Nonverbal Communication: those behaviors and characteristics that convey meaning without the use of words. (Floyd, G4) All forms of communication other than words themselves. Includes "inflection" and other vocal qualities and "haptics." (Wood, 333) The intentional or unintentional transmission of meaning through an individual’s non-spoken physical and behavioral cues. (McCornack, 218)

Silent-movie actors like Charlie Chaplin were the pioneers of body-language skills, as this was the only means of communication available on the screen. Each actor’s skill was classed as good or bad by the extent to which they could use “gestures” and body signals to communicate to the audience. (Pease, 9)

Adaptor: gesture used to satisfy a personal need. (Floyd, G1) Touching gesture, often unconsciously made, that serves a physical or psychological purpose. For example, twirling hair while reading, jingling pocket change, and fingering jewelry may be gestures that provide comfort, signal anxiety, or are simply unconscious habits. (McCornack, 227)

Affect Display: gesture that communications emotion. (Floyd, G1) Intentional or unintentional nonverbal behavior that reveals real or pretended emotion, such as a frown, a choked sob, or a smile intended to disguise fear. (McCornack, 240)

Artifact: a personal object that we use to announce our identity and personalize our environment. (Wood, 331) Object or visual feature of an environment with communicative value. (Floyd, G1) A nonverbal code that represents the way we use what we possess to express ourselves or influence how others view us. Jewelry, for instance, can indicate economic means, marital status, religious affiliation, style preferences, and taste. (McCornack, 238)

Chronemics: use of time. (Floyd, G1) A nonverbal code that represents the way you use time to communicate in interpersonal encounters. (McCornack, 233) The aspect of nonverbal communication that involves our "perceptions" and use of time to define identities and interaction. (Wood, 331)

Emblem: gesture that symbolizes a specific verbal meaning within a given culture, such as the “thumbs up” or the “V for victory” sign. (McCornack, 227) Gesture with a direct verbal translation. (Floyd, G2)

Eye Contact: visual contact with another person’s eyes. (Griffin, 277) Ordinarily we avert our eyes downward with sadness; away with disgust; and down or away while feeling guilt or shame. (Goleman, 23)

Gestures: movements, usually of the hands but sometimes of the full body, that express meaning and emotion or offer clarity to a message. (Griffin, 279) Use of arm and hand movements to communicate. (Floyd, G3) Noun - 'gesticulation.'

Haptics: the sense of touch and what it means. (Wood, 333) Study of how we use touch to communicate. (Floyd, G3) A nonverbal code that represents messages conveyed through touch. (McCornack, 230) 

Friendship-Warmth Touch: a touch used to express liking for another person, such as an arm across another’s shoulders, a victory slap between teammates, or playful jostling between friends. (McCornack, 231)

Love-Intimacy Touch: a touch indicating deep emotional feeling, such as two romantic partners holding hands or two close friends embracing. (McCornack, 231) 

Social-Polite Touch: a touch, such as a handshake, used to demonstrate social norms or culturally expected behaviors. (McCornack, 231)

Illustrator: gesture used to accent or illustrate a verbal message. For example, a fisherman holds his hands apart to show the size of his catch, or someone points emphatically at a door while saying, “Leave!” (McCornack, 227)

Kinesics: body position and body motions, including those of the face. (Wood, 333) Study of movement. (Floyd, G4) A nonverbal code that represents messages communicated in visible body movements, such as facial expressions, posture, gestures, and eye contact. (McCornack, 225) The systematic use of facial expression and bodily gestures/movements to communicate meaning. (Crystal, 403)

Lying: facial expression is the best clue to determine if someone is lying. (Goleman, 23)

Physical Appearance: the way speakers dress, groom, and present themselves physically. A complex combination of social norms, cultures and generational influences, and personal style. (Griffin, 276) A code that represents visual attributes such as body type, clothing, hair, and other physical features. (McCornack, 236)

Proxemics: the study of the communicative function of body distance, posture, etc. (Crystal, 403) Use of space during communication. The farther away you are, the stronger the idea of separation. The higher up you are, the more the idea of “power” is communicated. (Griffin, 279) An aspect of nonverbal communication that includes space and our uses of it. (Wood, 333)

Regulator: gesture that controls the flow of conversation. (Floyd, G5) Gesture used to control the exchange of conversational turns during interpersonal encounters—for example, averting eye contact to avoid someone or zipping up book bags as a class to signal to a professor that the lecture should end. (McCornack, 227)

Territoriality: the tendency to claim personal spaces as our own and define certain locations as areas we don’t want others to invade, such as spreading personal stuff to claim the entire library table. (McCornack, 232)

Vocalics: characteristics of the voice. (Floyd, G6)  Changes in the volume, rate, and pitch of a speaker’s voice that affect the meaning of the words delivered. (Griffin, 449) Vocal characteristics we use to communicate nonverbal messages, such as "volume," "pitch," rate, voice quality, vocalized sounds, and silence. For instance, a pause might signal discomfort, create tension, or be used to heighten drama. (McCornack, 228)