Case Study
Non-Verbal Communication of Different Languages
Introduction:
Non-verbal communication is communication using body language occurs without
words. It is the nonlinguistic transmission of information through visual, auditory, tactile,
kinesthetic (physical) channels, etc. It is not what is said with words but how it is said
and expressed.
Explanation:
We have a variety of languages across the world and part of these differences is our
cultural background. Non-verbal communication is different from person to person and
especially from one culture to another. Cultural background defines their non-verbal
communication as many forms of non-verbal communications like signs and signals are
learned behavior. As there are differences in meanings of non-verbal communication,
miscommunication can occur when inter-cultural people communicate. People can
offend others without meaning to due to their cultural differences in non-verbal
communication. Facial expressions are mostly similar in most cultures as many of them
like smile and cry are innate. According to researches, six expressions are universal;
they are, happiness, sadness, disgust, fear, anger and surprise. But it might also be
different like the extent to which people show these feelings, in some cultures people
express openly and in some people do not. For instance, you are a European, you are
traveling to Japan and you don’t speak Japanese. You don’t have a translator or a
dictionary and you can only use non-verbal communication to communicate with people.
You go to a restaurant and order food by pointing at something. Similarly, you pay
money and leave. The people bow to you when you are leaving the place a satisfied
customer. Nods might also mean different things causing problems like when the
person nods to say “yes”, other people might understand it as a “no”. In Japan, when
you nod, they can just take it as a signal that you are listening to them.
Some of the nonverbal communication differences in different cultural are eye contact,
Gestures, Touch, Appearance, Body Movement and Posture, Facial Expressions,
Paralanguage, Physical Space (Proxemics).
For examples:
In Western cultures mostly consider eye contact to be a good gesture. It shows
attentiveness, confidence and honesty. Other cultures such as Asian, Middle Eastern,
Hispanic and Native American do not take it as a good expression. It is taken as a rude
and offensive expression.
Gestures such as thumbs up can be interpreted differently in different cultures. It is
taken as “Okay” sign in many cultures whereas is taken as a vulgarism in others like
Latin American cultures and in Japan some even take it as money.
Touches are taken as rudeness in most cultures. Shaking hands is considered to be
acceptable in many. Similarly, acceptability of kissing, hugs, and many other touches
are different in different cultures. People in Asia are more conservative in these types of
non-verbal communication.
Appearance is another form of non-verbal communication. People are judged from their
appearance. Racial differences as well as differences in clothing tell so much about any
individual. Grooming yourself to look good is taken as an important aspect of personality
in most cultures.
People receive information or message from body movements. It shows how people
feel or think about you. If a person does not face you while talking to you can mean that
the person is nervous or shy. It might also mean that the person doesn’t like to talk to
you. Other body movements like coming to sit near or far can also show confidence,
power or trying to control the environment. Sitting with crossed legs is considered
offensive in Ghana and Turkey.
Face shows feelings, attitudes and emotions. The degree of facial expressions is
determined by cultures. People from United States show emotions more than their
Asian counterparts. Too much expression is taken to be shallow in some places
whereas in some it is taken as being weak.
How we talk also constitutes of what we communicate. For example, vocal tones,
volume, rhythm, pitch, etc. speak more than what words express. Asian people control
themselves from shouting as they are taught not to from childhood.
People from different cultures have different tolerance for physical distance between
people. In Middle Eastern culture people like to go near to others to talk while in others
people might get afraid if anybody does so. Even Europeans and Americans do not
have that much acceptance on the breach of physical distance and fewer acceptances
for it among Asians. People have specific personal space which they do not want
intruded. In some cultures, even close physical contact between strangers is
acceptable.
Conclusion:
In summary, there are many differences of nonverbal communication of different
languages in different countries. However, in order to join in worldwide economy, the
research of using non-wording languages correctly is completely necessary to everyone
over the world. Moreover, that studying can leads everyone to approach to many
different cultures; especially, it will create the connections between many countries.
There are some ideas about establishing the class that will teach the course of
multicultural communication.
References:
https://tomamie.wordpress.com/2013/10/08/the-different-non-verbal-languages-
between-asian-and-western-countries/
https://www.businesstopia.net/communication/non-verbal-communication-different-
cultures
