JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE STUDIES

The Influence of Non-verbal Communication among University Students on Social Relationship

Sangar Othman Ibrahim

Department of English, College of Languages, Salahaddin University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.25130/lang.7.2.8

Keywords: Types of Nonverbal Communication, Functions of Nonverbal Communication, Benefits and Drawbacks of Nonverbal Communication

Abstract

The main aim of the current study is to determine how all types of nonverbal communication including “facial expression, kinesics (gesture), paralinguistic (voice), body language and posture, proxemics (space), eye contact, haptics (touch) and physical appearance” affect university students’ social relationships. The main research questions for the current study are: Do types of nonverbal communication affect university students' social relationships? Should the effects of all types of nonverbal communication be taught at university? In order to obtain data, an open-ended questionnaire is used involving 115 senior students, (60 boys and 55 girls), at Salahaddin, Cihan and Lebanese French Universities/College of Languages/ English Departments. For analysing the obtained data, the researcher used a mixed methods research approach involving both quantitative and qualitative methods. The study concluded that all types of nonverbal communication affect university students’ social relationships, both in university life and in the future. Therefore, the effect of all types of nonverbal communication should be studied and taught at the beginning of university life in order to pave the way for all university students using them correctly and appropriately