Effective Communication: Nonverbal Communication and Multimodal Literacy

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering nonverbal communication types, multimodal literacy, the five modes of communication, and the production of a vlog based on the lecture material.

Nonverbal Communication

Communicating meaning without relying only on spoken or written words, involving movements, facial expressions, physical distance, appearance, touch, and voice characteristics.

Gestures

Movements made with the hands, arms, or body to emphasize a point or express an idea.

Eye Contact

The act of looking directly into another person's eyes.

Proxemics

The nonverbal communication element referring to physical distance or the amount of space a person maintains between themselves and others.

Facial Expressions

Movements of the facial muscles that communicate emotional states.

Posture

The way a person sits, stands, or holds their body.

Appearance

The way a person presents themselves through clothing and grooming.

Haptics

Communication through physical contact or touch.

Paralanguage

The nonverbal elements of the voice, including tone, pitch, volume, and speed.

G – E – P – F – P – A – T – P

The easy memory guide for the eight forms of nonverbal communication: Gestures, Eye Contact, Proxemics, Facial Expressions, Posture, Appearance, Touch (Haptics), and Paralanguage.

Multimodal Literacy

The ability to understand, react to, and produce multimodal texts.

Multimodal Text

A text that combines different modes of communication—such as words, images, sounds, gestures, and space—to communicate meaning.

Linguistic Mode

The communication mode that uses words (spoken or written words, captions, narration, text) to communicate meaning.

Visual Mode

The communication mode that uses things viewers can see (images, photographs, designs, layouts, symbols, graphics) to communicate meaning.

Aural Mode

The communication mode that uses sound (music, voice, sound effects) to communicate meaning.

Gestural Mode

The communication mode that uses physical actions and movements (hand gestures, body language, facial expressions, dance, performances) to communicate meaning.

Spatial Mode

The communication mode that uses physical space and distance (seating arrangements, room layouts, arrangement of people, placement of objects) to create meaning.

Five Modes of Communication Overview

A table outlining the main ideas and easy memory clues for each of the five communication modes: Linguistic, Visual, Aural, Gestural, and Spatial.

Vlog

Short for video blog; an example of a multimodal text that combines several communication modes simultaneously to tell a story or share information.

Vlog Topic

What the vlog talks about or discusses (e.g., 'My First Week as a Grade 11 Student').

Vlog Theme

The overall idea or direction connected to the aim, design, and layout of the vlog.

Proxemics vs. Haptics

A quick comparison showing that Proxemics deals with physical distance and space between people (e.g., standing too close), while Haptics deals with physical touch and contact between people (e.g., a handshake).

Gestures vs. Gestural Mode

Gestures are a specific type of nonverbal communication involving physical movements, whereas Gestural Mode is one of the five multimodal communication modes encompassing body language, facial expressions, hand movements, and performances.

10 Steps in Producing a Vlog

1. Choose a Topic; 2. Research Reliable Information; 3. Write the Content or Script; 4. Decide on the Theme; 5. Plan Where to Shoot; 6. Set Appointments with Participants; 7. Record the Video; 8. Appeal to Different Senses; 9. Edit the Video; 10. Watch and Proofread Before Posting.