Definition of Body Language

1. Form of non-verbal expression made up of signals (body and face movements) normally carried out unconsciously during a conversation and which are part of the communication process.

2. Area studied and practiced within the framework of the visual arts, in association with dance and stage personification.

3. Movements used for communication between animals.

Etymology: Language, for Occitan language. + Corporal, from Latin corporalisregarding corpuswhich refers to ‘body’ applied in the sense of the organism as of functional structural order, and the suffix -ālisfrom -al, in property of belonging.

Grammatical category: masculine noun
in syllables: lan-gua-je + cor-po-ral.

Body language

The exclusive manifestation of body language in oral communication is due to the fact that in written messages it is impossible to know the author’s intention through his body signals: he cannot be perceived. Written messages express the intention through predetermined discursive constructions, while a direct speaker can be observed, you can see all the manifestations that accompany his speech.

Language is the vehicle of human communication. For this reason, its first function is to communicate that an emitted message is effectively understood by a receiver. Language, as a means of communication, exists between all living beings, of all species; however, articulated language is exclusive to human beings since they were the ones who developed speech to turn language into a more effective means of communication.

Among human beings, in addition to the words and phrases that make up a clear and direct message, there are certain signs that accompany communication. It is not about sign language: this is a language developed so that deaf, hard of hearing or mute people can communicate with each other and with those around them, and it constitutes a language in itself. These are facial or body gestures that accompany and emphasize the message being transmitted. This is body language and it manifests itself only in oral communication.

orality

Oral language uses the oral-auditory system as a channel, but also the visual one for its manifestation. This last channel is linked to non-verbal language, another of the ways in which body language is known (although the first encompasses everything that is not said in words).

The oral tradition arises before the written tradition, since the articulated language found its way into human communication. Orally, communication is more expressive, since it can use extraverbal elements and express a greater amount of meaning with fewer linguistic units.

For this type of communication to occur, there must be competition regarding the channel used, in this case the language, which must be spoken and understood by both the sender and the receiver. In addition, there must be at least two people.

In summary, orality has certain characteristics that must be present for there to be effective communication:

– Usually occurs in the presence of the interlocutors, although in current technological conditions this can happen remotely.

– There is physical contact, which encourages stimuli and responses to occur immediately.

– When the interlocutors are present, interruptions may occur; but with few words it is possible to understand the message that is expressed. This is known as syntactic economy.

– The message is usually accompanied by non-verbal elements (body language) that complete what is not said. The receiver himself completes what is understood.

– Repetitions and recurrences abound, interjections and exclamations related to proximity are used.

– Each speaker recreates the language in a personal way, according to geographical origin and other social differences.

– It is universal and is learned by imitation.

– Absence of planning, given the immediacy of the transmission of the message.

Areas that study body language

Within linguistics and for the useful purposes of analyzing this language, some areas deal specifically with it. These areas are paralinguistics, kinesics, proxemics, and chronemics.

Paralinguistics studies the non-linguistic variations of body language, these are the physical qualities of sound and phonic modifiers. For example, expressions like “yes, of course” can communicate agreement, disagreement, disappointment, liking, disliking or hope, depending on the tone in which they are pronounced. This group also includes regional expressions of popular speech that can only be understood with the context and tone of emission.

Kinesics deals with non-verbal communication expressed by the body. Gestures, postures and micro facial expressions enter this area.

Proxemics is the use that speakers make of their physical space and contact with the rest of the interlocutors. Habits of belief and behavior can manifest in the way space is used. The concept that is applied is different in each culture, so the distance between people varies in some regions. For example, the Latino community has the reputation of being more “warm”, of using physical space more closely, of being more intimate. While Europeans tend to be more “cold”, that is, more distant in terms of the personal space used in communication.

Chronémics understands the social value that one has regarding time management and social interactions from this axis, so that behavioral aspects arise, for example, as soon as being punctual or late. In this way, expressions such as “English punctuality” make sense, implying that the English have a high value for showing up on time.

Body language implications

The non-verbal signs that make up body language are generally accompanied by verbal signs. These are usually made up of gestures, looks, postures, etc., which complement the message that is transmitted and which can give clues to the receiver. These signals may be related to the attitude towards the subject, knowledge of it, the speaker’s state of mind and her disposition at the moment.

This code can be used by the speaker consciously or unconsciously, and can also be received in the same way: although the sender does not realize its use, the receiver will capture the meaning of these acts.

Some examples are changing posture when you want to speak, distancing if someone is not liked by the person, looking away when there is a lack of interest in the subject, aspirations or elongated sounds.

Examples and connotations in the practice of body language

– Eye contact: can have a positive or negative reading. If it is prolonged, it may mean that the interlocutor is lying, so he intends to extend the contact without blinking an eye so as not to be discovered. On the other hand, if it is short and intermittent, it can mean nervousness or search for escape routes and distraction. In this sense, looking at the sides almost always has a negative reading, since it can be read as disinterest.

– Touching the nose: it is generally taken to mean that the person is lying, but it can also mean anger or annoyance.

– The tone and volume of the voice: it can have several meanings and it can be known almost with certainty if the person is sad, happy, surprised, confident.

– Laughter: if a group of interlocutors laugh together, it almost always means that there is interest in the subject, that there is trust and mutual understanding. On the other hand, if a false smile is detected (without the participation of the eyes), this means lack of interest or ignorance, nervousness or a lie.

– Head high and chin forward: means that the speaker feels in a position of power, where he expresses aggressiveness and security.

– Arms crossed: this posture usually indicates rejection or disagreement. It is a mostly defensive position, but the context must be considered as it can also mean that the person is cold.

These are some of the messages that a person’s body language can transmit to us and deciphering them is very useful for security systems, the judicial system, businesses and in psychological treatments. But it is important to keep in mind that this analysis is not infallible and that the context in which the conversation takes place must always be taken into account.

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