Basis of the Silent Language: Nonverbal Signals, Signs and Simbols

Signals.............................................................................................................1
Signs................................................................................................................2
Symbols...........................................................................................................3
Icons................................................................................................................8

Definition. Nonverbal communication is any information we communicate

without using words.
As much as 93 percent of the impact of a message can depend on its
nonverbal elements. Verbal communication and nonverbal communication
often reinforce each other, but there is a clear difference as well. Verbal
communication begins when a word is uttered, requires a single channel, is
under your control, is structured, and is formally learned. Nonverbal
communication is continuous, is multichanneled, is mostly habitual and
unconscious, is largely structured, and is learned informally.

Signals, signs, and symbols, three related components of communication

processes found in all known cultures, have attracted considerable scholarly
attention because they do not relate primarily to the usual conception of
words or language. Each is apparently an increasingly more complex
modification of the former, and each was probably developed in the depths
of prehistory before, or at the start of, man’s early experiments with vocal
language.

Signals

A signal may be considered as an interruption in a field of constant energy

transfer. An example is the dots and dashes that open and close the
electromagnetic field of a telegraph circuit. Such interruptions do not require
the construction of a man-made field; interruptions in nature (e.g., the
tapping of a pencil in a silent room, or puffs of smoke rising from a
mountain top) may produce the same result. The basic function of such
signals is to provide the change of a single environmental factor in order to
attract attention and to transfer meaning.
There are two types of signals: a. digital signals; b. analogue signals. 1

1
Septimiu Chelcea, Loredana Ivan, Adina Chelcea – Comunicarea nonverbală: gesturile şi postura,
Bucureşti, Editura Comunicare.ro, 2005, p. 17.
 Digital signals (also called “on-off” signals) indicate the presence or
the lack of it, yes or no. Analogue signals specify intensity. Establishing eye
contact is a digital signal, but the extent of it is an analogue one. There is the
possibility of combing the two types of signals, resulting the so-called
“composite” signals, with new different meanings. A clench fist and a raised
arm (a digital signal) mean revolt. But combined with a smile (an analogue
signal) indicates the joy of victory.2
Chinese lanterns. The color, glow, placement, and shape of a
Chinese paper lantern signals good luck, birth, death, long life, marriage,
sickness, and other symbolic messages in neighborhood alleys of Beijing,
Hong Kong, and Shanghai. A plump, bright red lantern (deng) betokens
good luck; its roundness recalls the rounded shape of yuan (money). The
vitality and energy of redness also signals a birth or marriage. A blue
lantern, in contrast, signals sickness by suggesting energy in decline. Two
white lanterns signal death and mourning in a household. Chinese lanterns
have been used as signals since 250 B.C.3

Signs

While signs are usually less germane to the development of words than
signals, most of them contain greater amounts of meaning of and by
themselves. Ashley Montagu, an anthropologist, has defined a sign as a
“concrete denoter” possessing an inherent specific meaning but Fernand
de Saussure emphasized the fact that a sign can be correctly understood in a
proper relationship with other signs. The sign “boy” is understood as a non-
man and non-girl, and man is non-animal and non-god.4
The most common signs encountered in daily life are pictures or
drawings, although a human posture like a clenched fist, an outstretched
arm, or a hand posed in a “Stop” gesture may also serve as signs. The main
difference between a sign and a signal is that a sign (like a policeman's
badge) contains meanings of an intrinsic nature; a signal (like a scream for
help) is merely a device by which one is able to formulate extrinsic
meanings. Their difference is illustrated by the observation that many types
of animals respond to signals, while only a few intelligent and trained

2
More examples of digital/analogue signals can be found in Septimiu Chelcea, Loredana Ivan, Adina
Chelcea – op. cit.
3
http://members.aol.com/nonverbal2/sign.htm
4
*** - Concepte fundamentale din ştiinţele comunicării şi studiile culturale, Iaşi, Editura Polirom,
2001, pp. 296-297.
animals (usually dogs and apes) are competent to respond even to simple
signs.5
All known cultures utilize signs to convey relatively simple messages
swiftly and conveniently. Signs may depend for their meaning upon their
form, setting, colour, or location. In the United States, traffic signs,
uniforms, badges, and barber poles are frequently encountered signs. Taken
en masse, any society's lexicon of signs makes up a rich vocabulary of
colourful communications.
Conventional sign / natural sign
The ancient Greeks divided signs into two kinds: conventional and
natural. Natural signs can be instinctive noises made by animals or natural
responses to stimuli in our bodies. For example, a sunburn is a natural sign
suggesting you were in the sun for too long. A stomachache is a natural sign
of stomach upset. Conventional signs, in contrast, are the product of human
language and culture. Conventional signs can have a purely arbitrary
relationship to objects, actions or ideas in the world.
In practice, it can be difficult to separate conventional and natural signs, as
our experiences are the product of both culture and biology.6
There are, of course, some messages which are transmitted entirely in
a nonverbal manner through gestures and facial expressions. Pictures of
Winston Churchill taken during World War 11 show him communicating
encouragement to the people by raising two fingers in the familiar 'V for
Victory' sign. Probably each of us has had the experience of making a
statement that was greeted either by a raised eyebrow (indicating surprise) or
by a wrinkled brow (indicating confusion or doubt).
And when the school bully took a step toward us with a raised,
clenched fist, we got that message in a hurry, too.7

Symbols

Symbols are more difficult than signs to understand and to define because,
unlike signs and signals, they are intricately woven into an individual’s
ongoing perceptions of the world. They appear to contain a dimly
understood capacity that (as one of their functions), in fact, defines the very
5
Loredana Ivan, Adina Chelcea – op. cit.
6
http://members.aol.com/nonverbal2/sign.htm
7
http://members.aol.com/nonverbal2/sign.htm
reality of that world. The symbol has been defined as any device with which
an abstraction can be made. Although far from being a precise construction,
it leads in a profitable direction. The abstractions of the values that people
imbue in other people and in things they own and use lie at the heart of
symbolism. Here is a process, according to the British philosopher Alfred
North Whitehead, whereby “some components of [the mind's] experience
elicit consciousness, beliefs, emotions, and usages respecting other
components of experience.”
In Whitehead's opinion, symbols are analogues or metaphors (that
may include written and spoken language as well as visual objects) standing
for some quality of reality that is enhanced in importance or value by the
process of symbolization itself.
Almost every society has evolved a symbol system whereby, at first
glance, strange objects and odd types of behaviour appear to the outside
observer to have irrational meanings and seem to evoke odd, unwarranted
cognitions and emotions. Upon examination each symbol system reflects a
specific cultural logic, and every symbol functions to communicate
information between members of the culture in much the same way as, but
in a more subtle manner than, conventional language. Although a symbol
may take the form of as discrete an object as a wedding ring or a totem pole,
symbols tend to appear in clusters and depend upon one another for their
accretion of meaning and value. They are not a language of and by
themselves; rather they are devices by which ideas too difficult, dangerous,
or inconvenient to articulate in common language are transmitted between
people who have acculturated in common ways. It does not appear possible
to compile discrete vocabularies of symbols, because they lack the precision
and regularities present in natural language that are necessary for explicit
definitions.
Gang symbols
These are nonverbal communications that may tell something about
whether or not someone is in a gang or lives in a certain area where some
gangs are. For example, the way a person wears their shirt or how a cap is
worn (like to the left or right side) may tell others that the person is in a
certain gang. The color of their clothes may mean something as well.
Another communication that is used by gangs is special hand signs. These
signs are used by one person to show another person that they are in a
certain gang. These signs can be a threat sign to someone in a different or
enemy gang.8

8
http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/00451/nonverbalcom.htm
 Concluding: a yawn means we are bored or tired; a furled brow
indicates confusion; not looking in the eye may mean we have something to
hide.9 But nonverbal symbols can also be misleading. For example, let’s
imagine that you have tried several times to talk to the person sitting next to
you in class. Each time, she has responded with a short answer and then has
turned away from you. You also notice that she hardly ever meets your eyes.
You might conclude either that she’s a snob or she doesn’t like you. You
find out later, from someone else, that she is very shy and would like to talk
to you but finds it hard to come up with the right words. She has not
intended to send you the message that she doesn’t like you – even though
that’s the nonverbal message you have received.
We cannot control all of our nonverbal behavior, and we often send
out information we are not even aware of. For example, a student telling her
friend about her encounter with her professor said, “I knew he wasn’t going
to raise my grade when he sat there in his chair with his arms crossed over
his chest”. Chances are the professor did not even know that he was using a
standard nonverbal symbol to indicate resistance. Whether or not we are
awasre of them, nonverbal symbols are extremely important to messages. 10

http://www.echeat.com/essay.php?t=28468

Nonverbal symbols can be arranged among three general categories:

1. Paralanguage--nonverbal enhancements to language symbols
2. Kinesics--nonverbal symbols of body movement (gestures, eye contact,
facial expressions, appearance)
3. Proxemics--nonverbal symbols of distance, space, and time
The inflection, tempo, emphasis, or tone adds meaning to oral presentations.
Paralanguage includes any device that can be used to modify the meaning
interpretation of a verbal symbol. These devices include inflection or
emphasis added to spoken symbols or highlighting, bolding, or all capital
letters added to written symbols. For example, look at the following
sentence and read it while emphasizing each word in sequence.
I didn't say she stole the money.
When emphasizing the word "I," the sentence takes on a shaded meaning
from its non-emphasized state. Emphasizing the word "didn't" changes the

9
Sometimes we communicate nonverbally using objects. Sunglasses keep people from looking us in the
eye. Our clothing gives out information about our life style.
10
Saundra Hybels, Richard L. Weaver II – Communicating effectively, New York, Random House, 1986,
pp. 8-9
meaning of the sentence, as does emphasizing the word "say." Depending on
which word is emphasized (paralanguage), the sentence carries a different
meaning interpretation.
For maximum speaking effectiveness, learn to vary these six elements of
your voice.
· Tone
· Pitch
· Rhythm
· Pauses and response time
· Loudness
A major criticism of presenters is when they speak in a monotone. Listeners
perceive these persons as boring and dull.
Gestures are among the most culture-related communication symbols. While
verbal languages are specific to cultures, the word symbols typically are
different between languages. In the case of gestures, similar hand gestures
are found in many different cultures, but the meaning associated differs by
culture. Giving the “thumbs-up” in the U.S.A. is a positive symbol, but in
the Middle East it means “screw-you”. Be familiar with your audience and
use tact with your gestures.
If you fail to gesture while speaking, you may be perceived as boring, stiff
and unanimated. A lively and animated speaking style captures the audience
attention, makes the material more interesting, facilitates learning and
provides a bit of entertainment. Head nods, a form of gestures, communicate
positive reinforcement from the audience indicates that you are listening.
Eye contact, an important channel of interpersonal communication, helps
regulate the flow of communication. And it signals interest in others. Eye
contact with audiences increases the speaker's credibility.
How you dress, the color and style of clothes, how you fix your hair, your
body type, and your posture are among the elements of appearance that send
messages. One needs to dress appropriately for a situation.
Smiling is a powerful cue that transmits:
· Happiness
· Friendliness
· Warmth
· Liking
· Affiliation
If you smile frequently you will be perceived as more likable, friendly,
warm and
approachable. Smiling is often contagious and your audience will react
favorably and
learn more.
The proxemics is how one feels about the space around them and the
distance between people that they are talking. Proxemics is culture sensitive.
The distances between people reserved for categories of acquaintance will
vary depending on the cultural interpretation of the distance. Studies in the
United States suggest that the distance as classified as the following:
1. intimate distance (contact to 18 in.)
2. personal distance (18" to 4 ft.)
3. social distance (4' to 12 ft.)
4. public distance (12' to infinity)
In the case of space proxemics, the following are examples of things that can
be
interpreted as having symbolic meaning:
1. Room size
2. Odor
3. Color
4. Lighting
5. Room Arrangement
1. The shape and layout of the room provides nonverbal symbolic clues to
people using the room of the expectations of roles to be filled.
2. Physical positions in an office layout establish power or status for the
employees in the physical positions.
3. Chairs in a circle usually mean an intimate meeting.
4. The dinner table at home; everyone has his or her chairs.
In summary, it is important to recognize to adjust your nonverbal
communication based on your audience response. Look for their nonverbal
communication. Are they bored or dejecting. It is not only what you say but
also how you say it that can make a difference to your listeners. Become
aware of your nonverbal actions and surveillance others, you’ll be amazed at
what they are telling you.

NONVERBAL BEHAVIOR INTERPRETATION

Brisk, erect walk Confidence
Standing with hands on hips Readiness, aggression
Sitting with legs crossed, foot kicking slightly Boredom
Sitting, legs apart Open, relaxed
Arms crossed on chest Defensiveness
Walking with hands in pockets, shoulders hunched Dejection
Hand to cheek Evaluation, thinking
Touching, slightly rubbing nose Rejection, doubt, lying
Rubbing the eye Doubt, disbelief
Hands clasped behind back Anger, frustration, apprehension
Locked ankles Apprehension
Head resting in hand, eyes downcast Boredom
Rubbing hands Anticipation
Sitting with hands clasped behind head, legs crossed Confidence, superiority

Open palm Sincerity, openness, innocence

Pinching bridge of nose, eyes closed Negative evaluation
Tapping or drumming fingers Impatience
Steepling fingers Authoritative
Patting/fondling hair Lack of self-confidence; insecurity
Tilted head Interest
Stroking chin Trying to make a decision
Looking down, face turned away Disbelief
Biting nails Insecurity, nervousness
Pulling or tugging at ear Indecision

Icons

Rich clusters of related and unrelated symbols are usually regarded as icons.
They are actually groups of interactive symbols, like the White House in
Washington, D.C., a funeral ceremony, or an Impressionist painting.
Although in examples such as these, there is a tendency to isolate icons and
individual symbols for examination, symbolic communication is so closely
allied to all forms of human activity that it is generally and nonconsciously
used and treated by most people as the most important aspect of
communication in society. With the recognition that spoken and written
words and numbers themselves constitute symbolic metaphors, their critical
roles in the worlds of science, mathematics, literature, and art can be
understood. In addition, with these symbols, an individual is able to define
his own identity.
In addition, the religious icons – Jesus’ images, for example, - form a
very interesting special area: for certain religious believers, these have a
spiritual power (emanated by the central figure of the icon).11

Bibliography
11
*** - Concepte fundamentale din ştiinţele comunicării şi studiile culturale, Iaşi, Editura Polirom,
2001, pp. 163.
Septimiu Chelcea, Loredana Ivan, Adina Chelcea – Comunicarea nonverbală: gesturile şi postura,
Bucureşti, Editura Comunicare.ro, 2005, p. 17.
More examples of digital/analogue signals can be found in Septimiu Chelcea, Loredana Ivan, Adina
Chelcea – op. cit.
http://members.aol.com/nonverbal2/sign.htm
*** - Concepte fundamentale din ştiinţele comunicării şi studiile culturale, Iaşi, Editura Polirom,
2001, pp. 296-297.
Loredana Ivan, Adina Chelcea – op. cit.
http://members.aol.com/nonverbal2/sign.htm
http://members.aol.com/nonverbal2/sign.htm
http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/00451/nonverbalcom.htm
Sometimes we communicate nonverbally using objects. Sunglasses keep people from looking us in the
eye. Our clothing gives out information about our life style.
Saundra Hybels, Richard L. Weaver II – Communicating effectively, New York, Random House, 1986,
pp. 8-9
*** - Concepte fundamentale din ştiinţele comunicării şi studiile culturale, Iaşi, Editura Polirom,
2001, pp. 163.