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| Talking face to face | Talking face to face |
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| By Claire Heald BBC News Magazine | By Claire Heald BBC News Magazine |
| Do we need more than the eyes?Debate over Muslim women wearing the full-face veil has been raging. So is it important for communication to see more than someone's eyes? | Do we need more than the eyes?Debate over Muslim women wearing the full-face veil has been raging. So is it important for communication to see more than someone's eyes? |
| The eyes are the window to the soul, so the proverb goes. But do we need to see more? | The eyes are the window to the soul, so the proverb goes. But do we need to see more? |
| Jack Straw's comments about asking Muslim women in his surgery to remove the face veil - and the tribunal case over a Muslim classroom assistant wearing the niqab - have sparked much debate. | Jack Straw's comments about asking Muslim women in his surgery to remove the face veil - and the tribunal case over a Muslim classroom assistant wearing the niqab - have sparked much debate. |
| But does it really obstruct communication if we can only see the eyes? In one-on-one contact, in the same physical place, the eyes are the focus. So does it matter if that's all that can be seen? | But does it really obstruct communication if we can only see the eyes? In one-on-one contact, in the same physical place, the eyes are the focus. So does it matter if that's all that can be seen? |
| 'Eyebrow flash' | 'Eyebrow flash' |
| Absolutely, say body language experts. Seeing only the eyes cuts 80% of the detail that comes to us unspoken, says psychologist Dr David Lewis. | Absolutely, say body language experts. Seeing only the eyes cuts 80% of the detail that comes to us unspoken, says psychologist Dr David Lewis. |
| Messages come thick and fast from other body parts - around the eyes, the rest of the face and the whole body. | Messages come thick and fast from other body parts - around the eyes, the rest of the face and the whole body. |
| "The eyes will tell you quite a lot, but it's like trying to guess what's in a book by reading the first chapter. The whole face is the major area of non-verbal communication." | "The eyes will tell you quite a lot, but it's like trying to guess what's in a book by reading the first chapter. The whole face is the major area of non-verbal communication." |
| They don't feel they need to see my face to hear my voice Nadia Ajibade Why women wear the veil | They don't feel they need to see my face to hear my voice Nadia Ajibade Why women wear the veil |
| Eyebrows alone contain key signals when people meet - in every culture, communication begins with a split-second "mutual eyebrow flash" - raising them to acknowledge each other. | Eyebrows alone contain key signals when people meet - in every culture, communication begins with a split-second "mutual eyebrow flash" - raising them to acknowledge each other. |
| They can be used to ask a question or give a rebuke, adds psychologist Dr Andrina McCormack. | They can be used to ask a question or give a rebuke, adds psychologist Dr Andrina McCormack. |
| Under the eyes, small pockets of flesh pop up when someone smiles, but only if the smile is genuine. Miss them, and can you judge? | Under the eyes, small pockets of flesh pop up when someone smiles, but only if the smile is genuine. Miss them, and can you judge? |
| Across the rest of the face, whether the muscles are relaxed or tense indicates mood. | Across the rest of the face, whether the muscles are relaxed or tense indicates mood. |
| The mouth is seen as vital. For instance, when pre-school children engage in rough and tumble play, they use a different face to show that it is friendly - teeth bared, mouth open, but muscles relaxed. If the face becomes tense it signals time to take cover. | The mouth is seen as vital. For instance, when pre-school children engage in rough and tumble play, they use a different face to show that it is friendly - teeth bared, mouth open, but muscles relaxed. If the face becomes tense it signals time to take cover. |
| Bite warning | Bite warning |
| This translates to adulthood - the smile is a way of rolling back the lips in a non-threatening way. As the human mouth is loaded with germs it is important to know if someone is going to bite. | This translates to adulthood - the smile is a way of rolling back the lips in a non-threatening way. As the human mouth is loaded with germs it is important to know if someone is going to bite. |
| Watch the whole body, say psychologists | Watch the whole body, say psychologists |
| People use the whole body to read people's mood - through gesture, posture, whether they are holding on to themselves, clutching their arms or relaxed. It is often absorbed on a sub-conscious level. | People use the whole body to read people's mood - through gesture, posture, whether they are holding on to themselves, clutching their arms or relaxed. It is often absorbed on a sub-conscious level. |
| But do these subtle signals really matter? Some Muslim women who wear the niqab say not. | But do these subtle signals really matter? Some Muslim women who wear the niqab say not. |
| "Within my [mixed] community, I interact just as well as anyone else does and get on with my neighbours," Nadia Ajibade, 23, told the BBC. "They're not shallow, they don't see the face veil as a barrier. They don't feel they need to see my face to hear my voice." | "Within my [mixed] community, I interact just as well as anyone else does and get on with my neighbours," Nadia Ajibade, 23, told the BBC. "They're not shallow, they don't see the face veil as a barrier. They don't feel they need to see my face to hear my voice." |
| Others say perhaps it is a separation too far. Teacher Maryam Khan, says: "Working with young children, so much is read just from facial expressions, you don't have to speak to a child. | Others say perhaps it is a separation too far. Teacher Maryam Khan, says: "Working with young children, so much is read just from facial expressions, you don't have to speak to a child. |
| "If they can't see your face, they don't know what you're thinking - a glare, a smile." | "If they can't see your face, they don't know what you're thinking - a glare, a smile." |
| Non-verbal communication is key for the young | Non-verbal communication is key for the young |
| Psychologists agree. "It's particularly true for children under five because their communication is non-verbal, they're much better at reading it than adults," says Dr Lewis. "If they're denied these signals they become quite confused." | Psychologists agree. "It's particularly true for children under five because their communication is non-verbal, they're much better at reading it than adults," says Dr Lewis. "If they're denied these signals they become quite confused." |
| In a culture where wearing veils is less common, covering the face can have other historic connotations. In the UK, there have been negative associations with a concealed face - the highwayman, executioner, burglar or today's hoodies. | In a culture where wearing veils is less common, covering the face can have other historic connotations. In the UK, there have been negative associations with a concealed face - the highwayman, executioner, burglar or today's hoodies. |
| When non-verbal information in a face is hidden, it can provoke anxiety and nervousness, says Dr Lewis - prompting "angry or more negative" responses. | When non-verbal information in a face is hidden, it can provoke anxiety and nervousness, says Dr Lewis - prompting "angry or more negative" responses. |
Add your comments on this story, using the form below. | Add your comments on this story, using the form below. |
| As a deaf male who depends on lip-reading in a big way - the wearing of the veil prevents me from communicating with many Muslim women, so yes, for me it is one of the most divisive items of clothing one can wear.Mike Heckman, Leeds | As a deaf male who depends on lip-reading in a big way - the wearing of the veil prevents me from communicating with many Muslim women, so yes, for me it is one of the most divisive items of clothing one can wear.Mike Heckman, Leeds |
| Non-verbal communication is more important than what you say, just ask any police interrogator or suspicious love interest. Face to face is the purest form of communication because of the non-verbal communication we receive. So, any face covering, like sunglasses or veils, hinders the non verbal communication that takes place. | Non-verbal communication is more important than what you say, just ask any police interrogator or suspicious love interest. Face to face is the purest form of communication because of the non-verbal communication we receive. So, any face covering, like sunglasses or veils, hinders the non verbal communication that takes place. |
| This is why world leaders fly to countries far away to have an important political talk rather than just conference call. For an important conversation I would also rather be face to face than via email or phone.Maureen, Florida, USA | This is why world leaders fly to countries far away to have an important political talk rather than just conference call. For an important conversation I would also rather be face to face than via email or phone.Maureen, Florida, USA |
| I'm sure all of this is perfectly true, but since we all seem to manage perfectly well on the phone where there are no facial clues, surely a mere veil can't impede communication that much.Allie, Worcester | I'm sure all of this is perfectly true, but since we all seem to manage perfectly well on the phone where there are no facial clues, surely a mere veil can't impede communication that much.Allie, Worcester |
| Recently, I taught a group of young veiled and non-veiled graduates and it proved difficult to remember the names of the veiled women. When they talked in class it was difficult to hear what they said clearly. Graham, Dubai | Recently, I taught a group of young veiled and non-veiled graduates and it proved difficult to remember the names of the veiled women. When they talked in class it was difficult to hear what they said clearly. Graham, Dubai |
| I am surprised that more has not been said in the defence for the hard of hearing. Like Mike from Leeds, I also attend lip reading classes and my teacher makes many comments about men who sport facial hair, people who wear dark glasses and anyone who covers their mouth for any reason. It makes it all the more difficult for us to lip read them. Lyn, Trowbridge | |