Man depends on communication for his day to day activities. Communication is an exchange of information between two individuals. Communication is essential for human survival. According to John Adair, communication is essentially the ability of one person to make contact with another and make himself or herself understood. It involves a systematic and continuous process of telling, listening and understanding. There are different types of communication like Verbal, Non-verbal, written and visual. Whereas verbal communication uses words, nonverbal communication is body language, facial expressions and eye contact, gestures and facial movements and etc. Nonverbal communication is the transfer of information from one person to another without using words or spoken language. It can occur in a variety of ways, including through signs, signals, facial expressions, gestures, and body posture or position. From facial expressions to body language, these cues play a significant role in how we interact with others. Understanding and mastering nonverbal communication can greatly enhance interpersonal relationships, both personally and professionally. Non-verbal communication refers to the unspoken signals we send and receive through body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice, gestures, and other behaviors. It includes all communication that does not involve actual spoken or written words. According to Mehrabian, 55% communication is nonverbal, 38 vocal and 7% words.
Non-verbal communication conveys important social and emotional information through things like eye contact, smiling, posture, proximity, dress, and more. These non-verbal cues impact how our verbal messages are perceived and interpreted. They allow us to express attitudes, establish trust, regulate conversations, and make our interactions more meaningful and productive. Mastering non-verbal communication involves being aware of the signals you are sending and receiving, and using body language, facial expressions, and other non-verbal behaviors effectively. It requires observing others’ non-verbal cues and responding appropriately. Strong non-verbal skills make people more influential, engaging, and socially intelligent in daily interactions.
Interestingly, people use nonverbal modes of communication more than verbal communication in day-to-day life. Rather, they ignore that they are using nonverbal signals or signs, and other gesticulations. No man would ever identify that there is a nonverbal mode of communication. Nonverbal communication dominates verbal communication. Man cannot always depend upon verbal mode because of distance, space and noise. In such situations, man uses nonverbal language to reach out to those who need it. For example, a man in the crowd cannot call his friend using verbal communication. He may use the nonverbal mode of gesticulations. A finger pointer at somebody is a means of nonverbal mode. A baby cries and it is a reflection of his emergency need. The parents understand his needs and attend to the baby. A mother’s frown is understood by the kids. Similarly, we have other nonverbal tools and applications to convey more than what are conveyed through words. A temple bell is a call by the devotee in the shrine. The cooker whistle alerts the cook that it has done the work. The traffic signals on the highways speak of the profound impact of nonverbal communication. The whistle blows and the school bells are pointers of nonverbal communication. The ambulance sirens and the horns of vehicles make use of nonverbal communication effectively. The moment an ambulance alerts the passers-by or other vehicles that it is taking an emergency patient, people give way to the ambulance. The impact of nonverbal communication is visible and profound. It is instantaneous. When people undertake a train journey, they come across an Electronic display showing the arrival and departure of train timings with train number, name, time and platform number. It reaches out to thousands of passengers in one go. This display is an example of nonverbal communication and impacts the passengers to be on their toes. The train guard uses a green flag to alert the loco pilot to move forward. Similarly, the loco pilot understands the signaling system and takes or halts the train. One can rightly understand the situations in the train journey. The pilot maintains nonverbal communication through the control room and the flight goes on. The traffic police control the traffic with the signal system and on specific occasions with the whistle. The school prayer is monitored by physical education teachers with the blow of the whistle. The temple priest uses a magic flute to offer his prayers and to alert the devotees to join him. Even in the Indian scenario, the wedding ceremonies are solemnized by the accompaniment of music. The call bell is an alert for the inmates nonverbally that there is someone waiting to come in. The hissing sound of a king cobra frightens the people with the sound. People keep their mobile phones in vibration mode. The ringtones are frequent alerts for the recipients of the call. The alarm clock cautions the people to attend to their duties. All these are living examples of nonverbal communication. People use symbols and visual charts or graphs. All kids are taught using a visual chart. Visual learning is more influential. Nonverbal communication impacts the learning. There are many modes for many situations. Space, distance and noise make nonverbal communication more strong and effective. A smile by the kid puts us in a feeling of love and affection. A nod, a clap, and a cry are indicators of nonverbal communication. In conclusion, nonverbal communication occupies the users more than verbal mode of communication.
