3. Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
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Reading (45 seconds)
Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
When we speak with other people face-to-face the nonverbal signals we give—our facial expressions, hand gestures, body movements, and tone of voice—often communicate as much as, or more than, the words we utter. When our nonverbal signals, which we often produce unconsciously, agree with our verbal message, the verbal message is enhanced and supported, made more convincing. But when they conflict with the verbal message, we may be communicating an entirely different and more accurate message than what we intend.
Listening
Preparation time: 30 seconds
speaking time: 1 minute
Texts
Last month my favorite uncle paid me a surprise visit. I hadn’t seen him for many years. The doorbell rang, I opened the door and there was Uncle P. Now I’m sure when I saw him I said something like “Uncle P what a surprise! How nice to see you!” Anyway my wife was standing next to me and according to her I wasn’t really aware of this. My eyes got really wide and I broke into a huge big smile. She said I was actually jumping up and down like a little boy. Well, anyway, later that evening Uncle P told me how very good he felt when he saw how happy I was to see him.
But compare that with this, my daughter, she is 6. We were building a birdhouse together last week, and I was showing her how to use a hammer and nail. And of course stupid me I wasn’t being very careful, and I smashed my thumb with the hammer. Boy, it hurt. I almost felt like screaming, but I didn’t want to upset my daughter. So I said “Don’t worry honey. It’s nothing.” Meanwhile I was shaking my hand as if that would stop my thumb from hurting, and my face was contorted in pain. My voice was trembling too. So even though I told my daughter I was OK, I’m sure she didn’t believe me because she kept asking me if I was OK.
Explanation
(Reading part summary)
The tile of the reading passage: verbal and nonverbal communication
The definition of cognitive dissonance: When nonverbal signals agree with verbal messages, the verbal messages are enhanced and more convincing. On the other hand, when nonverbal signals conflict with the verbal messages, the messages may be different and more accurate than was intended.
(Listening part summary)
A summary of the lecture: The professor gave two examples to further elaborate on this concept.
The first example is that when the professor’s uncle visited last month, it was a joyful surprise and the professor expressed himself by saying ‘how nice see you!’ but there is more.
Besides his words, his eyes got wide and he had a big smile.
This agreement of verbal and nonverbal expression made his uncle feel happy.
The second example is that when the professor was making a birdhouse with his six-year-old daughter, he hammered his thumb by mistake.
Not to make his daughter worried, he said “there was nothing to worry about.”
But, she didn’t believe what he said because he was shaking his hand and his face was contorted.
His daughter did not believe what her father was saying because of the disagreement between verbal and nonverbal expression.
(Sample answer)
The reading passage delineates the importance of both verbal and nonverbal communication
In the lecture, the professor offers examples to elucidate this concept further. The first instance recounts a recent visit from the professor’s uncle, which filled him with joyful surprise. Upon seeing his uncle, the professor exclaimed, “How nice to see you!” accompanied by wide eyes and a broad smile. This synchronization of verbal and nonverbal expressions conveyed genuine delight, evoking a similarly positive response from the uncle.
The second example involves the professor’s interaction with his six-year-old daughter while constructing a birdhouse. Accidentally hammering his thumb, the professor sought to reassure his daughter by stating, “There was nothing to worry about.” However, his trembling hand and contorted facial expression belied his words, leading his daughter to distrust his reassurance. The disparity between verbal and nonverbal communication undermined the credibility of the verbal message, resulting in a lack of conviction from the listener.
Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
When we speak with other people face-to-face the nonverbal signals we give—our facial expressions, hand gestures, body movements, and tone of voice—often communicate as much as, or more than, the words we utter. When our nonverbal signals, which we often produce unconsciously, agree with our verbal message, the verbal message is enhanced and supported, made more convincing. But when they conflict with the verbal message, we may be communicating an entirely different and more accurate message than what we intend.
Listening
Preparation time: 30 seconds
speaking time: 1 minute
Texts
Last month my favorite uncle paid me a surprise visit. I hadn’t seen him for many years. The doorbell rang, I opened the door and there was Uncle P. Now I’m sure when I saw him I said something like “Uncle P what a surprise! How nice to see you!” Anyway my wife was standing next to me and according to her I wasn’t really aware of this. My eyes got really wide and I broke into a huge big smile. She said I was actually jumping up and down like a little boy. Well, anyway, later that evening Uncle P told me how very good he felt when he saw how happy I was to see him.
But compare that with this, my daughter, she is 6. We were building a birdhouse together last week, and I was showing her how to use a hammer and nail. And of course stupid me I wasn’t being very careful, and I smashed my thumb with the hammer. Boy, it hurt. I almost felt like screaming, but I didn’t want to upset my daughter. So I said “Don’t worry honey. It’s nothing.” Meanwhile I was shaking my hand as if that would stop my thumb from hurting, and my face was contorted in pain. My voice was trembling too. So even though I told my daughter I was OK, I’m sure she didn’t believe me because she kept asking me if I was OK.
Explanation
(Reading part summary)
The tile of the reading passage: verbal and nonverbal communication
The definition of cognitive dissonance: When nonverbal signals agree with verbal messages, the verbal messages are enhanced and more convincing. On the other hand, when nonverbal signals conflict with the verbal messages, the messages may be different and more accurate than was intended.
(Listening part summary)
A summary of the lecture: The professor gave two examples to further elaborate on this concept.
The first example is that when the professor’s uncle visited last month, it was a joyful surprise and the professor expressed himself by saying ‘how nice see you!’ but there is more.
Besides his words, his eyes got wide and he had a big smile.
This agreement of verbal and nonverbal expression made his uncle feel happy.
The second example is that when the professor was making a birdhouse with his six-year-old daughter, he hammered his thumb by mistake.
Not to make his daughter worried, he said “there was nothing to worry about.”
But, she didn’t believe what he said because he was shaking his hand and his face was contorted.
His daughter did not believe what her father was saying because of the disagreement between verbal and nonverbal expression.
(Sample answer)
The reading passage delineates the importance of both verbal and nonverbal communication
In the lecture, the professor offers examples to elucidate this concept further. The first instance recounts a recent visit from the professor’s uncle, which filled him with joyful surprise. Upon seeing his uncle, the professor exclaimed, “How nice to see you!” accompanied by wide eyes and a broad smile. This synchronization of verbal and nonverbal expressions conveyed genuine delight, evoking a similarly positive response from the uncle.
The second example involves the professor’s interaction with his six-year-old daughter while constructing a birdhouse. Accidentally hammering his thumb, the professor sought to reassure his daughter by stating, “There was nothing to worry about.” However, his trembling hand and contorted facial expression belied his words, leading his daughter to distrust his reassurance. The disparity between verbal and nonverbal communication undermined the credibility of the verbal message, resulting in a lack of conviction from the listener.