BCOM/275
October 7, 2013
Barb Schmauder
Demonstrative communication is a form of communication that includes nonverbal and unwritten communications such as body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. Demonstrative communications can be positive and negative for both the send of the message and the receiver.
Not all people are blessed with all five senses. Deaf/hearing-impaired people are partially or completely lacking in the sense of hearing. Demonstrative communications allow deaf/hearing-impaired people to communicate with people who can hear and also with other deaf/hearing-impaired people. Sign language is a form of demonstrative communication. Sign language uses a system of manual, facial, and other body movements as the means of communication, especially among deaf people. When a deaf person communicates with another deaf person it’s a positive outcome because they can conversate based on the movements of their hands and facial expressions. That is a prime example of an effective means of communicating.
When a deaf person communicates with another deaf person using demonstrative communication through sign language they do not sign over each other. Only one person can sign at a time while the other person watches to ensure they are interpreting the message correctly. Through signing it is clear that the receiver is listening to the sender when the receiver is closely watching the senders hand movements.
Another example of demonstrative communication, which can be described in a positive matter, is how a newborn child communicates with its parents. When a newborn child is hungry they will cry alerting their parents of their discomfort. When a newborn child is constipated they will make certain facial expressions and blow air out of their checks like they are trying to push very hard. This demonstrative communication alerts the mother once again of her child’s discomfort. Demonstrative communication