ABSTRACT
Nonverbal communication has a tremendous impact and influence on the receiver’s decoding or interpretation of any message. There are some characteristics that distinguish the nonverbal dimension of communication from spoken and written language. Verbal communication can be broken down and examined in specific units, those of words and sentences. Unlike verbal language, nonverbal communication is instantaneous. In fact, according to nonverbal communication researcher Paul Ekman, there seem to be six universally understood facial expressions: sadness, anger, boredom, surprise, fear, and disgust. Nonverbal communication can be seen, heard, tasted, smelled, and/or felt simultaneously, such as when swimming in the ocean. The study of body movement is known as kinesics and it includes all the ways people use their bodies to communicate or enhance their verbal communication. Verbal communication is usually sent in either the auditory or visual channel—words are either spoken or written. Touching is the most intimate of the nonverbal communication behaviors.
