Verbal and Nonverbal Communication, Essay Example

Through long years of development, humanity has worked out the combined system of communication, that  enables people to interact and transfer information either through verbal or nonverbal way.

Verbal communication founds on the use of language, which is defined by prominent linguist Sapir as “purely human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas, emotions, and desires by means of a system of voluntarily produced symbols” (Sapir,2007, p.17).

Evidently, spoken language remains the most wide-spread and universal way of rendering information. Therefore, it is the most examined method of language; each road sign conveys specific meaning (“roadwork” or “overtaking prohibited”). Words in their entity serve the chief elements of communication. All the signs accepted in society may be translated by means of communication; their precise meaning becomes clear through the system of verbal and nonverbal devices. The latter affirm, doubt, and justify what is said. The speaker shows ironic or sarcastic attitude to the word by corresponding intonation solely.

Nonverbal communication plays a significant part in information exchange and provides effective personal self-expression because most part of information man receives through the visual channel. Researchers identify kinesics (messages sent by the body and face), paralanguage (voice characteristics: pitch, volume, pace), chronemics (connected with status and punctuality), proxemics (distance between communicators), olfactics (acceptable or unacceptable scents).

Nonverbal codes are considered more reliable and honest in comparison with verbal means because of their less conscious and controlled character.

There are similar expressive movements for different cultures. According to Hindle, “one of the expressions people of different cultures may produce when angry is characterized by opening the corners of the mouth in a particular way and by frowning…, clenching the fists, stamping on the ground and even hitting at objects” (Hindle,1972, p. 299).

Cultural differences in communication codes are object of study for many modern researches. Albert Mehrabian claims that first attempts to identify “the differences encountered during an interaction between members of different cultures” were done by Hall in 1959 (Mehrabian, 2009, p. 6).

One gesture may have different meanings in different cultures. Nodding for “yes” in most countries means “no” in Bulgaria; and vice versa for “not”. Acceptable in one culture may be supposed offensive in another. Indians break bread with right hand solely because the left hand is connected with toilet functions.

Interpersonal space plays a significant part of the process of communication. The attitude of the addressee towards the speaker changes if the comfortable distance is broken. Scientists pay attention to gender related traditions in various countries. In Islamic and Asian cultures touch to the opposite gender person may be considered offend or sexual infringement; in European culture touch of close friends is an ordinary expressive gesture. Shaking hands, men greet each other; this gesture is not adopted among women.

In the process of communication, people belonging to one ethnicity or social group create believes, myths, values. Thus, words bear cultural information revealing distinctions in the spoken language, as well. Ignorance of relevant nuances hampers from understanding a foreign culture. As a rule, notions of this kind are translated through explanation (national heroes, holidays, dishes, historical events etc). Thus, words are not only the signs which identify notions.

The unity of verbal and nonverbal devices enables effective communication. Learning major accepted and forbidden things of the culture you are going to interact with may be helpful to avoid misunderstanding.

References

Hindle, R. A. (1972). Non-verbal Communication. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Mehrabian, A. (2009). Nonverbal Communication. New Jersey: Aldine Transaction.

Sapir, E.(2007). Language: an Introduction into the Study of Speech. BiblioBazaar.