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1.
Define nonverbal communication.
2.
_______ is an example of a nonvocal form for verbal communication that is often
mistaken for nonverbal communication because of its reliance on gestural symbols
rather than spoken words.
3.
Briefly explain why sign language would not be considered nonverbal communication.
4.
Using one of your experiences, provide a brief example of a time when someone’s
nonverbal behavior contradicted his or her verbal message, and you found the nonverbal
message to be more believable.
5.
What is the difference between a nonverbal message that repeats a verbal message and
one that complements a verbal message?
6.
Using a brief example, illustrate how a communicator could use nonverbal behavior to
accent a verbal message.
7.
Briefly describe the interaction management function of nonverbal communication and
give an example of a behavior that regulates the back-and-forth flow of communication.
8.
Define immediacy as it would be communicated through nonverbal communication.
9.
Provide some examples of the ways in which a person’s environment sends nonverbal
messages to others.
10.
Provide an example of an illustrator and an affect display.
11.
List four of the seven facial expressions that appear to be inborn and that are exhibited
across cultures as well as among people who are blind and have never had the
opportunity to imitate others’ facial expressions.
12.
Define oculesics and provide an example of how someone would use it to communicate.
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13.
A paralinguistic cue that gives information about the speaker’s emotional or physical
state is referred to as a(n) ________, and an example of one would be ________.
14.
Identify one artifact you are using right now, and briefly describe what you believe it
may be communicating about you to your classmates and professor.
15.
List the four spatial zones identified by Edward Hall and discussed in your textbook.
16.
Describe one element of the physical environment in your favorite public place to hang
out with friends (a restaurant, café, pub, etc.), and what that aspect of the environment
communicates to patrons.
17.
List four of the five styles of touch that are categorized along the intimacy continuum.
18.
Give an example of functional-professional touch you have either provided to a
customer or client or that you have received as a customer or client.
19.
Define chronemics and provide an example of a time you have used it to communicate
with someone.
20.
What is the difference between a contact and a noncontact culture?
21.
What is one example of something people do when sending an e-mail or chatting online
to substitute for the lack of nonverbal communication channels?
22.
Contrast the public-private dimension of the situational context with the informal-formal
dimension.
23.
Explain why nonverbal communication is not a language and what is meant when
nonverbal communication is described as “often spontaneous and unintentional
communication that is ambiguous and more believable than verbal communication.”
24.
List, describe, and provide an example of the six functions of nonverbal communication
discussed in your textbook.
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25.
What types of cues might a police officer look for as a sign of deception in a suspect’s
behavior? Why would the officer want to be skeptical of assuming that these cues are
actually a sign of deception?
26.
List and define the categories of body movements, or kinesic behaviors, discussed in
your book. Using a detailed narrative example, illustrate how all of these behaviors
might be used to communicate within a single conversation.
27.
How do humans use their eye behavior to communicate with one another? Pulling
together information from throughout this chapter, describe how eye behavior functions
as part of the communication process. What should we be aware of with respect to eye
behavior when we communicate with someone from another culture?
28.
Synthesizing what you have learned throughout this chapter, explain the functions that
facial expressions serve in our communication. Explain how we know that some facial
expressions are inborn rather than learned behaviors.
29.
How is the voice used to communicate nonverbally? What distinguishes vocal
nonverbal communication from verbal communication? Describe a scenario where a
person would communicate vocally as a substitution for a verbal message.
30.
Describe the ways in which physical appearance and artifacts serve as communication
behaviors. How does being physically attractive appear to benefit a person?
31.
Kiyomi has recently moved to the United States from Japan in order to attend college.
She has also decided to work part-time to gain some experience in a Western workplace.
What would you explain to her about the cultural elements of our various nonverbal
codes to help her learn to communicate competently?
32.
Dan is seventy-five years old and recently got his first personal computer. He has
discovered the world of chatting online and is excited about the opportunity to make
friends with similar interests throughout the world. Unfortunately, he’s also discovered
that it’s tricky to navigate this new communication world because of the lack of
nonverbal cues. He often finds himself being misunderstood by others and is confused
about how to interpret what others communicate to him. What advice do you have for
Dan about how to encode and decode or interpret subtle nonverbal cues when
communicating online?
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