Final answer:
Nonverbal judgments encompass expressions and actions beyond words, such as body language and symbolic speech, often involving evaluative and performative aspects similar to what J.L. Austin described in speech acts, where language and actions impact interpretations and values within a community.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept you're referring to involves the broader labeling of certain actions and expressions beyond verbal speech and into the realm of nonverbal cues, which can include facial expressions, body language, and other forms of symbolic communication. These nonverbal judgements relate to what J.L. Austin described as performativity in his analysis of speech acts, highlighting that language's functions go beyond pure description and can express warnings, orders, or evaluations implicitly. Philosophers have noted that even descriptive statements can carry evaluative weight, particularly when they reference the function or purpose of an object or situation, thus blending facts with value judgements and eroding a strict fact-value separation.
In nonverbal communications, the idea of performativity extends to symbolic speech, such as wearing certain clothing to show alliance with a cause. When enough or authoritative members of a community deem a thing to have a certain property, subjective interpretations come into play, often in domains where objective measures are not clear.