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S K P INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
COMMUNICATION SKILL LABORATORY
BODY LANGUAGE
Introduction
Body language refers to any kind of bodily movement or posture,
including facial expression, which transmits a message to the observer.
Every part of the human body, either in motion or stillness, conveys a
meaning which depends upon the physical, social, and cultural context of the
action. The message may be deliberately intended, expressed in some sort
of accepted code or they may be involuntary gestures of response, as when
someone cries aloud in pain.
Body language is a term for communication using body movements or
gestures instead of words. Studies show that the words account for only 7%
of the message you convey. The remaining 93% is non-verbal. Of the 93%,
55% of communication is based on what people see and the other 38% is
transmitted through tone of voice.
Body language is the meaning behind the unspoken words. It is
understood as the process of communication through sending and receiving
wordless messages.
Body language is the communication of personal feelings, emotions,
attitudes, thoughts through body movements either consciously or
unconsciously, voluntarily or involuntarily.
Body talk
Body talk can contradict the spoken word. This is because the body is
more articulate than words in communicating emotion.
The tricky thing about body language is that we are often unaware of how
we are reaching to it. We may, for example, form a negative judgment about
someone because she slouches, won’t look us in the eye, or talks with her
hands.
Forms of body language
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Aggressive body language: Showing physical threat.
Attentive body language: Showing real interest
Bored body language: Just not being interested
Closed body language: Many reasons are closed
Deceptive body language: Seeking to cover up lying or other
deception.
Defensive body language: Protecting self from attack
Dominant body language: Dominating others.
Power body language: Demonstrating one’s power.
Submissive body language: Showing you are prepared to give in.
Parts of Body Language
You can send signals with individual parts of the body as well as
together. Here are details of the contributions of each part of the body.
1. Facial expression
Facial expressions are responsible for a huge proportion of
nonverbal communication. Consider how much information can be
conveyed with a smile or a frown. While nonverbal communication and
behaviour can vary dramatically between cultures, the facial expressions
for happiness, sadness, anger, and fear are similar throughout the world.
2. Gestures
Deliberate movements and signals are an important way to
communicate meaning without words. Common gestures include
waving, pointing, and using fingers to indicate number. Other gestures
are arbitrary and related to culture.
3. Paralinguistic
Paralinguistic refers to vocal communication that is separate from
actual language. This includes factors such as tone of voice, loudness,
inflection, and pitch consider the powerful effect that tone of voice can
have on the meaning of a sentence. When said in a strong tone of voice,
listeners might interpret approval and enthusiasm. The same words said
in a hesitant tone of voice might convey disapproval and lack of interest.
4. Body language and posture
Posture and movement can also convey a great deal on
information. Research on body language has grown significantly since
the 1970’s. While these nonverbal behaviors can indicate feelings and
attitudes, research suggests that body language is far more subtle and less
definitive than previously believed.
5. Proxemics
People often refer to their need for “personal space”, which is
also an important type of nonverbal communication. The amount of
distance we need and the amount of space we perceive as belonging to us
is influenced by a number of factors including social norms, situational
factors, personality characteristics, and level of familiarity.
6. Eye gaze
Looking, staring, and blinking can also be important nonverbal
behaviours. When people encounter people or things that they like, the
rate of blinking increases and pupils dilate. Looking at another person
can indicate a range of emotions, including hostility, interest, and
attraction.
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Appearance
Our choice of colour, clothing, hairstyles, and other factors
affecting appearance are also considered a means of nonverbal
communication. Research on colour psychology has demonstrated that
different colours can invoke different moods. Appearance can also alter
physiological reactions, judgment, and interpretations.
8. Eye contact
Eye contact is an important aspect of social interaction, and it is
something that many shy and socially anxious people have difficulty
with. Often people with social anxiety describe looking at someone in
the eyes as anxiety-provoking and uncomfortable.
Origin of Body Language
Body language is a product of both genetic and environmental
influences. More refined gestures are learned or modified through
learning usually by unconscious observation of the environment.
Uses of body language
Body language is particularly important in group communication
because it dominates the spoken word. It is a factor in human courtship
as a subconscious or subtle method or communication between persons.
Body language is also used in the field of selling, insurance companies,
directly selling companies and international car showrooms.
Body language is used to express feelings. At times one may find it
difficult to express his/her feelings though words. Body language comes
in handy there for example if someone wants to express anger, more than
the words, the body language speaks louder and clearer. Experts believe
that more than the words, the people read the body language to form an
impression.
Body language is also useful in investigations. One may try to give
false information but the body language will reveal if the words uttered
are true or false.
Body language in building interpersonal relations
Body language plays a significant role in maintaining interpersonal
relationship, particularly between the management and employees.
The body languages that will be of use in interpersonal relationships
are:
 Increased eye contact – Help people to like each other
 Friendly facial expression and smiles – Helps people to get
motivated
 Forward lean in posture – Helps in making situation less formal
Body language in building industrial relations
Body language has a greater role to play in building industrial relations.
It helps in
 Motivating others
 Team building
 Negotiating styles
 Developing networking
Improving your body language
 Keep your arms and legs open
 Develop eye contact, but don’t stare
 Relax your shoulders
 Nod when they are talking
 Sit up straight
 Lean but not too much
 Smile and laugh
 Keep your head up
 Use your hands confidently
 Keep a positive attitude
Increasing the effectiveness of eye contact
1. While you are speaking to another person, keep listening to what the
other person is saying, and show your interest in them by looking at
their face the majority of time.
2. Don’t keep glancing around the room too much, or look at other
people too often. Keep looking at the person you are with.
3. If you look around too much means you are bored with them and can’t
wait to get away.
4. Smile more often, and keep nodding at the other person. Let your
facial muscles be relaxed so that you are not smiling nervously, and
let your facial expression change as the conversation changes.
5. Look for what you find genuinely interesting about the other person
and their opinions.
6. Making good eye contact while you are making conversation is a very
important way you can show other people that you value them and
enjoy their company.
Use of eye contact
There are different purposes of eye contact. They are:
 Showing attention
 Showing interest
 Inviting interaction
 Providing feedback
 Revealing attitudes
Gestures and body movement
Gestures communicate as effectively as words – maybe, even more
effectively. We use gestures everyday, almost instinctively. But no two
people will use similar gestures.
Gesture can be used as a vehicle to send a variety of messages. Real
mastery over body language can be developed only when we learn to use
gestures appropriately.
Understanding different interpretations of common gestures
It is important for people to understand how the gestures they use
unconsciously may be misunderstood. This activity allows participants to
look a little closer at how body language might be interpreted by others.
Demonstrate the gestures below and ask people to write down what they
think each gesture means.
 Beckon with index finger.
 Point at something in the room using index finger.
 Make a “V” sign.
 Smile.
 Sit with sole of feet or shoe showing.
 Form a circle with fingers to indicate “O.K.”.
 Pat a student on the head.
 Nod head up and down to say “Yes”.
Gestures having universal meaning
 Clapping as a sign of approval
 Raising one’s hand to gain attention
 Shaking the fists to show anger
 Yawning out of boredom
Gestures and personality
Gestures can help us make an assessment about the kind of personality an
individual has. Authoritarian personalities tent to use less bodily movement
than democratic type personality.
Posture and stance:
Posture refers to a position or way in which a person stands, walks etc.
Stance refers to the manner in which a person stands, walks etc. Stance
refers to the manner in which a person stands, walks etc. Postures are just as
important as your grandmother always said it was. Sit or stand erect if you
want to be seen as alert and enthusiastic. When you slump in your char or
lean on the wall, you look tired. No one wants to interact with some one
who has no energy.
How to improve your posture?
Individual tend to develop narrow range of some postures which reveal
a person’s past. The choice of postures today depends on the experience the
person underwent.
Sitting:
1. Sit in an office chair
2. Align your back with the back of the office chair. Avoid slouching or
leaning forward, especially when tired from sitting in the office chair
for long periods. Keep your shoulders straight.
3. Flex your arms at a 75 to 90 degree angle at the elbows. You may
have to adjust the office chair
4. Make sure your neck, back and heels are all aligned.
5. Keep both feet reaching the floor comfortably, a footrest can be used
along with the office chair.
Standing
1. Stand with weight mostly on the balls of the feet, not with weight on
the heels. Avoid locking your knees.
2. Keep feet slightly apart, about shoulders width.
3. Let arms hang naturally down the sides of the body.
4. Tuck the chin in a little to keep the head level. Be sure the head is
square on top of the neck and spine, not pushed out forward.
5. Stand straight and tall, with shoulders upright.
6. Stand against a wall with shoulders and bottom touching wall.
Different handshake styles
 Sweat Palms – When a person is nervous their sympathetic nervous
system often becomes overactive, sometimes resulting in sweaty
palms. Do what you can to put this individual at ease.
 Dead Fish – Indifferent handshakes that feel like the person has no
bones in their hand often indicate a passive or reserved personality.
This handshake ranks as the number tow least favoured.
Individuals with this type of clasp are generally not people-focused
 Brush off – This handshake type is a quick grasp and then a release
that feels like your hand being shoved aside. This handshake is a
statement of “it’s my turf and my agenda that matters, yours
doesn’t”.
 Controller – You feel your hand being pulled toward the person or
strongly guided in a different direction, perhaps controllers. This
means they want to dominate any inanimate or animate object in
the room (and that would include you). If your goals are different
than theirs there may be challenges ahead.
If your body language does not match your words you are wasting
your time. Therefore you should improvise your body language,
attractiveness, emotions, communication skills which will give you better
first impressions.