Body Speaks: The Importance of Body Language

Prof. Sunil Bakshi

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How Does Body Speak?

 Like any spoken language, body

language has words, sentences and punctuation. punctuation.  Each gesture is like a single word and one word may have several different meanings. meanings.
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Bodily Speaking  According to Edward T. Hall, the

social anthropologist, in a normal conversation between 2 persons, 35% less than 35% of the social meanings is actually transmitted by words. words.  So, at least 65% of it is conveyed 65% through the body (non-verbal (nonchannel). channel).
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The Body Communicates from Head to Toes

Body language and nonverbal communication are transmitted through the eyes, face, hands, arms, legs and posture (sitting and walking)
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Language of Gestures


Each individual, isolated gesture is like a word in sentence; it is sentence; difficult and isolated dangerous to interpret in and of itself. itself. Therefore consider the gesture in the light of everyhing else that is going on around you. you.

Head


Nodding the head  Yes in most societies  No in some parts of Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey Tossing the head backward  Yes in India, Thailand, the Philippines, Laos Rocking head slowly, back & forth  Yes, Im listening in most Asian cultures
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The Face

The Face


The face is one of the most reliable indicators of a persons attitudes, emotions & feelings By analysing facial expressions, interpersonal attitudes can be discerned and feedback obtained. obtained. Some people try to hide their true emotions. emotions. The term Poker Face describes them. them.

The Face


    

The facial expressions reflect emotion, feelings and attitudes. attitudes. Common facial gestures are: are: Frowns: unhappiness, anger Smiles: happiness Sneers: dislike, disgust Clenched jaws: tension, anger Pouting lips: sadness.

Eyes


Windows of the soul, excellent are indicators of feelings. feelings. Shifty eyes, beady eyes and look of steel demonstrate awareness. awareness. Honest person has a tendency to look you straight in the eye when speaking. speaking. At least listeners accept it like that. that. Try to reduce tension and build trust rather than increase tension. tension.

Eyes


 

People avoid eye contact with other person when an uncomfortable question asked. asked. The raising of one eyebrow shows disbelief and two shows surprise. surprise. People are classified as right lookers and leftlookers: leftlookers:  Right lookers are more influenced by logic and precision. precision.  Left lookers are found to be more emotional, subjective and suggestible. suggestible.

Eyes
*

Eye contacts - Encouraged in America, Canada, Europe - Rude in most Asian countries and in Africa Raising eyebrows - Yes in Thailand and some Asian countries - Hello in the Philippines

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Eyes (Contd)
*

Winking Eye - Sharing secret in America and Europe - Flirtatious gesture in other countries Closed Eyes - Bored or sleepy in America - Im listening and concentrating. in concentrating. Japan, Thailand, China

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Ears
*

Ear grasp
-

Im sorry. in parts of India sorry. I cant hear you. in all societies you.

Cupping the ear

-

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Nose
*

Holding the nose - Something smells bad. universal bad. Nose Tap - Its confidential. England confidential. - Watch out! or "Be careful. Italy careful. Pointing to nose - Its me. Japan Blowing nose - In most Asian countries, blowing the nose at social gathering is disgusting
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Cheeks
Cheek screw gesture of praise - Italy Thats crazy. Germany crazy. Cheek stroke pretty, attractive, success most Europe

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Lips & Mouth



Whistle, yawn, smile, bite, point, sneeze, spit, kiss.. kiss.. Kiss. Kiss. In parts of Asia, kissing is considered an intimate sexual act and not permissible in public, even as a social greeting. greeting. Kissing sound. To attract attention in sound. the Philippines, to beckon a waiter in Mexico. Mexico. Finger tip kiss. In France, it conveys kiss. several messages, Thats good great
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Lips & Mouth

Spitting

Spitting in public is considered rude and crude in most Western cultures. cultures. In the PRC and many other Asian countries, spitting in public is to rid a persons waste and, therefore, is healthy. healthy.

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Lips & Mouth

Lip pointing (a substitute for pointing with the hand or finger) is common among Filipinos, Native Americans, Puerto Ricans, and many Latin Americans. Americans. Open mouth
Any display of the open mouth is considered very rude in most countries. countries.

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Arms


Some cultures, like the Italians, use the arms freely. Others, like freely. the Japanese, are more reserved; reserved; it is considered impolite to gesticulate with the arms. arms. Folded Arms can be interpreted by some social observers as a form of excluding self, I am taking a defensive posture, or I disagree with what I am hearing. hearing.
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Arms


Arms akimbo In many cultures, this stance signals aggression, resistance, impatience, or even anger. anger. Arms behind back, hands grasped is a sign of ease and control. control. Arms in front, hands grasped, is a common practice in most Asian countries, and is a sign of mutual respect for others. others.
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The Hands
 Of all the body parts, the hands are probably used most for non-verbal noncommunication. communication.  Hand waves are used for greetings, beckoning or farewells. farewells.  The Italian good-bye wave can goodbe interpreted by Americans as the gesture of come here. here.  The American good-bye wave goodcan be interpreted in Europe and Latin America as signal for No. No.
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The Hands
*

The American way of getting attention (raising a hand with the index finger raised above head) could be considered rude in Japan, and also means two in Germany. Germany. The American come here gesture could be seen as an insult in most Asian countries. countries. In China, to beckon a waiter to refill your tea, simply turn your empty cup upside down. down.
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The Hands

Handshaking is a form of greeting in most Western cultures. cultures. * In the Middle East, a gentle grip is appropriate. appropriate. * In most Asian cultures, a gentle grip and an avoidance of direct eye contact is appropriate. appropriate.
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The Hands

HandHand-holding among the same sex is a custom of special friendship & respect in several Middle Eastern and Asian countries. countries.

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The Hands
*

Right hand. The right hand has hand. special significance in many societies. societies. In certain countries in the Middle East and in Asia, it is best to present business cards or gifts, or to pass dishes of food, to get an attention, using only the right hand or both. both. Left hand is considered unclean in much of the Middle East and in parts of Indonesia. Indonesia.
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The Hands
Hang Loose (thumb and little finger extended) .  could convey different meanings: meanings:  in Hawaii, its a way of saying, Stay cool, or Relax. Relax.  in Japan, it means six. six.  In Mexico (do vertically), it means, Would you like a drink?

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The Hands
Clapping hands. hands. Russians and Chinese may use applause to greet someone. someone. In many central and eastern Europe, audience frequently clap in rhythm. rhythm.

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The Hands


Tightly clenched hands usually indicate that the person is experiencing undue pressure. pressure. It may be difficult to relate to this person because of his tension and disagreement. disagreement. Superiority and authority are usually indicated when you are standing and joining your hands behind your back. back.

The Hands


Rubing gently behind or beside the ear with the index finger or rubbing the eye usually means the other person is uncertain about what you are saying. saying. Leaning back with both hands supporting the head usually indicates a feeling of confidence or superiority. superiority.

The Hands


Cupping one or both hands over the mouth, especially when talking, may well indicate that the person is trying to hide something Putting your hand to your cheek or stroking your chin generally portrays thinking, interest or consideration. consideration. Fingers bent across the chin or below the mouth most often shows critical evaluation. evaluation.

Fingers
The O.K. signal. (the thumb and O. signal. forefinger form a circle) means  fine, or O.K. in most cultures, O.  zero or worthless in some parts of Europe  money in Japan  an insult in Greece, Brazil, Italy, Turkey, Russia and some other countries
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Fingers
ThumbThumb-up means: means:  O.K. good job or fine in O. most cultures,  Up yours! in Australia  Five in Japan; One in Japan; Germany  Avoid a thumb-up thumbin these countries: countries: Australia, New Zealand, Greece, Turkey, Iran, Russia, and most African countries
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Fingers

 Pointing with the index finger is

common in North America and Europe. Europe.  But it is considered impolite in Japan and China where they favor using the whole open hand. hand.  Malaysians prefer pointing with the thumb. thumb.
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Arms & Legs



Crossed arms tend to signal defensiveness. defensiveness. They seemingly act as a protective guard against an anticipated attack or a fixed position which the other person would rather not move. move. Conversely, arms open and extended toward you generally indicate openness and acceptance. acceptance.

Arms & Legs



Crossed legs tend to signify disagreement. disagreement. People who tightly cross their legs seem to be saying that they disagree with what you are saying or doing. doing. If the people have tightly crossed legs and tightly crossed arms, their inner attitude is usually one of extreme negativity toward what is going on around them. them.

Legs & Feet



In Asia, do not point with your toes. toes. In Asia and some European countries, putting feet up on a desk or any other piece of furniture is very disrespectful. disrespectful. Sitting cross-legged, crosswhile common in North America and some European countries, is very impolite in other parts of the world. world.
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Legs & Feet



In most Asian countries, a solid and balanced sitting posture is the prevailing custom. Sitting crosscustom. crosslegged shows the sign of disrespect. disrespect. In the Middle East and most parts of Asia, resting the ankle over the other knee risks pointing the sole of your shoe at another person, which is considered a rude gesture. gesture.
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Walking
Walking can reflect many characteristics of a culture: culture: In Japan and Korea, older women commonly walk a pace or two behind their male companion. companion. Asians often regard western women as bold and aggressive, for they walk with a longer gait and an upright posture. posture.

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Posture: Sitting & Walking



Sitting with your legs crossed and elevated foot moving in a slight circular motion indicates boredom or impatience. impatience. Interest and involvement are usually projected by sitting on the edge of the chair and leaning slightly forward. forward. Generally, people who walk fast swinging swinging their arms freely, know freely, what they want and go after it.

Posture: Sitting & Walking



People who walk with their shoulders hunched and hands in their pockets tend to be secretive and critical. They critical. dont seem to like much of what is going on around them. them. Dejected people usually scuffle along with their hands in pockets, heads down, and shoulders hunched over. over. People who are preoccupied or thinking, usually walk with their heads down, hands clasped behind their backs and pace very slowly. slowly.

Interpreting Gesture Clusters



 

Certain combinations of gestures are especially reliable indicators of a persons true feelings. feelings. These combinations are clusters. clusters. Each gesture is dependent to others, so analysis of a persons body language is based on a series of signals to ensure that the body language clearly and accurately understood. understood.

Interpreting Gesture Clusters II



All the individual gestures fit together to project a common, unified message. message. When they do not, this means a incongruity. incongruity. For example: example: A Nervous Laugh A laugh generally signals relaxation. signals relaxation. But if there are nervous signals in body language that means the person is trying to escape from an unpleasant situation. unpleasa situation.

Common Gesture Clusters Openness:

Several gestures indicate openness and sincerety: sincerety:  Open hands,  Unbuttoned coal or collar,  Leaning slightly forward in the chair,  Removing coat or jacket,  Uncrossing arms and legs,  Moving closer. closer.

Common Gesture Clusters Openness:



 

When people are proud of what they have done, they usually show their hands quite openly. openly. When they are not often put their hands into their pockets, or hide back When people show signals of openness that means they are generally beginning very comfortable in your presence which is good. good.

Common Gesture Clusters Defensiveness:

People who are defensive usually have  a rigid body,  arms or legs tightly crossed,  eyes glancing sideways or darting occasionaly.  minimal eye contact  lips pursed, fists clenched and downcast head

Common Gesture Clusters Evaluation:

Evaluation gestures say that the other person is being thoughtful or is considering what you are saying. saying. Sometimes in a friendly way sometimes in an unfriendly way. way. Typical evaluation gestures include  tilted head,  hand to cheek,  leaning forward and  chin stroking


Common Gesture Clusters Evaluation:

Sometimes evaluation gestures take on a critical aspect.  The body is more drawn back  The hand is to the face but the chin is in the palm of the hand with one finger going up the cheek and the other fingers positioned below the mouth.  This is generally an unfavorable gesture.

Common Gesture Clusters Evaluation:

To gain time for evaluating the situation people use cigarette or pipe smoking habits, removing eyeglasses. A final negative evaluation gesture is dropping his eyeglasses to the lower bridge of noise and peering over them. This gesture usually causes a negative emotional overreaction in other people.

Suspicion, Secrecy, Rejection, and Doubt:

These negative emotions are communicated typically by:  Sideways glances  Minimal or no eye contact  Shifting the body away from the speaker  Touching or rubbing the nose.

Suspicion, Secrecy, Rejection, and Doubt II

When a person do not want to look at you it could mean he is being secretive, has private feelings in opposition to what you are saying or hiding something. A sideway glances means suspicion and doubt. Shifting your body from someone means you wish to end the conversation, meeting etc. Touching nose may indicate doubt or concealment

Common Gesture Clusters Readiness

Readiness is related to the goal-oriented high goalachiever with a concern for getting things done. It communicates dedication to a goal and is usually communicated by sitting forward at the edge of a chair. This may negatively give the appearence of being overly anxious also.

Common Gesture Clusters Nervousness  Clearing ones throat,  Whistling,

 

Chain smoking. Covering the mouth with hand, Tapping fingers

 

Jingling pocket change Fidgeting Twitching lips or face

Common Gesture Clusters Boredom or Impatience

These unproductive feelings are usually conveyed by the  Drumming of fingers  Cupping the head in the palm of the hand,  Foot swinging  Brushing or picking a lint  Looking at your watch or the exit.

Common Gesture Clusters Enthusiasm

This is an emotion hat you love to see in other people and they in you. It is conveyed by  A small upper or inward smile  Hands open and arms extended outward  Eyes wide an alert  A lively and bouncy walk  A lively and well-modulated voice. well-

FOR ALL OF US


Becoming sensitive to the clues of body language can help us all to communicate more effectively; effectively; We can sense when the other person is silent and digesting information, or when he is silent and confused; confused; We can share feelings too strong or too difficult to be expressed in words; words; Or decode secret messages passing silently from person to person. person.
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Finally, we can learn to be more sensitive to our own body to see how it expresses our feelings and to see ourselves as others see us. us.

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We do not have bodies; We are our bodies.

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THANKS ! AND
YOUR

Thoughts Experiences Questions

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