For this discussion, you are going to observe a conversation between two people and comment on both their verbal and nonverbal behaviors during the interaction.

First listen to either a conversation you observed outside of your home, such as at school, a grocery store, an elevator or on a bus. Do not make it obvious you are listening to their conversation, just casually observe. While you are observing, try to answer the following questions and report back about the conversation in your original post.

1. What do you think the relationship between the two people was?
2. What do you think they were discussing?
3. What nonverbal actions occurred in the interaction?
4. What paralanguage did you pick up on and how did it influence the conversation?

Keep in mind these responses will all be conjecture because you will not know what the true answers are. The point is to see what information you can obtain by simply watching people converse.

Answer preview

Verbal and Non-Verbal Messages

While I was watering my grandmother’s garden, I could not help but overhear a commotion outside her home. I noticed they were her neighbors who were arguing and yelling at each other. It was an expectant woman and a young man who seemed disinterested in the conversation. The verbal and non-verbal messages I received from this situation were unpleasant since they created a sense of concern…

 

(600 words)