Evaluation and Deceit Signalsgesture might only be several fingers over the mouth or even a
closed fist, but its meaning remains the same.
Some people try to disguise the Mouth Cover gesture by
giving a fake cough. When actors play gangsters or criminals,
they often use this gesture when discussing criminal activities
with other gangsters or when being interrogated by the police,
so that the audience knows they're being secretive or dishon-
est.
If the person who is speaking uses this gesture, it indicates
that they could be lying. If they cover their mouth while you
are speaking, it can show they might feel you are hiding some-
thing. One of the most unsettling sights a conference speaker
can see is his audience using this gesture while he's speaking.
A speaker should stop and ask, 'Would someone like to ask a
question?' or 'I can see some people disagree. Let's take ques-
tions.' This allows the audience's objections to be brought into
the open, giving the speaker the opportunity to qualify state-
ments and answer questions, just as he would do if they had
their arms crossed.
The Mouth Cover may appear as innocuous as the 'Shhh'
gesture where one finger is placed vertically over the lips; this
gesture would likely have been used by the person's mother or
father when he was a child. As an adult, the person uses it in
an attempt to tell themselves not to say something they're
feeling. The point is that it alerts you to something that is
being withheld.
If your parents or minders
used this gesture when you
were a child, there's a good
chance it's now in your
adult repertoire