First of all, sorry for the TWICE puns (I'm a really big fan of them but let's talk about that later). Now, let's get back on track. Nonverbal communication(NVC) can be defined as the process of sending and receiving messages through nonverbal(wordless) cues. This includes facial expressions, gestures, body language, posture and distance. Researchers are still divided, but it is generally agreed that NVC accounts for a large part of human communication, with figures from 60%-90% of communication attributed to it.
Nonverbal communication is something that we use all the time and happens outside of our consciousness. It can be as natural as smiling or as controlled as holding your laughter as a sign of respect. It plays a very large role in understanding what another individual is trying to tell you or how they feel. In my opinion, a good grasp on body language is more important when talking to a person another culture than bilinguality. This is because of how nonverbal communication transcends language barriers,with a few exceptions.
In different cultures, the same signs or gestures can bring a totally diferent meaning behind it. Other than that, certain religions also discourage certain types of onverbal communication such as skinship or eye contact. For example, nodding is widely accepted as the universal way of indicating acknowledgement, acceptance or approval but in some countries such as Iran, Greece and Sicily, a single nod up is used to indicate no instead. Another worthy example is how Muslims will refuse to shake hands with the opposite gender when it is considered rude in Western culture. One should always be sensitive of this cultural difference in order to maintain healthy relationship with their peers or even strangers. the latter is especially true in the case of tourists, or students who sought further studies outside of their own country.
Mastering the art of nonverbal communication might take a little bit of practice, but being conscious about it is quite easy. The easiest way is to observe how other people, especially elders do it. In certain situations, it is even advantageous to fake your body language. For example, showing confidence instead of nerve will bring an even bigger chance of landing a job in an interview. Practicing good posture and smiling, on the other hand, will leave a good impression when meeting new people, especially colleagues and employers. Other than that, being able to understand how other people feels through their nonverbal cues will help you to develop your empathy. In the long run, NVC skills can help you forge close and long-lasting relationship.
Although humans are the only species with the capacity to speak, we should not overlook the significance of nonverbal communication in our daily life. We should also learn to take full advantage of it in our daily struggle towards self-fulfillment. However, one should always be sensitive and respect others in communicating. With that said, go out there, and start sending signals! Thanks for reading!
