NON VERBAL COMMUNICATIONBODY LANGUAGE

GESTURES

Gesture: a form of NVC made with a part of the body (esp. hands, arms

and fingers

Hands and headHands and head

• Slap their heads.• Neck scratching.• Rubbing the eye.• The head is often supported by

the hold hands under the chin.• Supporting the chin with the

thumb and with a finger held vertically against the cheek.

HandsHands

“The Gods hear men’s hands before their lips.”

GesturesGestures

The ring gesture

Thumb and forefinger joined together to make a circle with the other 3 fingers standing up

-US: OK

-France: 0

-Japan: money

-Brazil: a sexual gesture

some common gesturessome common gestures

some common gesturessome common gestures

The thumb up gesture

-Almost universal signal for “Everything is OK” / “Fine”

-US: Hitchhikers use this to ask for a lift.

some common gesturessome common gestures

The thumb down gesture

-This signals sth bad.

- According to Hollywood’s portrayal, this signals a bloody death sentence for the losing warrior or rejection.

some common gesturessome common gestures

The counting gesture

-US: 1 – forefinger up

-Germany: 1-thumb up; 2-both thumb and forefinger up or only forefinger up

-Japan: 1-forefinger up; 2-forefinger and middle finger up; 3-forefinger, middle finger, and ring finger up, 4-forefinger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger up; 5-only thumb up

-Vietnam: ?

some common gesturessome common gestures

some common gestures

The “V” gesture

Victory / Peace (palm outward)

some common gesturessome common gestures The Hook ‘em horn gesture

-Italy: Your wife is not faithful.

-Brazil, Venezuela: Luck

-Texas, US: (Texas Longhorn)

some common gesturessome common gestures Lucky gesture

-It may symbolise the cross of Jesus protect and prevent us from bad luck and sin used when one wishes someone else good luck

-A story: Lan & Daniel (in Australia)

some common gesturessome common gestures The beckoning gesture

some common gesturessome common gestures “Time-out” gesture

some common gesturessome common gesturesThe loser gesture

-Most popular in US

-To show that sb is a loser

-Mostly used by children and adolescents make fun of friends

ArmsArms

• some people fold their arms to set up negative thoughts.

• In some circumstances, arm folding creating a barrier.

• If it is combined with fist clenching hostile.

LegsLegs

• Legs are often crossed the communicator feels comfortable when sitting.The position may indicate a negative attitude, especially if combined with crossed arms and unresponsive facial expression.

LegsLegs

Seated foot lock position Standing foot lock position

LegsLegs

Defensive standing position

Closed body and closed attitude

Open body and open attitude

FeetFeet

• Feet often act as pointers (we point them at those in whom we are interested)

• Feet also give us clues about emotions (nervousness/ impatience)

• Tapping or shifting feet: signals uneasiness/ boredom

Postures

What posture?What posture?

Posture is defined roughly as body position and stance. We can describe different postures as formal, relaxed, rigid, defensive, aggressive, suggestive, sexy, slouched, awkward, and the like.

Differences between posture Differences between posture and gestureand gesture

Postures Gestures

The body position, the way we sit or stand. Stable The whole body

The movement of the body or parts of the body, especially the hands Active Part of the body

Some basic posturesSome basic postures • Formal posture

Some basic posturesSome basic posturesRelaxed posture

Some basic posturesSome basic postures•Defensive posture (some basic hand/leg-barriers)

Some basic hand barriers: standard arm-cross, reinforced arm-cross, disguised arm-cross, arm-gripping, hand-on-arm, finger hiding, hand-on-hand.Some basic leg barriers: standard leg-cross, oriental leg-cross, leg-lock, leg-clamp, standing leg-cross, sitting leg-cross, sitting knee-to-chin, foot lock, ankle-lock.

Arms and legs lockedArms and legs locked

Some basic posturesSome basic posturesFour distinct styles of sitting crossed legged:•Legs crossed at the ankles•Legs crossed at the knees•One ankle resting on the knee of the other leg•Legs crossed at the knees and foot entwined around that same leg

1.

Some basic posturesSome basic posturesSexy posture

Some basic posturesSome basic posturesAggressive posture

Angled standingAngled standing

Some basic posturesSome basic posturesSlouching posture

Defensive and superior Defensive

Defensive Defensive

Ready Openness

Mixed signal Authority

PosturesPostures

The American position Arms lock the leg in place

PosturesPostures

The standard leg cross

The straddlerMay be someday you’ll be

as smart as I am

Ready to proceed

Readiness to end a conversation: hands on knees

Leaning forward gripping the chair The lint picker