Analyzing verbal and nonverbal communication skills and cues

For this assignment, I decided to watch the first episode of the British TV series titled Trying from Apple TV to see verbal and nonverbal communication skills and cues. A friend recommended it to me, and I decided to watch the first episode to do this assignment. I had to watch it first with the sound turned off and then with it turned on. When watching the first episode without audio, from what I could observe, I noticed that the relationships of the characters, especially the protagonists, were based on many verbal and nonverbal communication skills and cues. The protagonists look very in love; on many occasions, they make eye contact while talking, hold hands while walking, smiled, and show their love through kisses, gestures, and facial expressions. The other characters that appear in the first episode also display different verbal and nonverbal communication skills and cues.

The protagonist performs many facial expressions and gestures while speaking and communicating with her partner and other characters. Some of the non-verbal expressions I observed were: smiles, hugs, nods, raised and furrowed eyebrows, gestures, eye contact, facial expressions (happiness, sadness, confusion, irritating, ashamed, etc.). I also saw some involuntary nonverbal cues such as blushing, body position, and tone of voice.

When re-watching the episode with the volume turned on, I noticed that I sometimes thought they were mad at each other because of their facial expressions and gestures. Sometimes they were just talking and dialoguing about a topic. I assumed that they both wanted to have a child and couldn't because they were looking to adopt, and it was true. The facial expressions that both made and the images that the series presents give you to understand that. Unlike other series or movies that the plot is complicated and sometimes one does not quickly understand what is happening, I consider that “Trying” is quite simple to understand and also entertaining. The characters use so many verbal and nonverbal communication skills and cues that it facilitates understanding. Still, I think my assumptions would have been even more correct if I had been watching a show I know well or have already watched. I will keep watching more episodes of the tv series to see what happens. 

I think this exercise of observing an episode of a tv series without audio and then with audio helped me to better analyze and interpret the different communication skills that people use to communicate and understand each other. It also helped me see the impact of the facial expressions, gestures, and non-verbal communication that we use in our daily conversations. We must be aware of them when talking to parents, children, colleagues, and different people in educational settings. Sometimes without noticing or wanting to, our facial expressions, body language, and gestures can make someone feel bad or understand something wrong. In addition, we must know the cultural background of the person we are interacting and communicating with in order to know what is appropriate in their culture and what is not. This is important since, for example, in some cultures making eye contact is a sign of respect while in others is a sign of defiant behavior.