Body Language

Mom and I were talking about 'body language' this morning which reminded me how often the subject comes up. I think the idea of coming to conclusions about who and what people are based on how they occupy space makes as much sense as 'reading' the lumps and bumps of the human head.
For instance: On Sunday, I was sandwiched between Jerry and a six year old on a bench seat at a restaurant, sharing the table with ten other people. Why did I continually shift positions, crossing and uncrossing my legs? Was I bored with the company? Was I unhappy with the food or service? Did I dislike my dining companions? What did my body language say?
What it would have said, if body language was really a language, was that I was sitting on the uncomfortable crack where two upholstered cushions met. It would add that because I'm short, my feet couldn't comfortably set on the floor.
A popular cable television opinion show regularly has a body language expert on to assess what politicians were saying with their body language during a speech. Since 'body language' has defined a set of hand, arm, leg, torso, head, finger and mouth positions as having specific meanings, politicians long ago memorized those definitions and choreograph them into their speil. So of course, when the body language reader interprets the politician's movements and positions based on the same definitions they 'read' what they wrote.
As for the rest of us- when a politician is giving a speech, we grab the remote control, which is body language for 'Maybe there's a Seinfeld rerun on.'
When it comes to language, I prefer the verbal kind. I'll parse sentences, fill in context, and draw conclusions. But anyone who expects me to pick up added meaning from whether or not they wiggle or shift in their chair- well those messages are lost on me.
Nancy Sherer