What’s hand-to-hand communication?

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Hand-to-hand communication occurs when two or more people communicate while physically present in the same area as opposed to telephone or Internet communication. While similar to face-to-face communication, hand-to-hand communication allows for the use of body language in addition to speech and facial expressions. Hand-to-hand communication also allows for complex interaction with the environment, which can serve as another form of nonverbal communication. Conversing on the phone and chatting on the Internet can be an effective means of conveying specific information or keeping in touch over a significant distance; such methods cannot, however, convey the vast body of information available from body language and environmental interaction.

Facial expressions are among the most important parts of hand-to-hand communication, as they can communicate a huge amount of information about one’s emotions and responses to information and events in the environment. They are especially important because of their universality, as nearly all facial expressions in response to feelings such as hunger, happiness, pain, and surprise are shared across linguistic and cultural lines. Facial expressions can also be very helpful in assessing emotional states and intentions, as anger, sadness, aggression, and other emotions can often be seen on one’s face even if one’s voice does not suggest such feelings.

The rest of the human body can also provide a great deal of information during hand-to-hand communication. An individual’s basic stance and posture, for example, can communicate information such as how they see themselves in relation to others or how comfortable they are in a given situation. Even deliberate body language, such as gesturing with the arms or counting with the fingers, can provide information that is not available through purely verbal communication. Additionally, hand-to-hand communication often allows individuals to communicate through physical contact, which can be very powerful for exchanging ideas, intentions, and feelings.

There are many alternatives to hand-to-hand communication, but they all tend to miss out on some aspect of the whole human communication experience. Speaking via text only, for example, prevents any exchange of body language, facial expression or even intonation of voice. Telephone conversations allow for more complex communication through a different intonation and rhythm of speech, but still do not allow for any body language or ambient communication. Only hand-to-hand communication allows for the full complexity of human interaction through eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, physical contact and environmental interaction. In some cases, these nonverbal interactions are even enough to make verbal communication unnecessary.

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