Comments on: Words Are Only 7% of Your Communication http://lifecoachesblog.com/2006/03/13/words-are-only-7-of-your-communication/ Improve Your Life Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:05:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Neil Trigger http://lifecoachesblog.com/2006/03/13/words-are-only-7-of-your-communication/comment-page-1/#comment-288291 Neil Trigger Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:53:27 +0000 http://lifecoachesblog.com/?p=173#comment-288291 Albert Merhabian was misquoted. His original study of language from which you get the misunderstood 7% information from was actually to do with emotion and not communication in general, but it was not about meaning as such. Similarly it was a dubious cumulative calculation which came to his "7" number which is not even a percentage. Lappakko in 1997 examined the original journal article to conclude that: "...it is also quite reasonable to conclude that the words themselves are likely to constitute more than 7 percent of the meaning – if indeed something like that could be quantified" Bradley (1991) explains that “If we could communicate 93 percent of information and attitudes with vocal and facial cues, it would be wasteful to spend time learning a language”. I hope that helps to clarify my position on the matter... words are NOT only 7% of the communication! Neil Trigger - PhD student studying online persuasion using textual devices. Albert Merhabian was misquoted. His original study of language from which you get the misunderstood 7% information from was actually to do with emotion and not communication in general, but it was not about meaning as such. Similarly it was a dubious cumulative calculation which came to his “7″ number which is not even a percentage.

Lappakko in 1997 examined the original journal article to conclude that: “…it is also quite reasonable to conclude that the words themselves are likely to constitute more than 7 percent of the meaning – if indeed something like that could be quantified”

Bradley (1991) explains that “If we could communicate 93 percent of information and attitudes with vocal and facial cues, it would be wasteful to spend time learning a language”.

I hope that helps to clarify my position on the matter… words are NOT only 7% of the communication!

Neil Trigger – PhD student studying online persuasion using textual devices.

]]> By: Vinny http://lifecoachesblog.com/2006/03/13/words-are-only-7-of-your-communication/comment-page-1/#comment-280901 Vinny Sun, 15 Mar 2009 16:17:16 +0000 http://lifecoachesblog.com/?p=173#comment-280901 When I was in high school, I was not confident at all. I was like the complete opposite of being confident so in real life my vocal tonality was weak and my body language was poor(head down, hunched over, touch hair a lot, nervous, anxious). I did horrible with girls. haha But I did really good with girls on MySpace and on AIM. Girls thought I was so sweet and funny. Now I know why. hahah. I was only communicating through words. They could hear my voice or see how nervous I get when talking to people face to face. They just knew what I was like from talking to me online and they read that I was a really cool kid. But I couldn't express myself that way in real life because I wasn't confident and words only make up 7% of communication. When I was in high school, I was not confident at all. I was like the complete opposite of being confident so in real life my vocal tonality was weak and my body language was poor(head down, hunched over, touch hair a lot, nervous, anxious). I did horrible with girls. haha

But I did really good with girls on MySpace and on AIM. Girls thought I was so sweet and funny. Now I know why. hahah. I was only communicating through words. They could hear my voice or see how nervous I get when talking to people face to face. They just knew what I was like from talking to me online and they read that I was a really cool kid. But I couldn’t express myself that way in real life because I wasn’t confident and words only make up 7% of communication.

]]> By: Social Media Squad » Web Rage - Not as fun as it sounds http://lifecoachesblog.com/2006/03/13/words-are-only-7-of-your-communication/comment-page-1/#comment-242824 Social Media Squad » Web Rage - Not as fun as it sounds Thu, 28 Aug 2008 04:03:10 +0000 http://lifecoachesblog.com/?p=173#comment-242824 [...] I quickly found that web rage is a documented phenomenon which stems from something called “online disinhibition effect.”  The online disinhibition effect means that posts turn to nasty flames because the writer is unable to gauge the target’s response, or in many cases decipher the true motive in the first place. In real life, we “read” someone according to their body language, tone, pitch, all the things that are impossible to decipher online. In fact, in real life words account for only 7% of our communication. [...] [...] I quickly found that web rage is a documented phenomenon which stems from something called “online disinhibition effect.”  The online disinhibition effect means that posts turn to nasty flames because the writer is unable to gauge the target’s response, or in many cases decipher the true motive in the first place. In real life, we “read” someone according to their body language, tone, pitch, all the things that are impossible to decipher online. In fact, in real life words account for only 7% of our communication. [...]

]]> By: Thomas http://lifecoachesblog.com/2006/03/13/words-are-only-7-of-your-communication/comment-page-1/#comment-75097 Thomas Thu, 05 Apr 2007 18:21:45 +0000 http://lifecoachesblog.com/?p=173#comment-75097 The 7/38/55 Rule is derived from test done with long-time married people at home. In a business setting or when You don`t know the person You are talking to the words might be much more important, because You are in a less emotional setting. Still I would agree that the non verbal part of a communication is underestimatet by most people. <a href="http://body-language-secrets.bravehost.com" rel="nofollow">Body Language Secret Revealed</a> The 7/38/55 Rule is derived from test done with long-time married people at home. In a business setting or when You don`t know the person You are talking to the words might be much more important, because You are in a less emotional setting.

Still I would agree that the non verbal part of a communication is underestimatet by most people.

Body Language Secret Revealed

]]> By: Colm O'Reilly http://lifecoachesblog.com/2006/03/13/words-are-only-7-of-your-communication/comment-page-1/#comment-68001 Colm O'Reilly Fri, 02 Mar 2007 23:23:48 +0000 http://lifecoachesblog.com/?p=173#comment-68001 Although I see the reasoning behind the 7/38/55 breakdown of communication I think a large part of Body Language is habitual and tone gives a more current, streaming indication of emotion, intent and subcommunication over reading body language. I think if you spent more time learning to hear people you'd be better off than trying to read BL. Although I see the reasoning behind the 7/38/55 breakdown of communication I think a large part of Body Language is habitual and tone gives a more current, streaming indication of emotion, intent and subcommunication over reading body language. I think if you spent more time learning to hear people you’d be better off than trying to read BL.

]]> By: How To Be Charismatic: Introduction | Business, Internet and Coaching News for Personal Trainers Online http://lifecoachesblog.com/2006/03/13/words-are-only-7-of-your-communication/comment-page-1/#comment-67283 How To Be Charismatic: Introduction | Business, Internet and Coaching News for Personal Trainers Online Tue, 27 Feb 2007 08:46:33 +0000 http://lifecoachesblog.com/?p=173#comment-67283 [...] It seems that there are two keys you need to master to become even more charismatic: you must have solid inner game; where you know what you’re about and you’re strong inside (points 1 and 3). You must have solid outer game; where you know how to direct your language, tonality and body language (remembering that words are only 7% of your communication) to influence others (point 2). In this series, I’m going to explore different people and different facets of charisma as I attempt to answer the question: just what is it that makes charismatic people charismatic? [...] [...] It seems that there are two keys you need to master to become even more charismatic: you must have solid inner game; where you know what you’re about and you’re strong inside (points 1 and 3). You must have solid outer game; where you know how to direct your language, tonality and body language (remembering that words are only 7% of your communication) to influence others (point 2). In this series, I’m going to explore different people and different facets of charisma as I attempt to answer the question: just what is it that makes charismatic people charismatic? [...]

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