Question

How important is nonverbal communication to understanding the meaning of a message? What messages do we gain? When the nonverbal message contradicts the verbal message, which do we believe? Why? Can we control nonverbal behaviors?

Answer 1

Nonverbal communication is our body language, facial expression, movements of hands, and fingers, and other body parts like how we stand, bending of the body in a greeting posture all these add to our verbal communication.

Communication is an important part of our life it is the human who communicates using a language. While talking to someone to give weightage to the communication we move our hands, express our love, anger through our facial expressions. When we are happy, frightened, or shock it is automatically expressed by our eyes. It conveys what we are thinking and feeling, it reflects our joy, surprise, and inner turmoil. The face and the eyes are the mirrors of our inner strength, joy, and turmoil.

The pain in the inner part of the body reflects on our face. When the non-verbal communication is added with our verbal communication we are able to explain in a much better way for example if one is giving a persuasive speech, if the delivery of the speech is without adding any hand movement it would be a plain and inexpressive speech. If the hand movements and the facial expressions are added to that speech it becomes impressive and the audiences can understand and interpret the message looking at on what point the speaker is emphasizing.

To improve nonverbal communication one has to avoid misunderstanding have trust in the relationship, as nonverbal communication rapidly flows back and forth it is important to focus on that moment and concentrate what we want to say.

It is the saying that the face does not lie, as I said our inner feelings joy and turmoil reflects on our face. If there is a contradiction between the verbal and non-verbal communication and if the listener is focused on the face of the speaker he can have the hint that whatever is being told is not 100% truth unless the speaker is an expert in hiding his emotions and facial expressions. If the receiver knows that the speaker is telling something negative and he does not agree to it. It is often noticed that unknowingly he would send negative or confusing non-verbal signals without knowing.

Yes, we can control non-verbal behavior communication if we have control over our emotions. In most of the cases, it looks unnatural. If the receiver knows that the speaker is telling something negative and he does not agree to it, he would avoid eye contact with the speaker or start tapping the feet. Under such a situation to continue talking and not to put others on the defensive, he can express as if he is listening to his communication and trying to understand it to avoid sending negative signals.