Functions of Kinesic Behavior

Illustrators: accompany the conversation and aid in description, show direction, establish rhythm, or gain/hold attention.
• Examples: this big, giving directions/pointing, telling stories/emphasizing work
• Contradiction?

Affect displays: express emotion, especially the face (people watch the face while communicating)
• Examples: smile, grimace

Regulators: regulate the flow of interaction
• Examples: head nods, postural shifts, filling the gestural space

Adaptors: unconscious actions that satisfy internal needs
• Less likely in public
• Examples: truncated hitting action, hair twirling, nail biting, leg shaking

Emblems: word like (OK sign), culture specific
• Examples: OK sign, the “finger”, crazy