Lecture on Nonverbal Communication and Speech Codes (Chapter 7)

Introduction

• Focus on nonverbal communication and speech codes.
• Example: Draggyland event at A&M and research on drag culture.
• Objective: Understand nonverbal communication through drag queens, a co-cultural group in the U.S.

Nonverbal Communication

Key Characteristics

• Unconscious and learned implicitly: Not something we are explicitly taught.
• Innate nonverbal code: Yawning, universal across cultures.

Functions of Nonverbal Communication

• Reinforces verbal communication.
• Substitutes verbal communication.
• Contradicts verbal communication.

Components

• Physical appearance, facial expressions, eye contact, hand gestures.
• Paralanguage: Inflection, volume, tone.
• Chronemics: The study of time.
• Silence.

Cultural Dependence

• Nonverbal communication varies by culture and context (Hofstede’s dimensions).
• Individualism: More space, smiling, and non-verbal affiliation (e.g., USA).
• Power distance: Use of nonverbal codes to show respect (e.g., eye contact rules). Smiles more to power, averts eye contact

Nonverbal Expectancy Violation Theory (NEV)

• Expectations about nonverbal behaviors. His mom with people opening doors
• Violations can be evaluated positively or negatively.
• Communicator reward valence: Evaluation based on positive or negative attributes. ON TEST!!!!^^^

Examples

• Bumping into someone and the varied responses based on who it is.

Categories of Nonverbal Communication

1. Chronemics: Study of time (monochronic vs. polychronic cultures).
2. Haptics: Study of touch (ritualized, intimate, sexual, violent).
3. Kinesics: Study of body movements (leaning, body language).
4. Objectics: Study of appearance and objects (hairstyles, clothing).
5. Oculesics: Study of eye contact (varies by culture).
6. Olfactics: Study of smell (cultural significance of odors).
7. Paralinguistics: Study of vocal cues (pitch, rate, silences).
8. Proxemics: Study of space (personal, intimate, social). KNOW THIS ONE FOR TEST

Important Terms

• Monochronic: Linear, sequential time (e.g., USA).
• Polychronic: Multiple times happening simultaneously (e.g., Latin America).

RuPaul’s Drag Race and Drag Culture

Historical Context

• Stonewall Riots (1969): Significant event for LGBTQ+ rights. KNOW THIS FOR TEST
• RuPaul’s Fame (1993) and creation of RuPaul’s Drag Race (2009).

Key Concepts from Simmons

• Marginalization: Process of pushing a group to society's margins. KNOW THIS FOR TEST
  • Example: Classroom accessibility issues at A&M.
• Dominant gender narrative binary: The idea that only male and female exist. KNOW THIS GOR TEST TOO
• Speech code theory: How groups communicate based on their culture.
• Language policies: Rules/customs governing language use.

Key Terms in Drag Culture

• Family: Foundation of drag cultural identity; chosen families due to disownment. They choose their family bc their biological family disowned them
• Fishy: Very feminine behavior in drag queens.
• Reading: Wittily making fun of another person’s flaws.

Paralinguistics in Drag Culture

• Vocalizations: Unique sounds like “uh huh” or “mmm hmm”.
• Voice qualities: Pitch, rate, articulation (e.g., performance differences). What you learn in speech class

Semiotics

• Semiosis: Study of meaning.
• Semiotics: Process of producing meaning through signs.
  • Signifier: Word/symbol (e.g., “fishy”). Like rev we think of a mascot
  • Signified: The concept it refers to (e.g., feminine behavior).
  • Sign: Combination of signifier and signified.

Examples for Understanding Semiotics

• Signifier: Reading -> Signified: Criticizing someone.
• Signifier: Family -> Signified: Connection and drag cultural foundation.

Conclusion

• Review of key terms and concepts covered in the lecture.
• Study guide posted on Canvas for further review.

Keywords to Know

• Nonverbal communication, individualism, power distance, NEV, communicator reward valence, chronemics, haptics, kinesics, objectics, oculesics, olfactics, paralinguistics, proxemics, marginalization, dominant gender narrative binary, speech code theory, semiosis, semiotics.