Body Language

A Body Language is a physical kinesic nonverbal communication that can support nonverbal communication tasks through body movements, postures, and physical behaviors.

• AKA: Kinesics, Nonverbal Behavior, Physical Expression, Body Communication.
• Context:
  • It can typically convey Body Language Emotion through body language facial expressions and body language emotional displays.
  • It can typically express Body Language Attitude through body language postural positions and body language spatial orientations.
  • It can typically communicate Body Language Intent through body language gesture patterns and body language movement sequences.
  • It can typically establish Body Language Social Dynamic through body language interpersonal distances and body language power displays.
  • It can typically regulate Body Language Interaction through body language turn-taking signals and body language conversational cues.
  • It can typically demonstrate Body Language Psychological State through body language stress indicators and body language comfort levels.
  • It can typically indicate Body Language Relationship Status through body language intimacy markers and body language connection signals.
  • It can typically reveal Body Language Cognitive Process through body language thinking gestures and body language processing indicators.
  • ...
  • It can often complement Verbal Communication through body language reinforcement and body language emphasis.
  • It can often contradict Spoken Messages through body language incongruence and body language mixed signals.
  • It can often substitute Verbal Expressions through body language standalone communication and body language silent messages.
  • It can often vary across Cultural Contexts through body language cultural norms and body language social conventions.
  • It can often occur Body Language Unconsciously through body language automatic responses and body language involuntary movements.
  • It can often create Body Language Ambiguity through body language multiple interpretations and body language contextual meanings.
  • ...
  • It can range from being a Conscious Body Language to being an Unconscious Body Language, depending on its body language awareness level.
  • It can range from being a Universal Body Language to being a Culture-Specific Body Language, depending on its body language cultural variation.
  • It can range from being a Subtle Body Language to being an Obvious Body Language, depending on its body language visibility degree.
  • It can range from being a Static Body Language to being a Dynamic Body Language, depending on its body language movement pattern.
  • It can range from being a Congruent Body Language to being an Incongruent Body Language, depending on its body language message alignment.
  • It can range from being a Open Body Language to being a Closed Body Language, depending on its body language receptivity signal.
  • It can range from being a Dominant Body Language to being a Submissive Body Language, depending on its body language power expression.
  • It can range from being a Relaxed Body Language to being a Tense Body Language, depending on its body language stress level.
  • ...
  • It can integrate with Facial Expression for body language emotional communication.
  • It can combine with Eye Contact for body language visual engagement.
  • It can coordinate with Gesture Communication Act for body language movement expression.
  • It can align with Paralinguistic Communication for body language vocal accompaniment.
  • It can support Human Interpersonal Signal for body language relationship communication.
  • It can enhance Communication Task for body language message delivery.
  • It can facilitate Animal Communication for body language cross-species interaction.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • Human Body Languages, such as:
    • Facial Body Languages expressing body language emotional state, such as:
      • Smile Body Languages showing body language happiness.
      • Frown Body Languages indicating body language displeasure.
      • Eyebrow Raise Body Languages signaling body language surprise.
      • Eye Roll Body Languages conveying body language exasperation.
    • Postural Body Languages demonstrating body language attitude, such as:
      • Upright Posture Body Languages showing body language confidence.
      • Slouched Posture Body Languages indicating body language disengagement.
      • Leaning Forward Body Languages expressing body language interest.
      • Arms Crossed Body Languages signaling body language defensiveness.
    • Gestural Body Languages conveying body language meaning, such as:
      • Hand Gesture Body Languages emphasizing body language points.
      • Head Nod Body Languages showing body language agreement.
      • Shoulder Shrug Body Languages indicating body language uncertainty.
      • Pointing Gesture Body Languages directing body language attention.
    • Proxemic Body Languages managing body language space, such as:
      • Personal Space Body Languages maintaining body language boundary.
      • Intimate Distance Body Languages showing body language closeness.
      • Social Distance Body Languages indicating body language formality.
      • Public Distance Body Languages establishing body language separation.
  • Professional Body Languages, such as:
    • Business Meeting Body Languages demonstrating body language professionalism.
    • Job Interview Body Languages showing body language competence.
    • Presentation Body Languages conveying body language authority.
    • Negotiation Body Languages indicating body language position.
  • Social Body Languages, such as:
    • Greeting Body Languages initiating body language interaction.
    • Flirting Body Languages expressing body language attraction.
    • Comforting Body Languages providing body language support.
    • Aggressive Body Languages showing body language threat.
  • Cultural Body Languages, such as:
    • Western Body Languages following body language western norms.
    • Asian Body Languages reflecting body language asian conventions.
    • Middle Eastern Body Languages expressing body language middle eastern customs.
    • Latin American Body Languages showing body language latin american traditions.
  • Digital Body Languages, such as:
    • Emoticon Body Languages conveying body language digital emotion.
    • Avatar Body Languages expressing body language virtual presence.
    • Video Call Body Languages showing body language remote communication.
  • Animal Body Languages, such as:
    • Dog Body Languages communicating body language canine signals, such as:
      • Tail Wagging Body Languages showing body language dog happiness.
      • Ears Back Body Languages indicating body language dog fear.
    • Cat Body Languages expressing body language feline messages.
    • Primate Body Languages demonstrating body language primate behaviors.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Sign Languages, which constitute linguistic systems with grammatical structure rather than nonverbal communication.
  • Verbal Communications, which use spoken words rather than physical expression.
  • Written Communications, which employ text symbols rather than body movement.
  • Telepathic Communications, which involve mental transmission without physical signal.
  • Chemical Communications, which use molecular signals rather than visual cue.
  • Electronic Communications, which transmit digital signals without physical presence.
• See: Nonverbal Communication, Kinesics, Facial Expression, Gesture Communication Act, Eye Contact, Proxemics, Posture (Psychology), Human Interpersonal Signal, Animal Communication, Paralinguistic Communication, Communication Task, Social Psychology, Cultural Communication.

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References

2016

• (Wikipedia, 2016) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/body_language Retrieved:2016-9-13.
  • Body language is a kind of nonverbal communication, where thoughts, intentions, or feelings are expressed by physical behaviors, such as facial expressions, body posture, gestures, eye movement, touch and the use of space. Body language exists in both animals and humans, but this article focuses on interpretations of human body language. It is also known as kinesics.

    Body language must not be confused with sign language, as sign languages are full languages like spoken languages and have their own complex grammar systems, as well as being able to exhibit the fundamental properties that exist in all languages. Body language, on the other hand, does not have a grammar and must be interpreted broadly, instead of having an absolute meaning corresponding with a certain movement, so it is not a language like sign language, and is simply termed as a "language" due to popular culture. In a community, there are agreed-upon interpretations of particular behavior. Interpretations may vary from country to country, or culture to culture. On this note, there is controversy on whether body language is universal. Body language, a subset of nonverbal communication, complements verbal communication in social interaction. In fact some researchers conclude that nonverbal communication accounts for the majority of information transmitted during interpersonal interactions. It helps to establish the relationship between two people and regulates interaction, but can be ambiguous. Hence, it is crucial to accurately read body language to avoid misunderstanding in social interactions.

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