Language 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.

Language is an integral part of human existence. It is not only a crucial tool in which we use to convey meaning to others, but also a cultural construct passed down from previous generations that helps to define who we are and how we relate to others. Ultimately language defines our relationships with others, the way we use language is shaped by our own socio- cultural background and also that of whoever we may be communicating with. Self awareness of how our own use of language has been shaped by our background and an understanding of what shapes others use of language leads to better communication, understanding and empathy.

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.

With the growing adversity in the country non-verbal communication plays a major role in the law enforcement field. Knowing how to read and listen to someone with a language barrier and or a different background can set the tone on how the encounter might turn out. According to the book (Multicultural Law Enforcement). With the increasing emphasis on community policing and staff diversity in law enforcement, cross-cultural communication skills have become more and more essential not only in establishing good relationships with citizens, but also with professional colleagues. In developing cross-cultural communication and competency skills, police officers who were not born in this country or who spoke another language at home can be a valuable resource, offering insights that can alleviate frustration in encounters with those who are not fluent in English.

I decided to go to Panda Express at 5:30 pm for my observations, while there I was able to observe just how much people rely on nonverbal communications to get their point across. Although I witnessed several encounters of unique body language, there were also a few actions that reoccurred several times in several different people. For example, when a customer would approach the counter where employee served the food, the employee would raise her eyebrows and smile at the customer. The employee’s smile, however, did not reach her eyes suggesting that while it is her job to smile and be welcoming to the customer, she most likely did not want to be at work. Additionally, I noticed that when customers approached the counter about 90 percent of them had their arms crossed. The act of crossing ones arms usually means that a person is trying to put a barrier between them and a situation that they either don’t like, or are uncomfortable with. This may mean that the customers were displeased with having to wait in line to get their food, on the other hand it may be that they were simply comfortable folding their arms. Once they reached the front of the line, every customer pointed to the food they wanted along with verbally telling the employee. This made their communication more effective as it helped to overcome the barrier of sound because the restaurant was noisy.

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.

Language is people’s primary source of communication. It's the method through which people share their ideas and thoughts with others.

Language is used to communicate and convey meaning from one person to another. It is an arbitrary system of sounds and symbols in which it is contextualised and is used to express cultural identity and social relationships. Language can be seen by the way individuals communicate through gestures and facial and body expressions. Language can be heard through voice and attitude (Gee & Hayes, 2011). Language is diverse in the sense that different languages have different words for the same concept. However language allows communication of values and beliefs. Kilickaya (2009) highlights that, ‘English is the best option for people from different backgrounds’. Within Standard English different registers are used to assist communication,

Language has different meanings and is used to describe something physically presented in the world. It is distinguished among terms such as oral language, written language, and language itself. Oral language is the primary form of language and written language comes second. An individual’s social class can influence the way language is written and spoken. Language is ideological, where an individual’s view of the world can be changed. Multi-literacies can influence the way texts are viewed and the child's access to it can shape their journey with language. Educators guidance on their students can affect the child's skills and learning of language. Language has its many purposes and forms in which are influenced by culture and religions.

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.

Language is a universal mode of communication among humans that separates them from other beings. Indeed, language can be verbalized or comprise of non-verbal cues. In addition, development of language of a sign of growth and development in individuals and experts in a language are usually considered as proficient and effective communicators because the meanings of their language are concise and thus received as intended. Environments such as institutions of higher learning are a good place to observe the use of language because they epitomize social learning environments where people from different cultures interact linguistically.

Explaining how language can be viewed as an object, and when we view language, we find it to be meaningful when in use. However, to not see language as an object and rather look at it in a living socio-cultural phenomenon we can draw from these the implications that can impact our classrooms positively. Language has impacted the way in which different cultures communicate, it impacts on how we teach students to read, speak and write. Language can determine how different cultures are perceived within a community other than their own. Language can be viewed as an object, that can be defined as a communication tool. Language can be broken into different dialect from different socio-cultures and those cultures can impact on how students and

Although there were times that I considered myself helping to deescalate the situation between Brenda and I, I was very much a part of the problem by being pass aggressive. Wood (2016) states that passive aggression is acting aggressively while denying feelings or acting aggressive. Verbally I could have tried having dialogue with Brenda to understand her perspective of what she was thinking to understand how she was feeling. I should have voiced how I felt, instead of trying to avoid the conflict, due to fear of what I might have inappropriately said. Wood states (2016), competent interpersonal communicators are sensitive to others and their preferences and choose their words accordingly.

Language plays many roles in our lives as “language is both a social tool and an information tool” (Hayes & Gee, 2011, p.24). Language is a powerful means of communication, learning and self expression; and contributes substantially to our sense of identity, wellbeing and belonging. Children predominantly learn language from observing and interacting with adults. The manner in which adults use language and interact with children, determines how children learn to use language

Even though we use language in our everyday lives most of us don’t put much thought into what words we use or the different ways we may speak to someone in various situations. For example you may have noticed that the language you use when having a conversation with your friends differs from when you are speaking with your family. Difference in the use of language can also vary based on a persons class, gender, education, age, ethnicity and the particular social context they find themselves in.