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Conversations: More Than Just Words

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Conversations: More than Just Words
BCOM/275
November 11, 2013

Conversations: More than Just Words
Communications is the process by which information and thoughts are shared between two or more people by means of speech, behavior, or nonverbal cues. Thereby, meaning the process of conversing does not only occur with verbalization but also through demonstrative communications. Demonstrative communications involves all actions that do not comprise of spoken language. Every day, we send out and receive messages nonverbally, using them to emphasize and enhance our verbal messages. Everything from the way we dress to the way we carry ourselves speaks to others and says a lot about our character. Silent messages encompass a considerable portion of our daily communications. A study showed that only seven percent of communications is verbal whereas ninety-three percent is composed of demonstrative communications, indicating that we use nonverbal actions to listen and respond more than we do with words (Mehrabian, 1995-2011). What we are thinking and feeling is communicated through our body language and sent out in unspoken language. Therefore, when carrying out a conversation we are not only listening with our ears but also our eyes, just as we respond with body language and not only with words. Developing communication skills to be more conscious of body language and their meanings will enable a person to read other people better, in turn, allowing them to be more conscious of their own body language. Sending out the wrong kind of body language can deliver the wrong message and even offend someone. Consequently, understanding the various forms of body language and how each can be received both positively and negatively is important in communications.
The manner in which a person listens, responds, moves, and type of eye contact given demonstrates to another person

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