Intro
The body language is indeed a language with words and phrases. The body can communicate even when there are no spoken words. The primary function of body language is to express emotions and status among surrounding animals; and its vocabulary is specialized for that. Using body language, one can speak multiple words simultaneously.
Importance of mastering it
Body language is widely understood, often unconsciously. Bad skill at it is often results in miscommunication. So, its vocabulary should be mastered systematically.
Just as one can speak words to oneself, one can use the body language to speak to oneself to great effect!
Realize that a significant minority does not speak it well.
Vocabulary
Confidence
Prolonged eye contact, relaxed but alert posture.
Friendliness, welcoming interaction
Smile. Nod.
Depth, truthfulness
The basic idea in understanding a smile is imitate it. Observe if the eyes are wrinkled.
Trustworthiness, appeasement
Mirror others’ body language.
Acknowledgement of superiority
añjali-mudrA. Back slightly bent forward. Hands folded submissively.
Doubt or mental processing
One of the eyes narrowed at the outer corner. Raised eyebrows. Pursed lip.
Lowered eyebrows and squinted eyes illustrate an attempt at understanding what is being said or going on. It’s usually skeptical.
Authority, firmness
Act like a statue: Your secure position does not require you to care for making others comfortable by mirroring. (Observed in bosses of corporations, mafia and emperors.)
Boredom and distraction
People who look away while you are talking to them are thinking about something else.
Solitude
People with crossed arms are closing themselves to social influence.
Anger
Bulged eye-balls. Flared nose. Eyes narrowed at the inner corner.
Fear
Arms fending unseen things away: Adjusting cufflinks, purses etc.. Casual face touching. The hand shrug: palm upward, fingers slightly curled. Squirming.
Anxiety
Detecting lies
Outward calm and inner turbulance. A trained person can detect lies with great accuracy. While the other is speaking, look for fear.
Uncomfortable truthfulness
When the other person is silent, these could also indicate uncomfortable truthfulness.
Expert lying
Sincerity is very important. But, in some situations, lying is inevitable. Avoid non-verbal leakage.
Statue strategy
Deadpan face. Eyes concealed by glasses (Pupil dilation is involuntary, and can reveal interest level). Rigid body, Minimal hand movement. Seen in dominant males of many species, emperors, corporate heads. Indicates a lack of need to pander to companions.
Flase clown strategy
Mock-aggression or mock-friendliness. Throw in much body language noise. Could even be used as a permanent mask in the Orient (and Iran, I hear).
Erratic signaling
Deliberately misleading signaling. Very tough to execute correctly, but very effective.