Nonverbal vs Verbal Essay Example Essay Example

Nonverbal vs Verbal Essay Example Paper Nonverbal vs Verbal Essay Introduction The world we know is based on communication. People work, play and share ideas through communication. Each person must be able to make his thoughts and wants known to others and be able to understand the thoughts and wants of others. There are different mediums in which people can let others know what they think or want, this done through the different types of communication. Communication is defined in the Webster Dictionary as sending, giving or exchanging information and ideas which are often expressed non verbally and verbally which can be shown through facial expression, gesture, speaking and writing. The first scientific study of nonverbal communication was by Charles Darwin in his book called The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872) in which he argued that all mammals show emotions reliably in their faces. Since recently studies of non verbal communication came more prominent as teachers of acting and pantomime analyzed how facial and body movement convey emoti ons. American anthropologist Edward T. Hall developed proxemics. Proxemics enables people to send and receive message without the use of words. He studied how people in different culture uses gesture, posture , speaking , distance and non verbal signs to communicate their feelings and social status because people would feel uncomfortable putting such feelings into words. (McIntosh, G. (2006). The World Book Encyclopedia, (Vol . 4 ,pp 887) Chicago: Encyclopedia World Book. Early in human life we develop a basic understanding of different forms of communication. For example babies at six months uses hand gestures to express themselves. They are taught to use their hands to wave to say bye bye, before they can talk. The face to face interaction and the emotions that people shows a child, helps them to form the ability to communicate. In infancy language and speech is not developed, babies communicate by using non verbal behaviour. When they are hurt or happy they will make a face to in dicate their emotions, these behaviours will stay with them into their adult stage and help with their verbal skills later on. Non verbal communication is usually understood as the process of communication through sending and receiving wordless message. Nonverbal vs Verbal Essay Body Paragraphs It can be communicated through gesture, touch, posture, eye contact and facial expression which can be communicated through object communication such as clothing, hairstyles, architecture and symbols. Non Verbal Communication (20000. Author. retrieved October 2, 2010. from http: www. wikipedia . org. / ,while words can be in the form of oral or written. Oral communication is defined by the Oxford Concise English Dictionary as a word spoken and it is an effective form of communication that gains attention quickly. Communication non verbally is very effective and understood worldwide. A smile is understood everywhere, so is laughing or crying, pointing to something directs attention to the object. Even a glance can be used to communicate and some movements of the body have special meaning. For example we nod our heads to say yes and shake them side or side to say ‘no’. Pictures are used to explain a thought or tell a story. A simple sound or colour is used to give informat ion. For example red is often a danger sign. It is said that action speaks louder than words. This action comes in the form of non verbal communication. It is always speaking in every action and behaviour of an individual. People thoughts and feelings are always sending messages through non verbal communication, because it speaks volume, there are times when a person says something verbally, but their body communicate differently through non verbal behaviours. If two messages were sent which contradict each other, people will have a tendency to believe the nonverbal over the verbal communication, because it is done unconsciously and it’s apart of our everyday behaviour. For instance, if someone says i hate you but is smiling, or laughing. One will not believe that they are telling the truth because people trust non verbal behaviour more than words. Body language speaks louder than words, sometimes a person is asked a question and all they have to do is show their body express ion. For example a person says come here to an individual and the individual hisses their teeth and uses their hands to shove them off. That body language answers the question immediately, because that person doesn’t have any interest in coming to that person from the body expression used. When an individual speaks two messages are sent one verbal and one non verbal. There is hardly a time a message is sent and there is no expression to it. Even before a sentence is spoken, the person listening observes the body language and facial expression of the speaker, to see if they are interested in hearing what they have to say. For example a person is asked to address a group of parents about a particular subject, on reaching the podium the speaker is improperly dressed for the occasion and slouches over the podium and his face is looks upset. Most people would not be interested in hearing the first words out of the speakers’ mouth just because of the non verbal message he se nt to the audience. In this case non verbal communication speaks louder than words, because of the way how the speaker portrays himself, no one will be interested in his speech because they have heard what he has to say already due to his attire and facial expression. In our society today the normal and universally popular medium of communication to any audience is by way of oral communication. However in some instances for the benefit of dumb, deaf individuals who may be a part of the audience an additional form of communication is also present. This form of communication normally uses sign language to get the message across. This non verbal communication or sign language has been in effect for ages now for the benefit of persons with challenges to their speaking and hearing ability. This method is the most effective way to communicate with these challenge person, but to the rest of the audience it is non significant and vague. Although it has been said that action speaks louder th an words but this maxim is not applicable in all cases. Somehow when using non verbal expression coordinated with signs it become more forceful and better understood. For instance raising the eye brow in nonverbal communication sends the message faster and more effective. However verbal communication is most effective when coupled with inflections of tone in voice and body gesture and posture. As much as one could gesticulate impressively in an ttempt to convey a non verbal communicate message, this cannot be effective or supersede a verbal message. Up until today worded communication is still considered the most effective means of relating to any one as a congregation. For instance , in any religious service the preacher or speaker could never and has never mention to use the channel of non verbal communication as the medium of delivering his message , unless of course all the audience is somehow challenged one way or the other . In some instances when there are mutes in the audien ce , or at function of an international nature there is sometimes another person who is engaged to translate and communicate verbal speech to non verbal communicative message , otherwise this is not the usual means of communication. But on the other hand that person can communicate effectively to a person who has the ability to talk effectively by communicating through gestures, hap tics and sign language. For instances A mute child was playing with a child that can speak who had some cookies , the handicapped wanted some , the use of signs and hap tics and gesture to communicate would have to used with this child so he could understand the message sent. Women display through the way of dress by their skimpy clothing exposing, expressing most of their bodies that they are interested to be counted. This mode of dress clearly emits a non verbal communicative message to members of the opposite sex for their approach. A police man in his uniform sends a message to the public that he is an officer without saying a word or have the words police written on his uniform. Another aspect of non verbal communication is through via the pointing of fingers , shaking it on showing a fist , this action depicts anger . A smile and for a wink of the eye while looking at someone of the opposite sex is also an invitation of wanting acquainted. In different parts of the world nonverbal expression means different things in different culture. For example in the form of haptics , Hindus resent to be touched with the eft hand because it’s a social insult and the left hand is used for toilet functions, while in Jamaica touching with the left hand is not offensive. With this, nonverbal communication is understood worldwide but some cultures perceives the same behaviour differently ways, while words around the world have the same meaning. For instance the word come here, does not have another meaning around the world because it is understood as it is. Communication whether non ver bal or worded is very important. It is the back bone of human existence. It helps us to be organised to learn and build good relationships. Without communication, there is no way to express thoughts, ideas and feelings. Human beings uses non verbal communication to control others, to clarify to stress , complement or emphasize verbal expression, Verbal expression does not carry the same impact as when its accompanied by non verbal expression. People are more interested in what a person has to say if the sender shows some form of enthusiasm and confidence. Nonverbal cues can be used to reinforce information sent to achieve communicative goals, messages have been shown to be remembered well when nonverbal signals compliment verbal exchange. 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