GESTURES AND

BODY MOVEMENTS
Gestures
 a movement of part of the body, especially a
hand or the head, to express an idea or
meaning.
- Any act of the speaker that enlivens ideas.
 BASIC HAND GESTURES

PALM – UP GESTURES
The palm of the hand is either
facing the audience or facing
upwards.
This is generally known as
the affirmative, giving or
receiving gestures.
 PALM-DOWN GESTURES
The back side of the palm of
the hand is either facing the
audience or facing
downwards.
It is also known as the
negative or rejecting gestures.
 INDEX - FINGER GESTURES
The index finger is
extended and all the other
fingers are closed.
This is referred to as the
pointing gesture.
 CLENCHED FIST GESTURES
All the fingers are closed with
the thumb over the closed
fingers.
These are accepted as the
emphatic gesture or one that
denotes force and power.
 DIVIDING GESTURES
It describes separation or
distinction of a series or ideas.
This is used to indicate
something served or cut off.
 RAISING HAND GESTURES

Used when there is something to

bring up (a question, objection
etc.)
Also for consideration, to
apologize or something to tell.
 SUPINE HAND GESTURES
This is executed by extending
the arms forward palms up.
It can be used by one hand at a
time or by both hands together.
It indicates approval or an
appeal for support.
 PRONE GESTURES
Hands or arms are extended
forward palms down.
It can be executed by one hand
at a time or both hands to mean
“wait”, “keep quiet” and “take it
easy.”
It signifies dislikes, rejection or
repulsion.
 EMPHASIZING GESTURES
 A special vigor or deliberation
given to an action so as to
convey an attitude of mind.
A strong and forceful gesture
used by emotional speakers in
political campaigns to show
determination and fighting spirit.
 Other Types of Gestures
Emphatic Gestures – hand movements use to
underscore what is being pointed out.

 Lean forward a bit, raise your arm to waist level with

elbow bent and hand close to the body, and then move
your raised hand out and slowly toward the audience
with palm up.
 Make a fist and gently bring it into open palm.
 Point at the audience if you want to stress their
responsibility to think or do something.
LOCATIVE Gestures – are used to indicate
where something is or what direction something
might be going. If you say “Over there” ,
pointing to the location is a locative gesture.

TRANSITIONAL Gestures – are used to

move your audience from one idea to the next or
to enumerate things.
SUGGESTIVE Gestures – are symbols of ideas
and emotions. They help a speaker to create a
desired mood or express a particular thought. An
open palm suggests giving or receiving, usually of an
idea, while a shrug of the shoulders indicates
ignorance, perplexity or irony.
Prompting Gestures – are used to help evoke a
desired responses from the audience. If you want
your listeners to raise their hands, applaud or
perform some specific action, you will enhance the
response by doing it yourself as an example.
 SOME GESTURES PITFALLS

Avoid pointing over and over at your audience.

Do not put your hand in the pocket.
A “push away” gesture may be appropriate and
useful sometimes but, used too often, can
subconsciously encourage and audience an
audience to reject your entire message.
Never take a pen, paper, hanky or anything with
you unless you really need them as visuals.
Avoid doing any gestures repetitively.
Try to gesture as naturally as possible.
If you are speaking at a podium, avoid gripping the
sides of the podium or leaning on it.
When you are not using one of the intentional
gestures, let your hands fall naturally at your sides or
hold your arms, or one arm, waist high elbows bent
and fingers curled naturally in front of you
Avoid clasping your hands together either behind or in
front of you or more than a few seconds.