Gestures

Body language, the use of ones body to convey communicative messages to a partner, can be observed in the way we use our body parts as a method of ‘speaking.’ This nonverbal communication act can be a conscious effort or a subconscious one but is highly dependant on the way in which the message is perceived.

Sometimes people use gestures that have an assigned meaning according to the culture in which she or he is involved. For instance, a wave is a common body language gesture in the United States meant to say hello or good bye to the communicative partner. Another common one is the gesture to indicate a desire that someone comes over, the beckoning hand movement we all have been known to use. The gesturing language is certainly not set in stone and new additions are always being added.

There are also those body language gestures that we use at a subconscious level, not to convey an intentional message. For example, studies indicate that when an individual is lying, she or he may touch her or his face subconsciously. This can send the body language-related message to the receiver that this person is not being truthful. Another common subconscious body language gesture occurs when one is feeling faint or flushed. The observer will receive this message when their communicating partner runs her or his hand across the forehead.

Body language gestures are everywhere. All one has to do is observe!