Stretch of the Imagination Flowing Through Music (Body Talk and All) | A Mixed Media Art Project

Utilizing our bodies to express our feelings and relay information to others in a variety of situations is known as "nonverbal communication." The technical definition of non-verbal communication is classified as "a type of communication in which physical behaviors, as opposed to words, are used to express or convey information.

A variety of behaviors are used to accomplish this task. Some include facial expressions, body posture, gestures, eye movement, touch and the use of space. The term body language is usually applied in regard to people but may also be applied to animals. Aggression or acceptance and warnings among animal species can be be accomplished with body language.

The study of body language is also known as kinesics. Body language has always been considered an important part of communication. Researchers believe that most of the occurrences happens without conscious awareness. ¹

The individual credited for important research on body language is Albert Mehrabian. In his studies on the relative importance of verbal and nonverbal communication, he developed several psychological assessment tools. One of these tools include the Arousal Seeking Tendency Scale. However, his most famous contribution to society is his "7%-38%-55% Rule." This assessment highlights the varying impact of words, tone of voice, and body language in conveying feelings and attitudes. ²

It's reported that Mehrabian's findings have been vastly misquoted and misinterpreted in every phase of human communication worldwide by scholars in their presentations.

These signals can be so subtle that normally individuals are not consciously aware of them. Research in this area has identified eight types of nonverbal communication.

These nonverbal communication types are:

• Facial expressions
• Gestures
• Paralinguistics (such as loudness or tone of voice)
• Body language
• Proxemics or personal space
• Eye gaze, haptics (touch)
• Appearance
• Artifacts (objects and images) ³

Posture and movement have provided a useful source of information. Since the 1970s, research on body language has grown significantly. After the publication of Julius Fast's bood Body Language, focus on the interpretation of defensive postures has risen in defining arm-crossing and leg-crossing. ³

I also believe that other moves and postures are significant in determining a person's attitude and mindset. These may include actions that convey or uncover our emotions. Our body language conveys our state of mind, what we are feeling, and how we feel about the situation and others around us. Consider

Consider these actions. Shifting one's weight from one foot to the other. Sitting straight as opposed to slouching, leaning forward, sitting on the edge of one's chair, smiling in pleasure, frowning or furrow one's eyebrows in displeasure, staring mindlessly into space or body stiff or paralyzed from a perceived threat, and retreating from danger.

Also there exist actions that represent the physical manifestation of fear such as one's knees buckling or perspiration beading from the brow, shaking, and baring or clenching one's teeth.

In my short fiction writing, I utilize all these body language scenarios to describe my characters' nonverbal communication with others.

I also believe that universal body language can be seen in individuals shaking head either in disagreement or agreement or beckoning to others to approach or keep their distance.

Another aspect of body language deals with human interactions during intimacy. Communication desire to entice another's attention is commonplace. In the same vein, the opposite exists where or one's intention to indicate to another to cease any actions is well known.

While these nonverbal communications can indicate feelings and attitudes, body language is often subtle and less definitive than previously believed.

I remember growing up utilizing my facial expressions, eyes, and gestures to voice my dissatisfaction with someone or something I didn't care for. My family would say that I would give them "that look" or extend my arms to ward off individuals I didn't care to be in my personal space. Others dared not antagonize me and avoided doing so.

Finally, I believe that what we place on our bodies are also non-verbal ways of communicating our feelings, attitudes, perceptions, and thought processes. For example, permanent or temporary tattoos and body piercings are a visual effect meant to make a statement about the person. How one perceives it is a reflection of their own subjective attitudes.

Although divided into individuals categories, all other forms of non-verbal communication can be encompassed into body language since facial, eye, gestures with the hands, feet, mouth, and arms are all parts of one's body.

^{[Sources: 1; 2; and 3 Below]}

I recently reacquainted myself with an older music group I once admired. One of their songs, "Body Talk", although a bit exotic and unusual, exemplified the theme of my project in which the signals of the body transmits its desires to another.