BBA Business Communication Study Material Non Verbal Communication Proxemics or Space Language : BBA Business Communication Notes Study Material in English Language Available o this Post.
After Studying, This Chapter You Are Able to Understand:- Introduction, Proxemics or Space Language, Intimate Space Languag, Personal Space Language, Social Space Languge, Public Space Language, Fixed and Semifixeds Spaces, Space Use, Time Language, Surroundings, Colours, Layout and Design, Conclusion
KEY POINT
- Space time and surrounding are important tools of nonverbal communication.
- The distance between us and the people around us tells us about our relations and the nature of our communication.
- Just as ‘Kinesics’ is the systematic study of body language, ‘Proxemics’ is the study of space language. Any successful communicator makes effective use of it.
- Distance wise the space around us can be divided into four kinds – intimate, personal, social and public.
- Only very special or important people enter our intimate space.
- Our ‘personal’ space is usually reserved for our close friends, colleagues and visitors.
- ‘Social’ space is best used for formal/official purposes.
- ‘Public’ space is exclusively meant for formal meetings/announcements.
- Space is both ‘fixed’ and semi-fixed and put to different uses, depending upon the communicator’s positions/status in the organization.
- Body language, para-language, and space language are closely related.
- Time is a very important factor in all communication.
- Our surroundings, including the colour, layout and design occupy an important place in nonverbal communication. Every aspect of our surroundings, every colour/colour combination has a symbolical significance.
BBA business COMMUNICATION
STUDY MATERIAL
INTRODUCTION NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION:
PROXEMICS OR SPACE LANGUAGE,
TIME LANGUAGE AND SURROUNDINGS
Non – verbal communication involves not only body language and paralanguage but also the space around us, time, and our physical environment or surroundings. It is a complicated matter indeed, but in order to make our communication effective we must take all these factors into account and put them to the best possible use. Scientific studies have been made in respect of all these factors separately as well as how they influence each other. Any organization or individual, anybody seriously concerned with communication can draw great benefit from the findings of these studies.
Just as ‘Kinesics’ is the study of body language, ‘Proxemics’ is the study of how we communicate with the space around us. In the same way, we communicate to others by means of the importance we attach to time or by sending out signals regarding time. Regarding the importance of physical environment for our own happiness and sending out signals to others man has always been very conscious. It is, therefore, important to consider these factors for our purpose in this chapter.
PROXEMICS OR SPACE LANGUAGE
The space around us and its contents convey a definite meaning. Of course, it requires quite some effort on our part to arrange them meaningfully, and on the part of others to understand or interpret the meaning. Since it is first of all a personal matter, Proxemics has come to be regarded as ‘personal space language’. Our interaction with the people around us has rather a well – defined or well understood spatial dimension. Conversely we can say that the spatial dimension or distance between us and other people tells us something important about our relations and the nature of our communication with them. Edward T.Hall has done very useful and interesting work in this area. Placing ourselves in the centre we can present the space around us in the form of the following concentric circles:
Distance wise it can be stated as follows:-
- Intimate – physical contact/touch to 18 inches.
- Personal – 18 inches to 4 feet.
- Social – 4 to 12 feet.
- Public – 12 feet to as far as we can see and hear.
BBA BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
STUDY MATERIAL
INTIMATE SPACE LANGUAGENON VERBAL COMMUNICATION:
PROXEMICS OR SPACE LANGUAGE,
TIME LANGUAGE AND SURROUNDINGS
Most of the body moments originate within the circle of about 18 inches around us. That is why the most important and intimate body language is used within this circle. Mostly, only our family members, closest friends and selected people enter this area. Those selected people are indeed ‘special’ people, whatever the reasons for their special status. It has special significance for our communication with these people. In the language used within this small, intimate, perhaps private circle, not many words are used. Very often whispers take the place of loudly spoken words. Eye contact, handshake, pat on the back or shoulders are quite noticeable. In a nutshell, this is the real, nonverbal ‘language of proximity’, proximity means ‘nearness’ So, the near we are to the person/persons with whom we want to communicate, the more intimate the nature of communication will be.
BBA BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
STUDY MATERIAL
PERSONAL SPACE LANGUAGENON VERBAL COMMUNICATION:
PROXEMICS OR SPACE LANGUAGE,
TIME LANGUAGE AND SURROUNDINGS
While in intimate space, as discussed above, we mostly speak in whispers, monotones or at a low pitch; in the personal space that extends from 18 inches to 4 feet we have normal conversation with close friends, colleagues, associates and visitors. Here we rise above the closed circle of intimacy around us. Although communication in this circle is also mostly personal in nature, it is relaxed and casual for most of the time. It permits spontaneous unprogrammed talking or discussion. However, certain important decisions may be taken in this circle.