Nonverbal language includes more than just gestures and body language, it also includes what we don’t say and how we say things. It can convey up to 70% of communication and is important to consider when communicating with those who have nonverbal learning disorders. Different cultures may assign different meanings to body language and tone, so it’s important to be aware of this. Accuracy in spoken language is also important, as body language can sometimes undermine a point.
Non-verbal language is often defined too narrowly as gestures and body language. While these certainly make up a large part of the nonverbal language spectrum, they are not the sum total of all types of communication that could be classified as nonverbal. In addition to gestures and body language, sometimes what we don’t say can be classified as non-verbal. For example, not answering a question could communicate multiple things, such as not knowing the answer, not actually listening to the questioner, or being dismissive of the question as inappropriate or not worthy of an answer.
Furthermore, when nonverbal language is described, it almost always includes not only what we say, but also how we say it. Tone, sarcasm, the way a speaker ends a sentence, emphasis on words, and a variety of other ways we say things that are said, are the “how” and not the “what” of our language. spoken. Many people include this second group as non-verbal, even though it is a spoken language.
There have been numerous books and essays on how our nonverbal language communicates for us. Some gestures can be used as emphasis for the way we speak; blinking can convey a flirtatious thought. How we stand, walk into a room, treat each other while we talk, and whether we make eye contact or don’t, it’s all body language that can convey layers of meaning to those you communicate with. You can also see how two people speaking two different languages can be able to talk to each other through gestures, expressions and just a few words in an unfamiliar language. Of course, different cultures can assign different meanings to body language and gestures, so it’s advisable to be careful when using them while trying to communicate with people from other cultures.
There are different percentages assigned to the amount of communication existing in a language that is a non-verbal language. While these percentages can be quoted as high as 93%, in reality the figure is around 70% percent by most accounts. It really helps, then, to think about how you present yourself, how you handle, how you pronounce words and how you use your tone. These can communicate about 70% of what you are trying to say.
Another reason why understanding non-verbal communication is important is because of autism-scale learning disabilities, specifically non-verbal language or learning disorder (NLD). NLD affects many people and is characterized by a person’s inability to read nonverbal cues and an inability to understand tone and inflection. If you communicate with a person with NLD, they will only get about 30% of what you are trying to say.
In a school setting, students with NLD may be severely challenged, accused of not listening, and of being lazy. Some even undergo a series of tests to see if they are partially deaf. The reality is that these students listen, but they don’t decode nonverbal language as easily as their peers. Students of this type usually need extremely specific written directions and specific spoken cues to keep up with their classmates. Without these, they struggle in school settings and have difficulty relating to their peers. Additionally, they may never be able to read sarcasm, so it is important for teachers to be aware of this disorder when teaching NLD students.
While nonverbal language remains a tool that enhances, or sometimes hinders, communication, specific spoken language can convey a point more accurately. Others may be more or less adept at reading body language and may not always “get” the tone. It should be said that most people take body language and tone into consideration when hearing others speak, so as well as using accuracy in spoken language, it can be helpful to understand when body language might be undermining a point you are trying to do, rather than help emphasize it.
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