Human Communication
HUMAN COMMUNICATION
The Basic Course, 9/E
© 2002
Joseph A. DeVito 0-205-35390-8 Bookstore ISBN
Visit www.ablongman.com/replocator to contact your local Allyn & Bacon/Longman representative.
s a m p l e
c h a p t e r
The pages of this Sample Chapter may have slight variations in final published form.
Allyn & Bacon 75 Arlington St., Suite 300 Boston, MA 02116 www.ablongman.com
UNIT 8
Nonverbal Messages
Unit Contents
Nonverbal Communication The Channels of Nonverbal Communication Culture and Nonverbal Communication
134 PART ONE Foundations of Human Communication
http://www.ablongman.com/devito
When you smile, nod your head in agreement, or wave your hand to someone, you’re communicating nonverbally. In fact, some researchers argue that you actually communicate more information nonverbally than you do with words. In this unit we explore this nonverbal communication system; here you’ll learn ◗ how nonverbal communication works and the various forms it takes ◗ how you can use these nonverbal channels to communicate your thoughts and feelings more effectively
NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION
Nonverbal communication is communication without words. You communicate nonverbally when you gesture, smile or frown, widen your eyes, move your chair closer to someone, wear jewelry, touch someone, or raise your vocal volume—and when someone receives these signals. Even if you remained silent and someone attributed meaning to your silence, communication would have taken place. If, on the other hand, you gestured or smiled and no one perceived these movements, then communication would not have taken place. This doesn’t mean that both sender and receiver have to give the same meanings to the signals (the gestures, the smile). It merely means that for communication to be said to have occurred, someone must send and someone must receive the message signals. Nonverbal messages may communicate specific meanings, just as verbal messages do; they may also
The Basic Course, 9/E
© 2002
Joseph A. DeVito 0-205-35390-8 Bookstore ISBN
Visit www.ablongman.com/replocator to contact your local Allyn & Bacon/Longman representative.
s a m p l e
c h a p t e r
The pages of this Sample Chapter may have slight variations in final published form.
Allyn & Bacon 75 Arlington St., Suite 300 Boston, MA 02116 www.ablongman.com
UNIT 8
Nonverbal Messages
Unit Contents
Nonverbal Communication The Channels of Nonverbal Communication Culture and Nonverbal Communication
134 PART ONE Foundations of Human Communication
http://www.ablongman.com/devito
When you smile, nod your head in agreement, or wave your hand to someone, you’re communicating nonverbally. In fact, some researchers argue that you actually communicate more information nonverbally than you do with words. In this unit we explore this nonverbal communication system; here you’ll learn ◗ how nonverbal communication works and the various forms it takes ◗ how you can use these nonverbal channels to communicate your thoughts and feelings more effectively
NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION
Nonverbal communication is communication without words. You communicate nonverbally when you gesture, smile or frown, widen your eyes, move your chair closer to someone, wear jewelry, touch someone, or raise your vocal volume—and when someone receives these signals. Even if you remained silent and someone attributed meaning to your silence, communication would have taken place. If, on the other hand, you gestured or smiled and no one perceived these movements, then communication would not have taken place. This doesn’t mean that both sender and receiver have to give the same meanings to the signals (the gestures, the smile). It merely means that for communication to be said to have occurred, someone must send and someone must receive the message signals. Nonverbal messages may communicate specific meanings, just as verbal messages do; they may also