Frowning, shrugging shoulders, and moving hands or feet are gestures that provide information linked to how someone feels or what they are thinking.
Gesture is a frequently used word that refers to each facial expression and movement (especially of the hands and parts of the face) that allows us to express something. Beyond identifying a non-verbal communication resource, this word is used when describing an action or attitude . For example: «The rival goalkeeper had the good gesture of asking for forgiveness from the player who ended up injured as a result of his unintentional hit» , «Gestures like this one of coming to help flood victims excite and demonstrate the spirit of solidarity of the community » .
A gesture has the power to enhance or replace speech. A sign, mime or a wink is enough to convey a message, as can be seen by observing the presentation of artists who dedicate themselves to pantomime .
Types of gestures
If one observes both people and specimens of different species of the animal kingdom, it will not take long to notice the existence of a considerable variety of types of gestures .
Pets, to detail a reality that is easy to recognize in practice, constantly show gestures of love and care towards the members of their home, as well as being able to send signals of pleasure , relaxation or anger by appealing to facial movements .
By focusing on human behaviors, meanwhile, we can distinguish between adaptive gestures (whose purpose is to adapt with gestures or a body posture to a situation or place that, perhaps, makes uncomfortable, causes anxiety, etc.), emblematic gestures (of symbology or representation easy to understand within a certain culture or community because it is popular or universal in scope) and illustrative (those that complement verbal communication by qualifying, emphasizing or enriching in some way what is presented orally). There are also regulatory gestures (which serve to indicate that a speech has been concluded and a response is awaited as part of the communication circuit) and affective gestures (intended to transmit emotions, thoughts and feelings).
Within the enormous set of bodily gestures there are numerous movements that are studied by science to decipher what the body reveals when we are not even fully aware of the reasons for postures , gestures or contortions.
Body posture, mimicry and gestures are the tools of mimes when it comes to communicating, since they aim to express themselves without saying words.
The art of gesturing
The art of gesturing accompanies human beings since childhood. Babies pout to communicate and the people around them also use faces to connect with them.
Gestures abound and are common in both formal and informal contexts. Body language always provides information, it is a matter of learning to pay attention to it and interpret each reaction appropriately.
By making eye contact with someone, whether we know them or not, we can immediately get an idea or a quick overview of how they feel from observing their gaze. Perhaps, if something worries him, he will show his frown , while if a smile appears on his lips it will be an indication that everything is fine.
In some cultures, greetings between family, friends and acquaintances are nourished by a kiss and a hug as signs of affection and closeness. The rules of courtesy and good manners in a work or structured setting, on the other hand, mark a greeting with the hand made with the arm extended while maintaining a certain personal distance.
The art of gesturing , to add more details, characterizes the men and women who dedicate themselves to acting , although gestures also gain relevance in other creative disciplines. At the level of artistic expression, the skills to captivate with the drawing of a figure that transmits a sensation of movement and present credible features or winks are valued; the skill of the artist behind a painting to shape a pictorial gesture and the expertise of a photography expert to immortalize shocking faces or movements, for example.
Just as at the end of a theater performance or a dance show the audience shows its respect, admiration and gratitude towards the artists through applause, the people who are on stage must rehearse and prepare the work to be displayed in advance. In this process, neither the script, nor the costumes, nor the disposition of the cast on stage, and much less the body language , cannot be neglected.
Applause is a symbol that arises when the palms of the hands collide, generating a sound effect to convey approval or show that an activity, action or performance that has been enjoyed is appreciated.
Gestures for every situation
As can be seen from the observation of reality, there are gestures that adapt to each situation .
A clenched fist in a situation of discussion or fight may be symbolizing contained anger or tension, but it could also be a threat or violent action that initiates physical attacks .
Likewise, in the middle of a game, a player's hand with a thumbs up tells the coach that everything is fine and that he is fit to remain on the field of play.
If you put your thumb down , on the other hand, the interpretation is negative because it reveals discomfort, impediment or that something is wrong. When distance prevents a fluid, normal dialogue at an appropriate volume, then gestures are indispensable tools: movements of the head as a sign of assent function as an affirmative response to a query formulated through signs; Otherwise, it will be used to symbolize a denial with the head or hand.