Body language
Meaning
Non-verbal signals, such as gestures, posture, and facial expressions, that communicate a person's feelings or intentions.
Origin
For millennia, humans instinctively understood that a furrowed brow or a confident stance spoke volumes without uttering a single word. But it wasn't until the 20th century that this unspoken dialogue received its formal name: 'body language.' The phrase, gaining significant traction in the 1950s and 60s, emerged as researchers like Ray Birdwhistell coined terms like 'kinesics' to systematically study how our posture, gestures, and facial expressions reveal our inner thoughts. What was once an intuitive understanding blossomed into a recognized field of communication, empowering us to decode the silent signals that underpin so much of human interaction, giving a clear definition to what we all inherently knew.
Examples
- Her folded arms and averted gaze clearly showed her body language was signaling discomfort with the proposal.
- Understanding a client's body language can be crucial for a salesperson trying to gauge their interest.