Poznan University of Technology
Badge Project

Reading Comprehension. Read the text and discuss with your partner.[5]

If we think of non-verbal communication, one conclusion may be drawn for sure, i.e. the majority of the signal we receive in the communication process is the same in the entire world. No matter where you go, you will see that if people are in a good mood, they smile; if extremely sad, they probably cry; if angry, they  frown.

Now, look at the pictures below. Can you identify the emotions people express? [6]

 

a)                                                b)                                                 c)

                                      

 

d)                                                   e)                                                   f)

                                                

 Source: https://pixabay.com/

Interestingly, if you show the faces of unknown people expressing different emotions like happiness, sadness, disgust, fear, surprise or anger, these facial expressions will be interpreted well by others irrespectively of their cultural background or the country of origin. Facial expression, however, is not the one and only component of non-verbal communication. There are also gestures (see unit 3 for body languages and posture), paralanguage, i.e. the tone of voice or its loudness, eye contact, distance and time perception as well as even physical appearance. Even though many of these components are produced unconsciously, the moment you realize how important they are, you may try to create a more positive impression, e.g. during a job interview. This soft skill may help you remember to smile and maintain eye contact with your interlocutor to show that you are interested in or pleased with the conversation, maintain proper posture or shake hands firmly.