Speech is a vital component of every nation and culture on this planet. Language is therefore diverse, and the vibrations generated through it are the basis of lingos spoken in different parts of the world and groups of people.
With that, there is another vital aspect of communication known as body language. It basically involves the posture and gesture of a person and can be seen as very particular according to the culture.
Posture vs Gesture
The main difference between posture and gesture is that a posture is making of a pose that involves the body as a communicator. On the other hand, a gesture is basically a motion created to depict a sentiment or an idea. Both are an equally important part of our body language and helps in outlining a number of things that we can’t express vocally.
Posture is generally for the way someone stands or sits. You may have a posture that might help people knowing whether you are angry, tense, or happy. It is the posture of a human being that helps in communicating using its body. In fact, your body can adapt it in no time and unintentionally to give a clue to somebody regarding your feelings.
While a gesture usually takes the involvement of a person’s hand movements to show their sentences or words. For instance, saying hello or goodbyes to somebody are gestures that are comprehensive in nature, and you might know in no time that the other person is trying to greet you using such signs.
Comparison Table Between Posture and Gesture
| Parameters of Comparison | Posture | Gesture |
| Definition | Defines the position of an individual’s body parts or body | Defines the movement of a body part, particularly head or head, to depict a meaning or idea |
| Body part involved | Involvement of entire body | Involvement of a single part of the body |
| Replacement of words | Don’t replace words | Can be utilized to replace words. |
| Emotions | Depicts attitude, confidence level, and mood | Depicts emotions and attitude |
| Nature | Mostly unintentional | Might be intentional or unintentional. |
What is Posture?
Posture is known as the outlook presumed by the body with muscular activity, support, or a coordinated action done by a few muscles to maintain body stability. It is basically of two types:
- Dynamic Posture: It is the way you hold yourself while moving, like when you’re running or bending over to pick something up. It is generally needed to make an efficient base of the movement. Non-contractile structures and muscles are required to work, adapt or change circumstances.
- Static Posture: It is the way you hold yourself while you’re not moving, like when you’re sleeping, standing, or sitting. Body segments are maintained and aligned in firm positions. It is carried out via the interaction and coordination of many muscles working to counteract many forces and gravity.
The way to great posture is the placement of the spine. Correct posture must maintain the curves but not elevate them. Also, in a perfect posture, the gravity line must pass via particular points in your body.
You can merely evaluate or observe this by utilizing a plumb line to gauge the body’s midline. The line must then pass via the ear lobe, shoulder joint, hip joint, and then a bit anterior towards the midline of the knee joint and finally anterior towards the lateral malleolus.
What is Gesture?
When people speak, they gesture. It is a fundamental element of language that donates unique and meaningful details to a message spoken and returns the speaker’s underlying experiences and knowledge.
It serves a wide array of functions plus overlaps with a speech regarding both meaning and time. It also conveys information spatially, holistically, and usually simultaneously in one event.
With that, a gesture is specifically well-suited regarding visuospatial details that are left behind while having an overall conversation. The dignified learning of gesture in the conveyance is more discipline.
Gesture not only aids essential attributes to a note but also intently facilitates the cognitive establishment of messages. It also supports memory and learning.
If someone is making a “V” sign using his fingers, the gesture says that he is trying to show Victory. In other words, you can effortlessly recognize by such means that what a person is trying to tell or speak about. A gesture is therefore known to figure out meanings out of someone’s body parts.
In different cultures, many unique signs or gestures illustrate special meanings and messages like the mudras used in religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, etc.
Main Differences Between Posture and Gesture
Conclusion
In everyday life, a posture has to deal with the way you sit, stand, or lean and the attitude of how you grip yourself in a place or environment. On the other hand, a gesture in daily life is regulated to a reaction that shows a thought or feeling regarding someone but is not taken as a responsive action.
When you involve your body in performing a physical activity or work, you are into a posing or posture state. For example, posture for sports, dance, etc. While, when a random physical move, whether or not performed by a person like human process, thinking or speaking anything is considered as a gesture state of the person.
Both posture and gesture are terms that may be used interchangeably. But, both have their own meaning and importance in a persons’ body language and non-verbal communication.
References
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