118 I Can Read You Like a Book
One of the classic signs of punctuating a message is batoning.
President Bill Clinton used this illustrator in his public rebuttal of the
accusation that he’d had an affair with Monica Lewinsky. His
batoning forearm and hand emphasized every word of his denial.
Adolph Hitler did it as part of his wild gesticulation that whipped his
audience into submission. Television evangelists do it to hammer on
each and every word in a key Bible passage.
Although gesturing with symbols must be learned, illustrators do
not have to be learned. Any movement can become an illustrator if
used to drive home the message. Watch as a sassy teenager throws
a shirt on the counter and huffs out of the store. Even if she never
says, “I don’t have time to wait for a dressing room!” her action
illustrates her thoughts. Even a gesture such as flashing the middle
finger can become an illustrator when used to punctuate thoughts.
Other examples of illustrators are:
ƒ Finger pointing, either as an accusation or designation.
ƒ Use of any body part to baton. A head tilt, finger wag,
foot shake, or movement of the entire upper body
could be an illustrator.
ƒ Opening the lips to overly enunciate each word.
ƒ Closing the lids and tilting the head as you slowly speak
to someone who just doesn’t get it.
ƒ Placing the palms together in a prayerful motion as
you plead your case.
ƒ Placing the fingers to the lips while thinking.