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THE IMPORTANCE OF BODY

LANGUAGE

Understanding Nonverbal Messages

Nonverbal Communication
Defined

Communication
other than written
or spoken language
that creates
meaning for
someone

Sign language is one

exception to this
definition

Why focus on Nonverbal

Communication?

Nonverbal messages communicate

feelings and attitudes

Most significant source of emotional

information is the face (Albert Mehrabian)
Vocal
Approximately 93% of emotional meaning is
communicated nonverbally.
Nonverbal messages are critical to
successful relationships

Codes of Nonverbal Communication

Eye contact
Facial expressions
Touch (haptics)
The Voice
Environment, Space, and Territory

Physical environment
Space (proxemics)
Intimate space
Personal space
Social space
Public space

Edwin T. Halls
Zones of Space

Different
Cultures ...

A crowded
culture

What is your
private
space?

When you invade my

space

Reactions to an
invasion of your
space

Feel troubled
Get defensive
Become
aggressive
Retaliate

Masks We Wear

Public Masks

Extended territory

Public smile
Clothing
Putting on my face
On the road
At work

Can we drop
masks?

Body Language

How Does Body Speak?

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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.

BODILY SPEAKING
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According to the social anthropologist,

Edward T. Hall, in a normal conversation
between two persons, less than 35% of
the social meanings is actually
transmitted by words.
So, at least 65% of it is conveyed
through the body (non-verbal channel).

Lets Examine How Body

Communicates, from head to toes
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HEAD
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Nodding the head

-

Tossing the head backward

-

Yes in most societies

No in some parts of Greece, Yugoslavia,
Bulgaria, and Turkey
yes in Thailand, the Philippines, India,
Laos

Rocking head slowly, back and forth

-

yes, Im listening in most Asian cultures

FACE
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FACE
15

Facial expressions reflect emotion,

feelings and attitudes, but..
Sometimes people are
-

emotionless
mixed-up emotion

EYES
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Eye contacts
- Encouraged
- Rude
Raising eyebrows
- Yes in some place
- Hello in some place
Winking eye
- Sharing secret in some place
- flirtatious gesture in some place
Closed eyes
- bored or sleepy
- Im listening and concentrating.

Looking

How long do you look?

Do you look when you talk?
Do you look when you listen?

EARS
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Ear grasp
-

Cupping the ear

-

Im sorry. in parts of India

I cant hear you. in all societies

Covering the ear

-

not interested to hear you

NOSE
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Holding the nose

-

Something smells bad. universal

Touching the Nose tap

-

Confused.
Thinking

LIPS AND MOUTH

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*
*

*
*

Whistle, smile, bite, drink, spit, kiss..

Kiss. In parts of Asia, kissing is considered an
intimate sexual act and not permissible in public,
even as a social greeting.
Kissing sound.
Finger tip kiss.
it conveys several messages.

Spitting.
*

Spitting in public is considered rude and unhealthy

THE LIP POINTING

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*
*
*
*
*

Touching closed Lip with finger

Keep Silence
Be Conscious
Open mouth.
Wondering

ARMS
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Folding arms are 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. "or
I already know what you are saying.
Arms behind back, hands grasped is a sign
of control and authority.
Arms in front, hands grasped, is a sign of
mutual respect for others and politeness.

HANDS
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Of all the body parts, the hands are probably used

most for communicating non-verbally.

Handshaking is a form of greeting in most cultures.

Hand-holding among the same sex is a custom of

special friendship and respect in several

Clapping hands. use applause to greet

someone

FINGERS
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The O.K. signal. (the thumb and

forefinger form a circle) means
*

fine, or O.K. in most cultures,

Thumb-up means:
O.K. good job or fine in most cultures
Pointing.
*

LEGS AND FEET

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putting feet up on a desk or any other

piece of furniture is very disrespectful.
Sitting cross-legged, is very impolite

FOR ALL OF US
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We can understand what people are saying even when they are not
talking.
We can sense them, when they are silent and digesting information,
or when they are silent and confused.
We can share feelings too strong or too difficult to be expressed in
words.
Can understand the secret messages passing silently from person to
person,
Finally, we can learn to be more sensitive to our own bodies to see
how they express our feelings and to see ourselves as others see us.

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We do not
have bodies;
we are our
bodies.

THANKS! AND
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YOUR

thoughts
experiences
questions

..