Communication through Gestures and Facial Expressions
Nonverbal communication can be defined as the transfer of messages without the use of words. It uses physical movement; such as hand gestures and body language, and also facial expressions; for example, eye contact, frowning, and smiling. Marta Dynel defines nonverbal (NVC) communication as:
While in broad definitions NVC includes any kind of non-verbal messages (or non-verbal signs) proper to informative processes, more narrow definitions restrict it to non-language (or better non-linguistic) phenomena that are interrelated — often in an intricate way — with verbal language and can be found in interactive or communicative processes.
Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal communication does not rely on the use of words to convey its meaning. “Nonverbal communication is usually understood as the process of communication through sending and receiving wordless messages. These nonverbal messages can be transmitted by bodily gestures, posture, facial expressions, and eye contact” (Subramani 2010). Nonverbal communication is simply that, communication without words. Nonverbal communication is present everday in our society. It goes hand in hand with verbal communication. It complements and enhances spoken words. According to David McNeill, gestures have two core features: they carry meaning, and are synchronous with speech. He goes on to say, “gesture and speech express the same underlying idea unit but express it in their own ways.”
Gestures and their coordinating words are presented at the same time by the speaker. David McNeill defines this phenomenon as “co-expressive.” The timing of speech and its coordinating gesture are very important. It shows that what is being ...
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...n vary just the same as dialects of a language. Nonverbal communication has become part of life and should be utilized whenever possible. It adds emotion and feeling to the message being sent and also shows understanding and comprehension by the receiver.
Works Cited
Beattie, G., & Shovelton, H. (2011). An exploration of the other side of semantic communication: How the spontaneous movements of the human hand add crucial meaning to narrative. Semiotica, 184(1-4), 33-51. doi:10.1515/semi.2011.021
Dynel, M. (2011). Turning speaker meaning on its head: Non-verbal communication and intended meanings. Pragmatics & Cognition, 1 (3), 422-447.
McNeill, D. (2005). Gesture and Thought. Chicago, Illinois.
Subramani, R. R. (2010). Insight through Body Language and Non-verbal Communication References In Tirukkural. Language In India, 10(2), 261-271.
Subramani, R. (2010, February). Insight through Body Language and Non-verbal Communication References In Tirukkural. Language in India , 10 (2), pp. 261-271.
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