Kinesics (as Body Language), including:
- Facial Expression,
- Occulesics,
- Gestures and
- Posture.
Do not forget to cite using MLA style.
After you have found and posted your example, comment on the impact that this non-verbal communication has on the meaning of the word component. (Can you find a parallel in your own language?) Please read the postings of your peers and do not use an example already used.
Due: Tuesday, March 9.
18 comments:
"Evil Forest then stood up pulled out his staff and thrust it into the earth again. He ran a few steps in the direction of the women; they all fled in terror only to return to their places immediately" (88).
This passage reveals the power of the egwugwu and especially the leader, Evil Forest. They are feared by the people of Ikemefuna and their kinesics allow them to plant even more fear and respect in their people. The staff symbolizes power and superiority over the community and the thrust is used for emphasis to signalize anger or impatience.
"Nwoye's younger brothers were about to tell their mother the true story of the accident when Ikemefuna looked at them sternly and they held their peace." (Achebe 44).
The simple look that Ikemefuna gives the young boys makes it clear how the boys look up to Ikemefuma and respect him enough to follow his orders and keep quiet. In our own language, a look is very effective to communicate a variety of messages too, but the receptors of the message have to know and trust the person that gives the message in order to be able to understand the message.
Okonkwo has been portrayed to be very strong and have only one fear: weakness. Okonkwo fears of being weak. He believes his father was weak and it’s petrified by the thought of being like him. After killing Ikemefune, he was weak, and though he doesn’t accept it, he actually suffers because he did love Ikemefune as his son. His weakness is described through his movements in the following quote, “But he was so weak his legs could hardly carry him. HE felt like a drunken giant walking with the limbs of a mosquito” (Achebe 61). Here, Okonkwo is portrayed as super weak. The image is clearly made of a weakened giant, drunk, with not enough strength. Though the cause of this suffering and weakness come from inside, living in this culture forbids you to be weak, if you don’t want to be dishonored. Ikemefune’s death impacts Okkonkwo through the book because the boy marked him as his son, and though Okonkwo had lost children when they were babies to one of his wife. But Okonkwo actually liked the way of Ikemefune and misses him, though he doesn’t admit it.
"One of the men behind him cleared his throat. Ikemefuna looked back, and the man groweld at him to go on and no stand looking back (Achebe 59)."
This passage demonstrates the strength that a simple gesture, clearing his throat, has in the village. This excerpt happens when Ikemefuna is killed and the clearing of the throat is the signal that he was going to strike. It shows how something so simple has a deeper meaning and all the men recognize it. In our society clearing our throat doesn't carry a death sentence; however, it is also very powerful. It is used to when we hear something we don't like to signal that it was wrong or to make our presence seen. It is also used when someone says something rude to signal that it was rude and disrespectful.
"She gave the gift to her father's eldest brother and then shook hands, very shyly, with her suitor and his relatives....Her suitor and his relatives surveyed her body with expert eyes as if to assure themselves that she was beautiful and ripe" (Achebe, 68)
There are many aspecs of Kinesics in this example. First of all, this example is talking about Ofoedu's daughter and the arrival of her suitor. She makes the correct gesture of respect, by serving "Her father's eldest brother" first. Then she proceeds to shake the hand of her suitor, again, making a gesture of respect. There is also an example of Occulesics, showing that it was "ok" and "acceptable" for a man to stare with "expert eyes" at his soon to be wife. THis in a way shows how men were superior to women, as he and his relatives were able to look at her or stare at her in such a way to "check her out". One could probably guess, she wouldn't be able to do the same, as once he checked her out she was to "return with her mother" (68). The meaning that this nonverbal communication is trying to carry out is the meaning and importance of respect, and theimportance of the actions of a female when a suitor would come to ask for her hand in this culture. I think that in our language and culture, as well as in many others, marriage and engagement are a great deal, and there are always some sort of rituals associated with it. For instance, in many Islamic and Hindu cultures, a girl can't even look at her husband before marrying him, and during the ceremony they can only take a small glance at him through a mirror. The way one acts in an event like this one tells a lot about the culture. Also, for instance, in our culture, a man and his family couldn't stare at the future wife as if she was a prize, it would be considered rude. There are also ways of saluting that are different. Here, for instance, when meeting somebody or greeting an important person, girl-to-boy would be a kiss on the cheek, its only boy-to-boy use hand shakes
"When Okonkwo heard that he would not eat any food he came into the hut with a big stick in his hand and stood over him while he swallowed his yams, trembling" (Achebe 29)
This posture made by Okonkwo made Ikemefuna realize that if he did eat. Okonkwo would beat him senseless, by only standing over him, the posture, made Ikemefuna realize the trouble he was in. This also has to do with the fact that Okonkwo was a very fierce, strict, and strong man, and that he would raise Ikemefuna to be as fierceful as he, because he knew that in the village a strong man will prevail.
“And so when the priestess with Ezinma on her back disappeared through a whole hardly big enough to pass a hen, Ekwefi broke into a run as though to stop them. As she stood gazing at the circular darkness which had swallowed them, tears gushed from her eyes, and she swore within her that if she heard Ezinma cry she would rush into the cave to defend her against all the gods in the world.” (Achebe 102)
With this passage we get a demonstration of the size of the love and affection from a mother to her daughter. It is clear that this love is profound and enormous. Ekwefi has broken so many rules by just following the priestess and she still says that she is willing to fight against “all the gods in the world.” This is a very strong phrase for her to say especially in those African societies where religion and their gods were an essential part of their lives. This also demonstrates Ekwefi’s past; she is being overprotective with her child because she has suffered vastly loosing all her children and she cannot stand the idea of loosing one more. This passage makes me think of all mothers and the love and patience that they put into caring for their children.
"Okonkwo bit his lips as anger welled up within him" (Achebe 31).
This short sentence when seen in the context of the book we can see it is just one more of Okonkwo's rageous actes. The part of the sentence that sasi " as anger weelled up within him" acts as a foreshadowing to let us know that more anger is building up in him and he will probably do something worst due to anger. In fasact we know that shortle after this he beats up his wife.
On the other hand if this sentence woudl be taken out of the context of the book and applied to a person we bearly know, we could assume that this person is bitting their lips in order to repress their anger. Hence, we can see how culturaly, and in different context the same facial expression can demosntrate different parallels.
"Mgbafo and her brothers were as still as statues into whoes faces the artist has molded defiance. Uzowulu, and his relative on the other hand, were whispering together."(Achebe 83)
The fact that Mgbafo and her brothers sat like this communicated that they had done something that went against normal traditions, but thought it was important enough to go through the trouble of going against the laws and traditions of their clan. Whenever someone does something that goes against what is commonly accepted as correct, but they believe they made the right decision people become stiff and focused on the idea that what they did was right.
"Obierika's relatives counted pots as they came. Twenty, twenty five. There was a long break, and the hosts looked at each other as if to say, "I told you." Then more pots came. Thirty, thirty-five, forty, forty-five. The hosts nodded in approval and seemed to say, "Now they are behaving like men." (Achebe 110)
Obierika's relatives were obviously impressed by the amount of pots the young men were bringing, and the looks they made each other were proof.
It is amazing how people can communicate so effectively through simple looks and eye contact. Nowadays, some people still look at each other as if to say "i told you so", by raising their eyebrows.
"The drum sounded again and the flute blew. The egwugwu house was now a pandemonium of quavering voices..."(84). This represents the ceremonial gatherings the villagers had and the things that happened during the ceremonies. It represents the importance of the cermonies in the style of living, and it also represents the power it had over the peoples' lives.
“ “You have committed a great evil”, he brought down his staff. “ your wife was at fault, but even if you came into your obi and found her lover o ntop of her, you would still have committed a great evil to beat her.” He staff came down again.”(achebe 32)
The staff used by the priest Ezeani is widely associated with power and with it the authority to say that he is ultimately right and he shall not be questioned. In the passage above every time Ezeani brings down his staff is to emphasize the importance of the previous statement and with each hit he subliminally remembered his listener who was the authority and he shall not be questioned. Bringing down the staff adds to the sense of urgency and anger Ezeani feels feels okonkwo committed against the gods. Ultimately “Okonkwo did as the priest said”(achebe 32”).
“The next day a group of elders from all the nine villages of Umuofia came to Okonkwo’s and before they began to speak in low tones, Nwoye and Ikemefuna were sent out… Okonkwo sat still for a very long time supporting his chin with his palms.” (Achebe 56)
Okonkwo who is a very strong man recognized for his strong character is not likely to be in this position. Throughout the novel we learn that Okonkwo has a very strong character never allows himself to be seen by others as weak. With this gesture we can interpret what Okonkwo really feels, although he might not say so verbally. We can infer that Okonkwo is greatly disappointed by what the elders have told him. Earlier in the book we learn that Okonkwo is very fond of Ikemefuna and cares for him greatly but never shows it. We can see that he has grown attached to the boy and is very moved and hurt by the fact that Umuofia has decided to kill him. When the elders come to Okonkwo’s household they speak in low tones and send the boys away, this gesture tells us that one, they are speaking about the boys and that whatever they might be talking of is important. Okonkwo’s gesture after this fact just confirms it. In our language and culture these gestures are done for much of the same reasons. The elders spoke of something secret but important and Okonkwo felt tentative yet sad.
He heard Ikemefuna cry, “My father, they have killed me!” as he ran towards him. Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak. (Achebe, 59)
After reading this I stood perplexed. I could not believe my eyes and could not understand how inhumane this had been of Okonkwo. Ikemefuna assimilated Okonkwo to a father figure and I tried to imagine the feelings of sadness and betrayal that Ikemefuna felt at the moment that Okonkwo slaughtered him. This small excerpt from the book highlights the importance of appearing weak has on Okonkwo. It is somewhat unbearable to think that a man would slaughter his own “son” just to appear authoritative and powerful to others. The life of an individual that he loved had been ended by his own hands. Okonkwo’s fear of the opinion of others and his self-image had made him act rashly and obliterate years of memories out of pure self interest.
However, this does take a fervent toll on Okonkwo life both physically and mentally. This can be demonstrated when Okonkwo decides not to eat for two days after killing Ikemefuna. Okonkwo’s repentance of acting out of pure impulse and irrationality can be seen, when the reader is informed that he drinks palm wine for two days. In the excerpt after the death of Ikemefuna, it appears as if Okonkwo becomes conscious of what he had done and of the consequences and sacrifices of preserving his image of supremacy in the village.
An example of kinesics that I find very strong is when the powerful orator Ogbuefi Ezeugo suddenly "shot out his left hand and pointed in the direction of Mbaino, and said through gleaming white teeth firmly clenched:"those sons of wild animals have dared to murder a daughter of Umuofia" he threw his head down and gnashed his teeth....the anger on his face was gone and in its place a sort of smile hovered, more terrible and more sinister than the anger." (Achebe 15)This example clearly shows body language when the orator pointed sharply towards the Mbaino and clenched his teeth in anger and later smiled sinisterly. The pointing of his left hand means that the Mbaino has to be the fault of this gathering. The clenching and gnashing of the teeth has a great impact on the crowd since it shows great anger and revenge of what happened to Udo's wife in the market and thus accentuates the words he is saying. Later when he smiled more terribly and sinisterly than the anger, it shows how the orator feels and as a result of the sinister smile, the whole crowd understand his anger and shares it by shouting with anger and thirst for blood. In our own language it's also similar, we clench our teeth and point at the guilty and smile sinisterly for revenge. So basically these non verbal communications emphasize, sparks and give more impact to the spoken words.
"Uzowulu bent down and touched the earth with his right hand as a sign of submission" (Achebe 86)
This quote demonstrates by the use of body posture how the people regarded their ancestors spirits, the egwugwu. This demonstrates the reverence and respect that the people have for the egwugwu. The quote shows the power of the egwugwu over the tribes people. This body language would mean the same type of reverence or respect in most cultures.
"Okonkwo cleared his throat and moved his feet to the beat of the drums. It filled him with fire as it had always done from his youth. He trembled with the desire to conquer and subdue. It was like the desire for woman." (Achebe 43)
This gesture occurs in Chapter 5 when Okonkwo is getting ready for the wrestling event. It reveals this character's strong personality not only for victory and power, but also for women and respect. As Okonkwo approaches with the beat of the drums, he makes sure that everyone can feel his presence and is filled with determination and power as he does so. Through this passage, Achebe makes it clear that Okonkwo is the most powerful character in the novel who is always searching for the desire to conquer and the satisfaction that this superiority brings.
“He [Okonkwo] had a slight stammer and whenever he was angry and could not get his words out quickly enough, he would use his fists (Achebe, 3).”
Okonkwo has no talent with words; in fact, they are something of a handicap to him. He stammers when he speaks, compromising his ability to express himself well in language, and loses his capacity to talk completely when angered. Fighting, to him, is a good substitute for words. Okonkwo is a man built for battle and for farming, not for orating and speech giving. It is no surprise that when he is angry he uses his fists either for emphasis or in a violent way to get his point across. This example of body language simply emphasizes Okonkwo's strong, fiery nature and his difficulty with words and spoken conversation.
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