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Non-Verbal Communication: Differences in Society

Non-verbal communication such as gestures, eye contact, touching, and paralanguage can have very different meanings and social conventions across different cultures. Postures like slouching may be rude in some Northern European societies while bowing has specific implications in Japan related to rank. Pointing with the index finger is considered rude by some Asian cultures. Facial expressions are generally interpreted similarly worldwide but the intensity may vary. Eye contact norms also differ significantly between Western, Asian, Arabic, and some African and Latin American cultures. Touching behaviors like handshakes and personal space have diverse social guidelines between places like the US, Islamic countries, India, and others. Paralanguage elements such as volume, pitch and vocalizations carry

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91 views10 pages

Non-Verbal Communication: Differences in Society

Non-verbal communication such as gestures, eye contact, touching, and paralanguage can have very different meanings and social conventions across different cultures. Postures like slouching may be rude in some Northern European societies while bowing has specific implications in Japan related to rank. Pointing with the index finger is considered rude by some Asian cultures. Facial expressions are generally interpreted similarly worldwide but the intensity may vary. Eye contact norms also differ significantly between Western, Asian, Arabic, and some African and Latin American cultures. Touching behaviors like handshakes and personal space have diverse social guidelines between places like the US, Islamic countries, India, and others. Paralanguage elements such as volume, pitch and vocalizations carry

Uploaded by

nonzainal
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Non-verbal communication

Differences in society

Tesl A

Mohamad Aimran bin Abd Halim


Ahmad Zainal bin Nanyan
Amira Shazmin Amir binti Amir
Aqila Riyani binti Abdul Rani
Nur Adilah binti Abdullah Sani
Examples in various society
Posture

Bowing (not done, criticized, or affected in US; shows rank


in Japan)
Slouching (rude in most Northern European areas)
Hands in pocket (disrespectful in Turkey)
Sitting with legs crossed (offensive in Ghana, Turkey)
Showing soles of feet. (Offensive in Thailand, Saudi Arabia)
Gestures
Pointing : US with index finger; Germany
with little finger; Japanese with entire
hand (in fact most Asians consider
pointing with index finger to be rude)
Counting:  Thumb = 1 in Germany, 5 in
Japan, middle finger for 1 in Indonesia. 
 
Facial Expressions
Majority opinion is that these do have
similar meanings world-wide with respect
to smiling, crying, or showing anger,
sorrow, or disgust.  However, the intensity
varies from culture to culture.  Note the
following:
Many Asian cultures suppress facial
expression as much as possible.
Many Mediterranean (Latino / Arabic)
cultures exaggerate grief or sadness while
most American men hide grief or sorrow.
Some see “animated” expressions as a sign
of a lack of control.
Too much smiling is viewed in as a sign of
shallowness.
Women smile more than men.
Eye Contact and Gaze
Western cultures — see direct eye to eye contact as
positive .But within USA, African-Americans use more
eye contact when talking and less when listening with
reverse true for Anglo Americans.  This is a possible
cause for some sense of unease between races in US.  A
prolonged gaze is often seen as a sign of sexual interest.
Arabic cultures make prolonged eye-contact. — believe
it shows interest and helps them understand truthfulness
of the other person.  (A person who doesn’t reciprocate
is seen as untrustworthy)
Japan, Africa, Latin American, Caribbean — avoid eye
contact to show respect.
Touch
USA — handshake is common (even for
strangers), hugs, kisses for those of
opposite gender or of family (usually) on
an increasingly  more intimate basis. Note
differences between African-Americans
and Anglos in USA.  Most African
Americans touch on greeting but are
annoyed if touched on the head (good
boy, good girl overtones).
Islamic and Hindu:  typically don’t touch with the
left hand.  To do so is a social insult.  Left hand is
for toilet functions.  Mannerly in India to break
your bread only with your right hand (sometimes
difficult for non-Indians)
 Islamic cultures generally don’t approve of any
touching between genders (even hand shakes).  But
consider such touching (including hand holding,
hugs) between same-sex to be appropriate.
Many Asians don’t touch the head (Head houses
the soul and a touch puts it in jeopardy).
Paralanguage
 vocal characterizers (laugh, cry, yell, moan, whine,
belch, yawn).  These send different messages in
different cultures (Japan — giggling indicates
embarrassment; India – belch indicates satisfaction)
 vocal qualifiers (volume, pitch, rhythm, tempo, and
tone).  Loudness indicates strength in Arabic cultures
and softness indicates weakness; indicates confidence
and authority to the Germans,; indicates impoliteness
to the Thais; indicates loss of control to the Japanese.
(Generally, one learns not to “shout” in Asia for nearly
any reason!).  Gender based as well: women tend to
speak higher and more softly than men.
vocal segregates (un-huh, shh, uh, ooh,
mmmh, humm, eh, mah, lah).  Segregates
indicate formality, acceptance, assent,
uncertainty.

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