Communication is a key tool that health care professionals must use to identify the salient variables causing health complaints, to create strategies for health care treatments, and to elicit cooperation from health care colleagues and clients in the delivery of health care services. Communication specialists can help by applying speech…

A book is presented that is intended to facilitate mastery of English as a second language by foreign-born professionals who are working and competing in the United States or English-speaking regions of Canada. The text rests on two assumptions: first, that its readers are prepared to improve their linguistic skills on their own, and secondly that…

Noting that educators are surrounded by a vast array of communication processes that involve many avenues of expression, this booklet argues that nonverbal communication is an often ignored, but powerful, aid that can be used to enhance the learning environment. Following an introduction to the subject of nonverbal communication, the booklet…

A study investigated the relationship between communication apprehension and two nonverbal variables--proxemic establishment and kinesic behavior--in an intercultural setting. Subjects were 30 high and 30 low apprehensive adults (15 white and 15 black in each category). The subjects were paired to create three groups: the first containing 10 dyads…

Two hundred forty-eight male and female subjects from United States, Mediterranean, Near East, and Far East cultures completed a touch avoidance measure in a study examining cultural differences in touching behavior. Factor analysis of the instrument yielded four factors: opposite sex, other-directed same sex, kissing, and self-directed same sex.…

Two studies were conducted to develop and refine instruments for measuring nonverbal immediacy, defined as approach behaviors increasing sensory stimulation and producing interpersonal closeness. In the first study, three instruments were developed concurrently and were tested to establish their reliability and preliminary validity. These…

Developmental kinesics is the acquisition of nonverbal conversational behavior by the child. Semiotics is the study of what behavior means. Together they express the relationship of content and expression. Physiologically, verbal language and paralanguage represent the vocal-auditory mode, while kinesics represents the gestural-visual mode.…

The report details the development and design of a mechanical hand for communicating with deaf blind persons. It is explained that the device, which looks and functions like the human hand, forms the symbols of the one-hand manual alphabet upon command from a standard electric typewriter keyboard. The report addresses the following topics (sample…

Noting that an increasing number of rape victims who seek alternatives to police procedures do so because of the insensitive behavior of the investigating police officer, this paper provides a model of interpersonal communication skills that will enable police officers to better relate to and support the victims of rape. The areas covered in the…

The expressionist theory of rhetoric, as presented in critical passages of selected eighteenth century texts, is examined in this essay. The introductory section of the essay discusses historical attitudes toward the relationship between grammar, logic, and rhetoric and points to the emergence and wide acceptance during the eighteenth century of…

Recent research on the role of personal space has demonstrated the effects of violating or not violating a spatial norm on the perceived persuasiveness, credibility, and attractiveness of the message source. The persuasive impact of personal space violations has been difficult to interpret because of the failure to effectively manipulate source…

The possibility that judges' expectancy effects may adversely affect the results of jury trials is a problem that needs careful theoretical analysis and innovative methods of resolution. Traditional efforts by the legal community to counteract the threat of verbal/nonverbal bias by judges include the "Code of Judicial Conduct," curative…

Discrimination and reflection of incongruent communication are important therapist skills. Clinical and counseling graduate students (N=32) with different levels of graduate practica training were studied to assess the effects of level of experience on the ability of therapists and counselors to discriminate and accurately reflect incongruent…

Most social interactions involve spontaneous or unintentional behavior. Deliberate behavior, however, represents intentional action. An individual may display a particular emotion or behave in a systematic fashion to convey or conceal a specific type of affect. Often, an observer will question the authenticity of a behavior sequence, deciding…

This study investigated the role of gesture in communication development. Gestural categories, based on communicative function, were identified from longitudinal videotapes of one mother-child pair. The videotapes were made weekly or bi-weekly from the time the child was 13 months of age until she was 42 months of age. The results of the study…