Body Language

By- N.G.Palit

Body Language
Julius Fast was the first author who
published a book on Body Language
in 1971.
Scientific study on how the body
speaks has been lebelled as KINESICS

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.

How body speaks?

In a normal conversation only
7% of the message is
conveyed through words and
about 38% through vocal
variety like tone, pitch,
modulation, pace of voice etc.
The balance 55% is communicated through
body language, using facial expressions,
gestures, postures etc.

What is Body Language?

Body Language is a form
of non-verbal communication
which consists of body
posture, gestures and facial
expressions, eye
movements.
* Body language shows how
our bodies reveal our thoughts, attitudes and
desires.

Body Language
Language shapes the
way we think, and
determines what we can
think about.
Body Language comes in
clusters of signals and
postures, depending on the
internal emotions and mental states.

Body Language
Body Language is the first
language which we use
from our childhood.
Some symbols we use to
send messages without
speaking a single word.

Body Language
Body acts as a real
truth talker
It speaks much louder
than the words.

What is your body speaking?

Why Body Language is

important?

Non-Verbal Communication
Appearanc
e

Sounds

Ways of
talking

Body
contact
Non-verbal
communication
Eye
movements

Facial
expression

Posture

Space

Head
movements

Hands
movements

How does body speak?

In normal conversation,
less than 15% of the
meaning is actually
transmitted by words.
So, atleast 85% of it
is conveyed through
body or through
(non-verbal channel)

Components of Body Language

Gestures
Stance
Facial expressions

What is a Gesture?
A gesture is using your
arms or hands to
convey some meaning
to another person.

The Ring or Ok Gesture

The OK signal means:
* Fine or All correct
in most English-speaking
countries.
* Zero or worthless in
some parts of Europe.
Money in Japan
An insult in Greece, Brazil, Italy, Russia

O.K.Gesture

The Thumb Up Gesture

In Britain, Australia and
New Zealand the thumb-up
gesture has three meanings.
1. O.K, Fine, or good job
2. Five in Japan.
3. One in Germany
4. An insulting signal in some
countries like, -Russia, Greece, Australia.

It is an OK signal normally, but,

when it is jerked sharply
upwards it becomes an insult
signal

Stop

Pointing Finger
This hand gesture is an
indication of a dominant
to subordinate
behaviour
An aggressive signal,
not liked by many.

Thats Enough

Standard Arm Cross Gesture

The Standard Arm Cross
Gesture:
This is a universal gesture
showing defensive or
negative attitude almost
everywhere.

Standard Arms Cross

Defensive
Or
negative
attitude

Gestures
All gestures should be
considered in the context
in which they occur.
Where ever possible,
gesture clusters should
be considered.
Open Gesture
Shows frankness

Shoulder shrug
Shows that a person
does not know, or
understand what you
are talking about.

I am Running Out of Time

Common Gesture Clusters

The following gestures
indicate openness and
sinceriety:
Open hands
Unbottoned coat or collar
Leaning slightly forward in
the chair.
Uncrossing arms & legs
Moving closer

Palm positions
Dominant palm
position

Submissive palm
position

What is Stance?
Stance is how we
stand in front of our
audience, when we
speak.

Examples of Stance
The Arm Cross:

Standard Leg-cross Position

Shows nervous,
reserved or defensive
attitude.

The 4 Leg-lock Position

Sign of tough-minded,
stubborn person

How to use our Stance

effectively?

Posture
Posture can convey
self-confidence, status and
interest.
Confident people have a
relaxed posture, yet stand
erect and walk with
assurance.
Walking with stooped shoulders projects
lack of confidence.

Posture
Relax your shoulders

Space & Distance - Proximix

Understanding each persons
borders is an important part
of communication.

Edwin T Halls Zones of Space

Space & Distance

Every person has a natural territory that
he / she carries around with him / her.
So, one should be careful about how
one enters the space of another.
Territory also includes the arrangement
of our office or home

Space & Distance

Intimate Distance
actual touching to
6 18 inches

Space & Distance

Personal Distance:
18 inches to 4 feet .
This includes the
hidden dimension
of your personal
bubble.

Space & Distance

Social Distance:
4 to 12 feet
Conversation Distance

Space & Distance

Public Distance:
12 to 25 feet

Territory
Intimate
Touching
6-18

Personal
Close -1 to 2
feet
Far - 2 to 4
feet

Social
Close 4-7 feet
Far - 7-12 feet

Public
Close - 12-25 feet
Far - 25 feet or
greater

Body language differs from

culture to culture

Different Cultures
A crowded
culture
What is your
private space?

Dont stand too close

Remember, everybody
gets worried by a close
talker.
Let people have their
personal space, dont
invade it.

When people invade personal space

Reaction to an invasion
of personal space:
Feel troubled
Get defensive
Become aggressive
Retaliate

How to use space to your

advantage?
Dont be afraid to take
up some space.
Taking up space for
example, sitting or
standing with your legs
apart a bit, signals
self-confidence

Let us examine How Body

Communicates from head to toes

Head
Nodding the head
* Yes in most societies
* No in some parts of Greece, Bulgaria,
Turkey & Yugoslavia.
Tossing the head backward
* Yesin Thailand, India, Laos, Philippins
Rocking the head slowly, back & forth:
* Yes, I am listening

Nodding Head
Nod when others are
talking.
Nod once in a while
to signal that you are
listening.

Face

Face
Your face is watched
whenever you speak.
Face communicates
your attitude, feelings
and emotions, more
than any other part of
your body.

Face
Face and eyes convey the most expressive
types of body language,
including happiness,
surprise, fear, anger,
interest and determinalion
It is truely said that face
is the index of mind.
This picture shows - Disgust

Facial Expression
Content

Facial Expression
Delighted, pleased
or glad

Facial Expression
Frustrated

Facial Expression
Suspecious

Facial Expression
Fear
The feeling of
being afraid.
Emotion showing
impending danger,
threat or evil

Facial Expression
Frown
To contract brow - showing
unhappiness or anger.

Facial Experience
Biting the lips:
It is a nervous habit
A sign of
inexperienced liar

Facial Expression
SMILES:
It shows happiness
& welcome communication

Smile & Laugh

Mouth Guard
Suppress the
deceitful words.
The mouth guard
is one of the few
adult gestures
copied from
children.

Facial Expression
Telling a lie
If a five year old child
tells a lie to the parents,
the mouth will be
deliberately covered
with one or both hands,
immediately afterwards.

Facial Expression
Telling a lie:
When a teenager tells a
lie, the hand is brought to
the mouth, but instead of
hand slapping gesture
over the mouth, the
fingures rub lightly around the mouth.

Facial Expression
Telling a lie:
When an adult tells
a lie, - a nose touch
gesture results.

Telling a lie
Look at the cluster of
gestures to indicatedeceipt.
Such as finger guarding
(covering) the mouth.
Another form
of mouthguard

Hands (gesticulation)
Gesticulation means to
show something by hands.
Hand movement gives a
lot of information.
But, gesticulation should
be coherent with the
words.

Use of hands while talking

Use your hands more
confidently
Use your hands to
describe something or to
add weight to a point you
are trying to make.

Hands
A fist supporting the head
is a sign of
Boredom

Hands
Repeated gestures
such as Thumbs twidling
indicate boredom.

Hands
Hair twirling is
another sign of
Boredom

Hands
The listener is feeling
Negative.
Hand under chin with
index finger pointing
upwards & thumb
supporting the chin.

Hands
Rubbing the eye can mean
that you are lying or feel
that the other person is
lying.

Hands
Touching the nose is
a signal lying.
It may occur once or
several times during
a conversation.

Hands
Rubbing your ear may mean
that you have enough of
someones lies.
Scratching
neck means
that you are
not sure that you
agree.

Pulling collars (Hands)

The Collar Pull Gesture
When a person is feeling
angry or frustrated, he needs
to pull the collar to allow cool
air to circulate around it.
When you see some one
doing this you can ask him
to clarify his point.

Hands
Putting pen in your
mouth shows that you
may be under pressure.

Crossing the arms

Some times indicates

Thinking Hard

Pain in the neck gesture

A person who uses
this when lying,
usually avoids your
gaze and looks down.
This gesture is also
used as a signal of
frustration or anger.

Folding Arms
It is interpreted as
I am taking a defensive
posture, or
I disagree with what I
am hearing.

Handshake
Handshaking is a form
of greeting in most
western cultures.
A firm handshake
will give the impression
of assertiveness or
honesty.

Handshake
Equal

Handshake
Giving Control
Submissive Handshake

Taking Control
Dominant Handshake

Glove Handshake
It is also called a
Politicians Handshake
He wants to give the
impression that he is
trustworthy & honest.
But, the receiver feels
suspicious.

Handshakes
Double Hander
It may produce
discomfort in
unfamiliar recipient

Handshakes
Handshakes that invade personal
space of the recipient.

Handshakes
Handshakes that produce discomfort
in recipient.

Greetings

Rubbing Hands
Positive Expectation

The Shrug
The Shrug may be a
conscious effort to
deceive.

Powerful & intimidating

Dont approach me !

Ready to fight

Troubles
Conflict with
peers

Boredom

Steepling Hands
Lowered Steeple
This position is normally
used by steepler while
listening rather than
speaking.

Steepling Hand
Raised Steeple
This position is normally
taken when the person is
giving his opinions or
ideas and is doing the
talking.
Managers often use this
gesture while
instructing their subordinates.

Clenched Hands
High clenched hands
indicate people who
are difficult to decipher.

Gripping Hands
Confidence

Frustration

Closed Attitude & Open Attitude

Dominant or aggressive

Dominant or aggressive

Partial Arm-cross Barrier

Gesture
Lacking in
Self-confidence

Evaluation

Genuine Interest
Real interest is
shown when the
hand is on the cheek
but, not used as a
head support.

Chin-stroking Gesture
Shows genuine interest

Thumb Displays
Dominant Male
Arms folded with thumbs
pointing upward displays
superior attitude.
Dominant Female
Dominant or aggressive
women also use this
gesture.

Arm gripping Gesture

It shows that the user
is cool and wants to
make his superiority
felt.

Readyness
Readyness in the
right context is
correct,
but, the basic
meaning
is aggression.

Use of Eye Contact

Eye signals
Eyes can give the most
revealing & accurate signals
because they are the focal
points of the body.
The pupils will dilate or
contract as the persons attitude & mood
changes from positive to negative & vice
versa.

Eye signals
There is an old saying
Look a person in his eyes
when you talk to him.
Because, pupils tell you
their real feelings.

Eye
To make people feel
good and show your
interest, maintain
good eye contact.
Look at the persons
whole face above the tip
of their nose.

Eye
People avoid eye contact
when an uncomfortable
question is asked.
Raising one eye brow
shows disbelief and two
shows surprise

Eye Contact
Have eye-contact
but, dont stare
While talking to
people, give them
all some eye-contact
to create a better
connection and see if
they are listening

Beady little eyes

When someone gets
excited, his pupils can
dilate upto four times
their normal size.
Pupil watching was used by the
ancient Chinese gem traders, who
watched for the pupil dilation of their
buyers when negotiating prices.

Beady little eyes

An angry, negative
mood causes the
pupils to contract to
beady little eyes
or snake eyes

Gaze Behaviour
It is only when you see
eye-to-eye with another
person that an effective
communication can be
established.

Business Gaze
During any business
discussion imagine that
there is a triangle on the
other persons forehead.
If you keep your gaze
directed at that area, you
can create serious atmosphere and
the other person senses that you
mean business.

Eye
Shocked &
Surprised.

An Aura of power
The man leaning back
in his chair with his feet
on the desk is showing
that he owns the territory
around him.

Dont cross your arms or legs

They make you seem
defensive or guarded.
Keep your arms and
legs open.

Dont slouch, sit up straight

Dont slouch, sit up
straight.
But in a relaxed way,
way, not in too tense
manner

Dont touch your face

It might make you
seem nervous and
can be distracting
to listeners, during
conversation.

Keep your head up

Dont keep your eyes
on the ground.
It might make you
seem insecure and
a bit lost.

While walking
Slow down a bit
Walking slower makes
you seem more calm
and confident.

Keep a good attitude

Keep a positive, open
and relaxed attitude.
How you feel, comes
out clearly through your
body language.

Territorial Gesture
Indicates pride of
owenership.

Owenership Gesture
Reflects easy-going,
relaxed and
carefree attitude

Can you decode their body

language?

What are people saying?

Can you decode their body

language?

Conclusion
The knowledge of body langauage helps
us to understand & control our own body
language better & helps us improve our
communication skills.
Words are used primarily to convey
information, while body langauge is used
for negotiating interpersonal attitudes &
as a sustitute for verbal message.

Conclusion
By using positive body language we can
successfully ace any interview, win
friends in the society, improve
interpersonal relationships and maintain
cordial relationship in family.

Conclusion
We should also closely observe others
body language when they are speaking,
to correctly interpret their messages.

Any Question

Thank you
By N.G.Palit

The End
Please feel free to send your valuable
feedback to me at :nandapalit@yahoo.co.in