1CCT200 Week #8: RT

Rhon TeruelleClass #7 – October 29, 2012

CCT200: Intercultural CommunicationNonverbal Cues in Intercultural Communication

Listening

Importance of Nonverbal Communication

• Nonverbal communication is an extremely important variable in the intercultural communication process.

• “Most aspects of one’s culture are learned through observation and imitation rather than through explicit verbal instruction or expression” (Andersen 1999).

• Mehrabian (1982) – only 7% of meaning is carried through the verbal message.

• Birdwhistell (1970) – 65% of the message’s meaning is carried out through nonverbal channels.

2CCT200 Week #8: RT

Universality of Nonverbal Communication

• Nonverbal communication reveals our attitudes, personalities, emotions, and relationships with others.

• Although we humans are a species with universal facial expressions for most of our basic emotions (sadness, happiness, anger, distrust, surprise, and fear), when, where, and to whom we display these emotions are culturally bound.

3CCT200 Week #8: RT

• Ekman and Friesen (1971) and Fridlund and associates (1987) report research indicating that the ability to produce emotional displays such as anger and happiness is consistent between cultures.

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Universality of Nonverbal Communication Continued…

• Argyle (1975) outlines five characteristics of nonverbal communication that are universal across cultures: (1) the same body parts are used for nonverbal expressions(2) nonverbal channels are used to convey similar information, emotions, norms, values, and self-disclosures(3) nonverbal messages accompany verbal communication and are used in ritual and art(4) the motives for using the nonverbal channels are similar across cultures(5) nonverbal messages are used to coordinate and control a range of contexts and relationships that are similar across cultures.

5CCT200 Week #8: RT

Universality of Nonverbal Communication Continued…

• Knapp and Hall (1997) provide six primary functions of nonverbal communication:

(1) The nonverbal cue may simply repeat the verbal.

(2) Nonverbal cues may contradict the verbal.

(3) Nonverbal cues can substitute for the verbal.

(4) Nonverbal cues can compliment the verbal cues.

(5) Nonverbal cues can accent the verbal message.

(6) Nonverbal cues can regulate verbal communication.

6CCT200 Week #8: RT

Functions of Nonverbal Communication

• Seven categories of nonverbal behaviour that are particularly important in intercultural communication include the following: kinesics, chronemics, proxemics, haptics, artifacts, physical characteristics, and paralanguage.

• Kinesics – the study of body language.• Chronemics – the study of the use of time.• Proxemics – the study of the use of space.• Haptics – the study of the use of touch.• Paralanguage – consists of how something is

said, not what is said.

7CCT200 Week #8: RT

Nonverbal Communication Codes

• Brownell (2002) describes listening according to the HURIER model.

- Hearing.

- Understanding.

- Remembering.

- Interpreting.

- Evaluating.

- Responding.

8CCT200 Week #8: RT

Listening

• Cooper and Simonds (2003) – we spend 70% of our waking time in some form of communication.

• Of that time, 9% is spent writing, 16% reading, 30% talking, and 57% listening.

• Listening is an important survival skill.• We acquire knowledge, develop language,

learn professions, enhance relationships, and communicate respect through listening.

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Importance of Listening

• Intrapersonal – involves self-monitoring and reflection.

• Interpersonal – occurs when we communicate with people who are similar to us.

• Intercultural – communication can become problematic if we are not sensitive to differences.

10CCT200 Week #8: RT

Levels of Listening

• Physical distractions – include external interferences from the environment that keep you from focusing on the speaker and the message.

• Mental distractions – causes you to not concentrate on the message.

• Factual distractions – occurs when there are too many details to attend to.

• Semantic distractions – occurs when someone uses unfamiliar words or terminology.

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Barriers to Effective Listening