messages Batons - Temporally accent or emphasize words or phrases Ideographs - Trace the paths of mental journeys Deictic movements - Point to a present object Kinetographs - Depict a bodily action Spatial movements - Depict a spatial relationship Pictographs - Draw a picture of their referent Rhythmic movements - Depict the rhythm or pacing of an event Affect Displays - Show emotion Regulators - Control the flow and pace of communication Manipulators - Release physical or emotional tension Kinesic behaviors are an important part of nonverbal communication. Body movements convey information, but interpretations vary by culture. As many movements are carried out at a subconscious or at least a low-awareness level, kinesic movements carry a significant risk of being misinterpreted in an intercultural communication situation. See also Intercultural competence Metacommunicative competence Nonverbal communication Body language Cold Reading Eye contact Facial expression Gesture Posture Proxemics Paralanguage References External links Report on kinesics by David B. Givens for the Center for Nonverbal Studies. On the Origin of Language by Andrej Poleev. Linguistics Nonverbal communication Interpersonal communication