preview

Essay on Between the Lines: The Importance of Nonverbal Communication

Decent Essays

Between the Lines: The Importance of Nonverbal Communication
The symbols we use to communicate are the vital fabric that holds human society together. Every day, billions of people around the globe use a plethora of symbols to relay information, exchange ideas, and solve problems. When these symbols are used in an effective way, they can change how someone views life, rouse people to a common cause, or infuse emotions and ideas into those that can understand. But what kind of symbols am I referring to? Most would think that I speak of verbal, oral, and textual symbols, and, to a certain extent, they are correct.
But there are other symbols that many do not pay much attention to, symbols that speak between the lines of normal conversation …show more content…

When I meet somebody for the very first time, my impression of them before they speak is made largely on how they look. During that period, questions such as “is he/she well dressed or well groomed?” or “is his/her apparel appropriate?” usually cross my mind; while I know that my rapid assessment of a person by appearance is by no means fair, accurate, or thorough, it nonetheless a powerful factor in first time impressions that gives some insight into a person.
As a result of this, I change my appearance depending on what is deemed appropriate by the social situation. If I am attending a formal lecture or seminar, for example, I definitely would not throw on a T-shirt and jeans, as it would be deemed inappropriate by those attending. Rather, I would suit up for the occasion and wear something more formal. On a similar note, it would be both outrageous and impractical for me to attend a workshop or activity of some kind that demanded physical activity; the social circumstance deems it inappropriate and I would be sending a negative symbol.
Another form of nonverbal symbols is proxemics. It is a form of nonverbal symbolism that pertains to “personal space”; more specifically, it deals with the physical distance between a person and the individual that he/she is interacting with. That is not to say each individual has but one boundary; on the contrary, the average person has several, ranging from the

Get Access