Proxemic language: how to take advantage of the use of distances to communicate

Leaving a space between us can serve to express many meanings without using words.

Proxemic language is perhaps one of the most overlooked modes of communication.

Speech and writing receive almost all of our attention, causing us to take for granted that most of the information we need to express and interpret is contained there; and nonverbal language is highly undervalued. However, within the latter category we tend to consider only gestural language and prosody. We do not realize that there is a lot of world beyond these elements.

Let's start with the basics. We understand by proxemic language a type of non-verbal communication based on the distances between two bodies, as well as the between two bodies, as well as the location of people in certain spaces.

Although it is a way of conveying meanings implicitly and appealing to our emotional side, it is a way of appealing to our emotional sideThis does not make proxemic language an invaluable tool when it comes to communication. In fact, the meaning of an entire sentence, however long it may be, can be totally altered depending on how we use it.

Fundamentally, the proxemic language serves to express ideas that belong to two different axes of meaning: the degree of intimacy and the degree of hostility.

Intimacy

Unlike intimacy, there is no direct relationship between the distance between people and the degree to which this attitude is present. In fact, hostility is communicated by means of unusually small or unusually large distances.. In the first case it is intended to express the will to dominate the other, while in the second case it shows distrust and defensiveness.

Spaces and contexts in which it is applied

The functioning of proxemic language varies greatly depending on the type of space in which the person is. No relationship takes place simply in a vacuum; there is always a context that conditions us. Proxemics, after all, is social: it works on the basis of what one knows that the other knows, and different environments generate expectations. different environments generate expectations in both the sender and the receiver.

Now, what are the different types of spaces on which proxemic language depends? The main ones are the following.

1. Public space

As its name suggests, this context is one in which anyone can participate in what is going on. In proxemic language, it is a space in which there is a speaker and a crowd of people who attend to what the speaker does or says.

The distance between the sender and the receivers is usually large, several meters if possible, since there are many people participating in the exchange. there are many people participating in the exchange of information, and it is necessary to make it clear that the message and it is necessary to make it clear that the message is addressed to everyone.

2. Social space

This type of context belongs to the professional sphere, formal and business meetings.. The typical distance between the people involved is between one and three meters.

3. Personal space

Personal space is defined by its informal nature, where it is evident that there is at least one significant emotional or affective connection. It occurs between friends, family members or co-workers who know each other well. The situations it fosters are characterized by the fact that the distance between people is less than one meter..

4. Intimate space

Those who use this type of space as a form of proxemic language (in addition to other utilities) are people whose relationship is intimate, such as partners, close family members or long-time friends.

Here, the typical distance can range from a few tens of centimeters to physical contact. centimeters to direct physical contact..

Cultural variations

The distances maintained between people depending on the type of space they are in can vary greatly depending on the type of culture to which they belong.

Thus, for example Northern European countries and Southeast Asia are characterized by using a proxemia biased towards relatively large interpersonal distances.

However, countries bordering the Mediterranean, those belonging to Ibero-America and many of those belonging to the Middle East and Africa are characterized by normalizing much smaller interpersonal spaces, as well as by relying heavily on physical contact even between relative strangers.