LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Nonverbal Communication in Tamil Novels
A Book in Tamil

M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.

This monograph in Tamil describes and analyzes the use of nonverbal communication features in Tamil novels. The monograph is divided into seven chapters.

Chapter 1 defines what nonverbal communication is. Relationship between verbal and nonverbal communication is discussed along with the presentation of some of the modern approaches to and theories on nonverbal communication. This chapter also presents a study on how classic and traditional Indian grammarians have dealt with nonverbal communication. Contrast between western approaches to the presentation of grammar and Indian approaches to the presentation of grammar is presented. One of the important contrasting points relates to the inclusion of nonverbal communication for study in Indian traditional grammars.

Chapter 2 deals with the definition and description of the role of proxemics in the study of nonverbal communication. This chapter describes various proxemic features employed in Tamil novels and relate these features to the plot, characterization, narration as well as the socio-economic milieu of the story. The intent of the novelists and their skill in using proxemic features for various purposes of the narrative are also presented.

Chapter 3 discusses the functions of eye in Tamil novels. How eye is manipulated to express very many functions and to carry out the story forms part of this detailed chapter. Eye always played a very important role both in didactic and descriptive and narrative literature in Tamil and other Indian languages. Again the social and cultural anthropological aspects of eye in Tamil novels, in addition to other features, are focused upon in this chapter.

Chapter 4 presents how face is presented in Tamil novels. Communication via face is probablyone of the most important features that a novelist often employs in telling his/her story. Various parts of human face are related to emotions and characterization in Tamil novels. Social, economic, and cultural aspects of expression via face are deftly handled by Tamil novelists. A detailed study of how various authors deal with face in their novels is presented here.

Chapter 5 deals with the role of oral and silent communication in Tamil novels. Oral communication has a peculiar role to play in Tamil. With its diglossic character, Tamil allocates separates functions for written and oral communication. Oral communication in this chapter stands for both these varieties. Use of written sentences and diction communicates a set of information, whereas the use of colloquial sentences and diction communicates yet another important message. Author have to develop their strategies often early in their career relating to the use of written and oral language. Again, oral and silent communication have many consequences relating to social, economic, cultural aspects, etc. Tamil novelists handle these issues based on their writing agenda and assumptions and the school of thought they belong to.

Chapter 6 is an elaborate discussion on the description, classification and use of gesture in Tamil novels. Traditional Indian approaches to the use of gesture and its classification are also presented in this chapter as backdrop for discussion. Without gesture, language use becomes dead. Gestures are communicated through a variety of body parts. Tamil novelists try to exploit several gestures, but coverage, as in other parts of the nonverbal communication, leaves room for further expansion and utilization. Interest in nonverbal communication per se as an important aid to story telling, in general, is not much.

Chapter 7 discusses the nonverbal communication aspects of characters that are physically, mentally, cognitively and linguistically challenged. Early Tamil novels have portrayed several such characters with great understanding. Recent Tamil novels have attempted the description of these characters with some success. However, Tamil novels, in general, need to change their underlying assumptions about the role and function of such challenged characters in their stories. For example, reasons for the birth of such challenged babies still seem to go back to evil deeds, trauma, generational curse, etc. A greater appreciation of the worth of challenged individuals needs to emerge.

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