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Oftentimes, people bite their nails without even realizing it.
Hand placed on the Cheek: This example of body language can indicate that a person is lost in

thought, or is considering something. Sometimes when the hand is on the cheek, it is
accompanied by a furrowed brow, which further demonstrates deep concentration. A person lost
in his or her own thoughts to such an extent is not paying attention to the speaker anymore.

Sitting on the edge of the seat: There‘s a reason this has become a phrase meaning ―to be in
suspense.‖ When you sit at the edge of your seat, it signals that you are physically or mentally

on edge.
3.4.6. GESTURES

A gesture is the verbal or nonverbal body movement used to express or emphasize an idea, an
emotion, or a state of mind. Gesture is defined as a ‗visible bodily action by which meaning is

represented‘ (Kendon, 1983). This includes manual gestures, movements of the whole body
(shoulder-shrug), head movements (nodding) and facial expressions (smiling) (Givens, 1999).
The movements of arms, hands, legs, shoulders and neck are termed gestures. While gestures

vary greatly across communities, they are generally used to convey information to others, both
intentionally and unintentionally. Gestures serve as an effective window to peep into an

individual‘s mind.
Applause (clapping), the victorious ‗V,‘ a thumbs up (all right, done, all the best) or a thumbs
down (rejection or defeat), a raised pointer finger (seeking permissions, warnings), and other

universal gestures are examples. Foot tapping and finger tapping are all signs of restlessness,
agitation, anxiety, and even boredom. A shrug can be used to express several meanings such
as ―That‘s it,‖, ―Who cares,‖ or ―What can I do?‖ depending on the context of expression.

Here are certain gestures and messages they convey.
Gestures Message

Yawning Boredom, lack of interest
Scratching the head frustration

Palm rub excitement
Locked fingers Negative reaction/defensive response
Eye and ear rub Falsehood and deceit

Nail Biting Anxiety, tension, nervousness

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