Non-verbal Signals and Signs

Non-verbal communication (non-verbal signals and hints)

The first specialists in non-verbal communication appeared at the end of the twentieth century. It seems absolutely improbable that the person existing on the planet over one million years began to study non-verbal communication only in the 60th years of the 20th century. The general public learned about existence of non-verbal communication only after the publication of the first book about body language. In 1970 Julius Fast's work was published. In this book he finalized the results of the work of scientists-behaviorists in the field of non-verbal communication. But even nowadays many people are in the complete dark concerning existence of body language, not to mention that important role which this language plays in their own life.

Non-verbal communication is a very complex process where people are present, the words are pronounced by them, we hear tone of the voice and see the movement of the body, gestures and a facial expression.

The main tool of non-verbal communication is human body, and not only organs of speech and hearing, but also eyes, front muscles, hands, and in many cases the whole body. Stroking, embrace, handshake, observance of distance between people are the same communication means as the speech.

Gesture (from Latin gestus — movement of a body) is some kind of action or movement of a human body or its part having a certain value or meaning, i.e. is a sign or the symbol.

Facial expression (mimicry) (Greek мимикос — likening, imitating) is the expressive movements of face muscles which are one of the forms of demonstration of these or those feelings of the person — pleasure, grief, disappointment, satisfaction, etc.

Non-verbal communication, figuratively speaking, is subdivided into the following types. So, the physiognomies studies expressions of the face; direction of the look, its duration and frequency is studied okulesika; and proxemics studies position of communication partners and distance between them and so on.

In it "secret language", or non-verbal communication, it is possible to distinguish at least nine components. Here they:

· Face expression;

· Eye contact;

· Tone of voice;

· Physical touch;

· Appearance (clothes, hairdo);

· Body/pose;

· Proximity (personal space);

· Gestures, movements of hands and legs;

· Position of the head.

Personal space:

The majority of animals have strictly defined space around their body which they consider as personal. The size of this space depends on the conditions in which the animal exists. The lion living in boundless savannas of Africa can consider as his personal space fifty kilometers and even more depending on the density of population of lions in this area. The lion marks the territory with urine. On the other hand, the lion living in a zoo together with other lions can consider as his personal territory only several meters as direct result of density.

Similar to other animals the person owns his "airy cap" which is constantly around him. The sizes of this "cap" depend on population density in the place where the person has grown up. In addition, the sizes of air space are also defined by cultural environment. In such countries as Japan where population density is very high, the personal territory may be small, and in other countries people are used to open spaces and don't like when they are approached too close. In this lecture we will consider the territorial behavior of people who have grown up in the conditions of western society.

Social status also plays big role in setting boundaries for personal space i.e. at what distance the person prefers to stay from surrounding people depending on his position in society.

Radius of "airy cap" can be divided into four main zones.

1. Intimate band (from 15 to 45 cm).

From all bands this one is the most important. The person considers this band as personal property. Only the closest people are allowed to intrude here. The lovers may afford this, the parents, spouses, children, close friends and relatives.

2. Friendly band (from 46 cm to 1,22 m).

The sort of gap we would keep between ourselves and people at a party or in a pub, formal receptions, friendly meetings or at work.