BODY LANGUAGE

This is the topic I'm going to talk about for the GESE exam (TRINITY ORAL EXAMINATION) next Friday. It's a very interesting topic, but I'm so nervous about the oral presentation, ... There are lots of interesting videos in Internet  and very good web pages. Here you have two of them:
http://helpguide.org/mental/eq6_nonverbal_communication.htm  
a very good resource

http://www.psychologydegree.net/resources/the-psychology-of-linguistics-and-body-language/

Excellent!

Nonverbal communication: body language

1. Introduction. Has it ever occurred to you how much you are saying to people even when you are not speaking? Unless you are a master of disguise, you are constantly sending messages about your true thoughts and feelings whether you are using words or not. An image is worth 1,000 words. So, first, I'll define what body language is. Then, I'll explain some of the characteristics of this nonverbal language. And finally, I'll talk about the importance of body language in our present society.
2. What is nonverbal communication and body language?
* Body language is a language without spoken words and is therefore called non verbal communication. It is a vital form of communication—a natural, unconscious language that broadcasts our true feelings and intentions in any given moment, and clues us in to the feelings and intentions of those around us.
- Several investigators estimate that at least 70% of the communication between people takes place through body language and the tone of voice. (The best known theory is that of the American psychologist Mehrabian. He states that when it comes to expressing feelings: 55% of the communication consists of body language, 38% is expressed through tone of voice and only 7% is communicated through words. If this is the case we express 93% of our feelings in a non-verbal way!)
* Characteristics of body language.
- Body language, unlike spoken language, is inexact; so you have to be careful about how you interpret it. A certain movement or facial expression may be quite meaningful, or it may mean nothing at all.
- A lot of non-verbal behaviour is hereditary or is taught to everyone in the same way at a very young age. It is ingrained so to speak.
This obviously means that we have to learn to recognise many gestures, which can mean one thing in one society and something else in another. Many body signals are not universal. (In most European countries and America for example, people shake their head when they mean no and nod when they mean yes, but there are cultures, for example in India or in Greece, where they mean the opposite - up and down means no and shaking means yes. The latter could be the evidence that this body language is taught rather than innate. )
- Usually body language occurs unconsciously. It follows that therefore it would be good to become conscious of our own and others' body language. As I mention before, it is important to note that body language has different meanings in different cultures.

3. Why is body language so important?

* When we interact with others, we continuously give and receive wordless signals. All of our nonverbal behaviors — the gestures we make, the way we sit, how fast or how loud we talk, how close we stand, how much eye contact we make—send strong messages. Even when you’re silent, you’re still communicating non verbally. Looking at someone for example means something completely different than not looking at someone. In our contact with other people it is impossible not to communicate.

* You have probably heard many times that people remember more of what they see than what they hear. Long after a meeting, we are likely to have forgotten the exact words someone used, but we may retain a vivid image of the same person's facial expression. The way you listen, look, move, and react tells the other person whether or not you care, if you’re being truthful, and how well you’re listening.

* Through life experience we have learned, perhaps unconsciously, that people often lie with words. But facial expressions and other body language tend to be more honest. When a person's words and body language are consistent, we believe that person. When their words and body language say different things, we tend to believe the body language and doubt the words. When your nonverbal signals match up with the words you’re saying, they increase trust, clarity and rapport. When they don't, they generate tension, mistrust and confusion.

4. To sum up, body language has a larger reliability value When someone says something, information is conveyed through body language at the same time. This extra non-verbal information can support the content of the message or may contradict it. When someone contradict his words like this through his body language, his non-verbal message is almost always regarded as the most true because it is very difficult to lie through body language. However, most people are not very aware of their body language.

How we can interpret body language depends on the situation, the culture, the relationship we have with the person as well as the gender of the other. This means that there is not one signal that has the same meaning all over the world. If you do not take this into account, you may get yourself in some serious trouble!

Body language is one of the most powerful forms of human expression or human communication. You may not be aware of what you are saying with your body, but others will get the message. Make sure it's the one you want to send.