Types of Non-Verbal Communication
The first thing we probably think when we hear the word communication is talking. Of course, this is a relevant and widely used form of communication. However, even in such spoken communication, there are many instances – if not most – when other, non-verbal, types of communication need to be taken into consideration in order to properly understand everything that’s being communicated.
To get a handle on this, consider what types of non-verbal communication you encounter every day. One quite obvious example is written communication. While written communication is most often not combined with verbal communication (the exception being a scenario like a presentation, when a speaker has charts, graphs, or other information displayed), thinking about written communication does bring us to another important type of non-verbal communication: visual communication.
A simple example is a stop sign, in which written and verbal communication work together to convey a well-understood message – Stop! Break down the stop sign “message.” Think about all the components of the communication in a simple stop sign. First, there’s the color. Red draws the eye to the sign and also expresses that the message is urgent and perhaps even involves a warning. The shape of the sign is also distinct from most other signs, again drawing attention to it. Furthermore, the stark contrast between the red sign and the white capitalized letters of the word conveys the message directly.
Now consider your communication with others. Seeing that there are so many aspects of communication even in a stop sign, it’s apparent that a human being will communicate in even more ways than simply what he or she is saying. Examples of such non-verbal communication include body language, eye contact, movement of the hands, tone of voice, and in certain situations even matters such as clothing, demeanor, attitude, and more.
Basically, any type of communication whether verbal or non-verbal may be dissected in the manner of the stop sign example. An overall communication involves the interplay of many, many factors, and it’s important to account for several of them in order to obtain adequate understanding of the message being communicated.