Most of what we communicate is not limited to speech but body language gives a lot of meaning. Some surveys reveal that as much as seventy per cent of communication emits from the body language.
Language as we know is an important means of communication, at the cost of repetition we can say that spoken words provide less than thirty per cent of the meaning to the listener. The way the words are spoken provide around fifty per cent of meaning when we include facial expressions, postures, gestures, eye contact, etc. One should focus on body language as well as on the words that one speaks. Understand and communicate with body language is found to be very effective.
Both body language or non – verbal communication provide the majority of content in many situations. In the current scenario, when virtual conferences and virtual communications are pervading in all lives, we need to focus on our voice, particularly on our emotions which happen to come out much more when we are speaking in person. Of course there are applications where the speaker is able to see the person in which case the facial expressions become extremely important. The technology also provides for some virtual discussions among many people.
However this technology needs to developed further when you use non – verbal communication, you need to overcome the limitations as for example when explaining the shapes or indicating directions. You can definitely however overcome these shortcomings with practice.
Now let us look at the components of Body Language:
- Gestures: Now we talk about gestures. When you send a visual signal to someone, the gesture is deliberate as in a wave of recognition. When you scratch your head it shows that you are thinking something. Though at present these gestures can be put to limited use, the time is not for when we will overcome the discussions.
- Emblems: Emblems are deliberate gestures that can have a direct verbal equivalence. Used in a wide range of situations, the emblems will replace gestures for crane drivers, fire fighters and televisions floor managers.
- Illustrators: Next what we can use deliberately as illustrators, these purposes are to illustrate, repeat, complement or underline what has been said. The examples are:
- Guidelines like pointing, beaconing.
- Facial Signs like movement up and around.
- Form or Shape gesture which describe the shape and a space of things.
- Body actions signs which mimics or replicates body actions.
- Regulators: Now we talk about regulators that are used in communications. They are used in communication. They are used to show interest in what is being said and also to signal that you you want to say something. Unconscious gestures are just as important as the conscious counterparts. They are termed as, ‘Leakage Gestures’. As they display or hint at your inner and often hidden feelings, thoughts and emotions. These might occur in-spite of your best efforts to control these emotions.
