Nonverbal Communication Nonverbal communication is usually referred to as the "hidden dimension" of communication, which is a

Today we are going to start looking at a nonverbal language. Nonverbal communication has often been referred to as the "hidden dimension" of communication. Sometimes this dimension is so subtle that we do not even recognize the ways it shapes what we’re saying or how people interpret our meaning. In fact, when you think about it, think of some of the emotions that you express in everyday life, like happiness, joy, sadness, and anger, irritation. How much of those expressions are conveyed through verbal communication? More often than not, our intense emotions are conveyed nonverbally through gestures, body positions, facial expressions, vocal cues, eye contact, use of space, and touching.
   OK. Now, let me make two points about how nonverbal communication functions. One is, sometimes when we communicate, it may only be through the nonverbal cues. The nonverbal gesture carries all our meaning. But, secondly, nonverbal cues also function to help us interpret the verbal message, and this is the point I want to focus on first--um, that nonverbal cues help interpret, uh, a verbal message. Where we see this in a very subtle way is through the use of humor and sarcasm. You know, in humor and sarcasm, the verbal message-- you know, what is actually said--is only a small part of the message. It’s often the nonverbal cues that signal: "Hey, bow’s this message to be taken, seriously or not? I mean, do they really mean it, or are they joking?"
   Take, for example, when an American sees a new style of clothing which they may not like how they might signal that they don’t like it. Well, they might say, "Oh, that’s a good look." OK? Now, if you’re from a different culture, how do you know if they really mean it, or if they’re being sarcastic and they really mean the opposite? Well, it’s very difficult because it’s the nonverbal cues--not the words-that are carrying the meaning here. It’s usually the tone of voice or facial expression. I guess this is why a lot of international students often tell me that it’s humor that’s the most difficult part of American culture to understand. And, similarly, when Americans go abroad.
   There’s another area of nonverbal communication that is often overlooked, and in this case the nonverbal gesture carries all the meaning--and that is proxemics. That’s P-R-O-X-E-M-I-C-S. Proxemics refers to our personal space. You know, the anthropologist Edward Hall calls this personal space of ours our "body bubbles." Body bubbles are interesting because they are very subtle. You hardly ever recognize them until someone pops your bubble. In other words, when someone comes too close, or violates your private space, you are suddenly conscious--you become conscious of the bubble. So, what do you do when someone pops your bubble? Do you feel uncomfortable? Do you move away? Do you turn your position? Do you put your books in front of you? DO you suddenly close your jacket? We always, we tend to adapt our body position when our bobbles get invaded. We see this in crowded elevators, for example.
   Urn, body bubbles are influenced by many factors: How intimate is the relationship? What is the social context--a party or a bus? Uh, what’s the gender relationship? However, a strong influence on body bubbles is culture. For example, in Latin American and Middle Eastern cultures, the kind of conversational space, the space between two people just engaged in everyday conversations, is relatively very close compared to Asian and American cultures. Imagine what would happen if you don’t understand this bubble. What might you experience? Possibly discomfort, irritation, may be even anger.