Body Language

Non-verbal communication
Method of interaction without the use of words.
Non-verbal signals or cues are studied under the
following main areas:
-Proxemics : space in interpersonal communication
-Chronemics : time factor
-Paralanguage : voice factor
-Haptics : touch factor
-Oculesics : eye signals (movements)
-Kinesics : body language
 Kinesics
The study of body movements, Facial expressions, and
Gestures is called ‘kinesics’.
It is the non-verbal behaviour of the whole or part of the
body.
 Elements of body language:
-Head
-Eye contact
-Gestures
- eyebrows
- smile
- handshake
- face
How Does Body Speak?
- Like any spoken
language, body language
has words, sentences
and punctuation.
- Each gesture is like a
single word and one
word may have several
different meanings.
 Let’s Examine How Body
Communicates, from head to toes
 Head
• Small head nods show continuous
attention
• Head is down shows negative emotion
• Lifting chin up and looking down nose
is symbol of superiority
• Straight head indicates neutral position
 Eyebrows
• Vertical- worry
• Horizontal shows happiness
• Raised eyebrow- suspicion
• Eyebrows lowered- disagreement
 Face
• Blank face- relaxation
• Positive face – desire to be liked
• Negative face
 Smile
• Felt smile- upturned mouth with lips
closed- interaction and happiness
• Miserable smile – only half the mouth is
smiling- dissatisfaction
• False smile- slight turn at the end of the
mouth, does not reach eyes- sarcastic,
dangerous
 Hand movements
• Hugging of the self- uncertainity, lack of
confidence
• Arms folded with thumb pointing
upward- superiority complex
• Clasping of hands behind the back-
used by royalty
• Lightly scratching one side of the neck-
insecurity
• Quick rubbing of hands- excitement
• Rubbing of hands as if hands were
being washed- over with the issue
• Pressing of hands in front of oneself-
pleading
• Hands resting lightly on the neck-
analyse the problem
• Stroking of the chin- ideas behind given
careful consideration
 Styles of walking
• Hands in pocket, walk disorganized, head
bent – depressed
• Hands in pocket walk disorganized, kicking
an imaginary object – angry
• Focusing of eyes on the ground- lost in
thought
• Focusing of eyes in the air – looking for
solution
• Strutting style of walking- extreme confidence
 Hand shake
• Equal handshake – equal in behaviour
• Tight grasp- superiority complex
• Limp handshake- inferiority complex
• Informal handshake- informal behaviour
 Gestures
• Open palm while talking- positive
personality
• Eye to eye confrontation – honest and
direct
• Smile – open personality
 Gaze
Eyes and forehead- business transaction
Forehead to lips- social
From head to toe- intimate
Eyes keep shifting- lack of concentration
Blinking and trying to get in focus – shifty
nature
 Silence

Silence is a natural and fundamental aspect of

Communication.

It is an integral part of interpersonal

communication.

In many cases it is perceived o.K.. And in many

cases it is perceived as embarrassing.
-silence when we are worrying about a problem on
hand.

-Silence which occurs when we are listening attentively

to a speaker or watching a movie

- Silence may depict disagreement

 Proxemics (space language)
Each communicator has a personal zone and territory
built or constructed around himself which he does not
allow to be invaded during communication unless the
relationship between the speaker and the listener is
intimate.
 Four kinds of distances are
-Intimate - physical contact to 18 inches.
-Personal- 18 inches to 4 feet
-Social - 4 feet to 12 feet
-Public - 12 feet to range of eyesight and hearing
 Chronemics – (time language)
Another important form of non Verbal communication
is use of time or Time language.

It involves

-The meaning given to time dimension when we are

communicating to someone.
Examples of use of time language
-Delay in replying letters,
-Late coming to office
-Late coming to class or meetings
-Completion of specific task within a time
span communicates -
-sincerity
-Loyalty
-Reliability
Frequent late coming or running from office or
Class communicates –

-unreliability
-Laziness
-Disinterestedness,
-lack of loyalty, etc
 Haptics – (touch language)

Physical contact is the easiest and one of the earliest

forms of human communication.
The observation of physical contact gives revealing
clues of non- verbal message.
It is a study of how physical contact or touch is used to
communicate the
-ideas
-Feelings
Examples of haptics are –
-Hitting
-Patting
-Shaking hands, etc.
 Oculesics
-Eye contact : shows attention, Interest and
involvement.
-Glancing : indicates passing Interest
-Gazing : indicates intense interest
-Staring : interpreted as anger or confusion
-Blinking : indicates ignorance
Thank you