Body language

Reading and Writing
Edvin Subasic
April 13th, 2011

Body Language

When we hear this word “Communication”, the first thing coming to our mind is “Oral communication”, isn’t it? Even so, most of the communication is non-verbal. It is called “body language”. It means that we communicate our emotions, feelings and thoughts through facial and body expressions. Body language is manifested bysigns; they could be voluntary and involuntary. One of the most important facial expressions is eye contact. It conveys everything from your true intentions. For body expressions there are posture, handshake and overall movements with our body. However, body language is used every day by everybody. After reading this essay you will be able to recognize the appropriate body language for differentsituations. Using appropriate body language could be a key of success, and also you probably will get a better communication mixing right attitude and right body language. It will turn as communication skill already developed.
Communication is a necessity of human being. Definitely, human being is able to communicate in both ways; they are the verbal and non-verbal communication. In the first way,it is just amazing how many languages exist around the world to communicate each other. Even some countries use the same language, but it could contain a lot of different words or meanings. In the second way, it is more amazing that most of the communication can be done by the body and how it can expresses and defines a great part of who you are, even at the first impression. Moreover, they are notquite universal languages. Both of them depend on where you are, because it may vary from culture to culture. On the other hand, some of the body language signs are universal. It is more likely that they would be part of involuntary signs because they come naturally.
Eye contact is the main facial expression. It conveys the emotional state of each person to observers. Depending on youremotions you will have different kind of expressions. Eye contact shows respect to another person, and also it shows that you are paying attention to that person. It is polite of you and it makes a comfortable atmosphere around you.
According to the research conducted by psychologist Paul Ekman at the end of the 20th Century, he has been interested in whether, for instance smiling, was a universalphenomenon, or whether there are cultures in which its expression varies. Ekman found that there were several fundamental sets of involuntary facial muscle movements relating to the experience of a corresponding set of emotions: grief, anger, fear, enjoyment and disgust. (Economicexpert)
In other words, there are 6 main facial expressions. Consequently, they are truly notables. The smile is thefirst one, because “one smile says more than one thousand words” as people say in Mexico. “A smile is the universal gesture of validation, and when sincere, it builds a lot of bridges toward achieving the results you want” (Body talk, 01 Apr. 2010). The list continues with sadness/disappointment/depression expressions, then appears the dislike/contempt expressions, following by the anger, the fearand the last one is the interest. These are some emotions/expressions easy to identify by reading body language. Therefore, you will interpret what is behind people’s words or feelings.
Within body gestures, there is the posture. In fact, if you are having good posture with shoulders back you will look confident, which might make you feel more confident. It means that the way we usually carryourselves is the way that others see at us and they will treat us. Basically, body gestures are the way that we present ourselves because it does the initial talking. Another important and universal body gesture is a solid handshake. It shows confidence, intelligence, and willingness to build relationships. These relationships refer at any case friends, family, and business. As a body language expert...