Nonverbal Strategies Research Articles

Normative Data for the Modified Location Learning Test (m-LLT) in the French-Quebec Population Aged Between 50 and 89Years.

This study aims to establish normative data for the modified Location Learning Test (m-LLT), considering sociodemographic characteristics such as age, sex, and educational level. One hundred eighty-nine middle-aged and elderly people aged 50years and older were recruited from the French-speaking population in Quebec (Canada). The m-LLT procedure described by Kessels etal. (2006) was used. Percentiles were derived for performance scores (Trial 1, Total Displacement Score, Learning Index, Delayed Recall Displacements), stratified by sociodemographic characteristics where appropriate. Regarding the sex variable, the number of displacements in Trial 1 and for the Total Displacement Score were higher in men than in women. Age was positively associated with the Total Displacement Score and Delayed Recall Displacements and negatively associated with the Learning Index. Education was positively associated with the Learning Index and Delayed Recall Displacements. Two-thirds of the normative sample achieved a perfect score on the fifth and final learning trial. Learning was better in women than in men, which may be explained by the use of verbal and nonverbal strategies and environmental awareness favoring women. The decline in learning and retrieval with age can be explained, among other reasons, by a less strategic approach during the encoding phase, a decline in other cognitive domains, or poorer imagery-based representations of the stimuli. The associations between education, strategic retrieval, and cognitive reserve are discussed. Overall, these normative data will enhance the detection of cognitive decline in geriatric clinical or research settings.

Patient Evaluation of International Medical Graduates’ Verbal and Nonverbal Strategies to Manage Their Lack of Comprehension: Investigating the Role of Goal Inferences

Guided by goal understanding theory, we investigated how U.S. patients evaluate communication strategies international medical graduates (IMGs) adopt to manage their lack of comprehension of patient idioms. Participants ( N = 569) watched a video of an IMG and a patient interacting in a 3 (verbal: being blunt, feigning comprehension, providing rationale) × 2 (nonverbal: higher, lower immediacy) × 2 (message variations: “out of sorts,” “frog in the throat”) online experiment. Participants inferred IMG goals of understanding the patient and establishing trust most strongly when IMGs provided rationale with higher nonverbal immediacy and least strongly when IMGs feigned comprehension with lower nonverbal immediacy. These inferred goals were positively associated with participants’ evaluations of IMGs and their satisfaction. The findings suggest that patients may integrate verbal and nonverbal behaviors to infer IMGs’ goals, yielding implications for goals theorizing and IMG communication.

Translingual negotiation in mixed‐gender communication: An analysis of the interactions in research group meetings in engineering

AbstractAs a practical theory of language, translanguaging refers not only to speakers' use of multiple languages, but also to the deployment of other semiotic resources and artifacts in communication. To examine the use of semiotic resources and translingual negotiation strategies in STEM communication, this study explores the intersectionality of translingual communication and gender in a research group consisting of international engineering scientists (including doctoral students, postdoc and faculty) at a public university in the Midwestern United States. Using a translingual approach, we analyze the semiotic resources and translingual negotiation strategies adopted by these engineering scientists to resolve trouble‐in‐interaction and claim agency in group interaction. Data include eight audiovisual recordings of research group meetings (RGMs), transcribed following the conventions in conversation analysis for verbal and nonverbal communication. A turn‐by‐turn analysis of the chosen excerpts reveals: (1) members of the group adopt negotiation strategies to collaboratively resolve trouble‐in‐interaction, including entextualization (visualization in particular), recontextualization, and various verbal and nonverbal interactional strategies. In employing these strategies, they also skillfully integrate various semiotic repertoires such as gestures, body movements, environmental artifacts, and board work to facilitate the resolution of trouble‐in‐interaction and (2) female scientists adopt envoicing and interactional strategies to regain the floor to speak and display resistance when interrupted or ignored by their male colleagues. These findings suggest that while we embrace the affordances of a translingual orientation to STEM communication as it values the entire linguistic and semiotic repertoires of international STEM scientists, we should also acknowledge the existence of microaggressive acts against female members in RGMs. A more equitable and inclusive environment for intellectual engagement and group communication in STEM fields can only be created through the collaborative efforts of individuals, groups, and institutions.

An idiodynamic study on students’ negative emotions in relation to instructor clarity and non-verbal immediacy in a CLIL classroom

ABSTRACT While positive teacher behaviors are recognized as crucial for effective learning, empirical research on their moment-to-moment impact on student emotions, particularly in the context of CLIL classrooms remains limited. This study addresses the gap by employing the idiodynamic method, a novel approach grounded in Dynamic Systems Theory, to provide a nuanced understanding of how individual Chinese university students’ negative academic emotions evolve in response to specific teacher behaviors. Using a mixed-methods design, the study reveals that teacher communication behaviors significantly influence students’ emotional trajectories, highlighting the coexistence and potential benefits of both negative and positive emotions in fostering a healthy language learning environment. While CLIL increases cognitive load and anxiety, effective teacher clarity and nonverbal immediacy strategies can mitigate these effects, fostering engagement and reducing negative emotions. The study challenges the simplistic categorization of emotions as either negative or positive, emphasizing the coexistence of diverse emotions and the potential benefits of negative activating emotions in language learning. It underscores the need for teacher training programs to incorporate not only pedagogical knowledge but also strategies for fostering positive communication and leveraging the dynamic interplay of student emotions for optimal learning outcomes.

‘The Charismulator’ – charisma simulator: A study of a new VR intervention to improve charisma

Abstract Charisma, often seen as an innate trait, is now understood as leader signaling grounded in values, symbols, and emotions, suggesting it can be developed through interventions. However, the method for cultivating charisma remains unclear. This study examines nonverbal communication strategies, highlighting the potential of body language, facial expressions, and vocal modulation to enhance charisma. Additionally, we introduce a virtual reality training program focused on these cues and explore the role of audience presence in boosting the intervention’s effectiveness by fostering self-awareness and behavioral adjustments. Results of a controlled randomized experiment with virtual reality-trained participants and online charisma assessors demonstrated significant improvements in observer-rated charisma from pre- to post-training compared to the control group. Moreover, training in front of a virtual audience yielded the expected outcomes. This study sheds light on charisma theory, its potential virtual reality training application, and its implications for leadership development.

Lecturers' Interpersonal Communication Skills and Their Influence on Student Engagement in EFL Speaking Classes

This study examines the role of lecturers' interpersonal communication skills in enhancing English as a Foreign Language (EFL) speaking classes, focusing on both verbal and nonverbal communication strategies. Using a qualitative approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews and classroom observations involving two EFL lecturers in Indonesia. The findings reveal that lecturers’ deliberate application of interpersonal communication, including verbal techniques such as modeling English use and engaging discussions, as well as nonverbal cues like gestures and body language, positively impacts students’ motivation, confidence, and active participation in speaking activities. Lecturers highlighted the importance of building rapport and creating a supportive classroom environment to foster student engagement, aligned with Vygotsky's Social Constructivist Theory on interactive learning. However, challenges related to cultural variations in nonverbal communication were noted, indicating a need for intercultural awareness in diverse classrooms. This study contributes to EFL pedagogy by emphasizing the significance of interpersonal communication in promoting effective language learning and suggests incorporating communication skills training into EFL teacher development programs.

How to prevent deception: A study of digital deception in “visual poverty” livestream

This study, grounded in the interpersonal deception theory (IDT), aims to analyze the new form of digital deception known as “visual poverty” in livestreaming rooms. Through a multimodal discourse analysis of the collected data, this study found three distinct linguistic strategies employed in “visual poverty” livestream: illocutionary strategy, discourse strategy, and nonverbal strategy. These strategies are designed to achieve three interactional goals: constructing a false identity, reinforcing credibility, and gaining economic benefits. Based on these findings, this study further analyzed why it is difficult to detect digital deception and proposed suggestions to prevent it. This study theoretically proposes online IDT and offers practical suggestions for preventing digital deception, bearing both theoretical and practical significance.

Adopting Verbal and Non-verbal Communication Strategies in Oral Discussion by Omani University Students

Effective communication, both verbal and non-verbal, is key to the success of university students in academic and professional settings. This paper examines how Omani university students use these communication strategies during oral discussions, focusing on the balance between spoken words and non-verbal cues like body language and eye contact. The study finds that while students mostly rely on verbal communication, non-verbal signals play an important role in making their message clearer and more impactful. Recommendations are offered to help students better integrate both forms of communication, improving their readiness for both academic challenges and future careers.

Comparing the effects of a specific task instruction and prompts on pre-service teachers’ noticing of classroom management situations

AbstractAttending to relevant information in complex classroom situations can be a challenging task for pre-service teachers which is why teacher education programs often use authentic classroom videos to scaffold pre-service teachers’ professional vision. However, to date, it remains unclear which instructions can guide pre-service teachers’ attention toward classroom management situations to promote the early development of teacher professional vision. This mixed-methods study (n = 85 pre-service teachers) compared effects of (a) a specific task instruction before watching a classroom video and (b) prompts during the classroom video on noticing—indicated by the number, velocity, and relevance of identified classroom management situations. Controlling for mental effort and pedagogical-psychological knowledge, t-Tests showed both types of instruction to have a similar attention-guiding effect. Qualitative analyses of retrospective interviews revealed that pre-service teachers identified verbal reactive classroom management strategies more easily than nonverbal strategies when observing experienced teachers in the classroom videos. We discuss specific task instructions as an economic alternative to the use of prompts in video-based teacher education and—based on our qualitative findings—provide directions for future research.

Musical enchantment. Affective pragmatics and the making of intersubjective grief in lăutari funeral performance

This paper contributes to the expanding body of ltierature on affective performance by examining, from a semiotic perspective, the role of live musicians (lăutari) in the expression and shaping of grief during funeral ceremonies among members of the Roma in Romania. By conducting de detailed analysis of two funeral performances by Florin Salam, drawn from publicly available sources, this study illustrates how musicians utilize lyrical content with inherent affective potency, and exploit sound iconicity to imbue their vocal communication with emotional resonance. Additionally, the paper explores the use of various forms of pronominal deictic ambiguity by musicians, enabling them to indirectly engage either the entire audience or specific individuals. I show how the pragmatic function of the verbal and non-verbal strategies employed by performers is to transform the affective potentiality of a funeral event into actualized emotions. Furthermore, I emphasize the influence of local social aesthetics on both the actions of musicians and the modes through which participants articulate their emotions. Ultimately, I argue that the emotional impact of an affectively charged performance emerges from a confluence of factors, including vocal technique, discursive practices, musical instrumentation, and social dynamics. This paper contributes to the expanding body of ltierature on affective performance by examining, from a semiotic perspective, the role of live musicians (lăutari) in the expression and shaping of grief during funeral ceremonies among members of the Roma in Romania. By conducting de detailed analysis of two funeral performances by Florin Salam, drawn from publicly available sources, this study illustrates how musicians utilize lyrical content with inherent affective potency, and exploit sound iconicity to imbue their vocal communication with emotional resonance. Additionally, the paper explores the use of various forms of pronominal deictic ambiguity by musicians, enabling them to indirectly engage either the entire audience or specific individuals. I show how the pragmatic function of the verbal and non-verbal strategies employed by performers is to transform the affective potentiality of a funeral event into actualized emotions. Furthermore, I emphasize the influence of local social aesthetics on both the actions of musicians and the modes through which participants articulate their emotions. Ultimately, I argue that the emotional impact of an affectively charged performance emerges from a confluence of factors, including vocal technique, discursive practices, musical instrumentation, and social dynamics

STRATEGI KOMUNIKASI GURU DALAM PEMBELAJARAN PAI DI DESA GUNUNG BESAR KECAMATAN ABUNG TENGAH LAMPUNG UTARA

Teacher Communication Strategy in PAI Learning in Gunung Besar Village, Central Abung District, North Lampung 1. Communication is one of the daily activities that is truly connected to all human life, as well as in Islamic Religious Education learning requires strategies so that learning is achieved and communication requires appropriate strategies so that learning is achieved and this research is to describe PAI teachers' strategies in learning at the elementary school in Gunung Besa village, Abung Tengah sub-district, North Lampung. The objectives of this research are 1) Describe the communication strategies of PAI teachers in PAI learning in Gunung Besar Village, Abung Tengah District, North Lampung 2) Describe the various communication strategies applied by PAI teachers in learning in Gunung Besar Village, Abung Tengah District, North Lampung 3) Describe analysis of teacher communication strategies in PAI learning in Gunung Besar village, Abung Tengah sub-district, North Lampung. This research uses a qualitative approach with a case study type of research. Data collection uses interviews, observation, documentation and tests, while data analysis applies descriptive qualitative. This research produces the following conclusions. First, the process of introducing communication strategies shows two things: 1) verbal communication strategies which include strategies for giving messages and advice, guiding strategies 2) non-verbal communication strategies strategies for persuading or inviting.

Teachers’ Nonverbal Cues in EFL Classrooms: Analyzing the Impact of Movement on Student Engagement and Comprehension

The aim of this study examine the effects of teacher movements as a nonverbal communication strategy on student engagement and learning outcomes. The research, conducted at MIN 1 Sinjai, used a qualitative approach that included semi-structured interviews and structured observations to investigate how students perceive the efficacy of their teachers' nonverbal cues, especially in terms of teacher gestures in the classroom. Findings showed that teacher mobility significantly improved attention, participation, and overall classroom dynamics. According to this study, creating a more dynamic and engaging learning environment can be achieved by applying nonverbal communication techniques such as deliberate classroom gestures. Concerning improving teaching methods in the EFL classroom, this observation has useful implications and broadens our understanding of nonverbal communication in educational settings.

Digital dissemination practices: An analysis of explanatory strategies in the process of recontextualising specialised knowledge

Researchers and scientists are increasingly encouraged by their institutions, by external organizations and by societal demands to foster the global dissemination of their knowledge production. Such dissemination is nowadays very frequently carried out online through different digital practices and texts. The current Web 2.0 and Science 2.0 context requires complex discursive practices to recontextualise and communicate specialised knowledge in a way that is accessed, understood and accepted by multiple audiences. The use of explanatory strategies has been highlighted by previous research as playing a key role in the recontextualisation of scientific findings. Such strategies can be realised verbally and non-verbally through diverse semiotic modes and affordances of the digital medium. A taxonomy of verbal explanatory strategies (elaboration, explicitation, exemplification, enumeration and comparison) and non-verbal (visual representations and spatial organisation) is presented stemming from the data-driven analysis of a sub-corpus of web-hosted practices, which is part of the SciDis Database compiled by the InterGEDI research group at Universidad de Zaragoza. In particular, the sub-corpus consists of 30 texts: 10 author-generated digital texts – from the knowledge dissemination community The Conversation –, and writer-mediated digital texts – 10 feature articles and 10 research digests – on circular economy and sustainability. Results show that verbal explanatory strategies are more frequent than non-verbal ones and that within the latter exemplification and explicitation are most common across all three types of digital dissemination practices. Author-generated scientific digital texts present more non-verbal explanatory strategies than writer-mediated ones – feature articles, and especially than research digests. The findings on the strategies resorted to and their realisation can be used to design tools for researchers, scientists and scriptwriters, mediators of disciplinary knowledge, who need to communicate such knowledge through digital platforms to diversified audiences.

Effective Movement Framing Strategies for Gender Policy Changes in South Korea

Abstract This article examines the impact of framing strategies on the political outcomes of feminist legislative campaigns in South Korea. Using qualitative comparative analysis (QCA), I analyze the interactive effects of frame qualities and nonverbal framing activities. The research fills a gap in the literature by emphasizing the combined influence of frame articulateness and empirically credible frames on political success. It also highlights the significance of nonverbal strategies such as strategic silence and the use of a broader identity in framing. By considering both verbal and nonverbal framing elements, this article provides a comprehensive understanding of how framing contributes to the achievements of social movements.

Need Analysis of English Conversation for Hawkers in Mandalika Special Economic Zone, West Nusa Tenggara

The research aimed to investigate the English proficiency level, what English conversation materials are needed, and what obstacles hawkers face in Mandalika Special Economy Zone when communicating with foreign tourists. This study utilizes a qualitative research paradigm with a descriptive approach; this study paints a comprehensive picture of the language abilities of Mandalika's hawkers, the materials of English conversation needed by hawkers, and the hawkers' obstacles when communicating with foreign tourists. Methods of collecting data consist of interviews, documentation, and observation. Some steps to analyze the data collected are data condensation, data display, verification, concluding, and data validity. Findings reveal a diverse spectrum of English proficiency levels among hawkers, ranging in primary and intermediate proficiency levels. Specifically, from 20 hawkers as research subjects, 13 hawkers exhibit a basic level of proficiency, while seven hawkers demonstrate intermediate-level skills. The assessment of English proficiency level is based on three crucial aspects that the hawkers always use namely understanding of English communication, non-verbal communication strategies employed by the hawkers, and vocabulary usage. These materials vary depending on the type of goods hawkers sell, highlighting the importance of tailored language resources. This research found 4 (four) crucial materials or topics to be mastered when communicating with foreign tourists: greetings and welcoming, describing specialties, providing personal/additional information, and discussing prices and payment. Additionally, the research uncovers obstacles faced by hawkers in their communication with foreign tourists. These challenges encompass hawkers' difficulty in explaining products, the low English proficiency of most Hawkers, and also language and vocabulary constraints of hawkers.

Support-Seeking Strategies, Family Communication Patterns, and Received Support Among Chinese Women with Postpartum Depression: A Content Analysis of Zhihu Posts

ABSTRACT The incidence of postpartum depression (PPD) among Chinese women surpasses the global average, and this disparity is closely associated with the level of social support they receive. Using Sensitive Interaction Systems Theory and Family Communication Patterns Theory as guiding frameworks, we conducted a content analysis of 705 posts gathered from the hashtag #PPD (chanhou yiyu) on Zhihu, a popular Chinese social media platform. Our findings reveal that postpartum women primarily seek social support from their husbands and mothers-in-law through indirect nonverbal and direct verbal communication strategies. They tend to receive more problem-focused support than emotion-focused solace. Moreover, the use of direct verbal communication strategies promotes potential support providers’ problem-solving behaviors, while the use of indirect nonverbal strategies elicits their avoidance behaviors. In addition, the conversation-oriented family communication pattern strengthens the positive association between direct verbal communication and support-providing behaviors, whereas the conformity-oriented family communication pattern weakens this relationship. This study contributes to the applicability of the abovementioned theories in the Chinese context and provides insights for future interventions aimed at addressing PPD among women.

Analysis of the Role of Teachers and Teaching Strategies of Non-Verbal Communication in International Chinese Education

This article aims to explore the role and teaching strategies of teachers in non-verbal communication in International Chinese edu-cation, and analyze its impact on learners language ability and cultural understanding. First, we will review the defnition and importance of nonverbal communication and explore its role and value in intercultural communication. Secondly, we will focus on the non-verbal com-municative role of teachers in International Chinese education. We will explore how teachers can establish strong connections with learners through non-verbal signals. Furthermore, this article will study teachers non-verbal communication teaching strategies in International Chi-nese education. We will explore how teachers can explain vocabulary and grammar through appropriate postures, gestures and movements, guiding learners to correct pronunciation and intonation. These teaching strategies will help improve learners language learning effects and intercultural communication skills.

Communication strategies for adults in palliative care: the speech-language therapists' perspective.

Communication disorders are a challenge that many patients in palliative care (PC) may encounter. This intervention area is emerging for the speech-language therapist (SLT), the professional who works in preventing, assessing, diagnosing, and treating human communication disorders. This study aims to identify and classify the communication strategies considered most important by SLTs for use in PC and evaluate whether there are any differences in perception regarding the importance of strategies between SLTs with and without PC experience. This cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted using a survey, which employed a well-structured, self-completion questionnaire previously validated by a panel of experts with over six years of PC experience. The strategies rated as most important within each group were the following: (i) adjust the patient's position and minimise environmental noise; (ii) establish eye contact and adjust the pace of speech; (iii) adjust the language level and raise one topic at a time; (iv) use images of the patient's interests and their personal objects; (v) use orality and multimodal form; (vi) use simplified language and structured pauses; and (vii) use tables with images and books with pictures. Verbal and non-verbal strategies were rated as highly important. There was no evidence of differences in perception in terms of importance between the SLTs with or without experience in PC, but more studies are needed to support this aspect. The patient's communication ability is one of the cornerstones of PC quality. Through their actions, speech-language professionals could empower the patient with strategies so that they can autonomously and self-determinedly express their experiences and most significant needs.

Investigating hope in oral health promotion for adolescents: an exploratory study based on observations at the dental clinic.

Maintaining well-being is crucial, especially in challenging conditions, considering the common public health issue of dental caries. Within the context of adolescent oral health, this research explores the techniques employed by dental professionals to potentially foster hope -a positive manner that promotes well-being- in adolescents during consultations, opening a window into the realm of patient engagement and well-being. Data were collected through observations conducted at public dental clinics in Norway, with the participation of three dental professionals and four adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15 years. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Practices were observed from dental professionals in their interactions with adolescents, which align with features of hope. Three core themes were identified: (1) bonding strategies; (2) verbal and non-verbal strategies for creating positive relationships; and (3) adolescents' empowerment in dental consultations. Although a new concept within oral health promotion, it seems that dental professionals in this study were observed to be facilitating hope in adolescents when they were providing their dental care. Consideration should be given to the potential for future approaches to be developed for use in dental consultations to facilitate hope strategically. While these approaches are likely to contribute to improving patient-centredness, consideration is needed of challenges and barriers to their implementation.

Connecting through touch: Attitudes toward touch in pregnancy are associated with couples' sexual and affectionate behaviors across the transition to parenthood.

Touch is a universal nonverbal action often used by romantic partners to demonstrate affection and care for each other. Attitudes toward touch might be particularly relevant across periods of relational strain-such as the transition to parenthood-when couples face many novel stressors and shifting priorities which can interfere with their sexual and affectionate experiences. New parent couples (N = 203) completed self-report measures online across six time-points (two prenatal). We tested whether couples' attitudes toward touch (touch aversion, touch for affection, touch for emotion regulation) at baseline (20weeks mid-pregnancy) predicted their frequency of sexual and affectionate behaviors from mid-pregnancy through 12-month postpartum. Both partners' more positive attitudes toward touch (i.e., for affection and emotion regulation) and lower aversive attitudes toward touch, as measured in mid-pregnancy, predicted couples' higher frequency and variety of sexual and affectionate behaviors at 3-month postpartum. Touch attitudes generally did not predict the degree of change in the frequency or variety of sexual or affectionate behaviors, with one exception: non-birthing parents' more positive attitudes toward touch for emotion regulation in mid-pregnancy predicted a slower decline in couples' affectionate behaviors across pregnancy. Findings underscore a link between new parents' attitudes toward touch and their subsequent sexual and affectionate behaviors, particularly in the early postpartum period. New parents need to navigate novel sexual changes and a nonverbal strategy such as touch might be useful to promote intimacy and care.