NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

KINESICS

SUBMITTED TO- SUBMITTED BY-

DR. KHUSHBOO MA’AM JNANAM DEKA
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES. 2008007, A5
 Non-Verbal Communication

 INTRODUCTION:

Nonverbal communication (NVC) is the transmission of messages or signals

through a nonverbal platform such as eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, posture,
and the distance between two individuals. It includes the use of visual cues such
as body language (kinesics), distance (proxemics) and physical
environments/appearance, of voice (paralanguage) and of touch (haptics). It can also
include the use of time (chronemics) and eye contact and the actions of looking while
talking and listening, frequency of glances, patterns of fixation, pupil dilation, and
blink rate (oculesics).

The term nonverbal communication was introduced in 1956 by psychiatrist Jurgen

Ruesch and author Weldon Kees in the book "Nonverbal Communication: Notes on
the Visual Perception of Human Relations."

Nonverbal messages have been recognized for centuries as a critical aspect

of communication. For instance, in "The Advancement of Learning" (1605), Francis
Bacon observed that "the lineaments of the body do disclose the disposition and
inclination of the mind in general, but the motions of the countenance and parts do not
only so, but do further disclose the present humour and state of the mind and will."

 WHY IS NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION IMPORTANT?

Nonverbal communication is important because it gives us valuable information about a

situation including how a person might be feeling, how someone receives information and
how to approach a person or group of people. Paying attention to and developing the
ability to read nonverbal communications is an invaluable skill you can leverage at every
stage of your career.
There are several ways nonverbal communication can support our ability to communicate
effectively in the workplace, including:

Supports our message. When having a conversation, participating in a meeting or

engaging in conversation, nonverbal cues can emphasize and underscore the content of
our message. For example, using hand gestures to indicate the importance of an idea
may tell your listeners to pay attention to and remember a key point.

Communicates messages. We may also use nonverbal communication completely to

communicate with others. For example, if someone is explaining a sentiment we
admire and agree with, we might nod our head up and down to express solidarity.

Communicates intention. Our body language may also intentionally or

unintentionally express your current condition. For example, people may pick up
nonverbal cues that you are being dishonest, unengaged, excited or aggressive.

Conveys feelings. We can also use nonverbal communication to show your feelings,
such as disappointment, relief, happiness, contentment and more.

Offers support. Nonverbal cues are also a great way to show support. Whether it's a
simple smile or pat on the back, action may speak louder than words in many cases.

Showcases your personality. Nonverbal communication is a great way to show who

you are. For example, a kind and optimistic person might frequently smile with open
body language and offer friendly touches.

Indicates a desired action. This might include inching toward a door to indicate our
desire to leave the room, raising your hand to offer an idea or putting your hand out to
meet someone new.
TYPER OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION:
 Kinesics
 Paralanguage or Para Linguistics
 Haptics
 Olfactics
 Oculesics
 Sign language
 Proxemics
 Chronemics

 KINESICS

 INTRODUCTION:
Kinesics communication is the technical term for body language, i.e.,
communicating by body movement. We call the study of Kinesics
communication kinetics. Kinesics communication is a non-verbal form of
communication. However, it is not the only non-verbal way of communicating with
other people.Kinesics or kinesic communication is all about communication through
body movements, such as gestures and facial expressions. It is all about non-verbal
behavior using any part of the body. It also includes communicating using the body as
a whole.

In popular culture, we call this ‘body language’. In fact, the founder of kinesics,
American anthropologist Ray Birdwhistell (1918-1994), never used the term ‘body
language’.
 Fig : Different gestures

The word kinesics comes from the root word kinesis, which means “movement,” and
refers to the study of hand, arm, body, and face movements. Specifically, this section
will outline the use of gestures, head movements and posture, eye contact, and facial
expressions as nonverbal communication.Interest in kinesics specifically and
nonverbal behaviour generally was popularized in the late 1960s and early 1970s by
such popular mass-market (nonacademic) publications as How to Read a Person Like
a Book.Part of Birdwhistell's work involved filming people in social situations and
analyzing them to show elements of communication that were not seen otherwise.
One of his most important projects was The Natural History of an Interview, a long-
term interdisciplinary collaboration including Gregory Bateson, Frieda Fromm-
Reichmann, Norman A. McQuown, Henry W. Brosin and others.
 ROLE OF KINESICS IN COMMUNICATION:

Kinesics is one of the main powerful ways that humans communicate non-verbally.
Spoken language and voice is only 7% to 38% of communication.

Kinesics is used to portray moods and emotions effectively. One of the best examples
for kinesics that we use in our daily routines is subtle cues like eye contact, hand
gesture, posture, and mirroring(people copying each other’s postures during
conversation) show a person’s interest in the conversation. kinesics can also make
some people seem dominant and others submissive; those who have a confident
posture usually are seen as more dominant.

In a face to face interaction, body language plays an important role. We begin to form
an impression of a speaker as soon as we see him. The way he is dressed, the way he
walks, the way he smiles, the way he stands,-all these things show his
personality.These movements reflect an individual’s thought process and regulate
communication. The key to effective gestures and postures is they need to appear
natural and authentic. If the body language appears to be faked then others will
perceive you as unauthentic.

In a current application, kinesic behavior is sometimes used as signs of deception by

interviewers looking for clusters of movements to determine the veracity of the
statement being uttered, although kinesics can be equally applied in any context
and type of setting to construe innocuous messages whose carriers are indolent or
unable to express verbally.

When we study body language, we look at the meaning of symbols that the physical
movements of the body are communicating. Through outward body movements true
inner emotions are reflected. For the expression of these inner body states, the face
and eyes, gestures and physical appearance are to be studied. For self control, the
presenter should pay attention to his body language, for this following parts of
kinesics should be considered:
1) Maintain eye contact
2) Face and eyes
3) Gestures
4) Body shape and posture
5) Appearance

1) Maintain Eye contact: The speaker should maintain a steady eye contact because it
is an effective means of developing rapport with the audience. If the presenter looks at
the audience for a long period of time, it shows his intensity of interest. Eye contact as
well as eye movements indeed help significantly in communicating successfully in
oral communications.
2) Face and eyes: Face is the index of mind. The face, it means, reflects what is going
on inside the speaker. In this context, eyes tell us much more than other facial features.
The facial expressions are associated with happiness, surprise, fear, anger and sadness.
Even eyes, nose, cheeks or forehead express one’s inner goings on.
3) Gestures: In addition to the face and eyes, other body parts move and convey
meaning. These movements are known as gestures, the physical movement of arms,
legs, hands and head. For example, if the arms are spread apart, shuffling from one
leg to another and body slightly extended forward, these gestures convey meanings of
nervous and intense.
4) Body shape and posture: A third area of kinesics involves body shape and posture.
As far as body shape is concerned, we can’t do much about it since it is given to us by
God. But with the right posture we can impress the interviewer and the audience.
5) Appearance: By appearance we mean external appearance in which our dress,
jewellery and make up play a pivotal role. The speaker should consider how others
will view him in relation to how he wants to be seen. He should dress up himself in
simple and sober dress. Thus, kinesics, inclusive of facial expressions, gestures, body
shape and posture will be the part of the messages, the speaker wants to communicate.

Fig: Hand positions.

 MODERN APPLICATIONS:

In a current application, kinesic behavior is sometimes used as signs of deception by

interviewers looking for clusters of movements to determine the veracity of the
statement being uttered, although kinesics can be equally applied in any context and
type of setting to construe innocuous messages whose carriers are indolent or unable
to express verbally.
Kinesic behaviors are an important part of nonverbal communication. Body
movements convey information, but interpretations vary by culture. As many
movements are carried out at a subconscious or at least a low-awareness level, kinesic
movements carry a significant risk of being misinterpreted in an intercultural
communication situation.

Despite kinesics entering several other fields of study, it has maintained a strong hold
in the fields of anthropology and linguistics. Linguistics is the second highest area of
study that utilizes Ray Birdwhistell’s work in kinesics followed by anthropology and
sociology. Anthropologists still publish a high amount of books and journals on the
subject of kinesics and nonverbal communication methods. Anthropology and
sociology are the 3th most common research area that has cited the author
Birdwhistell’s kinesics works.Various other fields have realized the values of Ray
Birdwhistell’s work in kinesics as well. Research areas that have cited Birdwhistell
predominantly include education research, psychiatry, and various humanities.
Education, rehabilitation, artificial intelligence, law, theatre, and biology are just
some of the documents that have cited Ray Birdwhistell’s Kinesics and Context.
Communication is a human experience that finds its way into a multitude of
disciplines. It is also of interest to general audiences and has found popularity in
nonacademic areas as well.

 CONCLUTION

Today, when anyone can jump on a plane and be in another country within hours, it is
necessary to know how to behave properly in other cultures. Cross cultural kinesics
research investigates these cultural differences.
Thus, kinesics has become a well developed field with close ties to numerous
disciplines. The relatable nature of the field has provided for its applicability in many
areas of study. Kinesics has grown from an anthropological endeavor into a highly
evolved field in areas such as psychology, linguistics, sociology, and communication.
Ray Birdwhistell’s extensive work in kinesics has gained him a reputation and ignited
other authors to cite him liberally.Ultimately, I believe that kinesics has become so
significant across many disciplines because of the human nature of kinesics. It makes
it essential and relevant in almost all aspects of life. Without interpersonal human
communication and emotion we would not be what we call “human”.