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THE FUNCTIONAL IMPORTANCE OF NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION

Nonverbal communication is important for a variety of reasons:
• Nonverbal or verbal factors are the major determinants of meaning in
the interpersonal context.
• Feelings and emotions are more accurately exchanged by nonverbal
rather than verbal means.
• The nonverbal aspect of communication conveys meanings and inten-
tions that are relatively free of deception, distortion, and confusion.
• Nonverbal cues serve meta-communicative functions that are indis-
pensable in attaining high quality communication.
• Nonverbal cues represent a much more efficient means of communi-
cation than verbal cues.
• Nonverbal cues represent the most suitable vehicles for suggestion.
We can communicate our true feelings and emotions by nonverbal
means accurately and frequently. Messages conveyed non-verbally
are often involuntary, or the result of reflex action.
There are several types of nonverbal communication. The most important
among these are kinesics—the movement of our bodies, like, smiling; proxemics
or the use of space; and our use of time (Ron Scollon and Suzanne Wong
Scollon 1995).

Kinesics
Smiling and laughter are universal actions but the meanings attached to
them are different depending on the context. When two persons meet in
Europe, the first thing they might do is to shake hands as a matter of social
courtesy. For the same reasons, two people meeting in Asia would perhaps
hug each other or just bow their heads. If the meanings attached to these
nonverbal signs are not understood, the very same actions can lead to mis-
interpretation and the whole process of communication would collapse.
Kinesics can be divided into three major areas—prekinesics, microkinesics,
and social kinesics. Prekinesics is concerned with the physiological aspects
of bodily movements. Microkinesics is concerned with bodily emotions that
communi cate different meanings, while social kinesics is concerned with the
role and meaning of different bodily movements (DeVito 1978).
Paul Ekman and Wallace V. Friesen classified the body movements into
five types. This was done on the basis of the origins, functions, and coding of the
behaviour. They are emblems, illustrators, affect displays, regulators, and
adaptors. Emblems translate words or phrases. Illustrators are nonverbal

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