International Journal of Linguistics & Communication

Gesticulation and Effective Communication
Dr. Irving H. Smith, Mr. Kendall Larry

Abstract
Effective communication often involves several verbal and non-verbal elements. Based upon the findings of McNeill (2008, 1992), who established the effect of gesticulation upon verbal communication, this study was designed to investigate two aims. First, in concert with overt gestures, what are the other communicative aspects that can be identified by an audience that lead to clarity and understanding of the delivered content? Second, the other aim was to investigate the extent to which these same identified features imbue in a reflexive way the confidence of the speaker to internalize and convey confidence. Forty-three students (N=43) participated in a prospective survey-based study using a 6-item questionnaire. Results revealed that in addition to gesticulation, other nonverbal means of communication such as grooming, dress, and posture all contributed to the effective delivery of information to an audience while also demonstrating that these nonverbal features translated into improved confidence of the speaker to deliver information effectively. The broader implication of these results is that in the larger context of communicating information related to health, nonverbal elements that the audience perceives and the speaker exudes can be leveraged to deliver health related content more effectively.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/ijlc.v3n1a1