Nonverbal communication is the transfer of information without words, including body language, fashion, hand gestures, and facial signals. It can be universal or culturally dependent. Body language is studied and includes spatial distance and positioning. Fashion communicates belonging, social class, religion, and politics. Gestures are also a form of nonverbal communication, with some being universal.
Nonverbal communication is a broad term used to describe any method of transferring information without words. It can be intentional, it can be based on social cues, or it can be completely unconscious. Common forms of nonverbal communication include body language and facial signals, fashion and personal care, hand gestures, graphic signs and design.
It’s important to note that nonverbal communication is really about a lack of speech, rather than a lack of vocalization. Thus, most writing would not be considered a non-verbal means of communication, although elements such as handwriting style could be considered non-verbal signifiers. Likewise, sounds such as grunts are still considered nonverbal, even if they are oral sounds.
Nonverbal communication can be broadly divided into relatively universal forms and culturally dependent forms. Many facial expressions, for example, are relatively universal, with most cultures being able to identify expressions of fear, joy, or anger. On the other hand, non-verbal signals such as bowing, shaking hands or showing a peace sign are culturally defined and therefore have little meaning outside the cultures that understand them.
Body language is one of the most studied forms of non-verbal communication and deals with how the body rests, how it stands in relation to other bodies, and the spatial distance between bodies. For example, turning to a person when sitting down and talking to them is a nonverbal cue that demonstrates interest, while turning away demonstrates a lack of interest. Tilting your head slightly is a form of nonverbal communication to show curiosity or express that you’re listening closely or what they’re saying, while constantly looking away would show a lack of attention. Positioning yourself away from the person you are talking to can show disinterest, disgust or fear of the person, positioning yourself slightly closer can show interest, and positioning yourself very close can communicate aggression or a very high level of interest, often sexual.
Fashion is another form of non-verbal communication, and in many modern cultures it is an extremely important way people telegraph things about themselves. Clothing can communicate belonging to a cultural subgroup, ranging from extreme examples such as gothic aesthetics or Buddhist monks in robes to more mundane examples such as preppy clothing or sportswear. It also often serves as a marker for social class, with designer clothing or custom made suits or shoes denoting wealth. It can also serve as a nonverbal cue for religion or politics, as with members of the Jewish faith wearing yarmulkes or anarchists embodying a punk aesthetic.
Gestures also act as a form of non-verbal communication, although this should be differentiated from hand gestures used as a form of verbal communication, such as sign language. A wide range of hand gestures can be found in most cultures, and in the West there are some almost universal gestures, such as a greeting with the hand, a thumbs up to show that all is well, or open hands to indicate offers. Other gestures include a wink to show something hasn’t been said, nudging someone to indicate camaraderie or bonding, or shrugging to show unawareness.
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