Non-Verbal Communication in Diverse Cultures

8/11/2019 Non-Verbal Communication in Diverse Cultures

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AARTI TAKAWANE


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- Gestures: The Dos andTaboos of BodyLanguage. by Roger E. Axtell

- Gestures: BodyLanguage and NonverbalCommunication. byGary Imai. www.csupomona.edu/~tassi/gestures.htm.


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* Mario Pei, a communications expert, once estimatedthat humans can produce up to 700,000 differentphysical signs.

*Birdwhistell estimated that the face alone is capable ofproducing 250,000 expressions.

* People in other parts of the world observe bodylanguage more than the North Americans do.


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- Nodding the head - yes in most societies - no in some parts of Greece, Yugoslavia,

Bulgaria, and Turkey- Tossing the head backward

- yes in Thailand, the Philippines, India, Laos - Rocking head slowly, back and forth

- yes, Im listening in India and Thailand


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* Facial expressions reflect emotion, feelings andattitudes, but..

* The Asians are sometimes known as

- emotionless- mixed-up emotion


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* Eye contacts - Encouraged in America, Canada, Europe- Rude in most Asian countries and in Africa

* Raising eyebrows - yes in Thailand and some Asian countries - hello in the Philippines

* Winking eye

- Sharing secret in America and Europe- flirtatious gesture in other countries


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* Closed eyes - bored or sleepy in America- Im listening and concentrating. in Japan,

Thailand, China


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* Ear grasp - Im sorry. in India

* Cupping the ear

- I cant hear you. in all societies * Pulling ear - You are in my heart for Navajo Indians


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* Holding the nose - Something smells bad. universal

* Nose tap - Its confidential. England - Watch out. Be careful. Italy

* Pointing to nose - Its me. Japan

* Blowing nose - In Japan and many Asian countries, blowing the nose atsocial gathering is very impolite.


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* Cheek screw - gesture of praise - Italy- Thats crazy. Germany

*Cheek stroke - pretty, attractive, success most Europe


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* Whistle, yawn, smile, bite, point, sneeze, spit,kiss..

* Kiss. In parts of Asia, kissing is considered anintimate sexual act and not permissible in public,even as a social greeting.

* Kissing sound . To attract attention in thePhilippines, to beckon a waiter in Mexico.

* Finger tip kiss . In France, it conveys severalmessages, Thats good! Thats great! Thatsbeautiful!.


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* Spitting .* Spitting in public is considered rude and crude in most

Western cultures.* In the PRC and some other Asian countries, spitting in

public is very common.


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* Lip pointing (a substitute for pointing with the handor finger) is common among Filipinos, Native Americans, Puerto Ricans, and many Latin Americans.

* Open mouth . Any display of the open mouth isconsidered very rude in most countries.


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* Some cultures, like the Italians, use the arms freely.Others, like the Japanese, are more reserved; it isconsidered impolite to gesticulate with broadmovements of the arms.

* Folding arms are interpreted by some social observersas a form of excluding self, I am taking a defensiveposture, or I disagree with what I am hearing.


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* Arms akimbo . In many cultures, this stance signalsaggression, resistance, impatience, or even anger.

* Arms behind back , hands grasped is a sign of ease andcontrol.

* Arms in front , hands grasped, common practice inmost Asian countries, is a sign of mutual respect forothers.


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* Of all the body parts, the hands are probably usedmost for communicating non-verbally.

* Hand waves are used for greetings, beckoning, orfarewells. * The American good -bye wave can be interpreted in

many parts of Europe and Latin America as the signalfor no.

* The Italian good -bye wave can be interpreted by Americans as the gesture of come here.


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* Beckoning .* The American way of getting attention (raising a hand

with the index finger raised above head) could beconsidered rude in Japan, and also means two inGermany.

* The American come here gesture could be seen as aninsult in most Asian countries.

* In China, to beckon a waiter to refill your tea, simply

turn your empty cup upside down.


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* Handshaking is a form of greeting in most Western cultures.

* In the Middle East, a gentle grip is appropriate.* In most Asian cultures, a gentle grip and an avoidance of

direct eye contact is appropriate.* Hand-holding among the same sex is a custom of

special friendship and respect in several Middle

Eastern and Asian countries.


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* Right hand . The right hand has special significance inmany societies. In certain countries in the Middle Eastand in Asia, it is best to present business cards or gifts,or to pass dishes of food, to get an attention, using onlythe right hand.

* Left hand is considered unclean in much of the MiddleEast and in parts of Indonesia.


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* Hang loose .(thumb and little finger extended) * could convey different meanings:

* in Hawaii, its a way of saying, Stay cool,

or Relax. * in Japan, it means six.* In Mexico (do vertically), it means,

Would you like a drink?


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* Suicide gesture .* In the U.S., a person points a forefinger to the temple,

thumb pointing upward.* In Japan, a stabbing motion to the stomach is used.* In parts of Asia, putting one hand to throat in a choking

motion is the signal for suicide.


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* Clapping hands .* Russians and Chinese may use applause to greet

someone.

* In many central and eastern Europe, audiencefrequently clap in rhythm.


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* The O.K. signal. (the thumb and forefinger form a circle) means* fine, or O.K. in most cultures,

* zero or worthless in France * an insult in Greece, Brazil, Italy, Turkey,

Russia


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* Thumbs-up . It means:* O.K. good job or fine in most

cultures,* Up yours! in Australia * Five in Japan; One in Germany

* Avoid a thumbs-up in these countries: Australia, New

Zealand, Greece, Turkey, Iran, Russia, and most African countries.


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* Pointing.* Pointing with the index finger is common in North

America and Europe.* But it is considered impolite in Japan and China where

they favor using the whole open hand.* Malaysians prefer pointing with the thumb.


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* In Thailand, do not point with your toes.* In Thailand, Japan, China, Malaysia, France.., do not

put your feet up on a desk or any other piece offurniture.

* Sitting cross-legged is common in North America andsome European countries.

* Royal Cross is common in England.


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* In Japan, Thailand, and China, a solid and balancedsitting posture is the prevailing custom. Sitting cross-legged shows the sign of disrespect.

* In the Middle East and parts of Asia, resting the ankleover the other knee risks pointing the sole of your shoeat another person, which is considered a rude gesture.


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* Walking can reflect many characteristics of a culture.For example, * In Thailand and some of the Middle Eastern countries,

men who are friends may walk holding each others

hand.* In Japan and Korea, women commonly walk a pace or

two behind male companion.* Asians often regard Western women as bold and

aggressive, for they walk with a longer gait and a moreupright posture .


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* Respectful of ones parents and elders * Respectful of authority* Interdependent

* Humble* Group oriented* Hard-working and frugal


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* Careless: with dress, rules, and manners* Generous: as neighbors* Superficial: shallow and short-lasting friendship

* Confident: demand almost too much of self* Ethnocentric: less interested in others* Independent: Individually feeling not to fit others

mold. * Source: Tyler, V. Lynn. Intercultural Interacting. (1987)


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Non-Verbal Communication in Diverse Cultures