Kinesics in Nonverbal Communication: the Semantics of Head Movements

Abstract

This research aims to deepen in the significance of nonverbal communication in real face-to-face conversations. More specifically, I wanted to stand up the importance of head movements, a crucial element in body language that is often overlooked. Therefore, this paper presents:  First a general view of the field of nonverbal communication studies together with a classification of their main components –among which we can find kinesics. –  Then, the focus is placed on the foundations of nonverbal communication in order to have a chronologic perspective of the development of this field of study.  And finally, a compilation of the major types of head movements in communication as well as their main uses and meaning are presented. Bearing those variables in mind, five real interactive situations of the conversation genre have been examined in order to analyse and determine the frequency of head movements in conversation. Results suggest that head movements, in these specific conversations, are used in two particular situations. This confirms previous research which stated that the meaning conveyed by kinesics in conversation is even more important than words themselves.