The Pragmatic Function of Nonverbal Cues in Contemporary English
Keywords:
Pragmatic function, nonverbal communication, contemporary English, illocutionary force, contextual analysis, communicative strategies, kinesics, intercultural pragmaticsAbstract
This article examines the pragmatic functions of nonverbal cues (gestures, facial expressions, proxemics) in the process of communication in contemporary English. The author interprets nonverbal elements not merely as supplements to speech, but as strategic tools that clarify the speaker’s intent (illocutionary force) and ensure communicative effectiveness. The study analyzes the role of nonverbal cues in shaping subtle nuances of meaning and their ability to mitigate pragmatic failures in intercultural communication. The article concludes by proposing novel approaches to the interpretation of contextual meaning through nonverbal signals in both digital and face-to-face communication environments.
References
[1] D. Crystal, Language and the Internet, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2024, 280 p.
[2] P. Ekman, Emotions Revealed: Recognizing Faces and Feelings to Improve Communication, New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2023, 320 p.
[3] M. Thompson, “Pragmatic Functions of Kinesics in English Discourse,” Journal of Pragmatics and Culture, no. 5, pp. 142–158, 2025.
[4] S. Roberts, “Nonverbal Communication in Digital English Interactions,” Linguistics Today, no. 1, pp. 45–60, 2026.
[5] A. Kendon, Gesture: Visible Action as Utterance, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004.
[6] J. Burgoon, D. Guerrero, and K. Floyd, Nonverbal Communication, New York: Routledge, 2016.
[7] R. Birdwhistell, Kinesics and Context, Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2010.
[8] M. L. Knapp, J. A. Hall, and T. G. Horgan, Nonverbal Communication in Human Interaction, Boston: Cengage Learning, 2014.
[9] D. McNeill, Hand and Mind: What Gestures Reveal about Thought, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2005.
[10] A. Mehrabian, Nonverbal Communication, New York: Aldine Transaction, 2007.
[11] J. Argyle, Bodily Communication, London: Methuen, 2013.
[12] P. Ekman and W. V. Friesen, “Constants across cultures in the face and emotion,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 124–129, 1971.
[13] S. Ting-Toomey, Communicating Across Cultures, New York: Guilford Press, 2018.
[14] J. K. Hall, Teaching and Researching Nonverbal Communication, London: Routledge, 2019.
[15] D. Matsumoto and H. Hwang, “Nonverbal communication across cultures,” Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, vol. 44, no. 1, pp. 14–29, 2013.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Abdurashidov Abdurahmon Abdumurod o'g'li
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
