Non-verbal communication simply includes all communication which is not achieved purely through the use of words or other symbols which perform the same task as words. It may be assumed that while communicating words are used more, but observation of people who are communicating reveals a veritable flood of non-verbal information. This may be exchanged at the same time as the verbal information. Alternatively, it may be the whole of the information in cases where no verbal component is present.
Expressions and gestures are so intermingled with our words that it would be hard to try and separate them. Through the range of facial expressions and gesticulations, we can convey our message appropriately.
Has there been someone whom you meet and took an instant dislike towards? You may not know the reason of disliking the person but you get a negative feeling while talking to that person or being around that person? It is that “gut feeling” that makes you feel that way. Studies have shown that quite often that “gut feeling” is our subconscious mind making a decision about trusting someone on the basis of the nonverbal cues we are picking up.
We usually observe the facial expressions of people when we talk to them. We are in constant close contact not only to the flow of spoken words but also the body language that accompanies the words spoken. We are unconscious how many nonverbal clues we pick up from the expressions and gestures of the speakers body while the speaker is talking.
Nonverbal communication is also important when we visit a foreign country and do not know the language of the land. Everyone, at some time, has been able to convey our meaning to the other person simply through gestures and watching each other’s expressions. These gestures and expressions generally seem like having a language of their own. Interestingly, they synchronize with their spoke words in a very close manner.
