What Body Language Can Tell You That Words Cannon Q. Mr. Givens, why is it important for people to understand body language – that is, communication by means of movements and gestures? A. The best salespeople, the best teachers, the best business managers have an innate ability to read body language and put it to profitable use. They adapt their presentation to the messages they pick up. For example, the most successful trial lawyers are those who can look at a jury and a judge and pick up little cues that tip off what people are thinking. An observant lawyer may notice that the judge is compressing his lips into a thin line as the lawyer is speaking. This is a common sign people use when they disagree or are becoming annoyed. A smart lawyer will quickly try a new approach. Such signals are used constantly, even though people generally don't realize they are communicating through their movements, posture and mannerisms. Q. What kinds of information is nonverbal language likely to reveal? A. Very often it signals a person's true feelings, which may be contrary to what is actually being spoken. For example, a person may hunch the shoulders, angle the head to one side and compress the lips. That's a good indication that he or she is uncertain about an idea or perhaps disagrees with it, even without saying so in words. Q. Would you give some examples of the most common indicators of approval and disapproval? A. When people show rapport with each other, they swivel their upper bodies toward each other and align their shoulders in parallel. They face each other squarely, they lean slightly toward each other, and there is more eye contact. If they disagree, they unwittingly or unconsciously turn their bodies away from each other. Such signs are unmistakable forms of body language. Q. Do people more often than not try to exhibit dominant behavior in the presence of others? A. Some people do, but many also assume a submissive stance. The head, arms, legs and feet tell the true intent. When the boss pats an employee on the back, the employee's toes will invariably pigeon-toe inward--a classic sign of submission--and the boss will toe out, a sign of dominance. By contrast, people in submissive roles will tend to crouch slightly and display self-protective stances. They may fold their arms or hug themselves, cross their legs or reach up and touch their throats. People with a more dominant attitude will use more-expansive gestures, spreading the arms and legs, creating an air of openness. Q. What are some other universal nonverbal signals? A. One is an automatic raising of the eyebrows that a person does when he or she meets someone else. It takes place very quickly at the instant when recognition takes place, and it is a natural and universal form of greeting. Another obvious cue is known as the "hand behind head," which signals uncertainty or stress. When someone is disturbed or startled by something, the first reaction is to reach up and touch the back of the head. It is a totally unconscious reflex. About 125 nonverbal signals of this type have been cataloged as recognizable. Q. Where do we get mannerisms such as these? Are they learned as a part of our culture? A. No, they are almost entirely inborn. Nonverbal behavior occurs naturally, without being taught, and even shows up in newborn infants and in lower animals. It is firmly grounded in evolutionary development. It's something that Mother Nature provides to help us get along with each other. Nonverbal communication is also what we call culture-free: it applies worldwide. People can go anywhere and understand these signals, even if they don't know the spoken language. Q. Is courtship one of the situations that is strongly influenced by nonverbal skills? A. Yes. In fact, early courtship is almost entirely made up of nonverbal actions. Men and women unconsciously shrug their shoulders when they find each other attractive. It is an "I give up" signal, almost a childlike gesture that shows they are harmless. Early courtship is filled with shy, juvenile, awkward behavior between the man and the woman. A woman attracted to a man will tilt her head down and to the side, then look in his direction in a coy or coquettish way. A man at a party or at a bar will stake out his territory by putting cigarettes or cash in front of him, to show females his status relative to other men. Q. What if a woman decides that she isn't interested in a man's overtures? A. The simplest gesture is simply to turn her body away from him. It's the "cold shoulder," one of the most recognizable gestures in the entire animal kingdom. It is really one of the kindest yet most effective ways to dampen someone's ardor. And men can use it, too. Q. Would you include touching in the vocabulary of nonverbal communication? A. Yes. And it should be used very carefully. Skin is our oldest sense organ, and when it is touched by someone it carries a strong emotional impact. It is a very sexually loaded form of communication. In a business or social setting, a casual touch can be almost electric, even in a professional relationship. When someone is touched, he or she immediately stops for an instant and wonders, "What did that mean?" In such settings, "hands off" is the best policy because even a well-intentioned touch can be badly misconstrued. Decide whether the following statements are true （T） or false （F） according to the information given in the passage. 8. In early courtship both man and woman are behaving awkwardly, often very uncertain as to what is best to say.

What Body Language Can Tell You That Words Cannon Q. Mr. Givens, why is it important for people to understand body language – that is, communication by means of movements and gestures? A. The best salespeople, the best teachers, the best business managers have an innate ability to read body language and put it to profitable use. They adapt their presentation to the messages they pick up. For example, the most successful trial lawyers are those who can look at a jury and a judge and pick up little cues that tip off what people are thinking. An observant lawyer may notice that the judge is compressing his lips into a thin line as the lawyer is speaking. This is a common sign people use when they disagree or are becoming annoyed. A smart lawyer will quickly try a new approach. Such signals are used constantly, even though people generally don't realize they are communicating through their movements, posture and mannerisms. Q. What kinds of information is nonverbal language likely to reveal? A. Very often it signals a person's true feelings, which may be contrary to what is actually being spoken. For example, a person may hunch the shoulders, angle the head to one side and compress the lips. That's a good indication that he or she is uncertain about an idea or perhaps disagrees with it, even without saying so in words. Q. Would you give some examples of the most common indicators of approval and disapproval? A. When people show rapport with each other, they swivel their upper bodies toward each other and align their shoulders in parallel. They face each other squarely, they lean slightly toward each other, and there is more eye contact. If they disagree, they unwittingly or unconsciously turn their bodies away from each other. Such signs are unmistakable forms of body language. Q. Do people more often than not try to exhibit dominant behavior in the presence of others? A. Some people do, but many also assume a submissive stance. The head, arms, legs and feet tell the true intent. When the boss pats an employee on the back, the employee's toes will invariably pigeon-toe inward--a classic sign of submission--and the boss will toe out, a sign of dominance. By contrast, people in submissive roles will tend to crouch slightly and display self-protective stances. They may fold their arms or hug themselves, cross their legs or reach up and touch their throats. People with a more dominant attitude will use more-expansive gestures, spreading the arms and legs, creating an air of openness. Q. What are some other universal nonverbal signals? A. One is an automatic raising of the eyebrows that a person does when he or she meets someone else. It takes place very quickly at the instant when recognition takes place, and it is a natural and universal form of greeting. Another obvious cue is known as the "hand behind head," which signals uncertainty or stress. When someone is disturbed or startled by something, the first reaction is to reach up and touch the back of the head. It is a totally unconscious reflex. About 125 nonverbal signals of this type have been cataloged as recognizable. Q. Where do we get mannerisms such as these? Are they learned as a part of our culture? A. No, they are almost entirely inborn. Nonverbal behavior occurs naturally, without being taught, and even shows up in newborn infants and in lower animals. It is firmly grounded in evolutionary development. It's something that Mother Nature provides to help us get along with each other. Nonverbal communication is also what we call culture-free: it applies worldwide. People can go anywhere and understand these signals, even if they don't know the spoken language. Q. Is courtship one of the situations that is strongly influenced by nonverbal skills? A. Yes. In fact, early courtship is almost entirely made up of nonverbal actions. Men and women unconsciously shrug their shoulders when they find each other attractive. It is an "I give up" signal, almost a childlike gesture that shows they are harmless. Early courtship is filled with shy, juvenile, awkward behavior between the man and the woman. A woman attracted to a man will tilt her head down and to the side, then look in his direction in a coy or coquettish way. A man at a party or at a bar will stake out his territory by putting cigarettes or cash in front of him, to show females his status relative to other men. Q. What if a woman decides that she isn't interested in a man's overtures? A. The simplest gesture is simply to turn her body away from him. It's the "cold shoulder," one of the most recognizable gestures in the entire animal kingdom. It is really one of the kindest yet most effective ways to dampen someone's ardor. And men can use it, too. Q. Would you include touching in the vocabulary of nonverbal communication? A. Yes. And it should be used very carefully. Skin is our oldest sense organ, and when it is touched by someone it carries a strong emotional impact. It is a very sexually loaded form of communication. In a business or social setting, a casual touch can be almost electric, even in a professional relationship. When someone is touched, he or she immediately stops for an instant and wonders, "What did that mean?" In such settings, "hands off" is the best policy because even a well-intentioned touch can be badly misconstrued. Decide whether the following statements are true （T） or false （F） according to the information given in the passage. 9. Touching, in most cases, should be avoided since it is very emotional.

What Body Language Can Tell You That Words Cannon Q. Mr. Givens, why is it important for people to understand body language – that is, communication by means of movements and gestures? A. The best salespeople, the best teachers, the best business managers have an innate ability to read body language and put it to profitable use. They adapt their presentation to the messages they pick up. For example, the most successful trial lawyers are those who can look at a jury and a judge and pick up little cues that tip off what people are thinking. An observant lawyer may notice that the judge is compressing his lips into a thin line as the lawyer is speaking. This is a common sign people use when they disagree or are becoming annoyed. A smart lawyer will quickly try a new approach. Such signals are used constantly, even though people generally don't realize they are communicating through their movements, posture and mannerisms. Q. What kinds of information is nonverbal language likely to reveal? A. Very often it signals a person's true feelings, which may be contrary to what is actually being spoken. For example, a person may hunch the shoulders, angle the head to one side and compress the lips. That's a good indication that he or she is uncertain about an idea or perhaps disagrees with it, even without saying so in words. Q. Would you give some examples of the most common indicators of approval and disapproval? A. When people show rapport with each other, they swivel their upper bodies toward each other and align their shoulders in parallel. They face each other squarely, they lean slightly toward each other, and there is more eye contact. If they disagree, they unwittingly or unconsciously turn their bodies away from each other. Such signs are unmistakable forms of body language. Q. Do people more often than not try to exhibit dominant behavior in the presence of others? A. Some people do, but many also assume a submissive stance. The head, arms, legs and feet tell the true intent. When the boss pats an employee on the back, the employee's toes will invariably pigeon-toe inward--a classic sign of submission--and the boss will toe out, a sign of dominance. By contrast, people in submissive roles will tend to crouch slightly and display self-protective stances. They may fold their arms or hug themselves, cross their legs or reach up and touch their throats. People with a more dominant attitude will use more-expansive gestures, spreading the arms and legs, creating an air of openness. Q. What are some other universal nonverbal signals? A. One is an automatic raising of the eyebrows that a person does when he or she meets someone else. It takes place very quickly at the instant when recognition takes place, and it is a natural and universal form of greeting. Another obvious cue is known as the "hand behind head," which signals uncertainty or stress. When someone is disturbed or startled by something, the first reaction is to reach up and touch the back of the head. It is a totally unconscious reflex. About 125 nonverbal signals of this type have been cataloged as recognizable. Q. Where do we get mannerisms such as these? Are they learned as a part of our culture? A. No, they are almost entirely inborn. Nonverbal behavior occurs naturally, without being taught, and even shows up in newborn infants and in lower animals. It is firmly grounded in evolutionary development. It's something that Mother Nature provides to help us get along with each other. Nonverbal communication is also what we call culture-free: it applies worldwide. People can go anywhere and understand these signals, even if they don't know the spoken language. Q. Is courtship one of the situations that is strongly influenced by nonverbal skills? A. Yes. In fact, early courtship is almost entirely made up of nonverbal actions. Men and women unconsciously shrug their shoulders when they find each other attractive. It is an "I give up" signal, almost a childlike gesture that shows they are harmless. Early courtship is filled with shy, juvenile, awkward behavior between the man and the woman. A woman attracted to a man will tilt her head down and to the side, then look in his direction in a coy or coquettish way. A man at a party or at a bar will stake out his territory by putting cigarettes or cash in front of him, to show females his status relative to other men. Q. What if a woman decides that she isn't interested in a man's overtures? A. The simplest gesture is simply to turn her body away from him. It's the "cold shoulder," one of the most recognizable gestures in the entire animal kingdom. It is really one of the kindest yet most effective ways to dampen someone's ardor. And men can use it, too. Q. Would you include touching in the vocabulary of nonverbal communication? A. Yes. And it should be used very carefully. Skin is our oldest sense organ, and when it is touched by someone it carries a strong emotional impact. It is a very sexually loaded form of communication. In a business or social setting, a casual touch can be almost electric, even in a professional relationship. When someone is touched, he or she immediately stops for an instant and wonders, "What did that mean?" In such settings, "hands off" is the best policy because even a well-intentioned touch can be badly misconstrued. Decide whether the following statements are true （T） or false （F） according to the information given in the passage. 10. Givens has confined himself to such body behaviors as are "natural and universal" and therefore "unconscious". They are less controllable and more biological.

Nonverbal Communication 　　When we think of communication, we normally think of using words — talking face to face, writing messages and so on. But in fact, we communicate far more in other ways. Our eyes and facial expressions usually tell the truth even when our words do not. 　　Then there are gestures, often unconscious: raising the eyebrows, rubbing the nose, shrugging the shoulders, tapping the fingers, nodding and shaking the head. There is also the even more subtle "body language" of posture. Are you sitting — or standing — with arms or legs crossed? Is that person standing with hands in pockets, held in front of the body or hidden behind? Even the way we dress and colours we wear communicate things to others. 　　So, do animals communicate? Not in words, although a parrot might be trained to repeat words and phrases which it doesn't understand. But, as we have learnt, there is more to communication than words. 　　Take dogs for example. They bare their teeth to warn, wag their tails to welcome and stand firm, with hair erect（竖起）to challenge. These signals are surely canine（犬的）equivalent of the human body language of facial expression, gesture and posture. 　　Colour can be an important means of communication for animals. Many birds and fish changes colours, for example, to attract partners during the mating（交配）season. And mating itself is commonly preceded by a special dance in which both partners participate. 　　Here again, there are striking similarities to youngsters who dress up to meet partners at discotheques（迪斯科舞厅）, where the music is often too loud for verbal communication. Communication there takes place through appearance and movements. 　　The most elaborate（复杂的）dances in the animal kingdom are those which bees use to communicate. With body movements alone they can tell other bees the direction and distance of a newly discovered food source. 　　All these examples may suggest instinctive rather than intelligent communication. But human body language is largely instinctive, too. And, in many ways, body language says far more than intelligent, verbal communication ever can. Decide which answer best completes the following statements according to the information in the passage. 　　l. Body language includes( ).

Nonverbal Communication 　　When we think of communication, we normally think of using words — talking face to face, writing messages and so on. But in fact, we communicate far more in other ways. Our eyes and facial expressions usually tell the truth even when our words do not. 　　Then there are gestures, often unconscious: raising the eyebrows, rubbing the nose, shrugging the shoulders, tapping the fingers, nodding and shaking the head. There is also the even more subtle "body language" of posture. Are you sitting — or standing — with arms or legs crossed? Is that person standing with hands in pockets, held in front of the body or hidden behind? Even the way we dress and colours we wear communicate things to others. 　　So, do animals communicate? Not in words, although a parrot might be trained to repeat words and phrases which it doesn't understand. But, as we have learnt, there is more to communication than words. 　　Take dogs for example. They bare their teeth to warn, wag their tails to welcome and stand firm, with hair erect（竖起）to challenge. These signals are surely canine（犬的）equivalent of the human body language of facial expression, gesture and posture. 　　Colour can be an important means of communication for animals. Many birds and fish changes colours, for example, to attract partners during the mating（交配）season. And mating itself is commonly preceded by a special dance in which both partners participate. 　　Here again, there are striking similarities to youngsters who dress up to meet partners at discotheques（迪斯科舞厅）, where the music is often too loud for verbal communication. Communication there takes place through appearance and movements. 　　The most elaborate（复杂的）dances in the animal kingdom are those which bees use to communicate. With body movements alone they can tell other bees the direction and distance of a newly discovered food source. 　　All these examples may suggest instinctive rather than intelligent communication. But human body language is largely instinctive, too. And, in many ways, body language says far more than intelligent, verbal communication ever can. Decide which answer best completes the following statements according to the information in the passage. 　　2. Dogs wag their tails to ( ).

Nonverbal Communication 　　When we think of communication, we normally think of using words — talking face to face, writing messages and so on. But in fact, we communicate far more in other ways. Our eyes and facial expressions usually tell the truth even when our words do not. 　　Then there are gestures, often unconscious: raising the eyebrows, rubbing the nose, shrugging the shoulders, tapping the fingers, nodding and shaking the head. There is also the even more subtle "body language" of posture. Are you sitting — or standing — with arms or legs crossed? Is that person standing with hands in pockets, held in front of the body or hidden behind? Even the way we dress and colours we wear communicate things to others. 　　So, do animals communicate? Not in words, although a parrot might be trained to repeat words and phrases which it doesn't understand. But, as we have learnt, there is more to communication than words. 　　Take dogs for example. They bare their teeth to warn, wag their tails to welcome and stand firm, with hair erect（竖起）to challenge. These signals are surely canine（犬的）equivalent of the human body language of facial expression, gesture and posture. 　　Colour can be an important means of communication for animals. Many birds and fish changes colours, for example, to attract partners during the mating（交配）season. And mating itself is commonly preceded by a special dance in which both partners participate. 　　Here again, there are striking similarities to youngsters who dress up to meet partners at discotheques（迪斯科舞厅）, where the music is often too loud for verbal communication. Communication there takes place through appearance and movements. 　　The most elaborate（复杂的）dances in the animal kingdom are those which bees use to communicate. With body movements alone they can tell other bees the direction and distance of a newly discovered food source. 　　All these examples may suggest instinctive rather than intelligent communication. But human body language is largely instinctive, too. And, in many ways, body language says far more than intelligent, verbal communication ever can. Decide which answer best completes the following statements according to the information in the passage. 　　3. The main difference between man and other animals, according to the author, is that( ).

Nonverbal Communication 　　When we think of communication, we normally think of using words — talking face to face, writing messages and so on. But in fact, we communicate far more in other ways. Our eyes and facial expressions usually tell the truth even when our words do not. 　　Then there are gestures, often unconscious: raising the eyebrows, rubbing the nose, shrugging the shoulders, tapping the fingers, nodding and shaking the head. There is also the even more subtle "body language" of posture. Are you sitting — or standing — with arms or legs crossed? Is that person standing with hands in pockets, held in front of the body or hidden behind? Even the way we dress and colours we wear communicate things to others. 　　So, do animals communicate? Not in words, although a parrot might be trained to repeat words and phrases which it doesn't understand. But, as we have learnt, there is more to communication than words. 　　Take dogs for example. They bare their teeth to warn, wag their tails to welcome and stand firm, with hair erect（竖起）to challenge. These signals are surely canine（犬的）equivalent of the human body language of facial expression, gesture and posture. 　　Colour can be an important means of communication for animals. Many birds and fish changes colours, for example, to attract partners during the mating（交配）season. And mating itself is commonly preceded by a special dance in which both partners participate. 　　Here again, there are striking similarities to youngsters who dress up to meet partners at discotheques（迪斯科舞厅）, where the music is often too loud for verbal communication. Communication there takes place through appearance and movements. 　　The most elaborate（复杂的）dances in the animal kingdom are those which bees use to communicate. With body movements alone they can tell other bees the direction and distance of a newly discovered food source. 　　All these examples may suggest instinctive rather than intelligent communication. But human body language is largely instinctive, too. And, in many ways, body language says far more than intelligent, verbal communication ever can. Decide which answer best completes the following statements according to the information in the passage. 　　 　　4. According to the passage, intelligent communication refers to ( ).

Nonverbal Communication 　　When we think of communication, we normally think of using words — talking face to face, writing messages and so on. But in fact, we communicate far more in other ways. Our eyes and facial expressions usually tell the truth even when our words do not. 　　Then there are gestures, often unconscious: raising the eyebrows, rubbing the nose, shrugging the shoulders, tapping the fingers, nodding and shaking the head. There is also the even more subtle "body language" of posture. Are you sitting — or standing — with arms or legs crossed? Is that person standing with hands in pockets, held in front of the body or hidden behind? Even the way we dress and colours we wear communicate things to others. 　　So, do animals communicate? Not in words, although a parrot might be trained to repeat words and phrases which it doesn't understand. But, as we have learnt, there is more to communication than words. 　　Take dogs for example. They bare their teeth to warn, wag their tails to welcome and stand firm, with hair erect（竖起）to challenge. These signals are surely canine（犬的）equivalent of the human body language of facial expression, gesture and posture. 　　Colour can be an important means of communication for animals. Many birds and fish changes colours, for example, to attract partners during the mating（交配）season. And mating itself is commonly preceded by a special dance in which both partners participate. 　　Here again, there are striking similarities to youngsters who dress up to meet partners at discotheques（迪斯科舞厅）, where the music is often too loud for verbal communication. Communication there takes place through appearance and movements. 　　The most elaborate（复杂的）dances in the animal kingdom are those which bees use to communicate. With body movements alone they can tell other bees the direction and distance of a newly discovered food source. 　　All these examples may suggest instinctive rather than intelligent communication. But human body language is largely instinctive, too. And, in many ways, body language says far more than intelligent, verbal communication ever can. Decide which answer best completes the following statements according to the information in the passage. 　 　　5. At discotheques, youngsters communicate through ( ).

Nonverbal Communication 　　When we think of communication, we normally think of using words — talking face to face, writing messages and so on. But in fact, we communicate far more in other ways. Our eyes and facial expressions usually tell the truth even when our words do not. 　　Then there are gestures, often unconscious: raising the eyebrows, rubbing the nose, shrugging the shoulders, tapping the fingers, nodding and shaking the head. There is also the even more subtle "body language" of posture. Are you sitting — or standing — with arms or legs crossed? Is that person standing with hands in pockets, held in front of the body or hidden behind? Even the way we dress and colours we wear communicate things to others. 　　So, do animals communicate? Not in words, although a parrot might be trained to repeat words and phrases which it doesn't understand. But, as we have learnt, there is more to communication than words. 　　Take dogs for example. They bare their teeth to warn, wag their tails to welcome and stand firm, with hair erect（竖起）to challenge. These signals are surely canine（犬的）equivalent of the human body language of facial expression, gesture and posture. 　　Colour can be an important means of communication for animals. Many birds and fish changes colours, for example, to attract partners during the mating（交配）season. And mating itself is commonly preceded by a special dance in which both partners participate. 　　Here again, there are striking similarities to youngsters who dress up to meet partners at discotheques（迪斯科舞厅）, where the music is often too loud for verbal communication. Communication there takes place through appearance and movements. 　　The most elaborate（复杂的）dances in the animal kingdom are those which bees use to communicate. With body movements alone they can tell other bees the direction and distance of a newly discovered food source. 　　All these examples may suggest instinctive rather than intelligent communication. But human body language is largely instinctive, too. And, in many ways, body language says far more than intelligent, verbal communication ever can. Decide whether the following statements are true （T） or false （F） according to the information given in the passage. 　　1. We communicate not only through talking or writing, but also in other ways.

Nonverbal Communication 　　When we think of communication, we normally think of using words — talking face to face, writing messages and so on. But in fact, we communicate far more in other ways. Our eyes and facial expressions usually tell the truth even when our words do not. 　　Then there are gestures, often unconscious: raising the eyebrows, rubbing the nose, shrugging the shoulders, tapping the fingers, nodding and shaking the head. There is also the even more subtle "body language" of posture. Are you sitting — or standing — with arms or legs crossed? Is that person standing with hands in pockets, held in front of the body or hidden behind? Even the way we dress and colours we wear communicate things to others. 　　So, do animals communicate? Not in words, although a parrot might be trained to repeat words and phrases which it doesn't understand. But, as we have learnt, there is more to communication than words. 　　Take dogs for example. They bare their teeth to warn, wag their tails to welcome and stand firm, with hair erect（竖起）to challenge. These signals are surely canine（犬的）equivalent of the human body language of facial expression, gesture and posture. 　　Colour can be an important means of communication for animals. Many birds and fish changes colours, for example, to attract partners during the mating（交配）season. And mating itself is commonly preceded by a special dance in which both partners participate. 　　Here again, there are striking similarities to youngsters who dress up to meet partners at discotheques（迪斯科舞厅）, where the music is often too loud for verbal communication. Communication there takes place through appearance and movements. 　　The most elaborate（复杂的）dances in the animal kingdom are those which bees use to communicate. With body movements alone they can tell other bees the direction and distance of a newly discovered food source. 　　All these examples may suggest instinctive rather than intelligent communication. But human body language is largely instinctive, too. And, in many ways, body language says far more than intelligent, verbal communication ever can. Decide whether the following statements are true （T） or false （F） according to the information given in the passage. 　2. Some animals may communicate in words since a parrot might be trained to speak.