Developing Speaking Skills - Part 4

​Applying non-verbal communication

• ​Prosody

• ​Facial expression and eye contact

• ​Body language and gestures

​Non-verbal communication

• ​65% of the communication (Birdwhistell, 1970)

• ​93% of the communication (Mehrabian & Wiener, 1967)

= music of language

= suprasegmental ​attributes of spoken language

(suprasegmental = features that are superimposed on the syllables)

​​In spoken language, prosody manifests itself as

• ​stress

• ​intonation

• ​rhythm

• ​tone

• ​pitch

• ​tempo

• ​loudness

• ​pause

​* In NVC, prosody = vocalics

​"That's fine."

​"I don't know."

​"Where were you?"

​"What are you doing?"

​"Are you coming?"

​"Can I get a cup of coffee?"

​"That's not what I meant."

​"Were you waiting for me?"

​"I don't think so."

• Proxemics = use of space

• ​Haptics = touch

• ​Chronemics = use of time, e.g. waiting, pausing, silence

• ​Olfactics = smell

• ​Non-verbal vocalisations = non-verbal signals transmitted via the acoustic channels, e.g. erh, ah ha, hmmm, laughter, sigh

• Posture = ​position of the body, e.g. stance, slouch

• ​Adornment = physical appearance, e.g. clothing, jewellery, hairstyle

​Remember to use appropriate prosody, facial expressions, eye contact, body language and gestures (bear in mind that you are communicating via a screen).

​

​Don't forget to demonstrate your skills in sustaining the discussion and to speak with correct pronunciation and register.