When messages or information is exchanged or communicated without using any spoken or written word is known as non-verbal communication. Non-verbal communication (NVC) is usually understood as the process of communication through sending and receiving wordless messages.
Non-verbal communication is a powerful arsenal in the face-to-face communication encounters, expressed consciously in the presence of others and perceived either consciously or unconsciously. Much of non-verbal communication is unintentional people are not even aware that they are sending messages. Non-verbal communication takes place through gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, physical proximity, touching etc. some important definitions of non-verbal communication are as follows:
According to L. C. Bove and others, “Non-verbal communication is communication that takes place through non-verbal cues: through such form of non-verbal communication as a gesture, eye contact, facial expression, clothing and space; and through the non-verbal vocal communication known as Metalanguage.”
According to Lesikar and Pettit, “Nonverbal communication means all communication that occurs without words (body movements, space, time, touch, voice patterns, color, layout, design of surroundings.)”
According to Himstreet and Baty, “Non-verbal communication includes any communication occurring without the use of words.”
So, non-verbal communication is the exchanged of information or message between two or more persons through gestures, facial expressions eye contact, proximity, touching etc. and without using any spoken or written word.
