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Language isn't always spoken.  Body gestures can send language cues or messages to other people.

If you pay attention to people around you and concentrate on their gestures, you may be able to read and interpret how they are feeling and thinking.

Most people interpret a "smile," a very obvious body gesture, to mean "hello" or "I like you."   However, a smile could have additional meanings.  Louis Jerome in his article, Face Reading:  What does it mean?, states that there are many reasons for smiles, "including fear, misery, and even contempt."  Jerome explains that "a smile may not have anything to do with underlying thoughts or emotions," but "may be expected of people" or "may come with the job."               

Flirting is one of the most common body language gestures.  Body language may indicate whether a person is flirting with you or whether another person likes you.  Women frequently send body language messages to men, according to EastWest Institute for Self-Understanding at
www.learnbodylanguage.org.   The website explains the body language used by both females and males when flirting and states that women send five times more body language messages and gestures than men in the same time period.  

Body language can also be conveyed by females through style of dress and colors worn, according to www.learnbodylanguage.org.    

Learning to read body movements and gestures should be helpful for everyone.  Lying and other undesireable behaviors can, at times, be indicated by certain body gestures.   When lying, a person may  seem anxious, avoid eye contact, limit physical expression, but may touch the face, throat, and mouth, according to www.blifaloo.com.  Suite 101.com also explains how to spot lies with body language. 

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According to Kevin Hager, Psy. D,  Persuasion,  Body Language and Sales Expert, people can be taught the "unique ability to easily interrupt body language cues of anyone."    Hager suggests that it critical to know what people are thinking because "what people say could often be very different from what they're thinking or feeling.  People may lie, but their body silently and unconsciously speaks the truth."

Hager adds, "Your own body language signals can also influence what other people may think about you . . . . If you send the wrong signals, your business, career, relationships, and even self-esteem may suffer."  

Knowing the characteristics of threatening body language could keep you safe. 

Some psychologists and police officers believe that the intentions and actions of armed criminals can be predicted by watching them walking or standing somewhere.  "Feelings of excitement, anxiety, and angry may occur before a crime is committed," stated Anastassia Blechko at www.in-mind.org.  "Those same emotions are apparent on facial expressions before a crime. . . . Flashes of emotions appear on the face and are beyond any conscious control."

One body gesture alone cannot accurately decode what another person is thinking, according to Reading Body Language at www.Squidoo.com.  For example, a "crossed arm" gesture could indicate (1) He/she may not agree with what you said, doubts you, suspects you, is arrogant, or is defensive.  (2) He/she may be hiding something, is lying, or feels anxious or nervous.  (3) Protecting himself/herself from verbal attack to maintain composure.  (4) He/she might just be feeling cold.

People do not always want to discuss how they feel or what mood they are in.  If you want to persuade or influence another person, you may need to know how to decode body gestures which can indicate the mood of another person.  Facial expressions and the way a person stands, moves, and walks are usually reflective of a current mood.     

Body language can be useful.  A body gesture can be a convenient, expedient way to send an affectionate or loving message to another person - - just wink!