Editing Nonverbal communication (section)

==Importance==
[[File:PatientCommTbl.png|thumb|Symbol table for non-verbal communication with [[patient]]s]]

According to some authors, nonverbal communication represents {{clarify span|two-thirds of all communications|reason=Of all 'human, non-written' communications?|date=December 2022}}.<ref name="Hogan_2003">{{cite book| vauthors = Hogan K, Stubbs R |year=2003 |title=Can't Get Through: 8 Barriers to Communication|location=Grenta, LA|publisher=Pelican Publishing Company|url=https://archive.org/details/cantgetthroughei0000hoga|isbn=978-1589800755|access-date=14 May 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Burgoon JK, Guerrero LK, Floyd K | year = 2016 | title = Nonverbal communication | location = New York | publisher = Routledge | pages = 1–26 | chapter = Introduction to Nonverbal Communication | isbn = 978-0205525003 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=2018-09-01 |title=Correlation between nonverbal communication and objective structured clinical examination score in medical students |journal=Korean Journal of Medical Education |volume=30 |issue=3 |pages=199–208 |doi=10.3946/kjme.2018.94 |issn=2005-7288 |pmc=6127604 |pmid=30180507 |last1=Park |first1=Seung Guk |last2=Park |first2=Kyung Hye }}</ref> Nonverbal communication can portray a message both vocally and with the correct body signals or [[gesture]]s. Body signals comprise [[physical features]], conscious and [[unconscious communication|unconscious]] gestures and signals, and the mediation of [[personal space]].<ref name="Hogan_2003"/> The wrong message can also be established if the body language conveyed does not match a verbal message. Paying attention to both verbal and nonverbal communication may leave the listener with a  feeling of being lost, due to not being able to breakdown both at the same time. However, ignoring nonverbal communication altogether would cause the listener to miss up to 60% of their communication, according to experts.

Nonverbal communication strengthens a first [[impression management|impression]] in common situations like attracting a partner or in a business interview: impressions are on average formed within the first four seconds of contact.<ref name="Hogan_2003"/> First encounters or interactions with another person strongly affect a person's perception.<ref>{{cite book| vauthors = Demarais A, White V |year=2004|title=First Impressions|location=New York|publisher=Bantam Books|url=http://adiloran.com/ODTU-isletme/FirstImpressions.pdf|isbn=978-0553803204}}</ref> When the other person or group is absorbing the message, they are focused on the entire [[Social environment|environment]] around them, meaning the other person uses all five senses in the interaction: 83% sight, 11% hearing, 3% smell, 2% touch and 1% taste.<ref name="Pease_2004">{{cite book| vauthors = Pease B, Pease A |year=2004|title=The Definitive Book of Body Language|location=New York|publisher=Bantam Books|url=https://e-edu.nbu.bg/pluginfile.php/331752/mod_resource/content/0/Allan_and_Barbara_Pease_-_Body_Language_The_Definitive_Book.pdf}}</ref>

Many indigenous cultures use nonverbal communication in the [[Social integration|integration]] of children at a young age into their cultural practices. Children in these communities learn through observing and pitching in through which nonverbal communication is a key aspect of observation.

According to Judee K. Burgoon et al., further reasons for the importance of non-verbal communication are:
*"Non-verbal communication is omnipresent."<ref>(Burgoon, J., Guerrero, L., Floyd, K., (2010). Nonverbal Communication, Taylor & Francis. p. 3 )</ref> They are included in every single communication act. To have total communication, all non-verbal channels such as the body, face, voice, appearance, touch, distance, timing, and other environmental forces must be engaged during face-to-face interaction. Written communication can also have non-verbal attributes. E-mails, web chats, and the [[social media]] have options to change text font colours, stationery, add emoticons, capitalization, and pictures in order to capture non-verbal cues into a verbal medium.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Martin-Rubió|first=Xavier|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SupwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA9|title=Contextualising English as a Lingua Franca: From Data to Insights|date=2018-09-30|publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing|isbn=978-1-5275-1696-0|language=en|access-date=2020-10-02|archive-date=2021-02-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204141721/https://books.google.com/books?id=SupwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA9|url-status=live}}</ref>
*"Non-verbal behaviours are multifunctional."<ref name="Burgoon et al., p. 4">(Burgoon et al., p. 4)</ref> Many different non-verbal channels are engaged at the same time in communication acts and allow the chance for simultaneous messages to be sent and received.
*"Non-verbal behaviours may form a universal language system."<ref name="Burgoon et al., p. 4"/> Smiling, crying, pointing, caressing, and glaring are non-verbal behaviours that are used and understood by people regardless of nationality. Such non-verbal signals allow the most basic form of communication when verbal communication is not effective due to language barriers.

=== Practical applications ===
Nonverbal communication encompasses a diverse range of signals that go beyond spoken language, such as gestures, facial expressions, body language, and vocal nuances like tone and rhythm. These cues carry subtle meanings critical to effective communication. For example, facial expressions are a powerful medium for conveying emotions, sometimes even through subtle [[microexpression]]s. These microexpressions are fleeting, involuntary facial movements that briefly reveal genuine feeling. They often occur in a fraction of a second, offering a brief insight into a person's genuine emotions, some of which may not be intentionally expressed and may diverge from their consciously stated feelings.<ref name=":04">{{Cite journal |last1=Hall |first1=Judith A. |last2=Horgan |first2=Terrence G. |last3=Murphy |first3=Nora A. |date=2019-01-04 |title=Nonverbal Communication |url=https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-psych-010418-103145 |journal=Annual Review of Psychology |language=en |volume=70 |issue=1 |pages=271–294 |doi=10.1146/annurev-psych-010418-103145 |pmid=30256720 |s2cid=52841730 |issn=0066-4308|url-access=subscription }}</ref> While some cues might be universally understood, others hold culture-specific significance, necessitating careful interpretation to prevent misunderstandings. Understanding the tone, pitch, cultural connotations of touch, and environmental influences enriches nonverbal communication, shaping our interactions. Recognizing that cultural norms influence the appropriateness of tone and pitch is crucial, as outlined by display rules. This underscores the significance of being culturally sensitive when interpreting nonverbal cues. In the context of intercultural communication, a deeper understanding of context culture becomes essential. Context culture significantly shapes how individuals communicate emotions and convey meaning through nonverbal signals. Being aware of these cultural nuances is fundamental for facilitating successful cross-cultural interactions and ensuring the accurate interpretation of nonverbal expressions.<ref name=":12">{{Cite book |last=Pochhacker |first=Franz |title=Routledge Encyclopedia of Interpreting Studies |publisher=Routledge |year=2015 |edition=1st |pages=312}}</ref>

The understanding of tone, pitch, and cultural contexts in verbal communication complements nonverbal cues, offering a holistic grasp of interpersonal dynamics.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Law |first=Jonathan |title=BUSINESS: The Ultimate Resource |publisher=A&C Black |year=2011 |edition=3rd |pages=8,822}}</ref> The harmony or discrepancy between verbal and nonverbal signals significantly impacts message clarity. In cultures where nonverbal cues are pivotal, incongruence between verbal and nonverbal elements can create confusion, while in cultures emphasizing explicit verbal communication, alignment between the two is essential for effective understanding.

Mastery of nonverbal signals extends beyond mere word comprehension, promoting cultural awareness and smoother interactions across diverse settings.<ref name=":2" /> Proficiency in interpreting these cues not only aids in accurate understanding but also bolsters cross-cultural connections, enabling more profound exchanges. Adeptness in nonverbal communication is crucial for navigating social situations, decoding nuanced human behaviors, and establishing meaningful connections in various contexts, underlining the interconnectedness and importance of both verbal and nonverbal forms of communication.