por The paralinguistic signs They are those that complement communication and are often used in interpersonal communication. Within the paralinguistic signs, body expression, and affective and emotional states stand out.
These signs are accompanying messages of a verbal type. Paralinguistic signs include laughter, crying, sighing, screaming, yawning, and panting, among others.
Silence, the sound of air and water, and music are also elements of paralinguistic signs, among other elements that can complement a message.
There are elements that influence the differentiation of paralinguistic signs; Some of these are intensity, volume or tone of voice, and fluency.
Examples of paralinguistic signs
Example No. 1
The Coca-Cola Company often shows a person drinking a soft drink in its television commercials. When she is down the last sip, she makes a sound that denotes satisfaction and smiles.
The paralinguistic sign used in this advertisement is the sound and the smile, since it conveys satisfaction and taste for the soft drink, making the receiver of the advertisement also want to drink the drink.
Example No. 2
When a person turns pale, whoever is looking at them deduces that this person is sick. In this example, the paralinguistic sign is displayed on the person who turns pale.
The loss of color is an indication that the person’s state of health is not good and says a lot on its own.
Example No. 3
If a person frowns, it gives the impression that they are upset. Frowning is the paralinguistic sign that characterizes an angry person. Therefore, even if the person does not express her annoyance, the gesture on her face betrays her feelings.
Example No. 4
Crying is one of the most recognized elements of paralinguistic communication, since when a person cries it can be concluded that their emotional state is sadness.
Example No. 5
Laughter is another notorious element in paralinguistic communication, along with crying. This is because they are globally recognized and often express specific feelings in people.
Laughter is synonymous with joy. When people smile or laugh, they express that they are happy.
Example No. 6
The facial expression by nature shows how people feel before some event.
For example, raising an eyebrow gives the impression of wanting to delve deeper into the topic that is being listened to or read about; In general, it is a sign of interest.
Example No. 7
The tone of voice or volume is a paralinguistic sign that is capable of expressing various feelings.
For example, if a person communicates with a loud and strong tone of voice, the receiver of the message can intuit that the person is upset.
Example No. 8
Fluency makes the message understood. Having little fluency when speaking can make the receiver denote nervousness or limited knowledge about the subject.
Example No. 9
An interviewer asks his interviewee a question. However, the interviewee does not give an answer that satisfies the interviewer’s question, since it is concise or has not been entirely clear. For this reason, the interviewer maintains silence, generating the other person’s need to continue speaking.
Example No. 10
Two girls are chatting quietly, and at that moment, a third girl in a very ugly outfit appears in front of them. The two girls, in silence, exchange a series of glances with which they communicate their assessment of the other girl’s clothes.
References
Ahmed, MA (2012). Paralinguistic and Extralinguistic Linguistic Resources in the Adaptation of Dona Perfecta of the Novel Altteatro \\ Hermes .- 2012, Vol. 1, No. 2, Pages 87-101. Cairo University Center for Foreign Languages and Professional Translation.
Anna Esposito, P.N. (2007). Fundamentals of Verbal and Nonverbal Communication and the Biometric Issue. Amsterdam: IOS Press.
Calatrava, JR (2008). Narrative theory: a systematic perspective. Madrid: Iberoamericana Editorial.
Morales, JL (1978). Linguistic, paralinguistic and extralinguistic elements in communication: towards an integrating model, holistically structured. Sevilla University.
Niemeier-Dirven, RD (1997). The Language of Emotions: Conceptualization, Expression, and Theoretical Foundation. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing.