Territory Space

In The Hidden Dimension, he indicated there are two main aspects of space: territory and personal space.

Hall drew on anthropology to address the concepts of dominance and submission and noted that the more

powerful person often claims more space. This plays an important role in modern society, from who gets

the corner office to how we negotiate space between vehicles. Road rage is increasingly common where

overcrowding occurs, and as more vehicles occupy the same roads, tensions over space are predictable.

Territory is related to control. As a way of establishing control over your own room, maybe you painted it

your favorite color or put up posters that represent your interests or things you consider unique about

yourself. Families or households often mark their space by putting up fences or walls around their houses.

This sense of a right to control your space is implicit in territory. Territory means the space you claim as

your own, are responsible for, or are willing to defend.

As the context of a staircase has norms for nonverbal behavior, so does the public speaking context. In

North America, eye contact with the audience is expected. Big movements and gestures are not generally

expected and can be distracting. The speaker occupies a space on the “stage,” even if it’s in front of the

class. When you occupy that space, the audience will expect to behave in certain ways. If you talk to the

screen behind you while displaying a PowerPoint presentation, the audience may perceive that you are not

paying attention to them. Speakers are expected to pay attention to, and interact with, the audience, even

if in the feedback is primarily nonverbal. Your movements should coordinate with the tone, rhythm, and

content of your speech. Pacing back and forth, keeping your hands in your pockets, or crossing your arms

may communicate nervousness, or even defensiveness, and detract from your speech.