THE NON-VERBAL DIMENSIONS OF PRESENTATION

Actions Speak Louder than Words. Nonverbal communication is the process by which nonverbal behaviors are used, either single or in combination with verbal behaviors, in the exchange and interpretation of messages within a given situation or context. Philip Lewis, famous writer on Communication techniques says, “Most of us speak at least one oral language, but everyone speaks a nonverbal language”. Communication analysts tend to agree that perhaps most of the expression of emotional and motivational states occur on nonverbal levels and are communicable by facial and paralinguistic cues.” Probably more feelings and intentions are communicated nonverbally than through all the verbal methods combined. Although we use two different mediums to convey messages when we communicate, it is difficult to distinguish our words from our nonverbal cues. Both are intimately woven into our messages and at as complements to one another. However, nonverbal communication is so inextricably bound up with verbal aspects of the communication process that we can only separate artificially. “To leave the impression that you someone’s voice, appearance, facial expression, other distance he stands from you, independently of one another, is to leave you with a distorted impression of the process.” Mehrabian has identified three dimensions of human feelings and attitudes often communicated more effectively through nonverbal cues: Like-Dislike; Potency or Status (Power); and Responsiveness. Only by observing posture, facial expressions, and use of the space around them, an observer can develop a fairly accurate interpretation of how comfortable two people are with each other and which person has power over the other. SHORT NOTE