Key Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication

1. Multi-channelled: Nonverbal communication occurs through various channels, such as facial expressions, body language, gestures, eye contact, touch, and vocal tones.
2. Universality: Certain nonverbal cues, like basic facial expressions, are universally recognized across different cultures.
3. Culture-specificity: Some nonverbal cues are specific to cultures and can vary significantly between them.
4. Ambiguity: Nonverbal signals can be open to multiple interpretations and often require context for accurate understanding.
5. Subconscious Communication: Nonverbal communication can occur subconsciously, with both the sender and receiver unaware of the messages being sent and received.
6. Continuous Flow: Nonverbal communication is a continuous process, unlike verbal communication, which has distinct beginnings and endings.
7. Complementarity: Nonverbal cues can complement, emphasize, or clarify verbal messages to enhance communication.
8. Contradiction: Nonverbal signals can sometimes contradict verbal messages, leading to confusion or misunderstandings.
9. Regulation: Nonverbal communication helps regulate conversations by signalling when speaking, interrupting, or maintaining silence is appropriate.
10. Immediacy: Nonverbal cues can convey the immediacy and help establish rapport or indicate the level of intimacy between communicators.
11. Affect Display: Nonverbal communication expresses emotions, feelings, and attitudes, providing valuable information about a person's internal state.

These characteristics highlight the complexity and importance of nonverbal communication in human interactions.