nonverbal signals
Unspoken communication cues
Nonverbal signals are the cues people send and receive without using words—facial expressions, gestures, posture, eye contact, tone of voice, and physical distance.
These signals often communicate emotions and attitudes more honestly than speech, since they're harder to consciously control.
Someone might say they're fine while their crossed arms and averted gaze signal otherwise.
Her nonverbal signals told me she wasn't interested in continuing the conversation.
- eye contactDirect visual connection
- knowing glanceSilent acknowledgment between people
- facial expressionEmotive muscle positioning
- hand movementsMotions made with fingers
- microexpressionsBrief involuntary facial signals
poker face · personal space · grunts · tells · tone · gesture · mirroring · pointing · thumbs up · posture · crossed arms · open palms · sighs · fidgeting · shrugging · pitch · waving · head nod
- emotional expressiontone, laughing, mood, yelling, crying
- counseling skillsactive listening, rapport building, paraphrasing, reflective listening, empathy
nonverbal signalsverbal communication
Exchange through spoken language
spoken language · speech · words · verbal cues · oral communication
sign, signal, verbal, signature, signify, verbalize, nonverbal, signaler