Communication And Nonverbal Communication

Business communication is a skill not everyone has; it is however something that can be learned. Many people think of only verbal skills when working on their business communication; however some forget how nonverbal cues can affect a message. Nonverbal communication can make or break a business conversation. If a potential partner interprets nonverbal communication conveying a different message than the verbal does it can lead to complications when trying to close an opportunity. As the world has become more connected, the importance of knowing different culture’s interpretations of nonverbal cues has become more important than ever. Since 1950, the world trade has grown more than twenty-seven fold in volume terms (Expansion of International Trade section, para. 1). Technological advances have provided easier access to new markets and manpower which has changed the face of business as we know it. It is more important than ever to be aware of how nonverbal communication is received by others because nonverbal in order to be successful in business; nonverbal communication is just as important as verbal communication.

To me interpersonal communication describes the exchange of verbal and nonverbal messages between two different people. Joseph DeVito states that “interpersonal communication is inevitable, irreversible, and unrepeatable” due to these things effective communication is a necessary skill for us to function in our day to day lives (p. 20). Therefore, I have created a theory for interpersonal communication that goes as follows; To experience effective communication you must understand: your culture, the other person’s culture, and how to listen effectively. By knowing these three things you can consistently avoid misunderstandings and promote understanding in your interpersonal and intercultural relationships.

Non-verbal communication consists mainly of the things people do with their body language. There are times where words are expressed and non-verbal communication could help emphasize the message. A few examples of nonverbal communication are hand gestures eye contact, facial expressions as well as tone and volume. I was given this assignment to observe a situation and take note of the nonverbal communication that occurred. I also had to observe whether the non-verbals were able to execute the message and if the behavior was acceptable.

Body language (the process of communicating nonverbally through conscious or unconscious gestures and movements). People all of the world use body language or gestures to communicate nonverbally. I personally think that nonverbal communication and body language are one of the biggest barriers in communication especially between one culture to other. Body gestures can be misinterpreted as rude or disrespectful depending on the country, region, or even the city you’re from.

Over this summer course I have learned a lot about communication. I learned how significant nonverbal and verbal communication is, along with listening. I never fully understood how big communication is in our daily lives. I now realize that it is a huge aspect of how we continue in our lives. This course has showed me different levels of communication.

Our textbook describes the communicative value of nonverbal communications as communication by nonlinguistic means, whether visually, physically, or vocally: another meaning involves messages expressed without words. Nonverbal communication involves messages expressed without words. Nonverbal resembles verbal communication in some ways and is quite different from it in others

Although unrecognized, Nonverbal Communication is used daily. Nonverbal Communication has many twists and turns. You can never fully understand what someone else is thinking. You can take a guess through their gestures, and facial expressions, but even then inaccuracy prevails.

Theorists view body language, gestures, symbols, tones, language, and more to figure out human conversations. Although they may be subtle and unconscious, they are important. Analyzing how a married couple communicates and resolves problems reflects many aspects of communication. In the show, Law and Order: Special Victim's Unit, season 19, episode 1, this is done with the use of powerful and powerless language, communication accommodation theory, and nonverbal codes in the characters of Karla and Frank. This married couple has a distinct conversation that makes it significant to analyze for this paper. When her rapist is caught after six years of looking for him, Karla is asked by the special victims unit if she is willing to testify against him in court. She is excited to put her rapist in jail; however, her husband, Frank, has something else in mind, and he does not care about Karla’s traumatizing experience at all. Throughout this interaction, the usage of verbal and nonverbal communication within the couple establishes what type of relationship they have because of the way he speaks with Karla, giving off the impression of an unhealthy relationship.

I didn’t watch a recent movie but I have encountered real live nonverbal communication (body language) in the work place. While working in a union facility there have been several occasion when I have encountered irate employees because they have received warnings of some nature due to fault of there on. But it never fails when I am approached by the employees the body language tells me what’s on this mind.

Prior to the interview, keep your hands open in order to prevent them becoming overly sweaty. Keep a tissue in your pocket to discreetly dry your hands if necessary. Sweaty hands could indicate to the interviewer that you are nervous.

Communication, something we must do every time when we interact with other individuals, and it also plays a vital role when trying to understand the issues employees can be facing on the production floor. Most people think that we might use verbal communication the most, but the nonverbal communication is what is really being used when trying to express what we really mean. Therefore, by understanding someone’s body language can be extremely crucial, and how to comprehend the body language being used is imperative.

Communication is the process of sending and receiving messages that enables humans to successfully convey or share ideas and feelings dealing with knowledge, attitudes, and skills. Although we usually identify communication with speech and language, communication is composed of two categories - verbal and nonverbal ("What is .. Communication"). Nonverbal Communication is defined as communication without words. It includes obvious behaviors such as facial expressions, eye contact,  tone of voice, and touching, as well as less obvious messages such as posture, appearance, and spatial distance between people (DeVito). Everything can portray communication; material objects, physical environments, and the use of time. Although one can chose to stay quiet and keep to themselves verbally, nonverbal communication can not be shut off. Even staying silent will speak.

Understanding their concepts will assure they are aligned with the culture they look to service, with respect and increase the chances of building strong relationships.

Your nonverbal communication is a very important aspect when making a first impression. That’s the thing with a first impression, you don’t get a do-over. You want to be convincing of your confidence and know how during a job interview; as to why the employer should choose you, over anyone else. It’s important that the messages you send with body sync with the verbal message you send. If they do not match, then that is where you get confusion and miscommunication between people.

“Systematic research on the role of nonverbal behavior in social interaction has been common only in the past 20 to 25 years.”(Edinger and Patterson, 1983, p. 30).because that statement was published in 1983, it is apparent that the study of nonverbal behavior has been around for roughly 50 to 55 years. However, that is still a relatively recent amount of time compared to research in other science fields such as chemistry or biology. Despite the fact that this field is relatively recent there are many theories about our interaction with others. This paper will discuss the nonverbal expectancy theory along with two other theories, and describe how these theories can work together.