Nonverbal and Verbal Communication through Media

            To communicate solely by nonverbal communication can be genuine and authentic, yet also misleading at times.  I chose to watch the well-known television series Grey’s Anatomy without sound, and then with sound, to experience the difference in communication effectiveness and appropriateness.  As a child, I remember watching the series ER with my mother on late night television. When I had heard about the new medical drama series, Grey’s Anatomy, I had never shown much interest because of my love for ER.  In my brain, how could another medical drama compare to my childhood favorite series?  However, for research purposes, I decided to watch the first episode of Grey’s Anatomy and thoroughly enjoyed it.

            Nonverbal communication is pure and sometimes unintentional in nature.  An individual’s innate behaviors and actions can communicate messages that may not be intended per situation or context (O'Hair, Wiemann, Mullin, & Teven, 2015).  Upon watching Grey’s Anatomy without sound, many messages were visually obvious, and many were lost due to missing verbal cues in the situation.  The opening scene is of the main character, Meredith Grey, leaving what looks to be the morning after a sexual encounter with a gentleman.  As they interact, both individuals smile, and then end the conversation with a handshake.  Kenesic behaviors, like handshakes, are usually appropriate when an individual is meeting someone for the first time or making an agreement with another (O'Hair et al, 2015).  I was unsure of which was transpiring without verbal content to clarify the context of the situation.  

            Another scene that takes place that is unclear without verbal communication is the relationship between Meredith and another medical resident, Kristina.  They smile together and appear content with one another as friends for majority of the episode. Then, a conversation takes place in the library that creates a disconnect between the two.  The two individuals share scowls and avoidance techniques when interacting with one another for the remainder of the episode.  Such facial expressions lead me to believe they had a disagreement, however, I had little information about it (O'Hair et al, 2015).  One of the final scenes shows them back to content conversation, but without sound, I did not know why they were upset, and what changed that now they are talking with one another.  

            Next, I watched the same episode of Grey’s Anatomy with sound and learned a great amount more of the semantics of the storyline and the plot behind the characters.  Through verbal communication, I learned that the nonverbal act of a handshake did mean the two characters were meeting for the first time.  Which explains the awkward behavior between the two characters throughout the episode that was subtle, but noticeable to the observant eye.  Additionally, I learned the friendship between Meredith and Kristina was jeopardized by a verbal agreement about their work load and the delegation for which individual received the credit for their work.  Their final conversation, their reconciliation, was clarified verbally that there was a mutual respect for the medical experiences they were about to have, and they remained close friends.  

            The biggest lesson learned from verbal communication in the episode was from the introduction narrative by Meredith about her mother, Alice Grey, stating, “she’s one of the greats, and I’m screwed.”  Throughout the episode it shows Meredith fidgeting with her fingers and hands whenever she is nervous or cannot answer the question in the situation.  The final scene shows Meredith with her mother, who is nervously fidgeting with her watch and hands because she cannot remember, from what appears dementia or Alzheimer’s.  However, without the introduction narrative about her famous mother or the verbal banter from her peers throughout the story, I did not have any knowledge about the history of her mother and the relevance it had on the story of Meredith Grey.  

            Through nonverbal communication, I was able to make assumptions about the story and character observed.  However, through verbal communication I was able to understand the semantics of the story.  I developed a deeper understanding for the relational contexts taking place and was furthermore interested in the story.  The use of verbal medical jargon was necessary to understanding most of the contexts of the episode.  Nonverbally, all medical jargon was lost, and therefore was most of the meanings of the story.  With clarification of the story, I found myself wanting to know what will happen next for each relationship that was featured in the storyline of Meredith Grey.  Nonverbal and verbal communication are most effective when utilized together (O'Hair, et al, 2015).  Nonverbal communication offers genuine and innate behavior, and verbal communication gives meaning to the nonverbal behavior displayed to compliment the context.  


Reference

O'Hair, D., Wiemann, M., Mullin, D. I., & Teven, J. (2015). Real communication (3rd. ed). New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.

 

Rhimes, Shonda (Producer, Writer). (2005). Grey's Anatomy (Episode One). New York, NY: American Broadcasting Company.