Demonstrative communication is essential to face-to-face conversations. This form of communication includes everything except the words you speak. When participating in a presentation or face-to-face conversation, the words that come out of your mouth are not as important as the signals sent while delivering the message. In fact, only 7% of a message is verbal communication and the rest is 38% tone and 55% nonverbal cues (Lee, 2010). Tone is a form of nonverbal communication that can change the perception of the message. message entirely. For example, if we said today “what are you looking at” in different tones, the meaning would be completely different. The first tone would be that of a friend sitting on a couch with another friend simply asking them what they are looking at. This tone would be pleasant and inviting and would apply to the fact that the friend might want to watch together. The second would be that of a mother who catches her teenager watching pornography. This tone would be angry and suggest trouble. These are just two examples of how the same phrase can mean two different things simply based on the tone in which it is spoken. The tone of the message can not only change the meaning, but also the effectiveness of the message. For example, if the same mother meets the same adolescent and asks him what he is watching in a friendly tone, the adolescent may assume that his mother accepts this behavior, even if she may not. Spoken in a louder, more serious tone, the adolescent would be less likely to misunderstand. They would know that the mother does not agree and that there would be problems if she was caught again. Tone is also very crucial in making the message positive or negative. If a speaker was in a place...... middle of paper ...... age. For example, a receiver listens to a speech and is unsure of the validity of the message. The recipient then asks some very poignant questions and watches the sender as they answer the questions. The sender looks away and thinks for a moment before responding so that the listener can conclude that the answers may not be valid and that further research will be required on their part. In conclusion, the words we actually say in the process of communication only go a long way in making that communication effective. In order to become a good communicator, one must master each element of the process and use every tool possible, including tone and non-verbal cues. Works Cited Lee, B. (June 6, 2010). What is verbal and non-verbal communication. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/141480-what-is-verbal-non-verbal-communication/