Topic 6 Crafts of Storytelling (Poise & Gesture)

Poise
a dignifed, self-confdent manner or bearing;

composure; self-possession.
Some people enjoy being in the so-called limelight

but to some, being in front of a group of people could
be a very nervous experience.
ll eyes !ill be on the storyteller" loo#ing at his$her

face and body; clothes and ma#e-up; and the !ay
he$she stands, sits or !al#s.
%ervous habits" playing !ith hair
and shu&ing of the feet.
'ac# of self-confdent" not ma#ing
eye contact and loo#ing very
tense.
storyteller therefore must remain
relaxed !hile presenting a story;
loo# and sound confdent;
be in control
ma#ing eye contacts !ith

his$her
listeners.
Gestures
Tool for communication for listeners and a tool for

thinking for speakers. -- (oldin-)eado! *+,,,,
-+,.
form of non-verbal communication in !hich

visible bodily actions communicate particular
messages.
/x" movement of the hands, face, or other parts of

the body
0hen telling a story using gestures, the
storyteller is in fact helping his$her listeners
understand the story better by giving a!ay
clues through the use of his$her body
language.
1t is therefore 2uite important for a storyteller
to understand his$her o!n body language or
gestures and !hen to use or deploy them
!hen telling a story.
/3ective use of gesture and body language
allo!s the storyteller some control over the
story, the audience and ho! they respond
during the storytelling presentation.
Suggestions to teach good body language
0or# in front of a full length dress mirror.
Record yourself telling a story. 4laying it bac# !ill

give important feedbac#.
(o for mastery over one habit you !ant to modify or
get rid of at a time rather than trying to banish the lot
at once.
5emember regular smaller practices are more

e3ective.
Practice !hat you can throughout the day. 6ou can
teach yourself body language anywhere.
7eep your gestures clear and appropriate.
void the use a furry of gestures that bears no real
relationship to the subject matter of our speech.
8ypes of gesture
8he most basic and !ell #no!n are iconics,

metaphorics, deictics and beats.
referred to as speech-associated gestures, have

distinct roles in aiding further understanding of
speech or concepts.
9ther types of gestures that !e shall also brie:y

loo# at include emblems, regulators, afect
displays and facial expressions.
+. 1conic gesture
illustrating !hat is being said, painting !ith the hands.
;or example, !hen a person illustrates a physical item by
using the hands to sho! ho! big or small it is.
8hey are used to show physical, concrete items.
8hey are useful as they add detail to the mental image

that the person is trying convey and sho! the frst
person or second person vie!point that the person is
ta#ing.
<. )etaphoric gesture
0hen using metaphoric gestures, a concept is being

explained.
(estures are in three-dimensional space and are

used to shape and idea being explained, either !ith
specifc shapes such as fnger pinches and
physical shaping, or more general waving of
hands that symboli=es the complexity of !hat is
being explained.
>. ?eictic gestures
?eictic gestures indicate a point in space.
8hey accompany reference to persons,

places and other spatiali=eable discourse
entities.
n example is pointing to the ground !hile saying

@?o you have an account at )ellon or at 8A1S
ban#BC
-. Deats
Deats are small formless waves of the hand

that occur !ith heavily emphasi=ed !ords,
occasions of turning over the :oor to another
spea#er, and other #inds of special linguistic !or#.
n example is !aving oneCs left hand brie:y up

and do!n along !ith the stressed !ords in the
phrase @(o A/?.@
E. /mblems
/mblems are specifc gestures !ith specifc

meaning that are consciously used and
consciously understood. 8hey are used as
substitutes for words and are close to sign
language than everyday body language.
;or example, holding up the hand !ith all fngers

closed in except the index and second fnger,
!hich are spread apart, can mean CF for victoryC
or Cpeace.
G. 5egulators
5egulators are used to control turn-taking in

conversation.
n example" the !ay that as a person completes

!hat he$she is saying, he$she may drop the arms,
!hilst a person !anting to spea# may raise an
arm as if to grasp the !ay for!ard.
H. 3ect displays
(estures can also be used to display
emotion, from tightening of a fst to the
many forms of self-touching and holding the self.
/xamples"
Iovering or rubbing eyes, ears or mouth can say C1 do not
!ant to see$hear$say thisC.
Aolding hands or the !hole body can indicate anxiety as the
person literally holds themselves.
Self-preening can sho! a desire to be li#ed and can indicate
desire of another.

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Poise

a dignifed, self-confdent manner or bearing;

Some people enjoy being in the so-called limelight

ll eyes !ill be on the storyteller" loo#ing at his$her

relaxed !hile presenting a story;

loo# and sound confdent;

ma#ing eye contacts !ith

Tool for communication for listeners and a tool for

form of non-verbal communication in !hich

/x" movement of the hands, face, or other parts of

Record yourself telling a story. 4laying it bac# !ill

5emember regular smaller practices are more

8he most basic and !ell #no!n are iconics,

referred to as speech-associated gestures, have

9ther types of gestures that !e shall also brie:y

8hey are useful as they add detail to the mental image

0hen using metaphoric gestures, a concept is being

(estures are in three-dimensional space and are

?eictic gestures indicate a point in space.

8hey accompany reference to persons,

n example is pointing to the ground !hile saying

Deats are small formless waves of the hand

n example is !aving oneCs left hand brie:y up

/mblems are specifc gestures !ith specifc

;or example, holding up the hand !ith all fngers

5egulators are used to control turn-taking in

n example" the !ay that as a person completes

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