The Universal Language

If I ask you, what is the universal language, what would your answer be?  I am sure most of us would say English is the universal language,  if that is your answer I say you are wrong.

The universal language is of course body language.  We use body language since we were babies.  Once babies are born they already make demand through their bodies, kicking and moving their tiny limbs making cute gestures on their tiny faces. Babies can’t talk,  but their movement speak volume, they express their every needs through the only language they know, body language. They cried out loud when their diapers are wet but not only that, they also swing their tiny arms, clutch their tiny fists and kick their tiny legs, their ways to say, come change my diaper it is wet, or quickly feed me, I am hungry.  When they are happy, their grimaced faces turn into bubbly cute ones, gooing and booing in pleasure.  Can one blame them? Of course not, because it is only through body language and baby noises that they can communicate with us, the adults.

In everyday lives, we use body language all the times whether we are conscious of it or not.  There are times when you won’t want to express your thoughts verbally but your facial  gestures or your body movement give you away as your inner thoughts are shown on the your face and body.

Physical expressions like waving,  pointing, touching and slouching are all forms of nonverbal communication.   One of the most basic and powerful body-language signals is when a person crosses his or her arms across the chest. This can indicates that a person is putting up an unconscious barrier between themselves and others.  It could also indicates that the person is defensive and trying to protect his stand or words against others but judge holistically example he could be feeling cold.

How about if a person walks about with his hands in his pockets, what could he be indicating?  It means leave me alone, I need privacy, don’t disturb me, I don’t want to talk much.

In cases when there is a language barrier between you and the other party, you use body language to get your message through.  That was what I did when I was in Shanghai, China many years ago going as one of the officials for the trade mission organised by my office.

Almost all of us don’t understand or speak fluent Mandarin so when we went shopping, we brought along calculators.  It is through calculators that we were able to  bargain. 

We were advised by the travel agent that if you want to go anywhere in Shanghai, make sure you have the hotel’s business card with you so it will be easy to tell the taxi driver where you want to go.  So after finished shopping we split up, some still lingered around to finish their shopping but my friend and me chose to return to the hotel, we were tired.

In the taxi, I showed the taxi driver the hotel’s business card and he nodded his head to indicate that he understood.  Once we reached the hotel, I gave him a yuen note but he shook his head and repeat many times and said wo pu yao wop u yao..  I was puzzled and insisted he took the money but it made him angry.  He said wo yao na ke  meaning I want that, pointing to my handbag but I hid my bag behind my back.  Then my friend took out his money from his wallet and showed it to him.  He picked up a few pieces and before he left he glared at me, I made face at him like this.

After he left, I went to the counter and asked them how much was the value of the note i have in my hand, the one i wanted to pay the taxi driver.  I was told its only worth 15 cent.  Scratching my head, I turned towards the lift and roared with laughter and said no wonder he was so mad at me.

Now do u still say English is the universal language?  Believe me, it is not.