Body language refers to the non-verbal communication of feelings, emotions, attitudes and thoughts through gestures, postures, facial expressions and other body movements. The face is one of the most significant parts of the body for communicating through expressions. Facial expressions can convey a wide range of emotions like joy, fear, anger and sadness. Other aspects of body language include gestures of the head, eyes, mouth, hands, legs and styles of walking. Proxemics or use of interpersonal space is also important in body language.

1. BODY LANGUAGE

2. What is Body Language?Body Language is the communication of * Personal feelings, * Emotions , * Attitudes,thoughts through body movements – * Gestures, * Postures , * Facial expressions, * Walking styles, * Positions & distance –either consciously or involuntarily

3. The Main Aspects of Body LanguageGestures:Body Movements: This includes the - Head, Eyes, Eyebrows , Lips , Neck , Shoulders, Fingers and so on.

4. Behavior :Emotions: Refers to states such as Happiness, Depression, Anxiety, Milder moods, Feeling of pleasure, Displeasure, Degrees of excitement, Drowsiness etc.

5. THE FACEThe face is the most significant and the most photographed- part of human body.

6. The flashes of facial signals are generally spontaneous reactions which a person finds difficult to hide.General CharacteristicsExpressions: Facial expressions are highly flexible & changeable. The face can encode a variety of communicative & informative messages.Raise of eyebrows express astonishment.

7. We frown in displeasure or confusion.

8. Envy or disbelief may be displayed by a raised eyebrow.Emotions: The face is the most reliable indicator of a wide range of emotions : Joy & happiness , Fear , Annoyance, Surprise, Anger, Sadness etc. When we are shocked we open our mouth.

9. Blushing is another facial phenomenon that expresses emotion. A shy person becomes red in face when attention is focused on him.Smiling: smiling & frowning are two major facial expressions. A genuine smile means ‘I appreciate you’; ‘I accept your ideas’.

10. A frown means ‘I find you puzzling’.Laughter: Laughter is composed of a broad range of gesture & sounds. ‘Ha-Ha’ is a genuine laughter.

11. ‘He-He’ is a mocking laughter.

12. ‘Hee-Hee’ suggests a secret giggle.

13. ‘Ho-Ho’ communicates surpriseHead GesturesThe Head Nod : A nod depicts a positive signal & a ‘head- shake’ signifies ‘no’ or a negative gesture.Head nods show continuing attention , it also depicts what is happening to us emotionally. Heads tilt is a signal of interest.

14. Eyebrows: People lower or knit their eyebrows when they show disagreement or displeasure.

15. Frown when in displeasure. Mouth : When ‘raised’ , the mouth communicates positive feelings , happiness , optimism.

16. If kept ‘straight’ to conceal emotion.

17. ‘Turned down’ to express sadness, confusion , dissatisfaction. The Lips: When one does not utter a word lips can be eloquent because silent lips express a wide range of emotions from smile to frown.

18. Throat: when the Adam’s apple jump unconsciously signals anxiety, embarrassment or stress.The EyesThe eyes can be steely, knowing, mocking, piercing, shifty.

19. They can level a burning glance, or a cold glance or a hurt glance or again can be wise , knowing , inviting , scary , disinterested and so on.We look straight in the eye to get attention.Ways of Looking: Side long glance is referred to as stolen look.

20. Blank stare depicts boredom.

21. Sparkling eyes are an attribute of those who have ‘magnetic personalities’.Glasses: Peering over glass depicts being judgmental or critical.

22. Dark glasses are worn by those who conceal their genuine feelings.The Human hand is a restless organLimp hands show boredom.