Communicating nonverbally

A group of protestors stands across from a row of police officers in riot gear.
Image 5.1: Protestors confront police during the 2020 protests after the death of George Floyd.

Learning Objectives

Successful interaction with this and associated course content will enable students to…

  • Compare and contrast verbal and non-verbal codes
  • Discuss nonverbal communication and provide examples across cultures
  • Discuss the meaning and use of semiotics

Topics covered

  1. Body Language
    • The nature of nonverbal communication
    • Sending signals without words
    • Gestures across cultures
    • The universality of facial expressions
    • Personal space
    • Physically interacting with others
  2. Nonverbal messaging
    • Paralanguage: Conveying meaning through ways of speaking
    • Managing conversations
    • Physical appearance and dress
    • Nonverbal expectancy violation theory
    • Music: Another way to communicate nonverbally

 

License

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Language and Culture in Context: A Primer on Intercultural Communication Copyright © 2023 by Robert Godwin-Jones is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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