Business Communication

E
NERGY
Energy and enthusiasm as an aspect of body language is hard to describe, but most people have
experienced the impact of a person with a high level of energy. State of physical and mental health
play a large part in body language, a healthy person is energetic and maintains a certain level of
enthusiasm in work. A person’s enthusiasm is reflected in the style, it is usually infectious and make
listeners also feel enthusiastic.
T
IME
 (C
HRONEMICS
)
Time given to listen or to speak to people creates a sense of self-esteem in them. It is equated with care
and concern.
On the other hand, a person who uses one’s own time and other people’s time wastefully, creates
an impression of being inefficient and disorganised. A sense of timing in conducting meetings, in
conveying good or bad news, in making a presentation, generates respect and goodwill.

---

52  /  Business Communication
■ ■ ■
■ ■ ■
■ ■ ■
■ ■ ■
■ ■ ■
S
PACE
 D
ISTANCE
 (P
ROXEMICS
)
Each communicator has a personal zone and territory built or constructed around himself or herself
which he or she does not allow to invade during communication unless the relationship between the
speaker and the listener is intimate. Edward T. Hall has described human relationship in terms of four
kinds of distance as:
1.
Intimate– Physical contact to 18 inches.
2.
Personal–18 inches to 4 feet.
3.
Social– 4 feet to 12 feet.
4.
Public –12 feet to range of eyesight and hearing.
Intimate
Personal
Social
Public
 Fig. 5.2: Proxemics
Without question, the type and quality of our communication activities differ in each of these four
zones. But remember that we determine these areas individually and can change them by changing our
physical location. Thus, they are specific to us personally.
Space distance differ from one culture to another. Space distance may be sometimes misconducted
and affect the communication and the message content. However, in a heightened emotional state of
mind the normal distance might be ignored.
5.5.2
Paragraph Language
The non-verbal aspects of the spoken words are known as paragraph language. It includes the qualities
of the voice, the way we use our voice, as well as the sounds we make without uttering of the words. It
is possible to control and use paragraph language effectively, becoming aware of it and playing
attention to one’s voice and speech.