Short note on Kinesics

 Kinesics

Kinesics is the non-verbal behaviour related to movement, either of any part of the body, or the body as a whole.

In short all communicative body movements are generally classified as kinesics.

Kinesics Communication is the most obvious non-verbal communication form.

The term, kinesics, was winded by anthropologist Ray Birdwhistell to describe the role of body movements in communication.    

It refers to:        Gestures.

                             Posture.

                            Facial expressions, and

                           Other bodily movements.

Regarding the importance of body movements/language management consultant Nancy Austin says,"When people don't know whether to believe

What they are hearing or what they are seeing, they go with the body language it tells the truth. You can play fast and loose with words, but it's much more difficult to do that with gestures.

Psychologist Paul Ekman says, "we talk with Our vocal cords, but we Communicate with our facial expressions our tone of voice, our whole body".

Understanding body language has immense practical use. In this regard educational psychołogist.

Marilyn Maple says, "when you can consciously read what others are saying unconsciously, you

can deal with issues-at work and at home-before they become problems."

Ekman and Friesen have identified five types of body gestures :

(a) Emblems: They often replace verbal messages and take the shape of emblems. The list is long and comprehensive including about to emblems, to name a few are :

• Patting the stomach: "I'm full of food"
• Nodding the head up and down: "yes" or "I agree".
• Patting the adjacent seal: "Sit beside me".
• Cupping hand behind ear : "I Can't hear you"

(b). Illustrators : They are directly tied to verbal language. These gestures illustrate the words, which a speaker is saying. When a speaker says, "My third and final point is..."and holds up three fingers, this gesture is an illustrator,

(c). Regulators :Regulators control oral communication by alerting the sender to the need to hurry up, slow down, or repeat something.

(d). Displays: These indicates emotional states, such as anger or embarrassment, occurring usually in our facial expressions.

(e). Adaptors: They are the gestures over which people have little control over. Often people are not conscious of performing such gestures.They are automatic, not planned.