Body Language

 Which of the pictures

to the left represents
an image of good
body language during
a consultation?
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.
BODILY SPEAKING…

 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).
 Territory
 Intimate  Social
 Touching  Close 4-7 feet
 6-18”  Far - 7-12 feet
 Personal  Public
 Close -1½ to 2½  Close - 12-25
feet feet
 Far - 2½ to 4 ½  Far - 25 feet or
feet greater
 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
 Public smile
 Clothing
 Putting on my face
 Extended territory
 On the road
 At work
 Can we drop masks?
 Looking
 How long do you look?
 Staring- dehumanizes or challenges
 Glances - socially acceptable timing
 Appraisal- may indicate interest
 Do you look when you talk?
 Do you look when you listen?
Actions Speak Louder than Words?

‘What often happens in any relationship is that

language itself becomes a mask and a means of
clouding and confusing the relationship. If the
spoken language is stripped away and the only
communication left is body language, the truth
will find some way of poling through. Spoken
language itself is a great obscurer”

Body Language,
Language Julius Fast, MJF books, 1970.
Misinterpretation = Trouble??
 Lost business
 Lack of animation = lack
of interest?
 Troubles
 Conflict with
peers

• Different work styles

• Wrong assumptions
Let’s Examine How Body
Communicates, from head to toes
HEAD

- Nodding the head

- “Yes” in most societies
- “No” in some parts of Greece, Yugoslavia,
Bulgaria, and Turkey
- Tossing the head backward
- “yes” in Thailand, the Philippines, India, Laos
- Rocking head slowly, back and forth
- “yes, I’m listening” in most Asian cultures
FACE
FACE

* Facial expressions reflect emotion,

feelings and attitudes, but…..
* The Asians are sometimes known as
- emotionless
- mixed-up emotion
FACE

* Facial expressions reflect emotion,

feelings and attitudes, but…..
* The Asians are sometimes known as
- emotionless
- mixed-up emotion
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
* Winking eye
- Sharing secret in America and Europe
- flirtatious gesture in other countries
EYES (Cont’d)

* Closed eyes
- bored or sleepy in America
- “I’m listening and concentrating.” in Japan,
Thailand, China
EARS

* Ear grasp
- “I’m sorry.” in parts of India
* Cupping the ear
- “I can’t hear you.” in all societies
* Pulling ear
- “You are in my heart” for Navajo Indians
NOSE

* Nose tap
- “It’s confidential.” England
- “Watch out!” or "Be careful.” Italy
* Pointing to nose
- “It’s me.” Japan
mouth

* Open mouth. Any display of the open

mouth is considered very rude in most
countries.
ARMS

* Italians use arms freely.

* Japanese: more reserved; impolite to
gesticulate with broad movements of the
arms.
* 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.”
ARMS (Cont’d)

* Arms akimbo. In many cultures, this

stance signals aggression, resistance,
impatience, or even anger.
* Arms behind back, hands grasped is a sign
of ease and control.
* Arms in front, hands grasped, common
practice in most Asian countries, is a sign
of mutual respect for others.
HANDS

* Of all the body parts, the hands are

probably used most for communicating
non-verbally.
* Hand waves are used for greetings,
beckoning, or farewells.
HANDS
* Beckoning.
* 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.
* The American “come here” gesture could be
seen as an insult in most Asian countries.
* In China, to beckon a waiter to refill your
tea, simply turn your empty cup upside down.
 HANDS (Cont’d)

* Handshaking is a form of
greeting in most Western
cultures.
* In the Middle East, a gentle grip
is appropriate.
* In most Asian cultures, a gentle
grip and an avoidance of direct
eye contact is appropriate.
HANDSHAKE STYLE
 AGGRESSIVE HANDSHAKE
 POLITICIAN HANDSHAKE
 DEAD FISH HANDSHAKE
 KNUCKLE GRINDER HANDSHAKE
 STIFF ARM HANDSHAKE
 FINGERTIP GRAB HANDSHAKE
 ARM PULLING HANDSHAKE
 DOUBLE HANDED HANDSHAKE
FINGERS (Cont’d)

* Pointing.
* Pointing with the index
finger is common in North
America and Europe.
* But it is considered impolite
in Japan and China where
they favor using the whole
open hand.
* Malaysians prefer pointing
with the thumb.
FOR ALL OF US…

 Becoming sensitive to the clues of

body language can help us
communicate more effectively
 We do not have
bodies; we are
our bodies.
Do you know what you are saying?