Business communicationThe most basic form of communication is non-verbal. Anthropologists
theorize that long before human beings used words to talk things over, our
ancestors communicated with one another by using their bodies. They gritted their
teeth to show anger; they smiled and touched one another to indicate affection.
Although we have come a long way since those primitive times, we still use nonverbal
cues to express superiority, dependence, dislike, respect, love, and other
feelings.
Non-verbal communication differs from verbal communication in
fundamental ways. For one thing, it is less structured, which makes it more
difficult to study. A person cannot pick up a book on non-verbal language and
master the vocabulary of gestures, expressions, and inflections that are common in
our culture. We don`t really know how people learn non-verbal behavior. No one
teaches a baby to cry or smile, yet these forms of self-expression are almost
universal. Other types of non-verbal communication, such as the meaning of colors
and certain gestures, vary from culture to culture.
Non-verbal communication also differs from verbal communication in terms
of intent and spontaneity. We generally plan our words. When we say "please open
the door," we have a conscious purpose. We think about the message, if only for a
moment. But when we communicate non-verbally, we sometimes do so
unconsciously. We don`t mean to raise an eyebrow or blush. Those actions come
naturally. Without our consent, our emotions are written all over our faces.