Words are only a part of our communication. We also communicate in the way we sit, stand, use our hands, or facial expressions. For example, a cleaned jaw might mean anger or stress, raised eyebrows may mean surprise or curiosity, and fidgety movements may mean nervousness. These are considered as signs of body language

1. BODY LANGUANGE – THE UNSPOKEN LANGUANGE
Words are only a part of our communication. We also communicate in the way we sit, stand,
use our hands, or facial expressions. For example, a cleaned jaw might mean anger or stress,
raised eyebrows may mean surprise or curiosity, and fidgety movements may mean
nervousness. These are considered as signs of body language. According to Microsoft
Encarta, body language is gestures, postures and proximity to another speaker by which one
communicates nonverbally with others in a given culture. In other words, body language
refers to the conveying of messages through body movements other than those movements
that form a part of sign or spoken language. The nonverbal signals you send suggest attitude,
understanding, empathy and ethics and because of the fact that they may be unintentional
they can sometimes be misleading, or show signs of deceit.
The ability to use body language is a mechanism that is unborn. This quality of body
language is one that is fortunate and necessary of survival. Just imagine a world without body
language, where babies who are unable to speak have no resources to rely on to relay their
emotions. There would probably be many accidents having tragic results because parents and
surrounding adults would not have identified any cues of discomfort from the baby.
Therefore, the ability to communicate through body language indicates a relationship
between two or more persons that may sometimes be vital.
Body language is used especially to express feelings. For instance if we do not like
someone, it is often difficult to say that directly to the person. However we can make it clear
either intentionally or unintentionally through body language. Body language makes it
possible for future mates to express their interest for each other in a manner that words
cannot. For example, fiddling and preening with hair, clothes or accessories is a sign of
interest. When you see somebody you fancy, you get the most hints when they first set eyes
on you. Their body sends out signals. The eyebrows flash up and down nostrils flare, lips
purse, eyes widens and everything opens and shuts. We square ourselves and lift our
shoulders up. What all this does is pull you up and make you look good. You lift your
muscles, the light reflect off more angles and make you look even more attractive. You may

2. also sometimes be able to understand what is being said in sign language even if you are not
able to speak it by looking at the way a person says what they are saying and their facial
expressions.
Body language is the unspoken language where messages are transmitted without
words in every face to face encounter between human beings. The moment you meet people,
they judge you by what they see and feel although this process takes less than 10 seconds, a
first impression is permanent. According to the experts, people from 90% of their opinion
about a person within the first 90 seconds of meeting them. These messages can tell you
someone’s true feelings towards you and how well your words are being received.
Psychologist found that between 60% - 80% of the message we want to convey are
communicated through body language, while 7% -10% through the actual words used in
conversation.
Not only humans have the ability to communicate non-verbally, but also animals. A
dog may show his affection for his owner by wagging his tail. A snake may show aggression
by hissing. There have been instances where chimpanzees are able to use sign language to
communicate.
It is important to note that body language has different meaning in different cultures.
In some parts of the world putting your hands on your hips is impolite, the thumb up sign is
downright offensive and a wink is unacceptable. In Brazil, pulling down the lower lid of the
right eye means that the listener doubts what you are saying. In China, you point with an
open hand and beckon or signal with hand facing palm down. In India, grasping your ear
means either “honestly” or “I’m sorry”. In Japan, it is unacceptable for two adults of the same
sex to hold hands while walking together. Also, because it is considered impolite to show
their teeth, women cover their mouths when they laugh. In Sri Lanka, moving your head from
side to side means yes and nodding your head up and down means no. In Thailand, people
point to an object with their chins, not with their hands. With such different customs and
ways of communicating through use of body language, it is easy to understand why we can
sometimes be misleading also confused.

3. How we come across to someone is decided only for a small part by the words we
speak. To leave a good impression behind, it is important that we know, and to a certain
extent can control, our body language. So the next time you speak remember that your body
may be speaking a language of its own.