Gestural communication and its importance

Gestural Communication and its Importance PowerPoint Presentation slides

1. Gestural Communication and its Importance

2. WHAT DO WE MEAN BY GESTURE? A  gesture  is a form of  non-verbal communication  or non-vocal  communication  in which visible bodily actions communicate particular messages, either in place of, or in conjunction with,  speech . Gestures include movement of the  hands ,  face , or other parts of the  body . Gestures differ from physical non-verbal communication that does not communicate specific messages, such as purely  expressive  displays,  proxemics , or displays of  joint attention . [1]  Gestures allow individuals to communicate a variety of feelings and thoughts, from contempt and hostility to approval and affection, often together with  body language  in addition to  words  when they speak. Gesticulation and speech work independently of each other, but join to provide emphasis and meaning.

3. HISTORY OF GESTURAL COMMUNICATION The theory that language evolved from manual gestures, termed  Gestural Theory , dates back to the work of 18th-century philosopher and priest  Abbé de Condillac , and has been revived by contemporary anthropologist Gordon W. Hewes , in 1973, as part of a discussion on the  origin of language . [4]

4. The word ‘Gesture’ is derived from a Medieval Latin word ‘gesture’ which means ‘way of carrying’ or ‘mode of action’ and in its earliest uses in English, it referred to the manner of carrying the body, bodily or deportment. Gestures differ from physical non-verbal communication that does not communicate specific messages, such as purely expressive displays, proxemics , or displays of joint attention .

5. Importance of Gestures Gestures come in handy, especially to portray you as a confident person, in control of his/ her self. The right gestures used at the right time can enhance the meaning of the spoken words and even add another layer to them. They, in fact, become the second line of communication, in addition to the spoken word. A firm handshake, for instance, reveals a person’s confidence level and self- belief and tells the other person that you mean business. A nod of the head during a conversation conveys acknowledgement and shows that you are focussed on the conversation.  Conversely, inappropriate gestures can reduce the import of the spoken word and create an unfavourable impression. For instance, people who bite their nails, stare at the ground, sweat due to anxiety, reveal their lack of confidence as well as nervousness, which works against them and leaves a poor impression.

6. Military  air marshallers  use hand and body gestures to direct flight operations aboard  aircraft carriers .

7. Gestures as Powerful Communicators The fundamental idea behind communication is to convey your thoughts and have a meaningful discourse. Gestures have the power to act as effective tools of communication too. Not only can they be used to complement and support what is being spoken, sometimes, they can act as the primary tool of communicating what you think, and do that more effectively than even words. For instance, who doesn’t remember the cold stare of our parents in our childhood when we committed some mistake? The stare was enough to send shiver down our spines and prevent us from committing the same mistake again. While growing up, we remember our teachers putting a finger on their lips, a signal for the students to keep quiet. Such is the power of gestures. 

8. Gestural Communication in the Business World Gestures in the workplace convey a significant amount of information without an individual ever opening her mouth.  Workers react to others' gestures as read in the workplace. Eye contact, facial expressions and touch affect work interactions. Some call it body language. Others call it kinesics. Hundreds of thousands of body gestures communicate meaning to others at work. LET US LOOK AT SOME DIFFERENT TYPES OF GESTURES:

9. Negative Gestures Adjusting your clothes, biting your nails, fidgeting, touching your face and toying with something in your hands can all be interpreted negatively. Others think you are nervous, tense, disinterested or maybe even dishonest. Resting your chin on your hand conveys boredom. Crossed arms indicate a level of defensiveness. Lean back in your chair, and it conveys disinterest. Lean forward, and it indicates you are interested in what the speaker says. Illustrative Gestures Gestures, used along with words, help illustrate the meaning of your words. While doing an interview, the interviewer may say, "We offer this product in three price points -- high, medium and low." For emphasis, he may use his hand to mark the air in three spots -- high, medium and low -- reinforcing his point with illustrative gestures.

10. Affective Gestures If a person uses eye contact, facial expression, posture or tone of voice to suggest a nonverbal, emotional message, you might call those affective gestures. An open or receptive gesture is a person whose palms face the listener. An embarrassed or angry communication can be read by the shade of the person's red face or by his grimace. A slouchy, frowning employee may appear distracted or uninterested. Arch your eyebrows, sit up straight and smile. You appear happy. Misinterpreted Gestures While most gestures are readily interpreted with accuracy, there can be misunderstandings. If a co-worker with a migraine, grimaces in pain, lowers her head and squints her eyes while talking to you, you may think the migraine sufferer disagrees with you. If perplexed, probe for further information before jumping to conclusions. Multicultural workplaces, however, have different interpretations of some gestures across cultural lines. For instance, the traditional "OK" sign Americans make by putting the thumb and index finger together with the other three fingers pointed is an ugly gesture in other cultures.

11. Silent Gestures Because no words have to be spoken or written, gestures can be an quick, easy, efficient form of business communication. A wave of the hand means hello or goodbye, depending on the situation. Nod your head and you are saying either yes or no, depending on the direction. The smile is pretty much a universal happy face. But, there are rare moments when even the smile would be an inappropriate gesture, given the circumstances.