TABLE OF CONTENTS Nonverbal communication refers to all information exchange except that involving the literal meaning of the words being used. Communication research tells us that nonverbal cues comprise the majority of the meaning in most interpersonal interactions. Although this holds true among North American English speakers, most cultures and languages of the world place, relatively, far more emphasis on these nonverbal cues.
Learning the word definitions and grammar of a new language is only the first step in successfully communicating in that language. The second and much more challenging part is being able to read between the lines, understand the nuances, and use the nonverbal signals properly.
Nonverbal communication issues addressed in this chapter include:
Space.
Touch.
Gestures and body language.
Display of emotions.
Tone of voice.
Dress.
Scent.
While personal space may not be the final frontier, it is an important factor in communication, from the first interview to the end of the probation period and beyond. Proxemics, the study of personal space, investigates the distance individuals maintain between one another and how this gap is significant. Personal space varies by one s emotional state, the type of activity, personality, and the relationship of the people. Only close personal friends or family members are typically allowed into our private space, while business associates are to remain at a culturally determined distance.
In multicultural situations, misunderstandings may arise during conversations because the size of this invisible private-space bubble varies from culture to culture. This can be especially tricky...
