Nonverbal Parts of Language
Human nonverbal communication alone is more complex than is any other animal communication system (Wilson, 1975). Nonverbal communication can be divided into two main parts, prosody and paralanguage. Paralanguage can be further subdivided into categories of vocal and nonverbal. The latter is what most think of when they refer to nonverbal communication because it includes body language. However, nonverbal communication is much richer than simple body language.
Let us examine each category separately. Vocal paralanguage refers to auditory signals, not words, that speakers employ to amplify meaning. In playwriting, for instance, stage directions are paralinguistic. They help the actors say the lines properly. In conversation, vocal paralanguage can include sounds like "uh-huh," laughs, and cries. Consider the following segment of a telephone conversation.
Speaker 1 (Answering phone) "Hello."
Speaker 2: "Hello. How are you?"
Speaker 1:" I am fine."
Now, provide some vocal paralinguistic details. Suppose Speaker 1's reply were:
(Laughing) "I am fine."
or, conversely:
(Sobbing) "I am fine."
Notice the vast differences in meaning those two simple stage directions provide. The absence of vocal paralanguage is the source of difficulty in establishing the meaning in a letter, for example. We "read between the lines" because of that lack. Interestingly, with the rise of electronic mail, writers have added smileys, little sideways faces, to indicate jokes, sadness, and the like. Here are some smileys: :-), ;-), :-(.
Prosody includes rhythm, loudness, and tempo. Lecture to your class in a dull monotone for awhile. Or, imitate John Houseman, the actor (The Paper Chase) or Paul Harvey, the radio commentator, while you lecture. Watch what happens to your class. As another example, think of the Jack London story, To build a fire. In it, the protagonist, a mean-spirited type, falls through the ice into cold water. It is so cold that he will die, unless he can build a fire. He is shaking so hard, he cannot light his matches. He thinks that if he can warm his hands by killing his dog, and thrusting in the dogs entrails before they cool, he could light the match. So he looks at his dog, and in a pleasant voice calls him. But the dog does not come. Why? He has never called the dog in such a pleasant voice before. So the dog does not come. Had the protagonist used his normal tone of voice the dog probably would have obeyed.
Nonverbal paralanguage are behaviors used to supplement meaning. Facial expressions, posture, and motion are examples. Look at your class, scowl, and say (pleasantly), " I really like this class." What happens? There is a discrepancy in the verbal content of the message and the nonverbal paralanguage. Or, stiffen up, grab the podium, and say (nervously), "I am so happy to be here."
Have the class write some verbal messages that can be delivered in different ways. For example:
I wish you were here.
I am pregnant.
For each phrase, how many meanings can you come up with. Identify the nonverbal categories used to modify the phrase.