NON VERBAL

COMMUNICATION
BODY LANGUAGE

GESTURES
Gesture: a form of NVC made with a
part of the body (esp. hands, arms
and fingers
 Hands and head
• Slap their heads.
• Neck scratching.
• Rubbing the eye.
• The head is often supported by
the hold hands under the chin.
• Supporting the chin with the
thumb and with a finger held
vertically against the cheek.
 Hands

“The Gods hear men’s hands

before their lips.”
Gestures
some common gestures
The ring gesture

Thumb and forefinger

joined together to make
a circle with the other 3
fingers standing up
-US: OK
-France: 0
-Japan: money
-Brazil: a sexual
gesture
 some common gestures
The thumb up gesture

-Almost universal
signal for
“Everything is OK”
/ “Fine”
-US: Hitchhikers
use this to ask for
a lift.
some common gestures
The thumb down gesture

-This signals sth bad.

- According to
Hollywood’s portrayal,
this signals a bloody
death sentence for the
losing warrior or
rejection.
 some common gestures
The counting gesture

-US: 1 – forefinger up
-Germany: 1-thumb up; 2-both thumb and forefinger up or only forefinger
up
-Japan: 1-forefinger up; 2-forefinger and middle finger up; 3-forefinger,
middle finger, and ring finger up, 4-forefinger, middle finger, ring finger,
and little finger up; 5-only thumb up
-Vietnam: ?
some common gestures

The “V” gesture

Victory / Peace
(palm outward)

some common gestures

some common gestures
The Hook ‘em horn gesture

-Italy: Your wife is not

faithful.
-Brazil, Venezuela:
Luck
-Texas, US: (Texas
Longhorn)
some common gestures
Lucky gesture

-It may symbolise the

cross of Jesus 
protect and prevent us
from bad luck and sin
 used when one
wishes someone else
good luck

-A story: Lan & Daniel

(in Australia)
some common gestures
The beckoning gesture
some common gestures
“Time-out” gesture
some common gestures
The loser gesture

-Most popular in US
-To show that sb is
a loser
-Mostly used by
children and
adolescents  make
fun of friends
 Arms
• some people fold their arms to
set up negative thoughts.
• In some circumstances, arm
folding  creating a barrier.
• If it is combined with fist
clenching  hostile.
 Legs
• Legs are often crossed  the
communicator feels
comfortable when sitting.
The position may indicate a
negative attitude, especially if
combined with crossed arms
and unresponsive facial
expression.
 Legs

Seated foot lock position Standing foot lock position

 Legs

Defensive standing Closed body and Open body and

position closed attitude open attitude
 Feet

• Feet often act as pointers (we point

them at those in whom we are
interested)
• Feet also give us clues about
emotions (nervousness/ impatience)
• Tapping or shifting feet: signals
uneasiness/ boredom
Postures
What posture?
Posture is defined roughly as body
position and stance.
We can describe different postures
as formal, relaxed, rigid, defensive,
aggressive, suggestive, sexy,
slouched, awkward, and the like.
 Differences between posture
and gesture
Postures Gestures

The body position, the way The movement of the body

we sit or stand. or parts of the body,
 Stable especially the hands
 The whole body  Active
 Part of the body
 Some basic postures
• Formal posture
Some basic postures
Relaxed posture
 Some basic postures
•Defensive posture (some basic hand/leg-
barriers)
Some basic hand barriers: standard
arm-cross, reinforced arm-cross,
disguised arm-cross, arm-gripping,
hand-on-arm, finger hiding, hand-on-
hand.
Some basic leg barriers: standard leg-
cross, oriental leg-cross, leg-lock, leg-
clamp, standing leg-cross, sitting leg-
cross, sitting knee-to-chin, foot lock,
ankle-lock.
Arms and legs locked
 Some basic postures
Four distinct styles of sitting crossed legged:
•Legs crossed at the ankles
•Legs crossed at the knees
•One ankle resting on the knee of the other leg
•Legs crossed at the knees and foot entwined
around that same leg

1.
Some basic postures
Sexy posture
Some basic postures
Aggressive posture
Angled standing
Some basic postures
Slouching posture
Defensive and superior Defensive
Defensive Defensive
Ready Openness
Mixed signal Authority
 Postures

The American position Arms lock the leg in place

Postures

The standard leg cross

May be someday you’ll be The straddler
as smart as I am
Readiness to end a conversation:
Ready to proceed
hands on knees
Leaning forward gripping
the chair The lint picker