Blog 3: Nonverbal Communication

My article this week is on nonverbal communication. Not only is this important with deaf people, but all the people you speak to and even pass by cause perceive what you are saying or displaying based on your demeanor. We are constantly giving off nonverbal symbols, gestures, how loud or fast we speak, or the way we stand. Nonverbal communication usually accommodates what we are saying. This can help gain trust. When our nonverbal gestures do not match up, this can cause suspicion and distrust.
The human face is very expressive and able to portray emotion without even speaking.

As shown above, the face can convey a vast number of different emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger, excitement, worry, doubt, etc.
The average human is also sized up by how they present their body. There are a multitude of different movements and postures one can express.

Gesturing is part of our daily life. Do you talk with your hands? Have you ever pointed out something using your hands? What about having an argument? We speak and use our hands to animate what we are talking about. However, there are some American gestures that mean different things in other languages. So be careful when using gestures around strangers :) 

A lot of how we communicate has to do with touch. Think about when you shook hands with a stranger. Was their handshake firm and sturdy or timid and weak? When you leave your grandma after a lunch date do you give her a quick one shoulder hug with a pat on the back or do you give her a warm bear hug? This is all forms of nonverbal communication

Finally, your tone of voice tells stories that your words may lack. People read into how you say things not just what you say. With your tone you can indicate sarcasm, anger, excitement, affection, or confidence.

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/eq6_nonverbal_communication.htm