Paralanguage is nonverbal communication that includes body language and tone of voice. Good communicators can interpret and modify their own paralanguage to gain trust and diffuse conflicts. Intercultural competence is important in recognizing and responding appropriately to cultural differences in paralanguage. Dysemia, or difficulty perceiving and responding to paralanguage, is common in individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
Paralanguage is the area of nonverbal communication that emphasizes body language and nuances of voice as a means of expressing thoughts and feelings. People normally use the tongue guard several times a day and sometimes they are not even aware that they are doing it. The ability to correctly interpret this type of human communication is considered an important skill both personally and professionally. Body language often conveys as much meaning as spoken words. Good communicators also have the ability to assess how their own paralanguage affects others and to modify it in a way that gains the trust of others and projects trust.
Various aspects of paralanguage include posture, eye contact, hand gestures, and tone of voice. Vocal qualities such as loudness and tempo are also part of non-verbal communication. If a speaker changes even one of these aspects, the resulting meaning can be very different for listeners. People who are able to tailor their nonverbal language to the needs of various situations are generally better at diffusing problematic interactions such as arguments. This type of communication skill is known as metacommunication competence.
Some areas of paralanguage may be obvious in their meaning, while others are more subtle. For example, hunched back posture and rounded shoulders often convey emotional insecurity. A broken voice usually indicates a high degree of emotion while speaking, whether it be laughter, anger, or sadness. Many cultures also have their own practices and meanings assigned to body language according to established ideologies and belief systems. The ability to recognize and respond appropriately to these differences is known as intercultural competence.
Intercultural competence enables people from different cultural backgrounds to communicate effectively and productively. Correctly recognizing the paralanguage of different cultures is especially important in international business. Voice volume levels and some gestures may be acceptable in one culture, but may sometimes be considered offensive in another. Business owners involved in global trade typically invest time and effort in teaching their employees the meanings and behaviors related to this type of communication.
Body language and non-verbal communication are not normally taught in schools, so most people learn these skills naturally in social settings. A noticeable inability to perceive and respond to paralanguage is called dysemia, which is common in people who have autism spectrum disorders. These individuals may experience difficulty responding to the nonverbal cues of others, although many of them benefit from extra training and education in this area of communication.
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