ANTH100 Chapter Notes - Chapter 9: Nonverbal Communication, Kinesics, Proxemics

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Anthropology
• Course: ANTH100
• Professor: Robert Park

Document Summary

Language - the system of arbitrary symbols that people use to encode their experiences of the world and of others. Primates can use vocal calls and gestures to tell others where food is, locate each other and warn of danger. Human language is very different from primate calls. Language evolved alongside calls, not from them. Human language is the greatest representation of symbols in our culture. Non-verbal communication - the process of sending and receiving messages without the use of words. Body language - movements and postures that communicate attitudes and feelings non- verbally. Meaning attached to non-verbal gestures vary"s across cultures. Kinesics - the study of human body language and non-verbal communication. Non-verbal sounds (cry of pain, crying from sadness ect) Proxemics - the study of how different societies perceive and use space. The space we create around ourselves while interacting with others. Biology allowed us to speak (change in throat and mouth anatomy)