Katie Schommer
COM 311-Listening
12/14/10
1
Body Language
In today’s world body language is one of the least known areas about linguistics. Only in
the recent past has it been studied by researchers and experts in communication. However even
with such a little amount of study it’s benefits have been extremely influential in the world of
communication and proven to be important in a vast amount of contexts.
Kinesics-Body Positioning and Gesture
Kinesics is the study of the position of the body, how we stand, and the gestures that we
use. It is comprised primarily of three parts which this book will also focus on.
The Face-Expression and emotion The most interesting aspect of facial expression is
that the basic expressions are not learned. Instead, they are inborn in us as newborns
already show signs of these expressions-before they could have learned them from
parents or others. There are four main basic expressions. They are: happiness, sadness,
fear, and anger (Birdwhistell, 1975). These expressions are easily identifiable across all
ages and cultures. However, the major downfall of facial expression is that when a person
learns how they can be controlled and manipulated to reflect what is socially acceptable
and based on situational appropriation. This gives the individual the chance to deceive
their listening partner so it is never good to rely socially on facial expression to tell us
what an individual may be thinking.
Gestures We use gestures to emphasize our every day language. Using our hands to do
this typically, we are able to make our message more exciting, more meaningful.
Katie Schommer
COM 311-Listening
12/14/10
2
Gestures are powerful and can enhance or completely take away from a message. There
are three major kinds of gestures (Fast, 1979).
Adaptors-These reveal our internal state. For example, slumped shoulders reveal we are
feeling down.
Emblems-Communicate meanings and principles. In many cultures two fingers up
indicates “peace” or a thumbs up may indicate positively. For emblems to be effective
however, the meaning must be collectively understood. Otherwise they just lead to
confusion and misunderstandings.
Illustrators-These are gestures that accompany speech. It is what we do when we “talk
with our hands” or use our body to place particular emphasis on a word or phrase.
Body Synchrony- This refers to our “synch” with other people or the vibes that we put
out. When two individuals interact with one another they move as one. For example, one
person takes a step forward and the other may take a step back, or they both lean in at the
same time. When we are out of synch it typically leads to communication failure
(Cundiff, 1979).
Haptics –The Power of Touch
Touch is one of the most effective ways of communicating thoughts or ideas. A simple
touch can speak volumes to the other person. However, it is also extremely difficult because
touch can be misinterpreted by the receiver so easily. For example, a simple embrace can signify
how much one person cares for another person in a way that simple words could not express. A
handshake, for another example is one of the most examined forms of touch because this single
motion can create the basis for the immediate success or failure of a newly formed relationship.
Katie Schommer
COM 311-Listening
12/14/10
3
In the study of haptics there are five main categories of touch. These categories divide
different kinds of human touch from the embrace to the handshake and group them according to
what they are used for in communication. (Spiegel, 1974)
Functional Professional. This kind of touching occurs in work relationships in which
touch is necessary but meaningless. For example, the relationship between doctors and patients is
a functional professional relationship. There is touch that occurs however it occurs only in the
context of a doctor’s office setting. The touching itself does not hold meaning and is only done
because it is necessary for the professional relationship. Antoher example of this would be
teachers and students where some touching is necessary, but it never goes beyond the limits of
what is or is not appropriate.
Social Polite. Social Polite touching occurs in formal or business settings. It contains the
classic example of the handshake in America. In a social polite setting the body language used
often conveys the respect level between two persons.
Friendship Warmth. This touching is less formal than that of social polite. It includes
touches that were previously negotiated and the meaning of which is shared between two
individuals. What separates friendship warmth from most other types of touch is that it is the
most ambiguous of all touching relationships. Because it treds the fine line between intimacy and
acquaintances it is the type of touch that is most often misinterpreted by either one party of the
other.
Love/ Intimacy Love/Intimacy touching is extremely personal. It is very rare and is
shared only between two people who have an exceptionally private, unique, and close bond with
one another. While traditionally this type of touching is attached to couples and those with sexual
Katie Schommer
COM 311-Listening
12/14/10
4
bonds it is slightly different because it is not meant to elicit sexual arousal. It may lead to more
sexual touching but is typically not (McCormick, 1989). This means that it may occur between
close friends or family members. It includes holding hands for an extended period of time or an
embrace. Finally true intimacy/love touching is rare and is found only in the tightest of bonds.
Sexually Arousing. Finally, sexual arousing touch is the last level of touching
communication. This is limited to two individuals and must include mutual consent from both
persons. This kind of touching in its true form occurs only between individuals who have a
mutual understanding of what is happening, along with it’s meaning. Most often the two are
involved in a committed relationship with one another.
Despite all of the different and acceptable forms of touching there are also touching
taboos
Proxemics- How close is too close?
Proxemics is the study of interpersonal space or your proximity to one another. Most
people are able to naturally determine the proper amount of space that two people are to maintain
in between one another (Guerrero, 1999). However in proxemics we take a look at what these
different types of space may mean.
This is not a largely studied area and is a relatively new area in the study of body
language. However we do know that there are three main categories of space.
Possession of Space. This refers to an individual’s ability to take up space. Perhaps
you’ve heard people mention that someone walks in and “owns the room”. This is an example of
how a person may possess space. There is no textbook definition on how this can be done but it
Katie Schommer
COM 311-Listening
12/14/10
5
is something that we see often when studying body language. The possession of space is almost
always attributed to power and the control or ownership of space. The possession of space is also
a rarity in the communication world because it is one of the few circumstances in which the
nonverbal communication is used more than verbal communication to convey a message. In
addition, the nonverbal message that is conveyed is always far stronger than the verbal message
may have been. An example of how a person may “own” space may be with markers. A person
may put their coat on the chair next to them sending the crystal clear message “do not sit here”.
Another more covert way that a person may do this is by making his or her own body largerspreading out of their arms or standing up taller-anything to take up more space. This makes
them seem more powerful and tells others that they control the space because they take up the
most of it.
The power struggle of owning space can often lead to violence because it is such a fight
to be the most powerful. In some extreme cases gangs may fight to “own” a neighborhood.
Though this is a larger space than people typically think of this too is a way that people use
nonverbal (in this case gang signs) to mark and claim ownership over what they think belongs to
them.
Personal Space. Personal space is what is most commonly thought of when we learn about the
study of proxemics. This is the “personal bubble” that is referred to when someone complains
that their bubble was invaded or that space in which another individual is not allowed unless
given permission. The feeling of personal space is also oftentimes the basis for court cases-in
particular cases to do with sexual harassment or other unwanted attention. It seems that we
become particularly defensive when another person enters what we feel to be our personal space.
Katie Schommer
COM 311-Listening
12/14/10
6
So how then do we define what personal space is? The distance and comfort level differs
from person to person because the comfort level and preference of each individual is different as
well based on values and beliefs. However as a general rule of thumb personal space is
unofficially defined as the three feet surrounding a person in every direction. In American
culture this is the proximity which is considered “rude” if you break into.
Public Space Finally we look into the different aspects of public space. Public space is better
known as “crowding”. This occurs when we feel that our personal space has been violated or
taken over by other individuals. When we enter public space we no longer have control over the
3 feet around us discussed in personal space.
In most circumstances when our personal space is converted into public space it is felt as
a negative. As Americans we do not like to share our personal space nor do we often welcome
others into it unless we have a special relationship with them. However there are a few positive
instances. One for example may be when we go to a special event where we anticipate being part
of a large crowd. A concert may be one of these instances. Another may be at a dance or another
party. In today’s society a common positive example of this is a club where you may go dancing.
Oculesics-The Window to the Soul
Eyes are perhaps the most powerful form of nonverbal communication. It is commonly
understood that far more than language. They portray more than words can oftentimes. Eye
contact is commonly viewed as the most important aspect of body language. What sets it apart
from other forms of body language is that each party must be actively involved in eye contact.
With most body language it may seem that each person does whatever they choose and then it’s
up to you to notice or not to notice, to interpret it correctly or not interpret it correctly. However,
Katie Schommer
COM 311-Listening
12/14/10
7
because for eye contact to work both parties must be involved there are less circumstances where
the nonverbal are misinterpreted or that one of the parties will not realized what is going on.
Both individuals are active participants in eye contact (Burgoon, 1973).
Eye contact is a big part of communication known as interpersonal communication-or the
communication between two individuals. Interpersonal communication could not exist without
the presence of eye contact and most conversations rely on the accurate interpretation of eye
contact in order for the listener to entirely understand what has been spoken and the meanings
behind these words.
There are eight main ways that eyes can communication our meanings (Andersen, 1999).
1. Regulates interaction2. Receives extraneous message-We are able to better understand our partner. For instance,
when we ask how they are and they say “fine” but in their eyes we may be able to tell that
they are not in face “fine”.
3. Signals cognitive activity-By the movement of our eyes we are able to convey to others
that we are thinking. This is easily recognizable, people often comment on this by saying
they can “see the cogs turning” or you can “see an idea taking hold”. These are not really
things we can literally see but eye contact cues us in to what is really happening.
4. How we show interest-More than just nodding or smiling direct eye contact allows us to
convey the message that we are listening.
5. Intimidation-A classic narrowing of the eyes or shooting someone a look. There are
countless ways that we as humans use the power of our eyes to intimidate others.
Katie Schommer
COM 311-Listening
12/14/10
8
6. Flirtation-Oftentimes seen in movies, humans bat their eyelashes or shoot someone a look
to let them know they are interested in them.
7. Attentiveness-Eye contact can show that we are not only listening, but listening
attentively. We can use our eyes to show interest and to show that we care about what the
individual is saying.
8. Intimacy-Finally we can use our eyes to convey intimacy. It is common to hear people
say that they were told something with someone’s eyes because words could not express
what needed to be said.
It is true with all of these eight pieces of eye contact that we use it not only to enhance the
meaning of our words butt also to convey to another individual what just using words cannot
possibly accomplish because in many situations just words are not enough to allow the listener to
understand the complete significance of our message.
The final aspect of oculesics is the aspect of the movement of the eyes. Eye movements
to either one side or another are called lateral eye movements (LEM). Traditionally there are
two different types of LEM. When a person moves their eyes to the left this conveys that the
right hemisphere of the brain is involved in the thought process of the individual. This conveys
nonverbal thinking and that they person is within themselves and in deep thought (Sapir, 1989).
LEM movements to the right indicate that the left hemisphere of the brain is involved.
This means that the person is probably talking and engaged in outgoing social, and verbal
experiences.
Vocalics-The Nonverbal of Talking
Katie Schommer
COM 311-Listening
12/14/10
9
While Vocalics is technically not classified under body language it is a non-verbal that is
an essential part of communication. Vocalics refers to the tones, pitches, and inflection in our
voices when we speak.
Tones refer to the manner in which a person speaks. It describes not the message itself but the
delivery of the message. Tone often conveys a persons true feelings. For example, you may try to
be positive but your tone may give away your underlying negative feelings about a situation.
Another example is when a person says one thing but means another-they may purposely utilize
tone by using sarcasm.
Pitches do much the same as tone. They reveal your true feelings. Voice pitch is often a
reflection on you (for example a man with a high voice pitch may be perceived as feminine).
Also depending on our feelings our voice may naturally become lower or higher. When we panic
or are afraid it naturally becomes higher for example. When we are angry most people’s voices
become lower.
Finally inflections are a mechanism that help us to get across our point. Through
inflection we are better able to convey our message. We are able to use them to put emphasis on
a particular word or phrase so that the listener knows which part of the message is most
important to us (Shaver, 1995).
Clearly body language is crucial to the topic of nonverbal communication. It is shown in
this chapter that we would not be able to convey our messages as well as we do without body
language. Although as humans, our primary form of communication is through our spoken
language, proper and effective communication maintains that the speaker as well as the listener
are able to interpret the different aspects of body language. As we have studied they include
touch, eye movement, personal space, voice manipulation, and gestures. Nonverbal
Katie Schommer
COM 311-Listening
12/14/10
communication is more meaningful than verbal. The two are opposites of one another, yet they
work together in perfect harmony to pull together the many aspects of human communication.
10
Katie Schommer
COM 311-Listening
12/14/10
11
Works Cited
Andersen, P. (1999). Nonveral Communication: Forms and Functions. Toronto: Mayfied
Publishing.
Birdwhistell, R. (1975). Kinesics and Context. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
Burgoon, J. (1973). The Unspoken Dialogue. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company Press.
Cundiff, M. (1979). Kinesics : The Power of Silent Command. West Nyack: Parker Publishing
Company.
Fast, J. (1979). Body Language. New York: J.B. Lippincott Company.
Guerrero, L. (1999). the Nonverbal Communication Reader. Prospect Heights: Waveland Press.
McCormick, N. (1989). Gener differences in nonverbal flirtation. Journal of Sex Education and
Therapy , 271-282.
Sapir, E. (1989). The unconscious patterning of behavior in society. . The Unconscious , 1114142.
Shaver, P. (1995). Emotional Knowlege. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 10611086.
Spiegel. (1974). Messages of the Body. New York: The Free Press.
Katie Schommer
COM 311-Listening
12/14/10
12