[Guide] Non-Verbal Communication

Credits to JayBusy from LS-RP, I made the guide shorter.
Source: http://helpguide.org/mental/eq6_nonverbal_communication.htm

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Everyone can talk to communicate, but how can you communicate when in a situation that you might not be able to talk? Maybe you're with a friend in front of a girl, and you don't want to say anything that she'd take offence to. Maybe you're selling drugs, and a look-out has to signal that there's a cop around without making it obvious. Maybe you just don't want to talk because your character is angry ICly. I know you guys are mostly like , because it's natural for us to pick up on these things IRL, so we don't really pay any attention to them.

When I RP, I use many different movements to show my character's emotions, but other players feel that most of them are pointless, and they'd let me know through a PM that the actions are pointless. However, I believe every character movement should have a reason behind it, and this guide is explaining 90% of my movements.

Each conversation IRL has two different parts; verbal, and non-verbal. We know how to communicate verbally, because we all speak. However, non-verbal communication is something this server doesn't stress too much, even though it really should be important, seeing as we're RPing humans.

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Good communication is the foundation of successful relationships, both personally and professionally. But we communicate with much more than words. In fact, research shows that the majority of our communication is nonverbal. Nonverbal communication, or body language, includes our facial expressions, gestures, eye contact, posture, and even the tone of our voice.
The ability to understand and use nonverbal communication is a powerful tool that will help you connect with others, express what you really mean, navigate challenging situations, and build better relationships at home and work.

The power of nonverbal communication and body language

Nonverbal communication, or body language, is a vital form of communication. When we interact with others, we continuously give and receive countless wordless signals. All of our nonverbal behaviors—the gestures we make, the way we sit, how fast or how loud we talk, how close we stand, how much eye contact we make—send strong messages.

The way you listen, look, move, and react tell the other person whether or not you care and how well you’re listening. The nonverbal signals you send either produce a sense of interest, trust, and desire for connection—or they generate disinterest, distrust, and confusion.

Nonverbal communication cues can play five roles:
Repetition: they can repeat the message the person is making verbally
Contradiction: they can contradict a message the individual is trying to convey
Substitution: they can substitute for a verbal message. For example, a person's eyes can often convey a far more vivid message than words and often do
Complementing: they may add to or complement a verbal message. A boss who pats a person on the back in addition to giving praise can increase the impact of the message
Accenting: they may accent or underline a verbal message. Pounding the table, for example, can underline a message.


Types of nonverbal communication and body language
There are many different types of nonverbal communication. Together, the following nonverbal signals and cues communicate your interest and investment in others.

Facial expressions
The human face is extremely expressive, able to express countless emotions without saying a word. And unlike some forms of nonverbal communication, facial expressions are universal. The facial expressions for happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, fear, and disgust are the same across cultures.

Body movements and posture
Consider how your perceptions of people are affected by the way they sit, walk, stand up, or hold their head. The way you move and carry yourself communicates a wealth of information to the world. This type of nonverbal communication includes your posture, bearing, stance, and subtle movements.

Gestures
Gestures are woven into the fabric of our daily lives. We wave, point, beckon, and use our hands when we’re arguing or speaking animatedly—expressing ourselves with gestures often without thinking. However, the meaning of gestures can be very different across cultures and regions, so it’s important to be careful to avoid misinterpretation.

Eye contact
Since the visual sense is dominant for most people, eye contact is an especially important type of nonverbal communication. The way you look at someone can communicate many things, including interest, affection, hostility, or attraction. Eye contact is also important in maintaining the flow of conversation and for gauging the other person’s response.

Touch
We communicate a great deal through touch. Think about the messages given by the following: a firm handshake, a timid tap on the shoulder, a warm bear hug, a reassuring pat on the back, a patronizing pat on the head, or a controlling grip on your arm.

Space
Have you ever felt uncomfortable during a conversation because the other person was standing too close and invading your space? We all have a need for physical space, although that need differs depending on the culture, the situation, and the closeness of the relationship. You can use physical space to communicate many different nonverbal messages, including signals of intimacy, aggression, dominance, or affection.

Voice
We communicate with our voices, even when we are not using words. Nonverbal speech sounds such as tone, pitch, volume, inflection, rhythm, and rate are important communication elements. When we speak, other people “read” our voices in addition to listening to our words. These nonverbal speech sounds provide subtle but powerful clues into our true feelings and what we really mean. Think about how tone of voice, for example, can indicate sarcasm, anger, affection, or confidence.

Expressions that can help

Absent: Preoccupied or distracted
Agonized: as if in pain or tormented
Blinking: surprise, or lack of concern
Blissful: showing a state of happiness or divine contentment
Ecstatic: delighted or entranced
Faint: cowardly, weak, or barely perceptible
Gazing: staring intently
Glancing: staring briefly as if curious but evasive
Meaningful: to convey an implicit connotation or shared secret
Mild: easygoing
Mischievous: annoyingly or maliciously playful
Peering: with curiosity or suspicion
etc