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stand the message. For example, people might point in a certain direction after they have just said, “the new building is north of the library.”
3.2 Substitution
Nonverbal behavior can be used to replace verbal behavior to convey certain meaning. If people see a very special friend, they are apt to enlarge the size of the smile and throw open arms to greet him or her, which is a substitute for all the words to convey the same feeling. [3]
3.3 Complementing
Closely related to repeating is complementing. Although messages that repeat can stand alone, complementing generally adds more information to messages. For example, people can tell someone that they are pleased with someone’s performance, but these messages take on extra meaning if they pat the person on the shoulder at the same time; in addition, complementing is referred to as a type of accenting because it accents the idea the speaker is trying to express. People can see how an apology becomes more forceful if his face, as well as his words, is saying, “I am sorry.” 本论文由英语论文网 www.51lunwen.org整理提供They can also accent their anger by speaking in a voice that is much louder than the one people use in normal conversation.
3.4 Contradiction
On some occasions, nonverbal actions send signals opposite to the literal meaning contained in verbal messages. Some speaker often sends his or her nonverbal cues beyond his or her conscious control; the unspoken language is regarded as speaking louder than the spoken words. He tells people he is relaxed and at ease, his voice quavers and his hands shake. Do people believe someone who says “nothing” when he or she is sweating and looks worried?
3.5 Regulation
People often regulate and manage communication by utilizing some forms of nonverbal behaviors: silence for a moment sends the message that speakers are ready to begin their speech; direct eye contact with someone makes him or her know the channels of communication are open; nodding the head in agreement indicates that the speaker should continue talking. Nonverbal behaviors thus help people to control the situation.[4]

4. Differences between verbal communication and nonverbal communication

Nonverbal and verbal communications are both indispensable from each other: it is hard to imagine how they could function without either one. Much of the value of these two ways of communicating lies in their differences.
4.1Single vs. multiple channels
Most verbal messages—word, sentences, and paragraphs—reach people at a time, rather like pearls on a string. In fact, it’s physically impossible for a person to speak more than one word at a time. Unlike the spoken word, however, nonverbal messages don’t arrive in such an orderly, sequential manner. Instead, they bombard us simultaneously from a multitude of channels. 本论文由英语论文网 www.51lunwen.org整理提供Consider the everyday act of meeting a stranger for a first time. On a verbal level there is relatively little information exchange in the clich é s that occupy the first few minutes of most conversations ( “ how is going … . ？ . ” “ Great weather we have been having ” “ what is your major ” ). But at the same moment the number of nonverbal messages available to you is overwhelming: the other people ’ facial expressions, postures, gestures and so on. In some way this multi-channel onslaught of nonverbal message is a boon, since it provides so many ways of learning about others. In another sense, however, the number of simult