Page 327 - Between One and Many The Art and Science of Public Speaking

294 Part 3 Putting Theory Into Practice

and repeatedly listen to the person. Then try to model the vocal variation in
which the person engages. Repeat this process while using an audio recorder.
• Being heard: Have a friend monitor your speaking volume. When you speak
too softly, tell your friend to raise an index fi nger within your view. Use this
signal to increase the volume of your voice. The goal is to be easily heard,
even in the back of the room.

Nonverbal Characteristics of Delivery

Nonverbal behavior is a wordless system of communicating. What makes a
nonverbal behavior
behavior nonverbal as opposed to verbal? Is it the absence of sound? That cannot
A wordless system of
be the case, because sign language is considered a form of verbal communication,
communication.
with signs merely substituting for written or spoken language. Although scholars
argue about the exact defi nition of nonverbal behavior, most agree that it is dis-
tinct from verbal behavior in at least three ways: It is continuous, uses multiple
channels simultaneously, and is spontaneous. Among adults, nonverbal behavior
also is considered to be more revealing about a person than it may actually be.

The Continuous Nature of Nonverbal Behavior

Verbal behavior, composed of words, is discrete. This means verbal behavior
can be divided into distinct elements, as was the case when you fi rst began to
learn about nouns, verbs, and adjectives. These elements of composition are gov-
erned by complex rules, dictating how they should be combined in your speech
to form phrases, clauses, and sentences. Each word has a denotative meaning
that can be found in the dictionary. Words must be arranged in a precise man-
ner to convey the intended meaning. For example, the words I am happy must be
arranged in that order to convey the intended meaning. To say, “Am I happy”
changes the statement to a question. To say, “Happy am I” seems odd to English
speakers. When words with agreed-on meanings are used in a specifi ed order,
the meaning of the verbal behavior is apparent as in this example. This is not so
with nonverbal behavior, which is continuous rather than divisible. 6
Consider the expression of happiness as you speak. What the audience sees is
a complex message that involves the entire face. The muscles of the face contract,
affecting the eyebrows, the corners of the mouth, and the corners of the eyes.
Unlike verbal behavior, these involuntary movements cannot be broken down
into compositional elements. The eyes, for example, do not convey “I,” while
the eyebrows say “am” and the mouth represents “happy.” You cannot rearrange
the components to convey a different meaning, as you can with “I,” “am,” and
“happy.” There are no highly defi ned rules of grammar to explain the meaning
conveyed by these facial expressions. Only the total, continuous combination of
these elements can constitute the nonverbal expression of happiness.

The Simultaneous Use of Multiple Channels

Returning to the example of expressing happiness, nonverbal behavior also in-
7
volves the simultaneous use of multiple channels. For example, try conveying
an emotional expression, such as happiness, anger, sorrow, or bewilderment,