Interpersonal Speech - Key Terms - Chapter 6 : Nonverbal Communication

kinesics

A category of nonverbal communication that includes body movement and position; specifically, gestures, body orientation and posture, touch and facial expressions and eye behavior.

vocalics

A category of nonverbal communication that includes vocal qualities (such as volume, pitch, inflection, speed, and silence) and accents.

accenting

A function of nonverbal communication. Nonverbal communication can accent or emphasize the spoken word.

repeating

A function of nonverbal communication; occurs when nonverbal communication repeats what is communicated verbally.

substituting

A function of nonverbal communication; occurs when nonverbal communication substitutes for verbal communication.

stalking

A harmful course of conduct involving unwanted communications and intrusions repeatedly inflicted by one individual on another.

accents

A particular way that words are pronounced. Accents vary according to ethnicity, age, and geographical location.

territoriality

A stationary area or fixed geographical location to which we lay claim and protect from invasion by others.

nonverbal communication

All forms of communication other than words themselves. This form of communication occurs via gestures, body orientation and posture, touch, facial expression and eye contact, vocal qualities and accents, body shape, clothing and artifacts.

cues-filtered-out approach

An approach taken in early computer-mediated communication (CMC) research that characterizes CMC as primarily verbal and without the benefit of nonverbal cues.

haptics

Another name for touch. Touch is related to the development of emotional and mental adjustment.

deception cues

Behaviors that people typically associate with lying; includes fidgeting behaviors and throat-clearing.

intimate distance

Contact to 18 inches. This distance is sometimes called our "personal space bubble" and is used for touching and intimacy, as well as physical aggression and threat. People who communicate within the range of intimate distance may have close relationships and may communicate confidential information.

paralanguage

How we say something rather than what we say.

affect blends

May be one emotion evidenced in one facial area and another emotion shown in a different area, two different emotions illustrated in one part of the face, or a facial display that results from muscle action that is associated with two emotions.

gestures

Movements of the body used to communicate thoughts, feelings, and/or regulate communication. Our use of gestures may be intentional or unintentional.

emblems

Nonverbal behaviors that can be translated directly in a word or two of verbal communication. Nonverbal emblems are culturally specific.

regulating

Nonverbal communication can function to regulate the flow of verbal behavior; that is, subtle shifts in nonverbal behavior can signal that a speaker is finished with her or his turn and/or a listener desires a turn to speak.

facial expression and eye behavior

Nonverbal communication that is involved in opening, closing, and regulating the channels of interaction and functions as the prime communicator of emotion.

chronemics

Or time, is another environmental factor that influences nonverbal behavior.

social presence

Our perception of a receiver's involvement in an interaction.

hyperpersonal approach

Posits that CMC users strategically manipulate their identity and plan and edit their communication to achieve relational goals. The hyper personal approach can facilitate relational development because of visual anonymity; that is, CMC users don't have cues that demonstrate the physical attractiveness of their conversation partners.

personal distance

Preferred for informal conversation and to keep people "at arm's length." Most Americans prefer personal distance when interacting with others ( eighteen inches to four feet).

polychronic time

Referes to time perceived as limitless and not quantifiable. Individuals who believe that time should be adjusted to people's needs, that it's acceptable to change schedules and deadlines, and that people can do several things simultaneously adhere to a polychronic time system.

proxemics

Refers to how people use space and distance. Also labeled " personal space," proxemics can reveal how we feel about ourselves and how we feel about others.

immediacy

Refers to physical or psychological closeness between people involved in interaction.

monochronic time

Refers to time perceived as a commodity. Individual who have a sense of urgency, believe that time shouldn't be wasted, and feel that people should do things one at a time adhere to a monochronic time system.

body orientation and posture

Related to the extent to which we face or lean toward or away from others. Both body orientation and posture can indicate whether we are open to interaction.

nonverbal ritual

Rituals helps to preserve and maintain a particular family's identity. Family rituals include private nonverbal codes, patterns, habits, and symbols.

complementing

Similar to the accenting function of nonverbal communication, complementing nonverbal behavior adds meaning to verbal communication. We usually have less control of complementing nonverbal communication than we have of accenting nonverbal behaviors.

display rules

Tell people how and when to display emotions, and are culturally influenced.

social distance

The appropriate distance for business discussions and conversations that are neither personal nor private (four to twelve feet)

interaction management

The regulation of communication and how we control channels of communication.

microexpressions

These are extremely fast facial movements that last less than a fifth of a second, also can reveal emotions, especially those we are trying to conceal.

artifacts

These include clothing, jewelry, accessories, and personal objects such as briefcases and backpacks. Artifacts communicate about the person who wears them.

public distance

This distance is used by instructors in their classrooms and for other public speaking situations. This distance is also sometimes used to communicate with strangers (twelve feet and beyond).

illustrators

Typically gestures that are directly tied to speech. Pointing movements, those that depict spatial relationships, and rhythmic chopping gestures are examples of illustrators.

body shape

We use appearance to judge others' backgrounds, characters, personalities, talents, and potential future behavior.

general attractiveness

We use appearance to judge others' backgrounds, characters, personalities, talents, and potential future behavior.