Specific Raman active modes in two prototype cyanobiphenyl liquid crystals are shown to display a temperature dependent softening proportional to either the nematic or smectic order parameters, while other vibrations (like the C identical withN stretch mode) remain unaltered. This selective coupling between intramolecular vibrations and the liquid crystalline order is related to the intrinsic symmetry of the modes. The method provides a simple, microscopic, noninvasive optical technique with which the liquid crystalline order parameters can be qualitatively mapped out.