Management Of Family Resources

Lesson 19 : Communication

Types Of Communication

Nonverbal communication:

It is usually understood as the process ofcommunication through sending and receiving wordless messages. i.e., language is not the only source of communication, there are other means also. Messages can be communicated through gestures and touch, by body language or posture, by facial expression and eye contact. Meaning can also be communicated through object or artifacts (such as clothing, hairstyles or architecture), symbols, and icons (or graphics). Speech contains nonverbal elements known as paralanguage, including voice quality, rate, pitch, volume, and speaking style, as well as prosodic features such as rhythm, intonation and stress. Dance is also regarded as a form of nonverbal communication. Likewise, written texts have nonverbal elements such as handwriting style, spatial arrangement of words, or the physical layout of a page.

Characteristics of nonverbal communication

1. Non-verbal messages primarily communicate emotions, attitudes.
2. Non-verbal cues substitute for, contradict, emphasize or regulate verbal message.
3. Non-verbal cues are often ambiguous.
4. Non-verbal cues are continuous.
5. Non-verbal cues are more reliable.
6. Non-verbal cues are culture bound.
7. Non-verbal behavior always has communicative value.
8. Non-verbal communication is powerful. Example: Non-verbal observations have the power to influence our judgments.

Nonverbal communication also encompasses a written or pictorial c communication format as well as physical expressions and/or movements. It may or may not be accompanied by verbal communication. In discussing nonverbal com­munication, Flannery, Hillman, McGee, and Rivers state that nonverbal com­munication includes " ... facial gestures, body shapes and appearance, personal space, territoriality, vocal qualities, and even aspects of physical environments such as furniture and color. Through nonverbal communication you attach an importance to your verbal communication, signify an emotion, and indicate the function of the message. Thus nonverbal communication is a vital part of the communication process. Nonverbal communication plays a major role in the communication pro­cess. Therefore it should be more closely analyzed as to its effect upon the total process