Proxemic Communication

a form of nonverbal communication or body

language in which messages are conveyed from
one person to another by the changing space
that separates them during a conversation.
Q. What do you understand by Kinesics or Body Language?
Body Language / Kinesics: (Non-verbal communication)
Often the physical movement of the body and their study is known as body language or kinesics. In this
connection Raymond and John rightly remark. To them kinesics "is the way the body communicates without
words, that is, through various movements of ts parts". No doubt, we express our emotions through words but
often the inner states of emotion are expressed through different parts of the body and their physical movements.
We can communicate or send the message even by nodding the head, blinking the eyes, shrugging our shoulders
or waving our
hands.
When we study body language, we look at the meaning of symbols that the physical movements of the body
are communicating. Through outward body movements true inner emotions are reflected. For the expression of
these inner body states, the face and eyes, gestures and physical appearance are to be studied. For self control,
the presenter should pay attention to his body language, for this following parts of kinesics should be
considered
1) Maintain eye contact
2) Face and eyes
3) Gestures
4) Body shape and posture
5) Appearance

1) Maintain Eye contact:

The speaker should maintain a steady eye contact because it is an effective means of developing rapport with the
audience. If the presenter looks at the audience for a long period of time, it shows his intensity of interest. Eye
contact aswell as eye movements indeed help significantly in communicating successfully in oral
communications.
2) Face and eyes:
Faceis the index of mind. The face. it means. reflects what is going on inside the speaker, In this context, eyes
tell other facial
much
us
more than features. The facial expressions associated with happiness, surprise, fear
are

anger and sadness. Even eyes, nose, cheeks or forehead express one's inner goings on. For example, the
eyebrows with upper and lower eyelids raised. giving a wide eyed effect indicate that the person is excited,
of time,
Surprsed brightened. Similarlyifwe look at someone something
or interest. Eye contact and eye movementsindeed
niensity of for a long
or help significantly period success
in getting show our
weinterviews,
in
Seminars, or other face to face oral communications. The interviewee or one who is giving the oral presentation
should keep a pleasant face with a natural tendency to smile. He should maintain an open look and also make
with the interviewer or the members of the panel.
eyecontacts
3) Gestures:
In addition to the face and cyes, other body parts move and convey meaning. These movements are known as
gestures, the physical movement of arms, legs, hands and head. For example, if the arms are spread apart,
shufing from one leg to another and body slighly extended forward., these gestures convey meanings of
nervous and intense.
As gestures have meanings so they should be coordinated with
proper intensity of speech. The greater
the gesture the louder the speech and vice versa", comments a scholar. A presenter while facing the audience is
advised to keep positive postures, since it indicates his positive
personality.
4) Body shape and
posture:
A third area of kinesics involves body shape and posture. As far as body shape is concerned, we can't do much
about it since it is given to us by God. But with the right posture we can impress the interviewer and the
audience.
Raymond and John D refer to the behaviourists who have studied the shapes of our bodies and have identified
three types:

The ectomorph- thin youthful

2) The mesomorph
and tall.
-

strong,
athletic, muscular and boney.
3) The endomorph - fat, round and soft.
Indeed physical shape communicates hence let us try to be mesomorphs.
But it is not possible to be mesomorph since genetically either we are cctomorph or endomorph, then we can
win our intervieweror the audience with good posture. A person with good and appealing body shape but with
bad postures and unfavourable image will communicate a negative message.
5) Appearance:
By appearance we mean external appearance in which our dress, jewellery and make up play a pivotal role. The
speaker should consider how others will view him in relation to how he wants to be seen. He should dress up
himself in simple and sober dress.
Thus, kinesics, inclusive of facial expressions, gestures, body shape and posture will be the part of the mesages,
the speaker wants to communicate.

Q. Explicate Proxemics or space language.

Proxemics/ Space Language:
In addition to kinesics non verbal communication also includes proxemics which means the space
around us or the distance between the speaker and the listener. Proxemics is derived from the word proximity
which means closeness. Proxemics has a definite meaning in oral presentation. "Our interaction with the people
around us has rather a wel defined or well understood spatial dimensions", comments KK Sinha. It means the
spatial dimensions or distance between us and other people tell us about our relations with others and the nature
of our communication with them.
Edward T. Hall has given four types of space language, depending on the distance:
1) Intimate Space Language:
2) Personal Space Language
3) Social Space Language
4) Public Space Language

1) Intimate Space Language: (within the circle of 1.5 feet)

Where the speaker and listener are within the circle of about 18 inches distance. Only family members
and the close friends enter this area.
2) Personal Space Language: (1.5 to 4 feet)
Where the speaker and the listener are in the personal space ie. from 18 inches to 4 feet and in this circle
they can have normal conversation.
3) Social Space Language: (4 to 12 feet)
Here the circle extends from 4 feet to about 12 feet. This social space language is used for formal purposes.
of the business is done within this area.
Most
4)lt extends Space
Publicirom Language: (12 feet to ..)
12 teet to as far as we can see and hear. In this large space, communication becomes formal. In
it the speaker speaks at loud pitch so that a large group of the audience can hear him.

Q. Elucidate Chronemics or Time dimension.

k) Chronemics/ Time Dimension:
The most important thing at a work place is the management of time. Similarly management of time is
the watchword of the successful presentation. During the presentation, if the speaker takes a lot of time, his
speech becomes monotonous. To grab the atention of the audience during presentation, the speaker should try
to sum up his presentation within the alloted time. He should plan and rehearse well so that his speech will not
go beyond the alloted time.
Kinesic communication is the technical term for
body language, i.e., communicating by body
movement. We call the study of kinesic
communication kinesics. Kinesic communication
is a non-verbal form of communication. However, it
is not the only non-verbal way of communicating
with other people.

When we communicate with others, we can speak,

i.e., utter words. We can use body movements such

as gestures and facial expressions. We can also
write letters, texts, and emails to other people.

People in one ship can communicate with those in

another ship using Morse code or flags.

Kinesic communication is one of the many ways

we can communicate non-verbally. Non-verbal

Communication is one of the processes of

conveying messages without writing or uttering

Words.
Kinesi communication
body language
Kinesics or kinesic communication is all about
communication through body movements, such as

gestures and facial expressions. It is all about non-

verbal behavior using any part of the body. It also

includes communicating using the body as a
whole.

In popular culture, we call this 'body language'. In

fact, the founder of kinesics, American
anthropologist Ray Birdwhistell (1918-1994), never
used the term 'body language'.
He did not like the term, insisting that our bodies do
not convey what linguists define as language

Birdwhistell said kinesics meant:

"Facial expression, gestures, posture and gait, and

visible arm and body movements."

Birdwhistell filmed people in social situations and

analyzed them. He showed how humans
communicate in ways we had not clearly seen
before.

He argued that all body movements convey

meaning. In fact, he believed that non-verbal
behavior had a grammar. A grammar that we could
analyze in similar terms to spoken or written
language.
Kinesic communication in
interviews
Interviewers and police interrogators study kinesic
communication. They say it helps them determine
whether people they are interviewing are telling the
truth.

Law enforcement officers say that suspects and

witnesses involuntarily present telling indicators of
deception through body language. They also
present indicators of nervousness and
receptiveness.
What is Kinesic
Communication?

Kinesics is the broad field of nonverbal

communicationC solely concerned
with the interpretation of nonverbal
behaviours that are associated with
body movement, gesturesC, posture
C, facial expressionCand eye contact3.

am sory.
am tired...

Kinesics is most closely connected with

what is popularly referred to as body
language7. Kinesics, is in fact, a
scientific study of body language.

The term "kinesics" was developed

by the American anthropologist
Ray L. BirdwhistellC, who used
slow-motion films of conversations to
analyze speakers' behaviours.
Components of Kinesics
Messages

While words generally transmit facts

and information, kinesics
Communication involves transference of
nonverbal messages, such as feelings,
emotions, and attitude through the
use of body movement, gestures,
posture, facial expressionCand eye
contact@.

Birdwhistell labeled this form of

Communication 'kinesics' as it relates to
movement of individual body parts, or
the body as a whole. Observe the
following modes of kinesics messages.
 Gestures
Gestures are the movements
of hands, face, or other parts
of the body in a way that
conveys meaning, either in
conjunction with verbal
communication such as
frowning while saying harsh
words against Someone, or
in isolation such as smiling
at a stranger to express
pleasure at ones presence.
Keep on learning about
gesture hereL
 Body movement
Body Movement is the
voluntary or involuntary
movement of parts of the

body such ashands, feet,

legs, and shoulders, which
may either reinforce or

Contradicts what is
Communicated verbally.
There are various body
movements that sends

bodily signals. Learn more

hereC
 Posture
PostureL communicates
a great deal of information
about you. The way in which
you sit, stand, slump or
slouch provides information
about your sex, status, self-
image, attitudes and
emotional state. For
example, sitting with your
head in your hands often
indicates that your are
feeling low, whereas sitting
with your feet on the desk
may be interpreted by others
as a sign of your feeling of
superiority.
4

Facial expressions
Facial expression refers to
certain movements or
conditions of the facial
muscles that facilitate the
nonverbal communication of
Some thought, emotion, or
behavior. Facial expression is
the main channel we use to
decode emotional states or
reactions of others to a
message, and they generally
mirror the intensity of
people's thoughts and
feelings.
 Eye contact
Eyecontact is a natural
byproduct of effective
Communication. To look
someone in the eyes is too
invite him to communicate
With yOu. Eye contact
indicates degree of attention
or interest, influences
attitude change or
persuasion, regulates
interaction, communicates

emotion, defines power and

status, and has a central role
in managing impressions of
others. Keep on learning
about eye contact hereL
kinesics
Communication
carries a significant
risk of being
misinterpreted in an
intercultural
interaction. As many
movements are
carried out ata
Subconscious or at
east a low-awareness
level;the movements
can be misinterpreted
when communicating
across Cultures. In
today's global
environment,
awareness of the
meanings of different
kinesiC movements iss
important in order to
avoid sending the
Wrong message.
Kinesics signals can be inborn
(unwitting), learned (witting), or a
mixture of the two. Blinking the
eyes, clearing the throat, and facial
flushing are innate (inborn) signals.
These are often involuntary, as are, for
example, facial expressions of
happiness, surprise, anger, disgust, and
other basics emotions understood by
people in all cultures.
Laughing, crying, and shrugging the
shoulders are examples of mixed
signals. They may originate as innate
actions, but cultural rules shape their
timing and use. Gestures, such as a
wink of the eye, a thumbs up, or a
military salute, are learned signals. The
meanings of such signs vary among
different cultures.