Demonstrative Communication
BCOM/275

Fidgeting, looking down at the floor, eye contact, lack of eye contact, blushing, a touch on the arm, the tone or pitch of a person’s voice, these are all a forms of communication. This communication type is demonstrative communication. Rather than the spoken or written word people can communicate in other ways, such as signals and movements. According to Krauss (2002) “Communication occurs when signals carry information-bearing messages between a source (sender) and a destination (receiver)” (p. 1). These messages do not necessarily have to be verbal but can be carried between sender and receiver in the form of demonstrative communication involving facial expressions, body language, or the pitch of person’s voice rather than the spoken word.
When someone discusses communication the first thought is generally speaking or verbal communication. According to "Nonverbal Communication Says A Lot" (2012), what people say without words can be more informative than the words they speak. When a person speaks he or she says more with nonverbal communication than they are even aware of, such as with arm and hand gestures, head positions, and facial expressions as well as with body language (para. 1).
Much information can be gathered by watching for a person’s nonverbal communication signals. Reactions such as a grimace or frown can indicate displeasure with the information or subject. When someone is talking and gives information, the body language he or she uses might indicate the person may not be telling the truth. Some indications of deception might be a nervous response like their eyes darting back and forth, or the tonal changes in their voice, and even the pace or intensity of their voice can give indications about the person’s reaction to information or their truthfulness.
An example of demonstrative communication is used