Real Communication An Introduction

Chapter 4  Nonverbal Communication 97

Functions of Nonverbal Communication

Now that we’ve established the essential nature of nonverbal communication,
we can discuss how it helps us interact effectively in relationships. It’s impossible
to discuss every purpose that nonverbal behaviors serve, but next we highlight
the most important ways that nonverbal behaviors work on their own—and in
combination with verbal behaviors—to affect communication (Burgoon, Floyd,
& Guerrero, 2010).

Reinforcing Verbal Messages

Nonverbal behavior clarifies meaning by reinforcing verbal messages in
three ways: repeating, complementing, and accenting. Repeating mir-
rors the verbal message through a clear nonverbal cue that represents the
exact same idea. For example, you hold up three fingers while saying
“three” or shake your head at a toddler while saying “no.” You can also
reinforce verbal messages with complementing, nonverbal behavior
that is consistent with the verbal message and often enhances it. For
example, when you pat a friend on the back while saying, “You did a
great job,” you reinforce the message that your friend has done well.
Nonverbal behaviors are also used for accenting, or clarifying
and emphasizing specific information in a verbal message. For exam-
ple, suppose you want your friend to meet you at a local pub at 6 p.m.
You can make eye contact as you talk (indicating that you are monitoring your
friend’s attention level) and touch the friend lightly on the forearm as you mention
the pub on State Street (“Do you know the one I mean?”).

Substituting Verbal Messages

Nonverbal cues can substitute for words. For example, a traffic officer’s outstretched
palm substitutes for the word stop. Substituting is common in situations where
words are unavailable (communicating with someone who speaks a different lan-
guage) or when speaking aloud would be inappropriate (at the symphony or during
a religious service). Substitution cues signal information you’d rather not say aloud
(raising your eyebrows at your partner to signal you want to leave a party) or help
you communicate when you don’t know the words to use (pointing to the location
of pain to your doctor) (Rowbotham, Holler, Lloyd, & Wearden, 2012).
Sometimes you may nonverbally substitute silence for words. If your room-
mate is driving you nuts with her constant talking (while you’re trying to write
a paper), you may become silent and look away from her when she asks for
your input on last night’s episode of Dancing with the Stars (Giles, Coupland,
& Wiemann, 1992). Silence may also be a sign of deference (as when you don’t
express your opinion because the other has higher status); it may also signal defi-
ance (as when you refuse to answer someone who angers you) (Ng & Ng, 2012).

Contradicting Verbal Messages

Nonverbal communication functions to contradict the verbal when the behav-
ioral cues convey the opposite of the verbal message. Sometimes this is uninten-
tional, as when you clearly look upset but say that nothing’s wrong, and you don’t

WHEN A TRAFFIC COP

holds out one hand, you know

to stop; she doesn’t have

to scream “STOP!” to get

the intended effect. © Sandy

Felsenthal/Corbis

Have you ever experienced

(or been responsible for) a

failed attempt at sarcasm or

teasing via a text message

or social network post-

ing? What, in your opinion,

caused this communication

breakdown? How might it

have been avoided?

AND YOU?