kinesics

Nonverbal communication study

Kinesics is the study of body language—how gestures, facial expressions, posture, and movement communicate meaning.

The term belongs to academic fields like linguistics and anthropology: Her research in kinesics examined how different cultures interpret eye contact.

The related adjective is kinesic.

gesture

wave

Oscillating motion through medium

  • nodBrief head tilt
  • shrugShoulder gesture of uncertainty
  • bowRespectful forward inclination

pointing · beckoning · thumbs-up · fist-pump · salute · curtsy · finger-pointing · illustrator · emblem · adaptor

body-language

posture

Body position, alignment

  • stanceStanding posture or viewpoint
  • gaitLocomotion pattern
  • gestureCommunicative body movement

microexpression · haptics · lean · mirroring

facial

smile

Pleased facial expression

  • frownDisapproving facial expression
  • grimaceTwisted expression of displeasure
  • smirkPleased, superior smile

wink · scowl · sneer · pout · grin · eye-roll

paralinguistics

intonation

Pitch variation in speech

inflection · tempo · volume · pause · emphasis · modulation · rhythm · cadence · loudness · breathiness

research

ethology

Study of animal conduct

observation · rapport-building

Opposites
communication modality studied

kinesicslinguistics

Science of language structure

haptics · verbal communication · phonetics · phonology · semantics

movement vs. stillness

kinesicsrepose

Peaceful stillness or calm

stillness · stasis · immobility · motionlessness · inertia

Family

telekinesis, kinesiology, cytokinesis, dyskinesia, psychokinesis, kinesis, bradykinesia, kinesic, hyperkinesis

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