The Importance of Kinesics in Communication

What are the gestures used in conversations to highlight or accentuate the verbal messages we say called?

Final answer: Kinesics

Answer:

Kinesics are the gestures used in conversations to highlight or accentuate the verbal messages we say. These gestures often subconsciously support our verbal communication and vary across cultures and situations.

Explanation: The gestures used in conversations to highlight our verbal messages are known as kinesics. These body movements and actions, such as facial expressions, hand gestures, or posture, often subconsciously strengthen the points we make verbally. This is a subset of nonverbal communication, which is as important and frequently used as verbal communication.

Kinesics varies among cultures and situations. For instance, a thumbs-up might be viewed as offensive in some cultures, whereas in others, it's seen as a positive gesture. Similarly, the meaning of hand waves can differ based on the manner in which they're done.

This form of communication accentuates the overall impact of our words, helps in conveying our emotions, and assists in making our point clearer. The impact of these gestures is so profound that they can even denote the emotional state of a person from a distance. Hence, understanding and accurately interpreting kinesics is a crucial part of effective communication.

Yet, this is complex due to cultural variations. Misinterpretation could lead to misunderstandings. To master kinesics, one must learn to control and use facial expressions and gestures consciously to become an effective communicator.