Page 16 - DENG102_COMMUNICATION_SKILLS_II

Unit 1: Speaking Skills

kinesics or Body language notes

‘Kinesics’ literally means ‘body movements’. Bodily movements, gestures and body language is an
important factor, especially in face to face communication, as here the message is communicated
by a number of factors like facial expressions, eye movements, gestures. Body language is the
reflection of thought, feelings and position.

All bodily movements, postures, gestures etc., are guided by our thought processes, emotions
etc. By nodding our head, blinking our eyes, waving our hands, shrugging our shoulders and
various other ways we send out signals and messages that often speak louder than words.
That is why this area of enquiry has been called ‘body language’. Just as language uses sets of
symbols to convey meaning, our body, consciously as well as unconsciously or instinctively,
carries messages, attitudes, status relationships, moods, warmth/indifference, positive/negative
feelings and so on. We have, however, to infer these meanings from body symbols. We look for
these symbols in the face and eyes, gestures, posture, and physical appearance each of which has
its own functions.

Importance of Body Language
Regarding the importance of body language, management consultant Nancy Austin says. “When
people don’t know whether to believe that they are hearing or what they are seeing, they go with
the body language- it tells the truth. You can play fast and loose with words, but it’s much more
difficult to do that with gestures.” Psychologist Paul Ekman says, “We talk with our vocal cords,
but we communicate with our facial expressions, our tone of voice, our whole body”.

Kinesics or Body Language includes:
1. Facial Expressions
2. Eye Contact
3. Gestures

4. Body Shape and Posture
5. Appearance
Facial Expressions: A popular saying goes like this “The face is the index of the heart”. Whatever
we feel deep within ourselves is at once reflected in the face. It is very important in any
face-to-face communication event. We convey so much without speaking a word.

Example: Let us consider the facial expressions generally associated with happiness,
surprise, fear, anger, sadness, bewilderment, astonishment and contentment. Let us also consider
a smile, different kinds of smile, a frown, corners of lips the position of the eye brows, the cheeks-
whether drawn up or back or dropping, the jaw, nose/nostrils and the chin.
We can easily mark all the signals sent through these parts of the face by others and observe
our own expressions by looking at ourselves in a mirror. Every facial muscle is an instrument of
communication.
The face and eyes are the most expressive means of body communication. Dale Leather has found
that 10 basic classes of meaning can be communicated by facial expression. They are:
l Happiness
l Surprise

l Fear
l Anger

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