A body movement that helps to express or conceal thoughts or emphasize speech is called what?

• A. Gestures
• B. Mannerisms
• C. Posture
• D. Facial expressions

Answer: (A)

Nonverbal communication often uses body movements to add meaning to what is said. Gestures are these deliberate movements of hands, arms, or the whole body that help express or emphasize spoken words, and they can even hint at thoughts without using words. They’re a key way to make instructions clearer or to convey emphasis, which is especially helpful when listening is challenging for residents or when language barriers exist.

Posture describes how you hold your body and indicates things like openness or defensiveness, but it isn’t specifically used to highlight speech. Facial expressions show emotion rather than directing speech. Mannerisms are habitual, often idiosyncratic movements that aren’t used to emphasize what you’re saying and can be distracting.