Real Communication An Introduction

108 Part 1  Basic Communication Processes

Remember that perceptions of artifacts (and physical appearance in

general) can change over time. To illustrate, when the late British politician

Margaret Thatcher carried a handbag, it was at first perceived as a sign of

weakness, but with her rise to prime minister, the handbag came to be a sym-

bol of tremendous power (Givhan, 2013).

Space and Environment

Believe it or not, you also send nonverbal messages by the spaces that sur-

round you and your communication partners. We examine three factors

here: proxemics, territoriality, and environment.

Proxemics

Ben’s first job involved a coworker Lucas, who was a close talker—a person

who stands very near when speaking to others. “During shifts when I’d be on

with this guy, I’d always have to try to find some excuse to be away from the

counter,” Ben said. “If we were both behind the counter together, he’d talk so

close that I’d end up completely backed into a corner, with the counter dig-

ging into my back, just hoping for someone to rob the place so there’d be an

excuse to get out of the situation” (Edwards, 2013). Ben’s intense discomfort

with Lucas was due to proxemics, the way we use and communicate with

space.

Professor Edward Hall (1959) identified four specific spatial zones that

carry communication messages (see Figure 4.2).

c Intimate (0 to 18 inches). We often send intimate messages in this zone,

which is usually reserved for spouses or romantic partners, very close friends,

and close family members.

Self

0 to 18 inches

18 inches to 4 feet

4 to 12 feet

12 feet and beyond

Intimate

Personal

Social

Public

FIGURE 4.2
ZONES OF PERSONAL
SPACE The four zones of
personal space described by
Edward Hall indicate ranges
that generally apply across
cultures.

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