Nonverbal Communication in Human-Machine Communication: Wait, Robots Can Have Faces?

Abstract

Communication represents the simultaneous experience of self and other (Shepherd, 2006). As humans, we are unique in our ability to process nonverbal information with human counterparts and our desire to connect with others through these experiences. Communication scholars predominantly remain focused on this creation, or assembly of meaning, via communicative practices that shape and yield this simultaneous experience of self and other. In particular, nonverbal communication facilitates a significant portion of meaning conveyed in interpersonal communication (Burgoon et al., 2011). Nonverbal behaviors can help with things like conversational turn-taking (Duncan & Fiske, 2015; Wiemann & Knapp, 1975), conveying what we feel (App et al., 2011), and comprehension (Woodall & Burgoon, 1981). In a sense, nonverbal behaviors are vital in our process of —Matthew J. A. Craig Kent State University, United States of America —Chad Edwards Western Michigan University, United States of America Contributed by Matthew J. A. Craig and Chad Edwards © Kendall Hunt Publishing Co. Nonverbal Communication in Human–Machine Communication ait, Robots Can Have Faces? interpreting meaning in interactions with humans (Burgoon, 1994). Moreover, although nonverbals make up a significant portion of meaning conveyed in interpersonal human-tohuman interaction, nonverbal behaviors, on their own, cannot represent the full picture for us to interpret a message. A single nonverbal gesture can possess multiple meanings—thus requiring context such as verbal speech (Burgoon & Bacue, 2003). Beyond face-to-face interactions, machines are often considered a medium for communication to take place. As a prominent area of focus in communication studies, computer-mediated communication has sought to reveal communicative practices emerging through the use of machines—absent some of the human nonverbal behaviors observed in interpersonal communication face-to-face (Walther, 1992). For example, emojis in text messaging or using ALL CAPS can represent nonverbal behaviors in computer-mediated communication.