Introduction
Communication helps people to exchange ideas and feeling through various ways. Common means of communication are through exchange of words (verbal communication), written, and demonstrative communication. Demonstrative communication encompasses virtually all non-verbal and unwritten forms of communication such as facial expressions, body language and voice tones among others.
Effectiveness of demonstrative communication
For demonstrative communication to be effective, various attempts should be made by both the receiver and sender of information. One of the requisites is to pay ardently rigid attention to all non-verbal signals such as body movements, Gestures, voice tones, postures while not negating maintenance of eye contacts.
As Cherry (2011) notes, “all these signals can convey important information that is not put in words (Para. 2)”. Demonstrative communication is particularly effective and positive to the receiver of information when the context of the communication varies.
In situation where formal behaviors are required, choosing the appropriate demonstrative communication is crucial. As a way of example, during formal interviews despite deploying use of positively identified way of answering queries, certain body movements help to enhance courtesy in communication. In fact, failure to sit still or making some funny body movements may speak sound about an individual’s character.
Changing of tone is especially effective in portraying discontent or one’s negative perception about another person’s line of thought or subscriptions’ through delayed confer of meaning. It has been established through research that, delaying appreciation of meaning in communication process has the capacity to attract lesser harsh ridiculing response from the receivers end. Cherry (2011) points out that, “tone of voice can convey a wealth of information, ranging from enthusiasm to disinterest to anger” (Para 8).
On the other hand, the incorporation of animated voice tone helps to demonstrate effectively one’s genuine interest on a particular topic. Demonstrative communication is essential and effectively aids in delivery of desired meaning in discursive forums and presentations involving large groups of people apparently by drawing and maintaining their attention all through.
Furthermore, demonstrative communication is effective in situations where communication barrier is evident using all written and verbal means of communication. Consider, French and a native English speaker. How can one depict sadness bearing in mind the two have no experience in speaking each other’s language. Facial communication through wrinkled faces can amicably help to do this. Again, a picture is worth a million words.
In case the sender wants to communicate effectively some information likely to attract varying understanding, a picture would sufficiently help accomplish this. For example, how could one describe clearly and precisely some biological information such as describing the shape of a part of a human body such as ulna or femur? Using words either verbally or in written form can never leave the same mental picture of what these parts look like than a picture would do.
Ineffectiveness of demonstrative communication
In as much demonstrative communication may be highly effective in some situation, it fails miserably in others. Substantial ineffectiveness in demonstrative communication occurs in situations where long conversations are required, where details of the messages are desired, and where impressions are intended to be created on the receivers of information.
In the majority of demonstrative means of communication, mixed reactions are commonly evident since the meaning attached for instance to gestures depends on the individual’s capacity to interpret information conveyed in the gestures due to lack of standard gestures with particular meanings as opposed to verbal or written communication.
According to Keltner (1970) “the enactments of nonverbal behaviors may be associated with scenes in which these behaviors occur and where there were first learned” (p.59). Consequently, demonstrative communication is non-influential and thus cannot be used in all scenarios.
How demonstrative communication involves listening and responding
No matter the kind of communication is deployed; meaning must be transferred from the sender to the receiver. For information to be received listening constitutes a major tool in the communication process. In demonstrative communication, seeing the sender’s mood change from say, good to bad, through change of facial expression, would then encompass the listening element.
To exemplify this scenario, consider a miss understanding between two people. An analysis of what might have triggered the miss understanding may reveal that the words that were used never caused the miss understanding, but rather the way the words were presented. Such realization point out evidence of missed element of communication: listening (the demonstrative communication never took pace).
As Cherry (2011) notes “making the nonverbal communication more clear, misunderstandings can be resolved” (Para. 9). The receiver of the information must send some reaction to the sender back for the communication process to be complete; otherwise the sender would make an assumption that his/her message didn’t reach the intended target and may be forced to contemplate a repeat.
As a way of example, if gestures were used as means of demonstrative communication, the failure of the receiver to give a response would be treated by the sender as failed communication. The sender will thus attempt to draw the attention of the receiver to listen (look out for the gestures) to him/her by physically touching the receiver.
References
Cherry, K. (2011). Top Ten Nonverbal Communication Tips: Improve Your Communication Skills. Retrieved From https://www.verywellmind.com/top-nonverbal-communication-tips-2795400
Keltner, J. (1970). The eloquence of action: Nonverbal communication, In J.W. Keltner, Interpersonal Speech-Communication. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing.