g clasping the
hands to the face
Gestures in fear.
Facial expressions
Face is the index of heart
Facial expressions are linked with happiness, surprise,
fear, anger, sadness etc.
Face expressions continuously change during an
interaction.
Eye contact
Windows to the soul
Eyes along with the eyebrows, eyelids and size of pupil
convey our innermost feelings
Eyebrows and eyelids raised and combined with dilated
pupil: Surprise, scared
Staring Eyes: superiority, lack of respect , threatening
attitude.
Too little eye contact : dishonesty, shyness
Withdrawal of eye contact: sign of submission
Handshakes
CRUSHER hand shake: too dominating &
egoistic

DEAD FISH hand shake: lacking enthusiasm,

passion, and confidence

SKIPPING hand shake: not paying enough

attention & not serious about relationship or
refraining it
HANDCUFF hand shake: gain or express sympathy
and fulfill personal interest.
Postures
It means different ways of standing, sitting or lying.
Posture or movements convey self confidence,
interest, status etc. e.g.
Superiors usually take a more relaxed posture than
subordinates.
Leaning forward depicts interest.
Finger Movement
Pointing finger: associated with authority but in a
heated argument taken in a negative sense.
The OK gesture: in this the thumb and finger join to
form a zero.
 In India, it means all OK
 In Japan , it means money.
 In France , it means zero.
PROXEMICS
 How we communicate using the space around us
Space language
 Four types of Personal Space Zones:
1. Intimate Zones(0-0.5 m)
2. Personal Zone(0.5-1.2m)
3. Social Zone( 1.2-3.0 m)
4. Public Zone (3.0 & above
Space use
People enjoying higher status in the organisation have
better and more space allotted to them.
Higher people are protected within their territories
which are often closed.
Surroundings
 Colour
 Layout or design
CHRONEMICS :TIME LANGUAGE
Concept of time and its impact on people.
Amount of time devoted to something
Punctuality
SIGN LANGUAGE
Visual signs
Audio/ sound signals
PARALANGUAGE
The way in which words are said.
Includes
volume
 pitch
 speaking rate/ pace
 pauses
 non fluencies
Volume
 How loudly or softly you are speaking
 Loudness or softness alters the meaning considerably.

Pitch
How high or low the sounds of your voice are
A high pitch may indicate nervousness, anxiety, anger
etc. and a low pitch may mean sadness, boredom or
affection
Speaking Rate/ Pace
How fast or slow you are speaking
Increase in rate indicates urgency, anxiety or impatience
Decrease in rate can indicate thoughtfulness or a
reflective attitude.
Pauses
Pauses have to be at the right moment
Can be effective in gaining listener’s attention or in
emphasizing a point.
Non- fluencies
Pauses scattered at intervals inserted with sounds and
utterances like ‘ah’, ‘oh’, ‘uh’, ‘um’, ‘you know’ etc
Gives the speaker some time to think.
Too frequent non fluencies can irritate the listener.