Experts Answer to Oral History Questions

100 Questions/ 52

How should the interviewer deal with the interviewees body language, including silence?

Machine Translation Edited by Mandana Karimi

2026-10-19

We asked several researchers and activists in the field of oral history to express their views on oral history questions. The names of each participant are listed at the beginning of their answers, and the text of all answers will be published on this portal by the end of the week. The goal of this project is to open new doors to an issue and promote scientific discussions in the field of oral history.

In this project, a question is asked every Saturday, and we ask experts to present their views in the form of a short text (about 100 words) by the end of the week. All answers will be published together so that the audience can compare and analyze the views. The content is the opinions of the senders and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Oral History website. Although the answers are supposed to be about 100 words, in order to be polite and not to leave the discussion incomplete, in some cases, more than this number of answers are also accepted.

This time, we asked the experts to send their answers by Sunday night so that all the answers can be published on Tuesday.

From the intertwining of these answers, using artificial intelligence, we have arrived at theories about oral history that will be published in the near future.

Question 52

How should the interviewer deal with the interviewee's body language, including silence?

Experts’ Answer:

Gholamreza Azari Khakestar

The interviewee's body language is one of the most important signals that the interviewer can use to guide the conversation, select the next questions, or change the questions if necessary. Some interviewees, based on their habits or individual characteristics, use body language more than words to express their feelings and views. Silence in an interview can also signal the end of a discussion, confirmation, or even doubt. Therefore, paying attention to nonverbal communication, including head and facial movements, pauses, facial expressions, and silence, is an important part of the oral history interview and acts as a guide for effectively continuing the conversation.

Hassan Beheshtipour

The oral history interviewer must be patient, observant, and ethical in dealing with silence and body language. They should not immediately fill silence or guess its cause, but should record nonverbal behaviors descriptively and distinguish between observation and interpretation. They should also be careful not to suggest a response or judgment to the narrator. The goal is to understand the meaning and circumstances of the narrative, without claiming to be mind-reading or to judge the narrator’s honesty. Silence is not necessarily a sign of concealment and can be part of the remembering process; therefore, its interpretation should be cautious and based on a variety of evidence.

Abolfazl Hassanabadi

One of the interviewer's skills in oral history is paying attention to the narrator's body language. The interviewer's skill is not limited to asking precise questions and following up on details, but also includes listening, being patient, and recognizing appropriate times for silence. Body language can draw the interviewer's attention to aspects of the narrative that have received less attention. Incoherence in speech and behavior, such as shaking hands or averting eyes, may be due to hesitation, embarrassment, or difficulty recalling unpleasant experiences. A professional approach requires avoiding prejudice, respecting the narrator's authority, and separating observations from personal perceptions and inferences.

Mohammad Mehdi Abdollahzadeh

In oral history interviews, verbal and nonverbal messages are constantly exchanged between the interviewer and the interviewee. The interviewer should consider these messages and the narrator’s body language without judgment as feedback to continue, modify, or stop the interview. Body posture, facial expression, hands, feet, eyes, sitting posture, and silence can all convey messages. For example, silence may indicate a need for more time to recall and organize memories, prepare to respond, or experience emotional states. It may also indicate an unwillingness to continue the discussion. In either case, the interview should be managed in a way that is appropriate to the interviewee’s wishes.

Hamid Ghazvini

Silence is one of the reactions observed in the narrator's behavior. It is important to see where the silence occurs? At the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of the answer? Do they want to think more to have a more accurate narrative, are they hiding something, are they upset about something, or are they worried about expressing a memory? It is important that the oral history researcher makes the right decision to continue the interview according to each type of silence. Sometimes something must be said to break the narrator's silence, and sometimes they must be allowed to continue their silence. In any case, the narrator expects the interviewer to pay attention to them and their situation.

Abolfat’h Mo’men

The interviewee's body language is part of the oral history interview. When a topic is not being discussed, the body tells the story. The interviewer should be familiar with how to deal with body language in different situations and actions. If the interviewee remains silent on a topic during the interview, the interviewer should take a different path and pursue another topic, appropriate to the circumstances. Then, at the appropriate time, ask the previous question without causing a negative reaction. They should not insist on immediately repeating the question, but should reduce the narrator's sensitivity. Also, telling the story of the same event from the other narrators' language can help break the silence.

Gholamreza Azizi

First, if we consider body language as nonverbal communication and information transfer through body movements and facial expressions, then the inclusion of silence in this definition is questionable. However, recording silence in the interview transcript is easy because the implementer can mark it with phrases such as [pause], [short silence], or [32 seconds of silence]. Recording body language in video interviews is also not difficult, but in audio interviews, body movements and facial expressions are not recorded. The interviewer can convert these movements into speech or make it possible to record them in the transcript by entering the exact time in the notes.

Seyyed Mohammad Sadegh Feyz

In popular culture, silence is interpreted as a sign of consent, but this is not always the case. Silence, like other human reactions and body language, has different meanings. Sitting cross-legged or appearing indifferent, each has a specific meaning and is relevant to that moment. Therefore, it is not possible to derive a permanent meaning from them. It is better to base the initial understanding of the behavior on the criterion and avoid overinterpretation so that the flow of the interview does not get out of hand. However, silence is worth noting. You can wait and repeat the question in a different tone in subsequent sessions or tell the narrator that we can skip the topic if you wish and continue the conversation.

Artificial Intelligence

The interviewer should observe the interviewee's body language carefully and without judgment. Respect their silence and give them time to think by pausing briefly. Balanced eye contact, an open body posture, and gentle nods build trust. If the interviewee is anxious, calm the atmosphere with a gentle tone and a simpler question. If there is a long silence, instead of pressing, ask, "Would you like to think for a moment?" Pay attention to nonverbal cues such as hand flapping, sitting back, or a nervous smile. The goal is to create a safe space for honest answers, not to control or over-interpret gestures. (DeepSeek)

The interviewer should pay attention to the interviewee's body language, but avoid making hasty judgments and interpreting the signs definitively. Silence may indicate anxiety, thinking, hesitation, or the need for time to respond. Therefore, it is best to create a safe and friendly atmosphere by maintaining calm, appropriate eye contact, and a receptive body posture. When faced with silence, the interviewer should not interrupt or pressure the person to respond; instead, they should give them enough time to think. If the silence continues, they can help the interviewee express their point of view more easily by asking a clear and encouraging question. (ChatGPT)

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