Nonverbal communication explained with examples from everyday life

Nonverbal communication is the message we convey through our body language, facial gestures, or the intonation of our voice. It is the part of communication linked to intention, emotion and everything that is not transmitted with words.

Crossing arms

When the person with whom we are communicating crosses his arms, it is a sign that he distrusts or does not approve of what we say. This behavior is part of kinesia, the part of non-verbal communication that studies the movements of the body that are used as a form of expression.

Shake hands

Shaking hands is a common greeting in formal settings and is integrated as part of kinesia. When one of the two parties does it forcefully, it means that that person has great confidence in himself and even in the person he greets. On the contrary, shaking hands without strength denotes weakness and lack of confidence.

walk through class

When the teacher walks around the room purposefully and with long strides, he is displaying a high degree of self-confidence and presents an image of great authority. This example is also part of kinesia, which analyzes the movement of the body and its meaning.

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Touch your nose

This gesture is interpreted as insincerity. When someone we are talking to touches their nose, it is a sign that she is trying to hide something or that there is little truth in what she is saying. It is undoubtedly an act in which our body reflects a certain nervousness in the face of an uncomfortable situation and, therefore, the category it forms part of is kinesia.

pat on the back

A pat on the back is always a good sign, regardless of the environment we are in. Whether from a family member, teacher, or friend, patting is interpreted as a sign of encouragement, support, and approval. This example belongs to the kinesia category.

Distance

If one of the participants in the conversation walks away while she is talking to herself, it is a sign that that person does not feel comfortable or does not have an interest in what she is listening to. The way in which people use space when they communicate is the object of study of proxemics.

Look through the window

When a student constantly looks out the window in class, it is a sign that he feels bored or distracted and is more interested in what is happening outside the classroom. This attitude falls within proxemics, since it speaks of the way in which the student uses her space and expresses her state of mind.

talk up close

People who keep a short distance while talking show trust, affection and closeness. Sometimes, and depending on the context, there can be a certain attraction or intimacy between two people who speak very closely. One more example of proxemics, in which the space between interlocutors has a specific meaning.

Look at the eyes

Staring into the eyes of our interlocutor is generally a sign that we are being sincere or that we are very interested in what we are hearing. Excessive staring can be defiant, intimidating, and make the other person uncomfortable. This practice is part of proxemics, since we are using space to convey an intention.

excessive nervous laughter

When someone giggles while talking, they are showing insecurity. That person is surely uncomfortable, in a situation that causes tension. This practice is considered paralinguistic because it is a way of communicating through a nonverbal part of speech.

high pitched voice

Using a high tone of voice can mean anger, emotion before an event, joy or authority, everything will depend on the context. If in class, while the students talk non-stop, the teacher raises his tone, he is showing his authority and, surely, some anger. But if someone who receives a surprise raises her tone of voice, it is surely emotion and joy.

falling intonation

When someone expresses himself by intoning his phrases in a descending manner, it is a sign that his mood is low, either due to sadness or tiredness, although it may simply be due to shyness. This type of intonation is linked to a slow rhythm and a low voice volume. All these aspects are part of paralinguistics, what we communicate with the voice, but without using words.

speak very fast

People who speak faster than normal are often quite nervous, very excited, or in a moment of great anxiety. This is caused by wanting to say everything that is in mind in the shortest possible time and, sometimes, in such a hasty way that it is not understandable. This is one more practice of paralinguistics, which helps to perceive a person's state of mind through the way they speak.

Use of emojis and stickers

The use of emojis, stickers and other visual resources is increasingly common when we communicate through messages or social networks. Its function is to provide the part of non-verbal communication that completes the written message. When a person writes a message, the receiver doesn't know their mood and emojis can be a way to get this information. They are part of the iconic language and, therefore, are a part of non-verbal communication.

Road signs

Traffic signs are part of the environment and have universal meaning. It is a system of signs that serves to inform vehicle drivers and pedestrians without the need for words, which is why they are part of non-verbal communication. For example, when a pedestrian sees the red light doll, he knows that he still cannot cross; the traffic light for the driver, on the other hand, will be green and it means that you can circulate.