public communication course

1. Nonverbal
Communication
Definitions, characteristics, types, theories.

2. Definition
 No reliance on words
 Any message that conveys meaning without using words
 Nonlinguistic way

3. Characteristics
 AMBIGUOUS – depends on:
 The relationship
 The nature of communication
 The words
 The culture
 CONTINUOUS:
 Body language (gestures, posture)
 Facial expressions
 UNPLANNED & UNCONSCIOUS AT TIMES

4. Characteristics (cont.)
 LEARNED & INTENTIONAL AT TIMES:
 Touching, looking, sitting, distance
 MORE BELIEVABLE THAN VERBAL:
 When there is a contradiction with the verbal message
 Because it’s more spontaneous & less conscious

5. Functions
 COMPLEMENT VERBAL MESSAGES:
 Clarify, emphasize, add
 SUBSTITUTE VERBAL MESSAGES:
 Gestures without words
 REPEAT VERBAL MESSAGES:
 Reinforce & clarify
 CONTRADICT VERBAL MESSAGES:
 Consciously (sacracsm) & unconsciously (mistake in directions)
 REGULATE THE COMMUNICATION FLOW:
 Turn-taking, beginning, ending

6. Functions (cont.)
 DECEIVE:
 Winning a game
 Assuring others
 Necessary in certain professions

7. Types
 KINESICS (body movement):
 Emblems – symbolize concepts (shoulder shrugging)
 Illustrators – accompany words to clarify meaning (pointing out directions)
 Regulators – help with flow, turn-taking and pace
 Affect displays – express the type & intensity of emotions (facial expressions,
posture & gestures)
 Adaptors – indicate our feelings & condition to others
 HAPTICS (touching) depends on:
 Relationships
 Status
 Profession

8. Types (cont.)
 PROXEMICS (space):
 Personal space – relationships, culture, personal preferences, context:
 Distance: intimate, personal, social, public
 Territoriality – physical space & items claimed as own:
 Primary territory – your very own (clothes, bedroom, car…)
 Secondary territory – associated with you (desk at school)
 Public territory – claimed only temporarily (space at the beach)
 Levels of invasion:
 Violation – smth. personal used without permission
 Invasion – a claimed public territory used by someone else
 Contamination – evidence of territory used is left behind (trash)

9. Types (cont.)
 APPEARANCE:
 Physical attractiveness
 Grooming & hygiene
 Clothes
 OCCULESICS (eye movement):
 Open up to communication
 Show concern
 Get feedback
 Moderate anxiety

10. Types (cont.)
 VOCALICS (paralanguage):
 Pitch
 Rate
 Volume
 Pronunciation
 Inflection
 Tempo
 Accent
 Vocal fillers
 Hesitation & silence
 Sounds

11. Types (cont.)
 ELECTRONIC PARALANGUAGE:
 Emoticons
 Acronyms
 Flaming – swearing & shouting
 CHRONEMICS (use & perception of time):
 Monochronic – linear time (“timeliness” is essential)
 Polychronic – circular time (“finishing” more important than “timeliness”)

12. Impact on relationships
 EXPECTANCY VIOLATIONS THEORY:
 Expectations – based on society & culture, personal preferences
 Two types: preinteractional & interactional
 Violation can be considered with favor (if rewarded) or not
 Threat threshold – tolerance of deviation from the norm
 Violation valence – the value placed on the violation