In mid-September in my linguistic anthropology class, we discussed kinesics and the vital role it plays in accurately communicating emotion paired with speech. “The basic underline kinesics is that no body movement or facial expression is likely to lack meaning” (Adachi, Salzmann, & Stanlaw, 2015). The nature of body language and facial expressions differs from culture to culture and person to person. Kinesics throughout language, are peoples subconscious responses to personal thoughts throughout interactions with others. Body language, just like verbal language, differs between dialects. Languages with multiple dialects incorporate their own use of unique kinesics. Facial expressions, eye contact, body posture, and hand gestures are all basic key factors in kinesics that accompany speech throughout language to deepen understanding. Eye contact between people varies culturally, as well as individually due to experiences, age, self- confidence and intentions (Adachi, Salzmann & Stanlaw, 2015). Continued, hand gestures have a range of meaning, but in most cases are meant to illustrate, and emphasize what is being discussed. The authors go on to describe the importance of body posture and this subconscious factor that can directly portray feelings of despair, anger, contentment, pride and so on. Body movement. “Dr. Albert Mehrabian, in his famous body language studies at UCLA, found that: 7 percent of the emotional meaning of a message is composed of the actual words we use; 38 percent is communicated through the tone of voice and inflection; and 55% comes through our body language.” (Plessis, A & Plessis, H, 2008). Kinesics is highly under rated in communication regardless of its imperative role in all face to face interactions globally.
References
Plessis, A. d., C.A.(S.A.), & Plessis, H. d. (2008). A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE CALLED KINESICS. Accountancy SA, , 23. Retrieved from http://libproxy.uwyo.edu/login/?url=http://search.proquest.com.libproxy.uwyo.edu/docview/215224693?accountid=14793
Salzmann, Z., Stanlaw, J., & Adachi, N. (2015). Chapter 5: Communicating Naturally. In Language, Culture, and Society: An Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology (6th ed., pp. 111-113). Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
I think you make some very interesting points. I think often times, people tend to forget how big of role body language plays in communication. But I think it is also important to remember that body language varies from person to person and from culture to culture, and what we may interpret as one thing, may mean something entirely different in another culture. So much of the way humans communicate comes from face to face interaction with one another and you can gauge so much just from the way a person visually reacts to something someone else says and even the other person's body language. And with our generation we don't need to be face to face or even on the phone with one another to have a conversation, and I wonder just how much meaning is lost with texting or emails.
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