Nonverbal communication

Tips for Understanding Nonverbal Communication

• Recognize that people communicate on many levels. Watch their facial expressions, eye contact, posture, hand and feet movements, body movement and placement, and appearance and passage as they walk toward you. Every gesture is communicating something if you listen with your eyes. Become accustomed to watching nonverbal communication and your ability to read nonverbal communication will grow with practice.
  
  
• If a person’s words say one thing and their nonverbal communication says another, you are wont to listen to the nonverbal communication – and that is usually the correct decision.



• Assess job candidates based on their nonverbal communication. You can read volumes from how the applicant sits in the lobby. The nonverbal communication during an interview should also elucidate the candidate’s skills, strengths, weaknesses, and concerns for you.



• Probe nonverbal communication during an investigation or other situation in which you need facts and believable statements. Again, the nonverbal may reveal more than the person’s spoken words.



• When leading a meeting or speaking to a group, recognize that nonverbal cues can tell you:
  --when you’ve talked long enough,
  --when someone else wants to speak, and
  --the mood of the crowd and their reaction to your remarks.
  Listen to them and you’ll be a better leader and speaker.

Understanding nonverbal communication improves with practice. The first step in practice is to recognize the power of nonverbal communication. I’m sure you’ve had gut feelings that what a person said to you was untrue. Listen to your gut. Along with your life experiences, training, beliefs and all that make up your past, it’s your inner expert on nonverbal communication.

This is very important in our daily life, a slightest misunderstanding could cause conflict.

PERSONAL SPACE IN COMMUNICATION

Each and every one of us surrounded by zone of psychological comfort. This zone varies depending on which situation we are in; who are the people we talking to. The amount of space we are use while interacting may tell in which kind of relationships we are with this person, because physical distance is correlated with social distance.

The personal space around our body includes a number of concentric circles where the closer areas are reserved for more trusted people. If you are closer to me, you may attack me, so I will seek to keep close areas safer by forbidding all but approved friends.

Hall (1966) found four key zones:

• Intimate: touching to 10 inches. For close friends and family.
• Casual-personal: 18 inches to four feet: Informal conversation with friends.
• Social-consultative: four to twelve feet: formal transactions.
• Public: Addressing groups of people.

Note that this distance can vary significantly. Extraverts, for example, may have smaller distances whilst introverts may prefer to keep their distance. People who live in towns and cities are used to squeezing closer to people so have smaller spaces, whilst country people stand so far apart they have to lean forwards to shake hands.

In addition, the distance varies greatly with nationality. For example the casual-personal distance may be:

• North America: 18 inches
• Western Europe: 14 to 16 inches
• Japan: 36 inches
• Middle East: 8 to 12 inches

For close conversation, an appropriate proximity needs to be sustained. If the distance is too far, then the person may be seen as 'stand-offish' or distant (perhaps insultingly so).   

Retrieved from:

http://changingminds.org/explanations/behaviors/body_language/proxemics.htm

technologies in communication

Last time, people use letters to communicate with people from far away countries. But the telephone was invented to make communication more easier. Now, more advanced gadgets are invented to improve communication.

BODY LANGUAGE and NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION IN JAPAN

As I have been saying in my previous post, non-verbal communication is very important. However, how many of us thought would our gestures, posture and way of greeting be perceived in a different way as we travel around the world? Unfortunately, many of us tend to ignore this kind of details when planning overseas trips, consequently we often come across as impolite and rude people. Knowing customs of other countries may help to make our overseas experience more exciting and help us to make new friends in different parts of the world. Lets have a look at some peculiarities of cultural values in Japan.

o        GREETING GESTURES

§         The graceful act of bowing is the traditional greeting.

§         However, they have also adopted the western custom of shaking hands, albeit with a light grip and perhaps with eyes averted. Meanwhile, to show respect for their customs, it would flatter them to offer a slight bow when being introduced.

§         Avoid hugging and kissing when greeting.

§         It is considered rude to stare. Prolonged direct eye contact is considered impolite or even intimidating.

§         It is considered rude to stand with your hand or hands in your pockets, especially when greeting someone or when addressing a group of people.

§         The seemingly simple act of exchanging business cards is more complex in Japan because the business card represents not only one's identity but also one's station in life. Yours should be printed in your own language and in Japanese.

o        TOUCHING GESTURES

§         The Japanese are not a touch-oriented society, so avoid open displays of affection, touching or any prolonged form of body contact.

§         Queues are generally respected; it is only in crowded train and subway stations where the huge volume of people causes touching and pushing.

o        BECKONING GESTURES

§         It is considered insulting to point to someone fingers extended and the thing folded into the palm.

§         To beckon someone, the palm faces downward and the fingers are moved in a scratching motion.

o        OTHER NONVERBAL GESTURES

§         Because of the high regard for graciousness and restraint, one should not shout, raise the voice in anger, or exhibit any excessively demonstrative behavior.

§         Among the Japanese, smiling often can cover a gamut of emotions: happiness, anger, confusion, apologies, or sadness.

§         Displaying an open mouth (such as yawning or a wide-open laugh) is considered rude in Japan.

§         Silence (listening) is a sign of politeness and of contemplation. During conversations, be especially careful about interrupting.

§         One way to show concentration and attentiveness is to close the eyes in contemplation and nod the head slight, up and down.

o        OTHER NONVERBAL GESTURES

§         The "O.K." gesture in Japan may be interpreted as the signal for "money" or "give me change in coins."

§         Blowing your nose in public is considered rude.

§         When entering a private home or traditional restaurants with tatami (bamboo mats) floors, it is usually customary to remove your shoes and place them with the toes pointing toward the outdoors.

o        BOWING

§         Many westerners view the bow as an act of subservience, but in Japan that would completely wrong. For the Japanese a bow signals respect and humility, two qualities coveted throughout Asia.

§         Although it is not necessary, but a slight bow demonstrates that you respect their customs. Moreover, in Japan, where style and grace and courteousness are revered, that simply act would surely be noted, appreciated, and probably remembered .

Retrieved from:  http://www.csupomona.edu/~tassi/gestures.htm#asian

daddy and me

This shows how important communication is with your parents. Even though the child is already telling his dad how he feels but his dad still cant seem to open up and see the picture.

The importance of sign language

Everyone needs to communicate. Even deaf people needs to communicate too! For example, they invented the sign language to communicate. Sign language is performed using the hand and sometimes the mouth.

COD Modern Warfare 2

Today i have just finished playing the "easy" mode of call of duty modern warfare 2 which is one of the latest video games available to all gaming consoles...i decided to put this video clip of the game here because i find that it has relativity with human communication..this is a scene by which the player gets betrayed by his commander..

Visual....

Visual Language

Visual language is any communication which is primarily visual. It is an emerging field which focuses on improving thinking, learning and communication by making it more visual. Visual language integrates visual elements with words, both spoken and written, to enhance and expand the meaning of all.

This was taken from:

Alan Stillman's history of human communication in Visual Language (VL)
wiki.vizthink.com/VisualLanguage

Cartoons which feature human communication.

cartoons for example such as "Garfield" are used to communicate ideas and current issues such as political issues,economic issues to the viewer

obtained from http://www.doobybrain.com/2007/07/14/comics-etc/

self- motivation song

This song which is you gotta want it presented by roberta gold always encourage me going forward,dont give up what you want and give a lot motivation when i feeling depress .....i like it


I choose this motivational song because of the lyrics. Being unstoppable doesn't mean you won't meet failure or setbacks. It simply means that even in the face of challenge and obstacles, even when you've failed and fallen so many times, you still get back up even when getting back up is hard to do. That's what being unstoppable means, that nothing will hold you down because no matter what, you will find a way(www.motivationpower.net)

Why human communicate ?

Well the first three option of why human communicate is because we trying to informing ,persuading and entertaining other people every day around our enviroment........persuade-our objective is trying to persuade people agree of our view point,change their behaviour,we use words,image, sounds to be more persuasive ......entertaining-we trying to makes humor ,striking audio and visual images,leaves others people with an important message or makes them think about something in a new way,great entertainment makes other laugh and think......informing-we trying to to impart information to,and make other people aware of something,we also telling people what we exactly think ......that what i think about why human must communicate......

Non verbal communication. EYE CONTACT

Non verbal communication plays a huge role in how people comprehend us-our posture, movements, volume and tone of our voice give people around  more information about us than our words. I am going to post few articles  on non verbal communication, and first of them  is on eye contact.

Eye contact is an important part in non verbal communication. It is often said that you have to listen also with your eyes. It means looking at people in the eye when talking to them. (http://newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=13928&article=1713&week=25 )

Some people struggle to make eye contact with others,. Failing to make eye contact suggests to some that you're shy; to others, it indicates rudeness or boredom. Some people have the opposite problem. Making eye contact for a long time can indicate you're very outgoing; to others it indicates aggression and over-confidence.

This skill is especially important when you are at a job interview; the employer will think you're hiding something or are not confident, and most likely they won't hire you. Although this process is as natural as breathing for many people, it's difficult for some.(http://www.wikihow.com/Look-People-in-the-Eye)

when you talking to people try to follow this rules: 

Firs of all relax. 

If you really can not look people in to eyes try this trick-look at person's forehead.

Try to concentrate on what person is saying rather than on eye contact and it will work out naturally .

Try not to stare.

Image source: http://happybrainstorm.com/wp-includes/images/eye_contact.jpg

Song: Simple Plan-Welcome To My Life

This song expresses teenagers that felt left out and no one understands their feelings...

Quote

Clarence Darrow:

Even if you do learn to speak correct English, whom are you going to speak it to??

From this quote, I do think that human communication is very important. We can learn to speak correct English, but what is the use when there is no one to speak to. I do think that we can live without languages, but we can't live without communication.

cartoon

This cartoon explains we are listening to the cries of the dolphins who are in need of our help.

(This was takes from CSL cartoon stock)

Moving forward

Bad human communication leaves us less room to grow.
Quoted by Rowan D. Williams

In this quote, without the basic human communication understanding between humans, it will be a very difficulty process of moving forward and being to able to grow from our mistakes to be a better person.

This is what i comprehend when i read this quote.

Human communication in songs

Almost all songs contain underlying meanings which communicate to the listener the emotions of the singer/band. Songs are used as a mode of communication, today i heard two songs which i shall categorize into two and that is one depicts depression and another one anger...the first song is System of a down- Roulette which depicts depression and another is Cannibal Corpse-Hammer Smashed Face which depicts anger..

System of a Down - Roulette



Cannibal Corpse - Hammer Smashed Face

quotes about communication

  

ERNEST HEMINGWAY :

When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.

RACHEL NAOMI REMEN:

The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention.... A loving silence often has far more power to heal and to connect than the most well-intentioned words.
Ernest Hemingway and Rachel Naomi Remen have told us how important listening is to achieve effective communication. Unfortunately, most people nowadays think that it is only important to deliver their own message without acknowledging that communication is a two-way street. We have to learn how to listen before expecting to be heard because a world in which everybody speaks their mind without listening would be a chaos.
MARGARET CHASE SMITH:

One of the basic causes for all the trouble in the world today is that people talk too much and think too little. They act impulsively without thinking. I always try to think before I talk.

PLATO:

Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something.

In my opinion Plato and Margaret Chase Smith are essentially talking about the same things... How many of us actually have something good to say most of the time? How many of us actually think before saying things? I believe that misunderstandings are often a result of us saying things without analyzing and thinking beforehand. We hurt people without realizing it, we say stupid things and create bad impressions about ourselves ...

John Powell:

 Communication works for those who work at it.
Sourse:  http://www.wisdomquotes.com/cat_communication.html 
                   http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/johnpowell163805.html