Essay On Paralanguage

Paralanguage is defined as “all means of human communication other than words” (Graddo et al. 1994). It is also referred to as non-verbal communication. It is a form of face to face interaction, which is similar to sign language. Examples of paralanguage are gesture and body posture. The interpretation and meaning of paralanguage is context- and culture dependant. Non-verbal communication has diverse meanings; its meanings differs across communities and cultures. It may support spoken communication and it can communicate specific meanings.

Sign language is defined as a visual communication system used primarily by the Deaf Community. Spoken languages rely on sound and hearing, whereas sign languages are a visual-gestural apparent through the

Signs may have different meanings across different countries and cultures. It is important to remember that different national sign languages may not be mutually intelligible. However, they do use similar broad mechanisms to express grammatical structures. Each sign has to be learned and transmitted, and sign language users pass through the same acquisitioned stages as a child learning oral language. This also relates to the way we learn written language through school and we can also adopt certain gestures through observation as we grow. It is important to note the fact that sign language is comparable to paralanguage in the way that it varies across the globe.

In sign language, the signer uses body movement, eye contact and facial expression to emphasise the meaning of what they are signing. They are adopting similar modes of paralanguage that is used by speakers.

“Sign language research has shown that four components are important for the identification and distinction of visual sign: the location of the sign in space, the handshape used to make the sign, the type of movement made by the hands and the orientation of the palms of the hands” (Mesthrie et al. 2000). We can compare all of these components to paralanguage factors, particularly postural congruence, gestures and facial