Speech

Chapter 4: Nonverbal Communication

Overview

Effective communication happens as a result of people listening carefully to what others have to say and observing their nonverbal communication to see what messages it conveys. Because people generally remember more of what they see than of what they hear, nonverbal communication often overpowers verbal messages. A person can use positive or negative nonverbal communication to convey agreement, openness, interest, boredom, or nervousness. Generally, facial expressions are the most difficult kinds of nonverbal communication to accurately interpret, whereas tones of voice and body postures are more telling. For example, people who are lying tend to touch their faces often and fidget more than usual.

nonverbal communication is not a universal language, and different gestures can have very different meanings in different cultures. "Personal space," or the distance between people while speaking, also varies by culture and circumstance. The amount of space between people should depend upon whether their communication is intimate, personal, social, or public.