Index

Particulars What is non verbal communication? Verbal vs. Nonverbal Communication Importance Barriers due to Cultural differences Types Functions of nonverbal communication To improve nonverbal communication, learn to manage stress How emotional awareness strengthens nonverbal communication Kinesics Posture and body stance Open and closed body posture Modern applications Importance and need for correct analysis of postures and body movements Gestures and body movements Illustrations of various gestures and their varied inferences in different cultures Conclusion Page No. 2 3 4 7 9 20 23 24 25 26 26 27 28 31 32 40

What is non verbal communication?

Non-verbal communication is not just body language, gestures or facial expressions as many people mistakenly think. It also includes eye contact, touch, spatial distance between two or more people or positioning within a group, kinesics or body movements, appearance, smell, tone of voice and even silence! Even though the importance of non-verbal communication has grown rapidly over the last few decades and it is now widely used in media, business, interpersonal relationships, education and politics many people still pay little attention to non-verbal messages and body signals, concentrating mostly on words. It is one of the biggest misconceptions to think that what is being said is more important than how it is being said. In reality only 7% of information verbal is sent through is words, the remaining set up for 93% of communication is non-verbal. If one fails to read and de-code nonmessages he/she definitely constant misunderstandings and various communication problems.

Verbal vs. Nonverbal Communication

Verbal communication is best suited to convey specific information, and is better suited to communication through technology over long distances. Nonverbal communication is more immediate than verbal

communication, but its Nonverbal communication is typically more ambiguous, notwithstanding the fact that certain forms of nonverbal communication, such as the use of the eyes, can convey emotions more effectively than words can. Some technological means of communication, such as film, can effectively convey many forms of nonverbal communication.

Importance
Nonverbal communication and body language play a hugely important role in all relationships Ted, Arlene, and Jack are all articulate speakers who say one thing while communicating something else nonverbally, with disastrous results in their relationships: Jack gets along with his colleagues at work, but not with those who matter most to him. If you were to ask them why, they would say that Jack is too intense. Rather than look at you, he devours you with his eyes. And if he takes your hand, he lunges to get it and then squeezes so hard it hurts. Jack is a caring guy but has a terrible time being in sync with people. This awkwardness limits his ability to advance at work. He just isnt seen as being good with others. Arlene is attractive and has no problem meeting eligible men. Keeping them is the problem! Arlene is funny and interesting, but even though she constantly laughs and smiles, she radiates tension. Arlenes shoulders and eyebrows are noticeably raised, her voice is shrill, and her body is stiff. Being around Arlene makes many people feel uncomfortable. Arlene has a lot going for her that is undercut by the discomfort she evokes in others. Ted thought he had found the perfect match when he met Sharon, but Sharon isnt so sure. Ted is very eligible. He is good looking, hard working, and a smooth talker. The trouble is that Ted seems to talk more to himself than to Sharon. When Sharon has something to say, Ted is ready with a reply before she finishes her thought. This makes Sharon feel ignored, and she has started to date other men. Ted loses out at work

for the same reason. His inability to listen to others makes him unpopular with many of the people he most admires. These smart, well-intentioned people struggle in their attempt to connect with others. None of them are aware of the nonverbal messages they communicate. If you want to communicate effectively, avoid misunderstandings, and enjoy solid, trusting relationships both socially and professionally, its important to understand how to use and interpret nonverbal signals. We have all heard the expression, Their actions speak louder than words. This is very true, because:

In many situations people tend to hide their feelings behind carefully chosen words. A non-verbal message is a subconscious response of the body. Therefore, it can not be easily controlled and is likely to be more genuine. As words have limitations, non-verbal communication is more effective in situations where a person has to explain shapes, directions, inner feelings and personalities. Non-verbal signals serve to make the message more powerful and convincing. Try to convince or motivate another person into doing a certain task while keeping your face expression, gestures and tone of voice unanimated. No matter what you say, you will not be able to sound convincing, or motivating. If a message is too emotional or too complex a separate non-verbal communication channel is needed to transmit this message correctly. Non-verbal communication helps to clarify misunderstanding and avoid possible communication barriers.

Most social psychologists will tell that nonverbal communication makes up about two-thirds of all communication between two people or between one speaker and a group of listeners. Nonverbal communication can portray a message both verbally and with the correct body signals. There are numerous elements of what we call body language. They include physical features, both changeable and unchangeable, your gestures and signals you send to others at a conscience and unconscious level, and the space that you use when communicating with others. The wrong message can be established if the body language conveyed does not match a verbal message. Nonverbal communication strengthens a first impression in common situations like attracting a partner or in a business interview. You have less than ten seconds and realistically close to four seconds to make a good impression on those with whom you come in contact. First encounters or interactions with another person strongly affect a persons lifestyle. People are more likely to believe that the first things they learn are the truth. When the other person or group is absorbing the message they are focused on the entire environment around them, meaning, the other person uses all five senses in the interaction. Sight makes up 83% of the impact on the brain of information from the senses during a visual presentation. Taste makes up 1%, Hearing makes up 11%, smell 3% and touch 2%. How nonverbal communication can go wrong It takes more than words to create satisfying, strong relationships. Nonverbal communication has a huge impact on the quality of your personal and professional relationships. What you communicate through your body language and nonverbal signals affects how others see you, how well they like and respect you, and whether or not they trust you.

Unfortunately, many people send confusing or negative nonverbal signals without even knowing it. When this happens, both connection and trust are damaged.

Barriers due to Cultural differences

The following are examples of common gestures which have different functions and meanings in different cultures. Misunderstandings occur because the functions of paralinguistic forms vary from culture to culture, although there are some universal nonverbals such as smiles, laughter and sour expressions. There are also differences according to gender and age. Nonverbal communication tends to be relatively ambiguous and open to interpretation while its influence often depends on the nature of the listener, particularly when it is unclear whether the messages conveyed are deliberate or unconscious. Nonverbal indicators are most common in polychronic cultures, in which an individual often performs several tasks simultaneously.

Similarly even Touch is treated differently from one country to another and socially acceptable levels of touching vary from one culture to another (Remland, 2009). In Thai culture, for example, touching someone's head may be thought rude. Remland and Jones (1995) studied groups of people communicating and found that touching was rare among the English (8%), the French (5%) and the Dutch (4%) compared to Italians (14%) and Greeks (12.5%). Stoeltje (2003) wrote about how Americans are "losing touch" with this important communication skill. During a study conducted by University of Miami School of Medicine, Touch Research Institutes, American children were said to be more aggressive than their French counterparts while playing at a playground. It was noted that French women touched their children more.

Types

1.

Kinesics or body language

The term "kinesics" was first used (in 1952) by Ray Birdwhistell, an anthropologist. Kinesics is the study of how people communicate through posture, gesture, stance and movement. Body language is one of the most important and complicated parts of non-verbal communication. Although many books have been written on this topic, body language is still hard to decode, because it must be interpreted in the context of a persons lifestyle, cultural background, family, education, physical health, and other factors that may be obscure. Kinesics has been discussed in detail in the later part.

2.

Facial expressions.
Our face is a highly developed organ that can create more than 7,000 facial expressions. Facial expression continually change interaction and should be constantly monitored by the recipient. Even though the meanings of facial expressions may vary in different countries, there are six main types that are the same in all cultures:

during

Happiness (sincere broad smile, raised cheeks, round eyes) Anger (lowered eyebrow, tightly pursed lips, intensive stare) Surprise (wide open eyes, open mouth, raised eyebrows)

Fear (open mouth, round eyes, pale face) Disgust (wrinkled nose, raised upper lip, lowered eyelids) Sadness (lowered corners of mouth, sad eyes)

3.

Eye-contact
Eye contact is an important feature of social communication. In many cultures it is believed, that even if you can control your facial expressions and body movements, eyes can never lie. This is why in business cultures a fair degree of eye contact is viewed as a sign of a persons openness, honesty and trust. Often, just by eye contact we can signal to another person when to talk or to finish. In interpersonal relationships looking away is often perceived as deviousness and avoidance, while gaze holding, decreased blinking rate and dilated eye pupils show our interest in a partner. Also frequency of eye contact may indicate either interest or boredom. Eye-contact is the primary notion to where a message of attention is being conveyed in engagement with Nonverbal communication. Eye contact is when two people look at each other's eyes at the same time; it can indicate interest, attention, and involvement. Studies have found that people use their eyes to indicate their interest and not just with the frequently recognized actions of winking and movements of the eyebrows, but it can indicate social behavior. Men and women have different ways of eye contact. Men stare at the women they are interested in for at least a half an hour were as women tend to always keep their eyes roaming around the room to see who is there. Disinterest is highly noticeable when showing little eye-contact in a social setting. Pupils
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dilate when they are interested in the other person. People, sometimes, even, without consciously doing so, probe each other's eyes and faces for positive or negative mood signs. Generally speaking, the longer the eye contact between two people the greater the intimacy is felt inside. According to Eckman,Eye contact (also called mutual gaze) is another major channel of nonverbal communication. The duration of eye contact is its most meaningful aspect. Gaze comprises the actions of looking while talking and listening. The length of a gaze, the frequency of glances, patterns of fixation, pupil dilation, and blink rate are all important cues in nonverbal communication. Liking generally increases as mutual gazing increases. Along with the detection of disinterest, deceit can also be observed in a person. Hogan states when someone is being deceptive their eyes tend to blink a lot more. Eyes act as leading indicator of truth or deception, Eye aversion is the avoidance of eye contact. Eye contact and facial expressions provide important social and emotional information. Overall, as Pease states, Give the amount of eye contact that makes everyone feel comfortable. Unless looking at others is a cultural no-no, lookers gain more credibility than non-lookers.

4.

Proxemics
Proxemics is the study of how people use and perceive the physical distance or space around them. The space between the sender and the receiver of a message influences the way the message is interpreted. In addition, the perception and use of space varies significantly across cultures and different settings within cultures.

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There are two main types of space or distance: Horizontal and Vertical.

Horizontal space determines the distance, which people intuitively feel comfortable with when approaching other and having others approach them. Space in nonverbal communication may be divided into four main categories: intimate, social, personal, and public space. There are four horizontal space zones:

Intimate space from actual touching to 18 inches. It is assigned for intimate relationships and mother- baby relationships. At this distance the physical presence of another is overwhelming. Violation of our territory, depending on the seriousness may provoke such feelings as discomfort, irritation, anxiety and even anger and aggression. Personal space from 18 inches to 4 feet. This zone is reserved for interactions with good friends, when discussing personal and casual matters. Social space from 4 to 12 feet. This is an appropriate distance for impersonal, social gatherings and business communication. Public space more than 12 feet. At this distance a speaker becomes formal. It is reserved for public speaking and interaction in public places (like parks, supermarkets, or on the street) The more we get to know the person and the more we like them, the closer we permit them into our personal space. The term territoriality is used in the study of proxemics to explain human behavior regarding personal space. Hargie & Dickson (2004, p. 69) identify 4 such territories:

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Primary territory: This refers to an area that is associated with someone who has exclusive use of it. An example is a house that others cannot enter without the owners permission. Secondary territory: Unlike primary territory, there is no right to occupancy of secondary territory, but people may still feel some degree of ownership of such space as they develop the custom of occupying it. For example, someone may sit in the same seat in church every week and feel irritated if someone else sits there. Public territory: this refers to an area that is available to all, but only for a set period, such as a parking space or a seat in a library. Although people have only a limited claim over that space, they often extend that claim. For example, it was found that people take longer to leave a parking space when someone is waiting to take that space. Interaction territory: this is space held by others when they are interacting. For example, when a group is talking to each other on a footpath, others will walk around the group rather than disturb their interaction territory.

Vertical space often indicates a degree of dominance and subordinance in the relationship.

5.

Haptics
Haptics is a nonverbal communication study of touch. The way one person touches another can tell a great deal of information. Even a handshake can tell a lot about the individuals character and social

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position. In most interpersonal relationships touching can (arm pat) expresse tenderness, give encouragement and show emotional support. Such physical contacts as handshakes, holding hands, kissing (cheek, lips, hand), back slapping, high fives, a pat on the shoulder, brushing an arm, embracing, pushing, grabbing, holding another person on the shoulder, patting on the back, ruffling thier hair may reflect elements of intimacy, lack of attraction, patronizing or gentleness. These behaviors are referred to as "adapters" or "tells" and may send messages that reveal the intentions or feelings of a communicator. The meaning of touch depends highly on the context of the situation, the relationship between communicators, the manner of touch, sex, age, culture and your character. If used improperly it can become a cause of aggravation, communication barriers and mistrust.

6.

Paralanguage
Paralanguage is a non-verbal element of communication that includes rate (speed), pitch (highness or lowness of voice), volume (loudness), and enunciation of vocal speech. A persons character, emotional condition and ability to get a message correctly to a receiver can be revealed by vocal cues. Experimental findings suggest that people tend to listen more attentively to men with deep, low voices and resonant tones as these vocal cues are associated with strength, sexiness and self-confidence.

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High pitch voices are associated with rage, nervousness and helplessness, while despair and depression is often vocalized by a lower pitch and slower word pace. People who speak very loud are often perceived by others as aggressive, overbearing and uncompromising. Soft spoken people are viewed as timid, polite and unsure of themselves. When a vocal message contradicts a verbal one it is considered an indication of sarcasm. For example, a phrase, Great job can either mean a sincere praise or if intoned sarcastically, it has the opposite meaning.

7.

Silence
Silence is also viewed as a part of non-verbal communication that depending on the situation and usage can influence conversation in a positive or negative way. On one hand silence may create tension and uneasiness, while on the other it may give another person time to collect his thoughts and calm down. Silence can also be an indicator of agreement or disagreement, depending on other non-verbal aspects such as facial expression, body language or eye contact.

8.

Chronemics
Chronemics is the study of the use of time in nonverbal communication. The way we perceive time, structure our time and react to time is a powerful communication tool and helps set the stage for communication. Time perceptions include punctuality and the willingness to wait, plus the speed of speech and how long people are willing to listen. The timing and

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frequency of an action as well as the tempo and rhythm of communications within an interaction contributes to the interpretation of nonverbal messages. Gudykunst & Ting-Toomey (1988) identified two dominant time patterns: Monochronic time and Polychronic time. Monochronic Time A Monochronic time system means that things are done one at a time and time is segmented into precise, small units. Under this system time is scheduled, arranged and managed. For instance, The United States is considered a monochronic society. This perception of time is learned and rooted in the Industrial Revolution, where "factory life required the labor force to be on hand and in place at an appointed hour" (Guerrero, DeVito & Hecht, 1999, p. 238). For Americans, time is a precious resource not to be wasted or taken lightly. As communication scholar Edward T. Hall wrote regarding the American viewpoint of time in the business world, the schedule is sacred. Hall says that for monochronic cultures, time is tangible and viewed as a commodity where time is money or time is wasted. The result of this perspective is that Americans and other monochronic cultures, such as the German and Swiss, place a paramount value on schedules, tasks and getting the job done. These cultures are committed to regimented schedules and may view those who do not subscribe to the same perception of time as disrespectful. Monochronic cultures include Germany, Canada, Switzerland, the United States, and Scandinavia.

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Polychronic Time A Polychronic time system is a system where several things can be done at once, and a more fluid approach is taken to scheduling time. Unlike Americans and most northern and western European cultures, Native American, Latin American, Arab and African cultures use the polychronic system of time. These cultures are much less focused on the preciseness of accounting for each and every moment. As Raymond Cohen notes, polychronic cultures are deeply steeped in tradition rather than in tasksa clear difference from their monochronic counterparts. Cohen notes that "Traditional societies have all the time in the world. The arbitrary divisions of the clock face have little saliency in cultures grounded in the cycle of the seasons, the invariant pattern of rural life, and the calendar of religious festivities" (Cohen, 1997, p. 34). Instead, their culture is more focused on relationships, rather than watching the clock. They have no problem being late for an event if they are with family or friends, because the relationship is what really matters. As a result, polychronic cultures have a much less formal perception of time. They are not ruled by precise calendars and schedules. Rather, cultures that use the polychronic time system often schedule multiple appointments simultaneously so keeping on schedule is an impossibility. [2] Polychronic cultures include Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Mexico, the Philippines, India, and many in Africa.

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9. Olfactics
Olfactics is a non-verbal communication study of smell. We tend to react to people based on their smell. For both men and women body smell is one of the most important subconscious factors of choosing a life mate. During interaction body odor or too much perfume can make even the most attractive person seem repulsive.

10.

Appearance

Appearance plays an important role in non-verbal communication. Clothes, makeup, accessories, hairstyle, choice of colors and uniforms usually offer signals relating to persons individuality, status, wealth, occupation and even attractiveness. People we find attractive are perceived as more credible, sociable, successful, interesting, sensitive, kind and popular. However you have to remember that forming stereotypes based on other peoples physical characteristics and attractiveness may lead to false assumptions and communication barriers.

11.

Clothing
Clothing is the most common form of non-verbal communication. The types of clothing that an individual wears convey nonverbal clues about his or her personality, background and financial status, and how others will respond to them, for instance, Miniskirts can give a woman the appearance that she is not approachable. This demonstrates a certain
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response, in this case, a negative and unapproachable response, simply via appearance. It is important to understand that their exterior and demeanor influence how others will react to them. An individuals clothing style can demonstrate their culture, mood, level of confidence, interests, age, authority, value/beliefs, and their sexual identity. Some examples of a persons clothing type in which a negative message is being conveyed could include the following: A person with a sloppy appearance, messy hair, and wrinkled clothes sends the message, "I don't care". Also, a woman who wears a tight dress with a low-cut neckline may convey the message "I'm attractive and sexy" or Want to come back to my place tonight"? By showing the positive aspects of his or her self through dress attire and grooming, one can inspire confidence in his or her abilities.

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Functions of nonverbal communication

Argyle (1970) put forward the hypothesis that whereas spoken language is normally used for communicating information about events external to the speakers, non-verbal codes are used to establish and maintain interpersonal relationships. It is considered more polite or nicer to communicate attitudes towards others non-verbally rather than verbally, for instance in order to avoid embarrassing situations. Argyle (1988) concluded there are five primary functions of nonverbal bodily behavior in human communication:

Express emotions Express interpersonal attitudes To accompany speech in managing the cues of interaction between

speakers and listeners

Self-presentation of ones personality Rituals (greetings)

In regards to expressing interpersonal attitudes, humans communicate interpersonal closeness through a series of nonverbal actions known as immediacy behaviors. Examples of immediacy behaviors are smiling, touching, open body positions, and eye contact. Cultures that display these immediacy behaviors are considered high-contact cultures. Criticism An interesting question is: When two people are communicating face-toface, how much of the meaning is communicated verbally, and how much is communicated non-verbally? This was investigated by Albert Mehrabian and reported in two papers. The latter paper concluded: "It is
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suggested that the combined effect of simultaneous verbal, vocal, and facial attitude communications is a weighted sum of their independent effects - with coefficients of .07, .38, and .55, respectively." This "rule" that clues from spoken words, from the voice tone, and from the facial expression, contribute 7 %, 38 %, and 55 % respectively to the total meaning, is widely cited. It is presented on all types of popular courses with statements like "scientists have found out that . . . ". In reality, however, it is extremely weakly founded. First, it is based on the judgment of the meaning of single tape-recorded words, i.e. a very artificial context. Second, the figures are obtained by combining results from two different studies which potentially cannot be combined. Third, it relates only to the communication of positive versus negative emotions. Fourth, it relates only to women, as men did not participate in the study. Since then, other studies have analysed the relative contribution of verbal and nonverbal signals under more naturalistic situations. Argyle, using video tapes shown to the subjects, analysed the communication of submissive/dominant attitude and found that non-verbal cues had 4.3 times the effect of verbal cues. The most important effect was that body posture communicated superior status in a very efficient way. On the other hand, a study by Hsee et al. had subjects judge a person on the dimension happy/sad and found that words spoken with minimal variation in intonation had an impact about 4 times larger than face expressions seen in a film without sound. Thus, the relative importance of spoken words and facial expressions may be very different in studies using different set-ups.

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Interaction of verbal and nonverbal communication When communicating, nonverbal messages can interact with verbal messages in six ways: repeating, conflicting, complementing, substituting, regulating and accenting/moderating. Conflicting Verbal and nonverbal messages within the same interaction can sometimes send opposing or conflicting messages. A person verbally expressing a statement of truth while simultaneously fidgeting or avoiding eye contact may convey a mixed message to the receiver in the interaction. Conflicting messages may occur for a variety of reasons often stemming from feelings of uncertainty, ambivalence, or frustration.[23]When mixed messages occur, nonverbal communication becomes the primary tool people use to attain additional information to clarify the situation; great attention is placed on bodily movements and positioning when people perceive mixed messages during interactions Complementing Accurate interpretation of messages is made easier when nonverbal and verbal communication complement each other. Nonverbal cues can be used to elaborate on verbal messages to reinforce the information sent when trying to achieve communicative goals; messages have been shown to be remembered better when nonverbal signals affirm the verbal exchange. Substituting Nonverbal behavior is sometimes used as the sole channel for communication of a message. People learn to identify facial expressions, body movements, and body positioning as corresponding with specific feelings and intentions. Nonverbal signals can be used without verbal
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communication to convey messages; when nonverbal behavior does not effectively communicate a message, verbal methods are used to enhance understanding.

To improve nonverbal communication, learn to manage stress

Learning how to manage stress in the heat of the moment is one of the most important things you can do to improve your nonverbal communication. Stress compromises your ability to communicate. When youre stressed out, youre more likely to misread other people, send off confusing or off-putting nonverbal signals, and lapse into unhealthy kneejerk patterns of behavior. Furthermore, emotions are contagious. Your upset is very likely to trigger upset in others, making a bad situation worse. If youre feeling overwhelmed by stress, its best to take a time out. Take a moment to calm down before you jump back into the conversation. Once youve regained your emotional equilibrium, youll be better equipped to deal with the situation in a positive way.

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How emotional awareness strengthens nonverbal communication

In order to send accurate nonverbal cues, you need to be aware of your emotions and how they influence you. You also need to be able to recognize the emotions of others and the true feelings behind the cues they are sending. This is where emotional awareness comes in. Emotional awareness enables you to:

Accurately read other people, including the emotions theyre feeling and the unspoken messages theyre sending. Create trust in relationships by sending nonverbal signals that match up with your words. Respond in ways that show others that you understand, notice, and care. Know if the relationship is meeting your emotional needs, giving you the option to either repair the relationship or move on.

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Kinesics
As stated earlier, the term "kinesics" was first used (in 1952) by Ray Birdwhistell, an anthropologist who wished to study how people communicate through postures, gesture, body stance, body movement etc. Part of Birdwhistell's work involved making films of people in social situations and analyzing them to show different levels of communication not clearly seen otherwise. Several other anthropologists, including Margaret Mead and Gregory Bateson, also studied kinesics. Drawing heavily on descriptive linguistics, Birdwhistell argued that all movements of the body have meaning (ie. are not accidental), and that these non-verbal forms of language (or paralanguage) have a grammar that can be analyzed in similar terms to spoken language. Thus, a "kineme" is "similar to a phoneme because it consists of a group of movements which are not identical, but which may be used interchangeably without affecting social meaning". (Knapp 1972:94-95) Birdwhistell estimated that "no more than 30 to 35 percent of the social meaning of a conversation or an interaction is carried by the words." (Birdwhistell, 1985: 158). He also concluded that there were no universals in these kinesic displays - a claim disproved by Paul Ekman's analysis of universals in facial expression.

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Posture and body stance

In humans, posture can provide important nonverbal communication. Posture deals with:

how the body is positioned in relation to another person or group of persons (e.g. leaning stance, posture, standing, sitting, etc.) and how they are positioned relative to each other various body parts (e.g. leg imposed on the leg, hand in pocket, etc.) Physique, that is how the body looks like (e.g. whether it is large, has a broad back, weak legs, large head, etc.)

Open and closed body posture

The researchers distinguish these two opposing attitudes. People with an open posture are perceived as friendly and positive attitude, creating a sense of security around him. People with a closed body posture give the impression of detached, uninterested contact, hostile. A Closed posture is one in which parts of the body most

susceptible to trauma are obscured. These body parts are: throat, stomach and genitals. They are easily damaged and the damage could have fatal consequences. Damage to the genitals prevents the transfer of their genes to future generations and is synonymous with the death of the "point of view of the gene" Therefore, both humans and animals try to protect those vulnerable to injury part. In humans, have similar behavior: the enclosure of the neck by leaving or propping up the chin, tilting the head, arms weaving on the chest or abdomen, hands clasped

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obscure the genitals ("the attitude of the Soviet dignitary"), crossing the legs. Also, clothing may close stance: buttoned suit, golf, handbag or briefcase held in front of you, etc. An open posture is one in which they are exposed: genitals,

abdomen and neck. The open character of the body can be characterised by raised head, draped jacket, shirt undone at the neck, loosened tie, bag on shoulder or in hand, slightly raised hips. An important element of the closing or opening position of the body are the hands. Shown palms read as openness, friendliness, willingness to contact, especially if the hand is relaxed - that is, his fingers gently touch each other. Showing the back of your hand, gripping them, hiding the thumb is a signal closure. Closed and open postures also apply while sitting. Feet together, clinching legs, crossed arms, etc show the closure of the body. A slight forward bend, hanging head, open palms up, etc show an open position.

Modern applications
In one current application, kinesics are used as signs of deception by interviewers. Interviewers look for clusters of movements to determine the veracity of the statement being uttered. Some related words may be:

Emblems - Substitute for words and phrases Illustrators - Accompany or reinforce verbal messages Affect Displays - Show emotion Regulators - Control the flow and pace of communication Adaptors - Release physical or emotional tension
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Importance and need for correct analysis of postures and body movements

1. Communication expressed through posture and body stance Non-verbal communication developed in humans earlier than verbal communication. In humans, one of the means of communication, such as its position in the hierarchy of the group or attitude toward others, is the appropriate attitude gain. Posture conveys information about:

Attitudes of interpersonal relations - for example I like - I do not like, want to avoid, etc. Personality traits - such as confidence, submissiveness, openness, the need Social standing - social origin, position in the social hierarchy (particularly if it is analyzed in the context of postures callers) Current emotional states - fear, sense of security, relaxation, tension Frustrations of developmental traits or character, mental injuries (traumas), etc. Characteristics of temperament - according to the theory of Hippocrates, Kretschmer, Sheldon.

Posture or a person's bodily stance communicates a variety of messages. Posture can be used to determine a participants degree of attention or involvement, the difference in status between communicators, and the level of fondness a person has for the other communicator, depending on body openness. Studies investigating the impact of posture on interpersonal relationships suggest that mirror-image congruent postures, where one persons left side is parallel to the other persons right side,
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leads to favorable perception of communicators and positive speech; a person who displays a forward lean or decreases a backward lean also signifies positive sentiment during communication. An example of good posture includes standing erect, and leaning forward communicates to a person that you are approachable, receptive, and friendly. A person talking to someone that is constantly looking at the floor or ceiling makes it seem as though disinterest with the conversation. Always try to avoid negative posture. Lean forward when listening, stand straight when speaking. 2. Posture can be situation-relative A nineteen-year-old college student from New York will use different postures than a Mid-western housewife, and a construction worker in the state of Washington will use different postures than a salesman in Chicago. Another example of posture being situational on more of a daily basis can be described in Drivers book: Four situational norms of posture would be, Flirting, where the norm is 60% eye contact, Job Interview with a relaxed and open body language, Business Negotiation where the norm is leaning back while steeping and Buying a Car where most have hands on hips with feet more than ten inches apart. 3. Interpersonal attitudes Slightly bending the head, left hand based on the table, as though seeking support, parted lips: to encourage contact, grooming, and perhaps prone to. Straight silhouette, straight neck: a signal of well-being, good self-esteem. Hidden hand carries an element of mystery and anxiety, curious, intrigued.
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Interpersonal attitudes (sympathy-disapproval, acceptance, trust, etc.) are communicated through:

Inclination of the body: During the conversation leaning slightly toward the speaker's trunk or tilting slightly away from him. It is usually unconscious behavior. The inclination "towards" is an expression of sympathy and acceptance. Reverse Buckling occurs along with the survival of dislike and disapproval or desire to break the relationship. Similarity. During the conversation, people have an unconscious tendency to imitate their behavior. This happens when the conversation runs seamlessly and is enjoyable for both parties. This approximation of the attitudes and gestures and body movements indicate the emergence of a bond and sympathy. Lack of synchronization leads to a sense that this contact is artificial, forced and unpleasant. Orientation of the body. Usually, people talk directed toward each other, but not in the position of "face to face," which is a confrontational attitude. Therefore, the body of speakers are turned toward each other, but are set at an angle. When you ignore someone, we tend to ignore or avoid contact - set the side (shoulder) - this happens for example in a crowded elevator Closed or open body position.

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Gestures and body movements

Gestures may be made with the hands, arms or body, and also include movements of the head, face and eyes, such as winking, nodding, or rolling one's eyes. Although the study of gesture is still in its infancy, some broad categories of gestures have been identified by researchers. The most familiar are the so-called emblems or quotable gestures. These are conventional, culture-specific gestures that can be used as replacement for words, such as the hand wave used in western cultures for "hello" and "goodbye." A single emblematic gesture can have a very different significance in different cultural contexts, ranging from complimentary to highly offensive. There are some universal gestures like the shoulder shrug. The shoulder shrug is a good example of a universal gesture that is used to show that a person doesnt know or doesnt understand what you are saying. Its a multiple gesture that has three main parts: exposed palms to show nothing is being concealed in the hands, hunched shoulders to protect the throat from attack, and raised brow, which is a universal, submissive greeting Gestures can also be categorized as either speech independent or speech related. Speech-independent gestures are dependent upon culturally accepted interpretation and have a direct verbal translation. A wave or a [V-sign| peace sign] are examples of speech-independent gestures. Speech-related gestures are used in parallel with verbal speech; this form of nonverbal communication is used to emphasize the message that is being communicated. Speech-related gestures are intended to provide supplemental information to a verbal message such as pointing to an object of discussion.

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Illustrations of various gestures and their varied inferences in different cultures

Single hand gestures A-ok or Okay: made by connecting the thumb and forefinger

in a circle and holding the other fingers straight, may signal the word okay; especially as a diving signal. The same gesture is offensive in parts of southern Europe and South America.

Blah-blah: The fingers are kept straight and together, held

horizontal or upwards, while the thumb points downwards. The fingers and thumb then snap together repeatedly to suggest a mouth talking. The gesture can be used to indicate that someone talks too much, gossips, is saying nothing of any consequence, or is boring.

Check, please: This gesture, used to mean that a dinner

patron wishes to pay the bill and depart, is executed by touching the index finger and thumb together and "writing" a checkmark, circle, or wavy line (as if signing one's name) in the air.

Clenched fist: is used as a gesture of defiance or solidarity.

Facing the signer, it threatens physical violence (i.e., "a thumping")

Crossed fingers: are used to superstitiously wish for good Cuckoo sign: touched or screw loose. In North America,

luck or to nullify a promise.

making a circling motion of the index finger at the ear or side of the head signifies that the person "has a screw loose," i.e. is speaking nonsense or is crazy.

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Fist bump: is similar to a handshake or high five which may Fist pump: is a celebratory gesture in which a closed fist is

be used as a symbol of respect.

raised before the torso and subsequently drawn down in a vigorous, swift motion.

Handshake: is a greeting ritual in which two people grasp

each others' hands and may move their grasped hands up and down.

High five: is a celebratory ritual in which two people Hitchhiking: gestures including sticking one thumb upward,

simultaneously raise one hand and then slap these hands together.

especially in North America, or pointing an index finger toward the road elsewhere to request a ride in an automobile.

Loser: made by extending the thumb and forefinger to Money sign: The thumb rubs repeatedly over the tip of the

resemble the letter L is an insulting gesture.

index finger and middle finger. This gesture resembles the act of rubbing coins or bills together and is generally used when speaking about money.

Two-hand gestures Air quotes: are made by raising both hands to eye level and

flexing the index and middle fingers of both hands while speaking. Their meaning is similar to that of scare quotes in writing.

Ajali Mudr: is a sign of respect among yoga practitioners.

It is made by pressing the palms together.

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Applause: is an expression of approval made by clapping the The Awkward turtle: is a two handed gesture used to mark a

hands together to create noise.

moment as awkward. One hand is placed flat atop the other with both palms facing down, fingers extended outward from the hand and thumbs stuck out to the sides. The thumbs are rotated to symbolize flippers.

Batsu: In Japanese culture, the batsu (literally: -mark) is a

gesture made by crossing one's arms in the shape of an "X" in front of them in order to indicate that something is "wrong" or "no good".

Forefinger Rub pointing one index finger at a person and

rubbing the other against it: conveys the meaning "shame on you" and is usually performed when the other person has done something shameful or inappropriate.

Gator Chomp: displays support for University of Florida

athletic teams. The gesture is made by extending both arms in front of the chest and clapping the hands vertically.

Guns Up: is the slogan and hand signal of Texas Tech

University. The gesture is made from a closed hand by extending the index finger forward and the thumb up. This hand sign may be made with one or two hands.

Hand-rubbing: rubbing both hands together, indicates either Jazz hands: are used in dance or other performances by Time-out: a "T" formed with the hands, with one hand with

one feels cold or one is expecting or anticipating something.

displaying the palms of both hands with fingers splayed.

flat palm placed perpendicular to the other hand with flat palm, roughly in the center originates in American sports. It is used
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by players to signal for a time out, or brief pause in play. In basketball, the gesture is additionally used by referees to indicate that a player or coach is guilty of a technical foul.

Victory clasp: is used to exclaim victory by clasping the Whatever: made with the thumb and forefinger of both

hands together and shaking them to one's side.

hands, to form the letter W. Used to signal that something is not worth the time and energy. Popularized by the movie Clueless.

Gestures made with other body parts Air kiss: conveys meanings similar to kissing, but is Akanbe: is performed by pulling a lower eyelid down to

performed without making bodily contact.

expose the red underneath, often while also sticking out one's tongue, and is a childish insult in Japanese culture.

Anasyrma: is performed by lifting the skirt or kilt. It is used Blowing a raspberry or Bronx cheer: signifies derision by

in some religious rituals.

sticking out the tongue and blowing to create a sound similar to flatulence.

Bowing: lowering the torso or head, is a show of respect in Cheek kissing: pressing one's lips to another person's cheek, Chicken: performed by making one's arms into wings by

many cultures.

may show friendship or greeting.

putting the hands onto one's chest, extending the elbows outwards
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and flapping them, often accompanied by chicken noises (bwuckbwuck-bwuck!). This gesture is done to make fun of a cowardly person afraid to do something risky or go somewhere scary, usually provoking the person to overcome their fear to get them to stop.

Choking sign: to indicate that one is choking is to hold the

throat with one or both hands as if strangling oneself. This is recognized as a request for immediate first aid for choking. It is promoted as a way to prevent onlookers from confusing the victim's distress with some other problem, such as a heart attack, when the person cannot speak.

Curtsey: is a gesture of greeting typically made by women. It Dhyanamudra: sitting with both hands in the lap, signifies Drinking sign: In UK, the gesture for drinking (used for

is performed by bending the knees while bowing the head.

concentration.

example as an invitation to "go down the pub") is made by putting the back of the thumb just below the lower lip, while the other fingers are close together as if holding an imaginary pint of beer, tipping it repeatedly. This gesture can also be used to imply that somebody is drunk, either literally or insultingly.

Elbow bump: is a greeting similar to the hand shake or fist Eskimo kissing: is a gesture in Western cultures loosely

bump made by touching elbows.

based on an Inuit greeting. It is performed by two people touching noses.

Eye-rolling: performed by rotating the eyes upward and back

down, can indicate incredulity, contempt, boredom, frustration, or exasperation. The gesture can be unconscious or can be
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performed consciously. The gesture occurs in many countries of the world, and is especially common among adolescents.

Facepalm: is an expression of frustration or embarrassment Genuflection: is a show of respect by bending at least one Hand-kissing: is a greeting made by kissing the hand of a Hand over heart: involves placing one's right hand, palm

made by raising the palm of the hand to the face.

knee to the ground.

person worthy of respect.

outstretched and facing in, over one's heart. Male hat or cap wearers typically remove their hats and hold them in this hand. In some cultures, it is used as a gesture of respect towards flags or during singing of a national anthem. In the United States, it is also performed as a part of the rituals of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Hat tip or doff: is a salutation or show of respect made by Kowtow: shows respect by bowing deeply and touching one's Nod: tilting the head up and down, may indicate assent in

two people removing their hats.

head to the ground.

Western Europe, North America, and the Indian subcontinent, among other places. It also means the opposite in other places, such as Bulgaria.

Touching or tapping the side of the nose with the index

finger: means "we share a secret". It is of British origin and then was popularized in America by the movie The Sting.

Orant: is a gesture made during prayer in which the hands Puppy face: consists of tilting the head down with eyes

are raised with palms facing outward.

looking up. It has a number of uses.

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Putting a slightly cupped hand, with palm down, under the

chin and then flicking the fingers out (usually once or twice): is a common gesture in Italy for expressing indifference. This gesture became the center of a controversy in March 2006, when Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia was photographed allegedly making the gesture to illustrate his response to his critics. Boston Herald reporter misinterpreted it as "obscene" but Scalia later explained that he merely meant "I couldn't care less."

Shrug: lifting both shoulders, indicates lack of knowledge or Salaam: is an Arabic gesture of greeting or respect Sampeah: is a Cambodian greeting or gesture of respect Scout sign: and salute refers to the use of the Three Finger Shush: gesture is used to demand or request silence from

concern.

consisting of low bow with the hand touching the forehead.]

made by lining up the palms and fingers together while bowing.

Salute by Scout and Guide organizations.

those to whom it is directed. The index finger of one hand is extended, with the remaining fingers curled toward the palm with the thumb forming a fist. The index finger is placed vertically in front of the lips.

Sign of the Cross: used in many Christian rituals, consists of Thai greeting, or wai:, shows respect or reverence by Throat slash: is made by moving one's finger across one's

drawing the shape of a cross over one's body or in the air.

pressing the palms and fingers together.

throat; the gesture imitates cutting a person's throat with a blade. The gesture indicates strong disapproval, extreme anger, or
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displeasure with others or with oneself. It can also be a direction to another party to bring an action to an end and is done in order for the sign initiator to avoid speaking, whether for social decorum, for audio recording purposes or inability to communicate vocally.

Thumbing the nose: is a sign of derision in Britain made by

putting your thumb on your nose and wiggling your fingers. This gesture is also known as Anne's Fan or Queen Anne's Fan, and is sometimes referred to as cocking a snook.

Twisting the cheek: Thumb and forefinger are placed against

the cheek, and a screwing motion, as if making a dimple, is made by twisting the wrist. In Italian culture this can mean "I see a pretty girl" or that something is delicious. In Germany the gesture can be used to suggest that someone is crazy.

Zemnoy poklon or "Great bow": is used in some Eastern

Orthodox Christian rituals. It consists of bowing deeply and lowering one's head to the ground.

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Conclusion
Nonverbal communication is the process of sending and receiving messages from another person through gestures, engagement, posture, and even clothing and hygiene. Nonverbal communication can convey a very different message than a verbal conversation. This can tell someone whether they are likes, interesting or hated. The non-verbal elements being the tone of the voice and the body language are particularly important for communicating feelings and attitude, especially when they are incongruent with the words. If words disagree with the tone of voice and nonverbal behaviour, people tend to believe the tonality and nonverbal behaviour. The three elements account differently for our liking for the person who puts forward a message concerning their feelings: words account for 7%, tone of voice accounts for 38%, and body language accounts for 55% of the liking. They are often abbreviated as the "3 Vs" for Verbal, Vocal & Visual. For effective and meaningful communication about emotions, these three parts of the message need to support each other - they have to be "congruent". In case of any incongruence, the receiver of the message might be irritated by two messages coming from two different channels, giving cues in two different directions. Nonverbal communication can have meanings in objects as well. Certain articles in a persons life can say a lot about them and can sometimes

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even talk for them. A persons handwriting can also tell a lot about the way they can communicate with others. Nonverbal communication can be easiest practiced when the two communicators are face to face. Nonverbal communication is an important aspect in any conversation skill people are practicing. People can interpret body signals better than they can talk most of the time.

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