Filipino Body Language

of Body Language

-outward reflection of our emotions

-replacement for speech

(The Definitive Book of Body Language by Allan and Barbara Pease)

(Body Language 101 by David Lambert)

-reinforces speech

3 BROAD USES

FILIPINO BODY LANGUAGE

By Johanna Sy

RUDE GESTURES

• Staring
• Standing with one arm on your hip and with your elbow out
• Pointing with fingers towards a person

-May be taken as an offensive gesture

What is Body Language?

• A form of nonverbal communication
• Conveying information through conscious or subconscious gestures, bodily movements or facial expressions

VIDEO 1

(http://ebooksmio.com/personality/2453-allan-pease-barbara-pease-the-definitive-book-of.html)

PHYSICAL CONTACT

Between Females:

• Hold hands
• Arms looped around another

-This signifies close friendship between females.

Between males:

• Arm around another male's shoulder

-This signifies camaraderie or sometimes as a greeting.

VIDEO 2

Benny the Irish polyglot

Between males and females:

• Physical contact between sexes in public is not accepted by many.

Russell Peters: Comedian

GREETINGS

• smile
• eye contact
• raise and lower eyebrows
• slight nod of the head

WITH RELATIVES:

"Mano po"

• signifying respect towards an elder
• taking the hand of the elder and placing it on his or her forehead

• a kiss to the cheek

"Beso"

(http://www.cebuexperience.org/tag/mano-po/)

POINTING

-Pursed lips

-Head tilts

-Eye shifts

(http://www.wheninmanila.com)

When passing in between people talking:

• Excuse me
• Head bowed
• Hands clasped together
• Try to be invisible
• Sign of respect and silent apology

ROOM ETIQUETTE

(The definitive book of Body Language by Allan and Barbara Pease)

-commonality despite coming from different societies

• Instinctive Body Language

-socially generated

-different meaning among different societies

• Acquired Gestures

Kinds of Body Language Signals

The Thumbs Up

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Westerners: Good

Italians: Five

Greeks: Up yours

FUN FACT:

(http://derekneighbors.com/2010/03/sunday-review-good-to-great-by-jim-collins/)

• Xu, Yixiang. Understanding Filipino Body Language. h ttp://thebasicsofanything. com /philippines-travel-tips-understanding-filipino-body-language
• Colin (2011) Signs and foreign body languages (Philippines as an example). Colin (2011) Signs and Foreign Body Language. http://denofzeus.blogspot. com/2011/12/signs-and-foreign-body-language.html
• Pease, Allan & Barbara (2005) The Definitive Book of Body Language. Orion Books Ltd; London.

REFERENCES

• Lambert, David (2008) Body Language 101. Skyhouse Publishing; New York.
• n.a. (2012) Body Language Guide. http://body-language.bafree.net/body-language-in-the-culture-of-asian-countries.php
• Henshcen, S, (2010) 4 Fingers Pointing Back at You. http://susanhenschen.wordpress.com/2010/07/21/4-fingers-pointing-back-at-you

REFERENCES