6.2 Significance of Nonverbal 数字时代的商务英语写作.pdf

Nonverbal Communication 6.2:SignificanceofNonverbal Communication Hello, everyone.Welcome back to our course. Since we know what nonverbal communication is,now let’stalk about its significance.Why is nonverbalcommunication important?Ormaybewecan asktheotherway: Canyouthink ofamomentthat it isnot important? Think of the following occasion: you want to make a good first impression in ajob interview.What will you first consider? I think most probably you’ll first consider what to wear for the occasion, right?, how you should dressup and how you should behave.All these are nonverbal elements of communication. We can understand the importance of nonverbalcommunication fromthefollowingfour aspects. Firstly, nonverbal communication is important because nonverbal messages constitute much of the meaning we get from an interaction. “Many, and sometimes most of the critical meanings generated in human encounters are elicited by touch, glance, vocal nuance, gestures, or facial expression with or without the aid of words.” (D.C.Barlund.Citedin 萨莫瓦（Samovar, L.A. ）等著 ，《跨 文化交际》北京 ：外语教学与研究出版社 ，2000年 8 月。 P147-148) As a whole, about 93% of the meaning in a conversation is communicated nonverbally--38% through the voice and 55% through the face. People’s emotions and attitudes are reflected in their posture, face, and eyes.Even silence,andnoexpression inthefacecommunicatessomething. Secondly, nonverbal communication is important because it spontaneously reflects the subconsciousness. Nonverbal communication is more involuntary(无意识的) than verbal. That is to say, many of our nonverbal behaviors are not easily controlled or faked consciously.Thus, they are more reliable and trustworthy. When what someone says is contradictory to what he does nonverbally, we tend to believe the nonverbalmessage.For example,if someone says:“I loveyou”,but with no smile in the eyes and with a frown. Do you believe he is telling the truth?Ofcourse