Body Language | Beyond Words 🗣

Body language is a system of non-verbal interactions and communication. It consists of gestures and postures like facial expressions, movements, eye contact and other elements. Individuals express their internal feelings and thoughts consciously or-and subconsciously over numerous things by using their body language. So, our body language plays an important role in conveying what we are trying to say to others. For example, if you do not agree with someone's' statement, you can shake your head instead of saying 'no, I don't agree.'

However, we use several forms of body language in our daily communication to send a lot of hidden messages which is supporting to boost our verbal communication.

The History of Body Language

Humans have formed the concept of body language. Charles Darwin is the earliest man on earth who has studied the body language of humans and animals. He wrote his first book on this topic "The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals" in 1872. 

The practical study of non-verbal communication has started with actors in the 19th century. It started to focus on speechless movies that were first shown like; Charlie Chaplin movies. 

As a result, actors in that century have learned how to show their inner feelings by mimicking the body language of the characters that they are performing.

Types of Body Language

Here Are The Four Main Elements' of the Body Language:

• Facial Expression: The human face is highly expressive and can easily deliver numerous emotions without uttering a single word. For example, you can show your pleasure, sorrow, rage, amazement, terror and many other moods just by using your face muscles.
• Body Movement & Position: This sort of nonverbal element consists of position, manner, attitude, and the direct actions you make.
• Gestures: In our daily lives, our communication depends mostly on our gestures. We wave our hands or pointing out something when talking energetically. We do convey our-self through the movement of hands, face, or other parts of the body unconsciously.
• Eye contact: Keeping the eye contact with the person you are talking to it indicates that you are focused and paying attention. It means that you are listening to what the person is saying, but also it improves and empowers your trustworthy with others.

The Effectiveness of Body Language in our Daily Communication

The researches of Prof. Albert Mehrabian has shown that only 7% of any message human convey to others are transferred through verbal use. While 38% of the communication is based on the tone of our voice which includes; Tempo, tone, volume and speed. And finally, 55% of the message is based on our body language such as; posture, gestures, eye contact, facial expression, head and body actions, signs, and touch, etc.
From this, we can analyze the effectiveness of body language in our daily communication. 

When we speak, not only our mouth helps us to convey our words, rather our whole body plays an effective role in conveying what we are saying. But also, the individual appearance is the first impression of other people's analyses to converse or not with an outsider.

So make sure to make a positive first impression in the first 7 seconds you have, otherwise, this will take you 21 good impression to delete the first bad impression from anyone's mind.

Conclusion

Body language is the silent part of every communication that helps to show our exact inner feelings and reactions. Therefore, It is important to have good body language and attitude while speaking individually, within small groups or even on stage in front of the audience for instance.

Body language is very important in all systems of interactions. It also supports to breakdown the obstacle of strangeness and supports to develop an effective connection with the receiver of information.

To be continued ...

Related sources:

The Role Of Body Language In Communication

Body Language; Picking Up and Understanding Nonverbal Signals

Body Language: An Effective Communication Tool

The Importance of Body Language for Communication