6. Elements of Communication ( Non-Lexical ) PDF

Non-lexi cal Compon ent Understanding the proper use of non-lexical or non-verbal communication is an advantage for you as a communicator. The non-lexical or non-verbal component of communication refers to the delivering of messages without the use of words. It includes the following: 1. Bo...

Non-lexi cal Compon ent Understanding the proper use of non-lexical or non-verbal communication is an advantage for you as a communicator. The non-lexical or non-verbal component of communication refers to the delivering of messages without the use of words. It includes the following: 1. Body Language 2. Proxemics 3. Paralanguage 4. Presuppositions 5. Cultural and Environmental Condition 1. Body Language -is a kind of non-lexical communication where ideas or messages are expressed using your body. It includes gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, and body stance. a. GESTURE- are most usually hand or head movements that indicate a particular meaning or support a particular idea so you can better persuade your audience. b. FACIAL EXPRESSIONS are executed using the facial muscles. Even without uttering a word, you can transmit your thoughts to others via facial expressions. It is usually used to show emotions such as anger and surprise. There are 4 techniques in managing facial expressions: 1. Intensify -this technique is used when you want to show strong emotions. Usually an exaggerated facial muscle movement is used in this technique. Example: A real estate agent closing a deal might smile broadly with raised eyebrows. She intensifies her facial expression to show her strong emotion- happiness 2. De – intensify- This techniques used when you want to control your feelings because someone might get hurt or you don’t want people to notice how you really feel. Example: An employee who was promoted might smile less or look less happy if he finds out that his colleague was demoted. He is de-intensifying his feelings. 3. Neutralize- This technique is used when you don’t want to show feelings while talking to somebody. Example: An employee is being reprimanded because the project did not turn out well. This employee may neutralize his expression by not showing any facial expression at all. 4. Mask- This technique is used when we want to convince somebody to do something for us; or when we wanted to ask a favor from that person; or when we do not want to hurt feelings of that person. Example: AA sales person negotiating a sponsorship for an event. HE might look absorbed and very keen while listening to the person he is talking with, but deep inside , he is not that interested in the product. c. EYE CONTACT-means looking directly at your audience’s eyes. Making eye contact while conversing with a person or speaking in front of an audience is important because it shows that you are interested in knowing who your audiences are and how they react to what you are saying. d. BODY STANCE- How you sit or stand in front of a person or an audience can relay information about your personality traits. Studying your body and how you stand and move is very important. A slouch or incorrect body balance may either irritate your audience or cause them to focus on your body position instead of your speech. 2. Proxemics- as coined by Hall, refers to the study of people's use of space as a special elaboration of culture. In non-lexical communication, It refers to the nearness or closeness of a person to his audience. It is how you as a speaker , use space when you communicate. 3.Paralanguage –is a kind of non-lexical component of communication that you normally use everyday, sometimes consciously and other times unconsciously. It alters or nuance meaning and reflects your impression of the person you are talking with. It also gives a hint on the role and experiences you had with that person.  Three groups of Paralanguages. a. Vocal Characterizers – include vocal aspects of the following actions: Yawning, whispering, snoring, yelling, laughing, smiling, crying, moaning, groaning, sneezing, sucking, sighing and hiccups Examples: When you see that most of your audience are yawning it may mean that they are bored or uninterested. Whispering to your friend while somebody is speaking may mean that you are giving a negative comment about the speaker. b. Vocal qualifiers- include tone, tempo, rhythm, pitch, volume, intensity and extent. Example: Speaking fast in a high pitch may mean that you are being defensive or you are lying. Speaking in a sing-song beat may mean that you are nervous. C. Vocal Segregates –include sounds like “ uh –uh’’, “mmm”, “uh”, and even silent pauses. Example: “ uh-uh” may mean disapproval. “ mmm” may mean you do not totally believe what the speaker said.: 4. Presuppositions-is an assumption, or something you believe is implied in an utterance. The assumption happens even without confirmation. A Presupposition must be mutually known or assumed by the speaker and the addressee for the utterance to be considered appropriate in context and for communication to be successful. Presupposition must be mutually known or assumed by the speaker and the addressee for the utterance to be considered appropriate in context and for communication to be successful. Why do we have Presuppositions? Presuppositions are linguistic shorthand. When you use them, you lessen the words you say. There is no need to explain every detail the meaning of what you are communicating. If there are no presuppositions, every idea you try to communicate will lengthy and it would entail a lot of time to communicate something. Example: Gianni no longer enjoys dancing Presupposition: Gianni once enjoyed dancing Jerych regrets buying Ana’s car. Presupposition: Ana sold her car to Jerych. If I were a man, then I will be a hunk. Presupposition: The person is a woman 5. Cultural and environmental conditions Refers to the beliefs , customs, arts, etc. of a part of a particular society, group, place, or time. Since each nation has a unique set of cultural traits, these may affect communication between people from different countries. Environmental conditions, as an aspect of non-verbal communication, refer to the strength of the influence of various factors in a particular place or time. Environment may communicate non-verbal messages to a person , and how this person interprets the messages may affect how he would act. If the cultural and environmental conditions may communicate codes that the receiver can understand, then the receiver can easily adjust or adapt. But if the receiver cannot decode the message sent by the cultural and environmental conditions, then the receiver will not be able to understand, therefore, he cannot adjust or adapt.