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Personal Space and Proximity
Personal Space refers to the appropriate distance during a conversation or space surrounding each person. Factors like
regional culture, gender, age, ethnicity, or topic of conversation affects a personal distance. While going in a lift, if a
stranger enters, we feel uncomfortable and try making no eye contact and acting busy. Similarly, if a classmate sits on
your seat, you will try your best to convince him to go to some other place as we have a claim of our own space and
have a sense of control on it.
Paralanguage
Paralanguage includes tone of voice, loudness, speed of speech, pausing, and even silence. This helps you understand
the context and the meaning of the words used in the communication.
A cold tone of voice might suggest that you are actually not fine and don't wish to discuss it. A bright and happy tone of
voice will reveal that you are happy with the things going around in your life. Silence or vocal pauses can communicate
hesitation, the need to gather thought or serve as a sign of respect.
Haptics
Haptics is the power of touch in communication. Each touch conveys emotions and feelings in a physical form with a
unique message like fear, disgust, love, encouragement, gratitude, sympathy, anger, pain, violence etc. Studies have
shown that it plays a very important role in the proper development of babies and in animals it works as a sign of
love and care. You may begin your interaction with people by shaking hands and making casual conversation. This
interaction can help establish trust before you start addressing your audience.
Advantages of Non-Verbal Communication
Some of the advantages of non-verbal communication are:
• It is used as complimentary with verbal communication to enhance the effect of communication.
• Information can be easily presented in non-verbal communication through gesture, body language, etc. A teacher
with a finger on the lips conveys not to talk and sit quietly to the whole class. A person addressing a crowd uses
voice modulation to get the attention of the crowd. Sometimes nodding your head to say yes is enough to convey
the message.
• Using gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, touch, etc. can be very helpful for the illiterate and physically
challenged, especially with hearing and speaking problems.
• It is useful and easy method of communication where no common language is required to master.
• It is a fast method of communication as gestures have more impact than words.
Disadvantages of Non-Verbal Communication
Some of the disadvantages of non-verbal communication are:
• Since it uses gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, touch, signs, sound, etc. for communication, there are chances
of misinterpretation of the message required to be delivered.
• Different cultures use different ways of non-verbal communication. The difference in message can lead to negativity
and offense. For example, people who speak less and are less interactive are considered cold and arrogant. However,
the Japanese admire silence and consider it as a key to success.
• Non-verbal communication does not follow any rules or structures, therefore people unconsciously may engage in
non-verbal movements which are considered offensive.
• It is not suitable for long and lengthy messages as the actual message may get lost in a lengthy and time-consuming
conversation.
• Sometimes it is an incomplete form of communication and needs a support of verbal communication for effective
and meaningful delivery of a message.
• Distant communication is not possible using non-verbal communication.
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