Body Language - Does a Picture Paint a Thousand Words?
Photo Challenge for the Month – Body Language. That was the title of the article on a website that I follow.
Hmm...that sounds easy enough I said to myself, but then I did a second take as the explanation that followed said that – “show body language or communication in a picture without showing the face”. Now, that’s something else! That’s a real challenge!
How can you show communication in a still picture without showing the face?
How indeed, when Kinesics or the study of body language, reveals that more than 70% of non-verbal communication is expressed through the eyes and facial expressions.
Oh no! What photo will I submit for the challenge?
Does A Picture Paint a Thousand Words?
Can you really show communication in a picture without showing the face? You can, - that's great! Because for a while, I thought it was too hard to do.
I was really stumped on how to proceed with the challenge. Then I remembered the saying, “a picture paints a thousand words” as well as the song that starts “If a picture paints a thousand words, then why can't I paint you”.
So I embarked on looking for pictures in my files that communicate without showing the face.
Finding Pictures that Paint a Thousand Words
Look what I found - the following pictures! They have been sleeping in my computer.
Do they say something or anything at all? You be the judge. See if you agree with the messages I wrote for each picture or you can tell us what you think the message is.
Are you game? Let’s start then...
Body Language - Write Your Own Message
I have written some possible messages beside the pictures but you are welcome to write your own. Let’s do this together, shall we?
Picture 1
a) sharing
b) caring
c) I love walking under the rain with you
d) _______________________write your own message
Picture 2
a) if we hold on together
b) my, what big hands you have
c) we are one in the spirit
d) _______________________write your own message
Picture 3
a) we can’t go on meeting like this
b) My feet are killing me
c) is it the left or the right foot first?
d) ____________________write your own message
Picture 4
a) don’t leave me Dad
b) I can’t move my neck
c) how is the weather up there?
d) __________________write your own message
Picture 5
a) mother’s love
b) she is mine
c) oh no, you don’t touch her
d) _____________________write your own message
Picture 6
a) come on, I need light
b) Hosannah
c) hey, over here please
d) ____________________write your own message
Picture 7
a) how much longer?
b) I love the view from down here
c) Psst, check your zipper
d) ___________________write your own message
Picture 8
a) it’s cold out here
b) you and me against the world
c) I wish this will go on forever
d) __________________
write your own message
Picture 9
a) heaven, I’m in heaven
b) I trust you
c) my, what long nails you have
d) _____________________write your own message
Picture 10
a) gimme, gimme, gimme
b) this one’s for you
c) more, I want some more
d) _____________________write your own message
The Study of Body Language
There is actually a field that is involved in the study of body language. It is called kinesics .
This study includes all forms of non-verbal communication that uses all kinds of body movement including those of the eyes.
According to kinesics , 70% of our communication is usually non-verbal. So we get cues about what somebody is saying through facial expressions, gestures, body movements, and the like.
Some body messages can indicate aggression , like a threatening look; forgiveness , like a tap on the shoulder; love , like a kiss on the brow; flirtation , like a certain look in the eye; and other such non-verbal messages.
During the Victorian era (or the Spanish era in the Philippines), males and females who are a-courting, have even developed a language of communication through the flick of the fan, or the wave of a handkerchief.
Check out this website.
If You Want to Know More About Body Language
These websites will tell you more about Body Language
http://www.positive-way.com/body.htm
http://changingminds.org/techniques/body/body_language.htm
http://www.qondio.com/the-study-of-body-language-kinesics
Body Language - Without the Face
So, can you communicate in pictures without the face?
Yes you can! And I discovered that after the face, the hands are the most expressive part of our body.
Question - can you guess which photo I submitted for the challenge about body language?
Answer – none of the above! Why? Because I forgot about the deadline, that’s why! Ugh!!!
Oh, well, I had fun looking for pictures anyway. And I even had more fun putting the pictures together for this hub.
I hope you had fun looking at the photos and thinking of their messages too! Shall we talk?
