The McGurk effect is a well-known illusion which takes place when a person hears a component of a word while watching (or reading) a visual component for a different word. The overall effect blends the two into a third sound interpreted by the brain. This effect seems to be extremely robust, as even those fully aware it is about to happen still experience the illusion. It is thought to originate from the early age at which we learn to blend visual and auditory stimulus when communicating verbally.

Semantic marking occurs when the clarity of a message and its reception is directly affected by one or more aspects of paralanguage within the message itself. In this case, hearing a reference to alcohol in a voice with childlike qualities is enough of an anomaly to register in the mind of the listener, and the message is "marked" as abnormal.

Meta-communication refers to any qualities of communication which are designed to impart information about how the message itself should be received, rather than the content of the message. Intonation, cadence, and even the context in which verbal communication occurs are all types of meta-communication, because each of these things can affect how a message is perceived. In contrast, repeating a message in another language does not (generally) change how a message is perceived, but simply expands whom can perceive it.

Generative grammar was first proposed by Noam Chomsky in the 1950s, and primarily focuses on the study of syntax as it relates to hierarchies of grammars.

Argyle and Dean co-developed affiliative conflict theory, the idea that people act to increase or reduce their levels of perceived intimacy with others in order to maintain a desired level of autonomy and intimacy. The mechanism through which people perform this balancing act, according to the theory, is nonverbal communication such as balancing levels of eye contact and conversational distance (a relationship Argyle and Dean studied extensively).

Ray Birdwhistell founded the study of kinesics in the 1950s, focusing largely on nonverbal communication using distance, eye contact, and body posture in response and relation to a conversational partner or perceived audience. He proposed that humans can see anywhere from 200,000 to 300.000 distinct facial expressions, and grouped responses to these reactions by function and purpose rather than by reaction or intent.

Some gestures, called conversational gestures, are always found to accompany speech, and are never found in the absence of verbal communication. Some hand movements such as tapping, scratching, or nervous fidgeting, are not considered gestures at all. Gestures are generally divided into symbolic and conversational gestures, with non-gesture movements sometimes called adapters. Some gestures, like shoulder shrugging and threatening with a raised fist, are considered universal.