NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

Intercultural Business Communication, 4th ed., Chaney & Martin

What is meant by nonverbal communication?

Non-word messages, such as gestures, facial expressions, interpersonal distance, touch, eye contact, smell, and silence.


Areas of Nonverbal Communication

Chronemics (time) Proxemics (space) Oculesics (gaze/eye contact) Olfactics (smell) Haptics (touch) Kinesics (body language) Chromatics (color) Silence


Time (Chronemics) Attitudes toward time vary from culture

to culture. Countries that follow monochronic time

perform only one major activity at a time (U.S., England, Switzerland, Germany).

Countries that follow polychronic time work on several activities simultaneously (Latin America, the Mediterranean, the Arabs).


Space (Proxemics)•Proxemics refers to the perception and use of space•People in the U.S. tend to need more space than do persons of other cultures. U.S. persons back away when people stand too close. Standing too close is interpreted as being pushy or overbearing; standing too close may also be interpreted as unwelcomed sexual advances.•Some people stand so far apart they have to lean forwards to shake hands.


Distance varies greatly with nationality. For example the casual-personal distance may be:North America: 18 inchesWestern Europe: 14 to 16 inchesJapan: 36 inchesMiddle East: 8 to 12 inches

U.S. people need more space than do Greeks, Latin Americans, or Arabs.

The Japanese stand even farther away than do U.S. persons.


Gaze/Eye Contact (Oculesics)•People in the U.S. favor direct eye contact, •Japanese don’t prefer direct eye contact; they direct their gaze below the chin. • In the Middle East, the eye contact is more intense.•A prolonged gaze or stare in the U.S. is considered rude.• In most cultures, men do not stare at women as this may be interpreted as sexually suggestive.


Smell (Olfactics)

Although people of the U.S. respond negatively to body odors, Arabs are comfortable with natural body odors.

Japan culture - smell plays an important role


Touch (Haptics) Haptic refers to the use of touch. Varies across cultures : gender m/f, age, part

(head, hand, shoulder, etc) Touch, when used properly, may create

feelings of warmth and trust; when used improperly, touch may cause annoyance and betray trust.

Hierarchy is a consideration when using touch in the U.S.: people who are older or higher rank may touch those who are younger or of lower rank; equals may touch each other.


“Don't Touch” Cultures

Japan U.S. and Canada England Scandinavia Other N. European

countries


“Touch” Cultures

Latin American countries

Italy Greece Spain and Portugal Some Asian

countries Russian Federation


Body Language (Kinesics) Body language includes facial expressions,

gestures, eye gaze and blinking, posture and stance.

Hand gesture for e.g OK sign (US) means Zero/worthless (France), Money (Japan).

People in some cultures rarely show emotion (China); Asians will smile or laugh softly when they are embarrassed.

The Chinese have several facial expressions, which vary in meaning. For example, sticking out the tongue expresses surprise, a widening of the eyes shows anger, and scratching the ears and cheeks indicates happiness.

Meaning in China Body Language

Anger, irritation, frustration, remorse

Stamping one’s foot

Thank you; mutual positive feelings Speaker or performer clapping at the same time audience applauds

Curiosity, sometimes surprise Staring, gaping

Disapproval, hissing “Shoo”

Seldom used; occasionally adults may pat head of children to show affection; patting the head of a teenager or adult would cause displeasure and can be insulting

Pat on head

“Come here” (beckoning some to come)

Hand extended toward person, open palm, palm down, with all fingers crooked in a beckoning motion

“Shame on you!” (semi-joking gesture)

Forefinger of one hand extended, tip touches one’s own face several times quickly; similar to scratching, but with the forefinger straight (usually with the remark “Shame on you!”)

“I’m very full” (after a meal) One or both hands open, lightly patting one’s own stomach

Body Language Meaning in China

Touching or pointing to tip of one’s own nose with raised forefinger

“It’s me” “I’m the one” (To Westerners, the gesture would seem slightly funny)

Using an open hand to cover one’s mouth while speaking (generally used by older people)

To show confidentiality and secrecy; sometimes no meaning

Using both hands (when one would be enough) in offering something to a visitor or another person

Respect

(When one’s tea cup is being refilled by the host or hostess) putting one or both hands upright, palm open, beside the cup

“Thank you”

Upraised forefinger of each hand coming together in front of the body until the two touch

Boy and girl in love; a good match

Greeting used when a young man is greeting an old man or a student greeting a professor

---lower head and bend slightly to show respect

Put right hand on the position of the heart--"Sincere promise" Pull up one’s sleeve with the hand of the

opposite arm--Designates that one is ready to fight

Deceit

When disusing do not deceit, this make you look sleepy or

not interested.

Disrespect

Don’t show something disrespect. This can make

other people feel not comfortable

Pain in the neck

During discussion, aviod to show that you are in pain

Dominance & Superiority

This make you look rude


Facial Expressions

The face and eyes convey the most expressive types of body language, including happiness, surprise, fear, anger, interest, and determination.

Facial expressions must be controlled when inappropriate to the setting (yawning during a presentation).

Displeasure & Negative

This show you like in bad mood n not look really interested

Having Negative Thoughts

Don’t give bad face impression

Axtell, Gestures

Gestures

Emblems or symbols ("V" for victory) Illustrators (police officer's hand held up

to stop traffic) Regulators (glancing at watch when in a

hurry) Affect displays (a person's face turns red

with embarrassment)


Posture and Stance

Posture can convey self-confidence, status, and interest.

Confident people have a relaxed posture, yet stand erect and walk with assurance.

Walking with stooped shoulders and a slow, hesitating gait projects negative messages of lack of confidence.


Color (Chromatics) Colors have cultural variations in

connotations. Black is the color of mourning in the U.S., but

white is worn to funerals by the Japanese. In the U.S. white is typically worn by brides,

while in India red or yellow is worn. Purple is sometimes associated with royalty, but

it is the color of death in Mexico and Brazil. Red (especially red roses) is associated with

romance in some cultures including the U.S.

In China:

Black colour used during a funeral to symbolize mourning. A black ribbon is usually hung over the deceased's picture.

Red symbolizes good fortune and joy. Found everywhere during Chinese New Year.

All traditional red things have been playing special roles in China: the walls of ancient palaces, the national flag, Chinese knot, lantern, couplet, clothes, traditional paper-cuts for window decorations, and even red tanghulu (sugar-coated haws on a stick). Red is the color of the auspicious, signifying reunion, health, happiness, harmony, peace and prosperity.

Blue symbolizes immortality. Dark blue is also a color for somber occasions like funerals and deaths.

White is associated with death and is used predominantly in funerals in Chinese culture.

Yellow was the color of Imperial China and is held as the symbolic color of the five legendary emperors of ancient China. Yellow also represents freedom from worldly cares and is thus esteemed in Buddhism. Monks’ garments are yellow, as are elements of Buddhist temples.


Silence

U.S. people are uncomfortable with silence. The Japanese like periods of silence and do not

like to be hurried. Such Japanese proverbs as, “Those who know do not speak - those who speak do not know,” emphasize the value of silence over words in that culture.

In Italy, Greece, and Arabian countries, on the other hand, there is very little silence.

Oliver (1971) ‘silence in Asia has commonly been entirely acceptable, whereas in the West silence has generally been socially disagreeable’.

Education

NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION