Demonstrative Communication Paper
Amontchi Sylvain
BCOM/214
November 11, 2014
Gioconda Rodriguez-Padilla
Demonstrative Communication
Communication can hold one of many definitions. As our text says, “communication is the process of transmitting, conveying or sending and accepting or receiving messages.” (Cheesbro, O’Connor, and Rios, 2010). Communication consists of the exchange of data, ideas, instructions, and messages via speech, writing, kinesics, body language, and/or behavior. Such information can be exchanged both nonverbally and verbally. Nonverbal communication is usually transmitted through body language and posture, gestures, eye contact, tone of voice, and facial expressions while verbal communication consist of orally and written methods of communication. The following essay will cover demonstrative communication; a communication form that uses both nonverbal and unwritten communications. We will discuss the circumstances in which demonstrative communication is effective and ineffective, both for the sender and the receiver. In addition, this essay will explain how listening and responding are imperative for demonstrative communication.
As I stated earlier, demonstrative communication consist of both nonverbal and unwritten communication. According to BrightHub.com, “demonstrative communication involves sending or transmitting and accepting silent messages” (Nayab, 2011). It is usually utilized as an attempt to bring attention back to verbal communication even though it can be used to transmit its own unique message that differs from the one which is currently being presented verbally. For the most part, facial expressions are utilized across all forms of nonverbal communication. Nyab (2011) goes on to say that “it is likely that body language or kinesics as well as facial expressions represent 55% of all communication.” Verbal communication can be greatly emphasized by demonstrative communication. For example, a strong handshake paired with formal manners and attire may communicate the level of class or position in a company that an individual holds. These details nonverbally indicate to us whether we should we should verbally address this individual in a formal or informal manner. It is fair to say that one can use demonstrative communication to strengthen his or her verbal communication and to determine their overall approach and handling of a conversation. When two people are meeting for the first time, both individuals can likely sense the character and status of the other person such as if they are friendly, wise, or have a sense of humor. Picking up on these traits is a vital part of efficient communication and is known as demonstrative communication. An individual has the chance to gain valuable intelligence on the other person simply by noting the first impression that he or she portrays. In return, the other individual will be able to use demonstrative communication to evaluate your initial response as positive or negative and use it to their advantage. For instance, a real estate agent has just told his or her client the asking price for a house and the client rolled his eyes or sighs heavily. This tells us that he is disappointed with the price and he did not expect it to be so high. The seller can see this and now knows that he or she is in for a long negotiation process or that the buyer will likely be walking away. People bring into play demonstrative communication each day unknowingly acting accordingly. Clothing, hairstyles, symbols, tattoos, architecture and paintings are several styles of demonstrative communication. Even though this style of communication may be positive, people must be cautious how they exploit demonstrative communication since it may be vague and may be misunderstood. Appearances, gestures, facial expressions or body language may imply something else to another people. It may be unfriendly for anyone to misunderstand somebody they hardly knew.
