Download I. Definition for nonverbal communication

Nonverbal Communication in Intercultural Communication
Investigator
Li Tao
Acknowledgment
I am mostly grateful to my supervisors Mrs . Ren Guiling out whose support and
patience this project would not even have got off got off the ground .. I am grateful
to my friend MaNing.No amount of thanks will be adequate for my students without
whose willing participation in the project implementation it would have remained
on paper.
Contents
Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………..1
I Definition of nonverbal communication …………………………………………….1
II The concrete types and application of Nonverbal Communication…………………1
2.1 Types of Body language……………………………………………………………1
2.1.1 Hand gesture………………………………............................................................2
2.1.2 Gait sitting and standing posture………………………………………………….2
2.1.3 Eye contact………………………………………………………………………..2
2.2 Other types of nonverbal communication…………………………………………...3
2.2.1Time sense …………………………………………………………………………3
2.2.2Personal space……………………………………………………………………...4
2.2.3 Privacy conflict……………………………………………………………………5
2.2.4 Physical contact…………………………………………………………………...5
III Application of the body language …………………………………………………..6
3.1 Greetings ……………………………………………………………………………6
3.2 Signs of affection …………………………………………………………………...7
VI The necessity and importance of learning body language on nonverbal
communication ………………………………………………………………………….7
V Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………….8
Abstract：
Intercultural communication is an art involving a variety of skills. As an important content and an
effective way to communication, nonverbal communication is rich in semantics; compared with
language communication, it could show a better reflection towards human's real attitude, mental
activity and conception of value, all of which will affect if the communication could
succeed. When we talk with others, we make ourselves understood not just by words. Much more
messages are transmitted through nonverbal behavior, which can play a significant part in
communication. Nonverbal communication, like our verbal languages, is also a part of our culture,
and a mirror of our culture. But different people have different ways of making nonverbal
communication. In this paper, some typical nonverbal characteristics (including hand gesture,
sitting and standing posture, eye contact, time sense and so on) are introduced, including how
different people react to a specific characteristic. Besides, the author concludes the necessity and
importance of learning nonverbal communication.
Key words: nonverbal；Body language; intercultural communication; different culture
Introduction
In the international communication, we are constantly communicating in one mean or another, even
if we say nothing at all. Language seems to be the obvious mean of communication; in fact, much
more information is transmitted through gestures, eye contact, even physical contact and distance
between people conversing. Birdwhistell (1970) claimed that up to 65% of messages meaning is
communicated through nonverbal clues. Today, some researchers put the amount of information
transmitted nonverbally even higher, For example, Fromkin and Rodman (1983) claim that up to
90% of the meaning of a message is transmitted nonverbally.
The various meanings communicated through nonverbal means seem endless across culture.
Different nationalities have specific gestures and feelings. Sometimes, body movements that are
clearly understandable in one culture make no sense in another. Unfortunately, even
misunderstandings can occur. For example, for Americans, a "V" sign made with two fingers
usually respects victory. Australians equate this gesture with a rude American gesture usually made
with the middle finger. If Australians know this culture difference, they will congratulate a person
with two fingers instead of the middle finger when they are with American. In this way, two people
can understand each other very well, avoiding a war of culture shock.
Nonverbal communication covers a large range of subjects, Owing to the limitation of the length,
the author shall focus on the body language (including hand gesture, gait, sitting and standing
posture), eye contact, time sense, personal space and so on.
I. Definition for nonverbal communication
Often defined as communication without words, nonverbal communication refers to all aspects of a
message that are not conveyed by literal meaning of words. This differs from unconscious
communication, which may be verbal or nonverbal. Both written and spoken communication can
be nonverbal, Culture, gender and social status influence nonverbal communication.
Generally, there are a number of characteristics into which nonverbal communication can be
divided; the following will give a look at of them.
II. The concrete characteristics of nonverbal communication
2.1. Types of body language
You may be amazed when you hear the number of different movements the human body is capable
of making. "Eisenberg asserts that body language vocabulary totals over 270,000 items. That is not
the highest estimation; however, Samova declares that it comes to 700,000! So you will be
1
disappointed if you want to classify them and the only way is to annotate the culture meaning from
the posture.
Body language is not confined to hand or arm gestures. It covers much larger areas, referring to any
little movement of any part of the body. Here are some characteristics that may be ignored by you:
hand gesture, gait-sitting-standing posture, eye contact, time sense, personal space, color words and
so on.
2.1.1 Hand gesture
Hand gesture can be different across cultures. The Chinese motion people to come by shaking he
hand with the palm turning downward. To the American this may be the gesture to wave goodbye,
when they motion people to come; they shake fingers towards themselves with the palm turning
upward. If an American gives the bowl to the Chinese with the chopsticks put in the rice straightly,
the Chinese may not be happy for it is the custom in China to sacrifice the dead, In UK, a passerby
holds up his thumb to the coming deriver in order to get a ride, but in China when he praises
somebody he erects his thumb. So we can know that under different background, the hand gestures
are quite different.
2.1.2 Gait, sitting and standing posture
Gait also varies with cultures and subculture, so do the sitting and standing habit. American Whites
walk in long stride. American Blacks walk in a more casually strolling manner,. That is related with
their social positions. American woman abroad may be reproached for being cold and immoral
because of their long strides. Japanese woman's gait may be regarded as too submissive and
affected. Americans think greatly of random, they feel very relaxed at carpeted floor and lean far
back in their chairs and even put their feet on their desks sometimes in the public. Chinese students
are shocked at American teachers who are sitting on the teachers’ desks in class. They tend to
regard it as impolite. But the American teachers, by doing so, just want to show that they are
comfortable with their students in order to make the class more related. The misunderstanding will
be clear through the cultural communication. Often the delicate inattention will cause
misapprehension, and even stop the communications. So understanding the differences is very
important in the sub cultural background.
2.1.3 Eye contact
Every culture has its unique social rules governing eye contact,. From the idioms like "to cast
glances of love" to the songs like "don't say, your eyes have told me everything", we can all know
2
that eye contact is so important.
Nearly each eye contact has its own meaning and cultural significance. For instance, people from
some colures lower their gaze to convey respect, whereas this may be understood as evading or
even insulting in other cultures, Yet direct and direct eye contact may be seen as insulting in some
cultures, whereas it conveys attention in others.
Eye contact and the amount and length of eye contact can be deeply confusing. Italian and French
females may perceive US American males as cold because of their relatively short eye contact with
females. An American woman was in Italy. At first she felt uncomfortable at the stares, and it took
her some time to get used to them. But later when she went back home she felt that nobody cared to
look at her. "It seems that nobody cares for you. You don't seem to exist" (Chen and Gong 256).
Italian, because of their close distance in conversation, tends to looking searching into each other's
eyes, or to bathe each other in stares.
The manner of vision, all kinds of eye behavior and the function of eye contact have reflected the
different culture backgrounds. All of these are plentiful and comprehensive, so we should observe
and compare carefully to promote the communication and blending of different cultures.
Mr. Sun Longji has done such a research for the culture comparison. He took out some American
and Chinese woman, and observed their response under man's vision. There are two limitations in
that experiment. At first, you cannot stare at them brutishly; on the second, you cannot select the
lady you have fallen in love before, And the result is: American women will smile to you,
somebody even say "Hello!" and if they are not happy, there will also be a light smile. But nearly
all of Chinese women will feel uneasy, and even be in fear, The reason is Chinese cultures of:
Shame feels:, and they think that it is not right to show the affirmative in America, such a melting
pot with cultures all over the world, nearly everybody there are very open and like to show the
feeling freely (Sen 215).
2.2 Other types of nonverbal communication
2.2.1 Time sense
Some cultures relate to time as a circular phenomenon in which there is no pressure or anxiety
about the future. In circular time, there is no pressing need to achieve or create newness, or to
produce more than absolutely need to survive.
3
Obviously, if one made an appointment with an individual rose in this culture, he/she should be
prepared for a possibly long wait. Circular time is the most casual of all concepts of time. North
American, Asians and those raised in Western American societies. Operate on linear time, which
focuses on the factual and technical information needed to fulfill impending demands. In this
culture, punctuality is considered a large part of good manners and civility, when one says they will
arrive at eight o'clock in this culture that is precisely what they mean. These cultures view tardiness
as a signal of hostility, procrastination and a relaxed attitude toward responsibility. In Britain or
North American one may be five minutes late for a business appointment, but certainly not fifteen
or thirty minutes late. In Latin America one is expected to arrive late for appointment, and is
considered rude if he/she arrives early or punctually. This same tardiness for Germans to North
Americans is unacceptable and frowned upon.
Time, as a communication tool is often greatly misunderstood. It is always best to perform a basic
study of the time concept of a particular locale before spending time there. Knowledge of the norms
and patterns of different cultures is important because it reduces feeling of awkwardness and
confusion.
Western concept of time is very, very cherish their time in life tend to advance on the time made
careful arrangements and plans, and develop a good habit of flying time. In the West, to visit
someone, prior notice or agreement, and indicate the purpose of visit, time and place, the business
will be conducted after. China's people are more accustomed to the time of the countries in the use
of time is very arbitrary, as Westerners generally not as strict accordance with the plan, sometimes
even met with others may be just a temporary decision or early half only hours, flying in the
punctuality extent, the less stringent, a few minutes late is very common situation. And the reason
is a pretext for the sale, any traffic jam ah, what is happening at home from the provisional body
cannot ah, and so on. This area varies greatly with Westerners, Westerners are often able to meet
this, it is difficult to accept. However, the Chinese people have taken for granted; do not feel there
is any inappropriate.
2.2.2 Personal space
Personal space, or distance from other persons is a powerful concept. And research suggests it
directly relates to our interpretation of other persons’ behaviors.
The important aspect of personal space is that areas very close to our body is usually reserved for
4
people we are intimate with, whereas space further always from our body is open to persons one is
less intimate with. This principle is generally universal.
However differences can be observed in
distance.
Watch an Arab and an English man in conversation. The Arab, showing friendliness in the manner
of his people, will stand close to the
English man. The latter will move back, watching to the
Englishman. The Arab will then move forward to be closer; the Englishman will keep moving
backward. By the end of the conversation, the two may be quite a distance from the conversation;
the two may be quite a distance from the place where they were originally standing!
Here, distance between the two is the key factor. Different people have different ideas about the
proper distance between people conversing. According to studies, it seems there are four main
distances in American social and business relations: intimate, personal, social, and public. Intimate
distance ranges from direct physical contact to a distance of about 45 centimeters; this is for
people’s most private relations and activities, between man and wife, for example. Personal
distance is about 45—80 centimeters and is most common when friends, acquaintances and
relatives converse. Social distance may be anywhere from about 1.30 meters to 3 meters; people
who work together, or people doing business, as well as most of those in conversation at social
gatherings tend to keep a distance is farther than any of the above and is generally for speakers in
public and for teachers in classrooms. The important thing to keep in mind is that most
English-speaking people do not like people to be too close. Being too far apart, of course, may be
awkward, but being too close makes people uncomfortable, unless there is a reason, such as
showing affection or encouraging intimacy. But that is another matter.
2.2.3 Privacy conflict
China's concept of privacy has been relatively weak, and that the individual should be vested in
the collective, with the stress unity, fraternity, mutual concern, therefore often very willing to
understand other people mixed, the other side is also willing to frankly tell. And the only way to
show how care about each other when the other side friends to view. Westerners, by contrast,
they are very focus on privacy, and emphasize personal space, a strong sense of personal, not too
many others to mention their own affairs, even more reluctant to let others interfere. Even more
are close friends; they would talk enough is enough. Therefore, in both Chinese and Western on
the issue of privacy often conflicts, such as: China's first meeting will often asked each other's
age, marital status, children, occupation, income and even in the eyes of the Chinese people is an
5
act of courtesy, but in the West think
2.4 Physical contact
The appropriateness of physical contact varies with different cultures. Figures from a study offer
interesting insight into this matter. Pairs of individuals sitting and chatting in college shops in
different places were observed for at last one hour each. The number of times that either one
touched the other in that one hour was recorded, as follows: London, 0; Gainesville, Florida, 2;
Pairs, 10; San Juan, Puerto Rico, 180. These figures speak for themselves. In English-speaking
countries, physical contact is generally avoided in conversation among ordinary friends or
acquaintances. Merely touching someone may cause an unpleasant reaction. If one touches
another person accidentally, he/she usually utters an apology such as “Sorry, Oh, I’m sorry,
Excuse me.”
In China, a common complaint of western mothers is that Chinese often fondle
their babies and very small children. Such behavior—whether touching, patting, hugging or
kissing—can be quite embarrassing and awkward for the mothers. They know that no harm is
meant, and that such gestures are merely signs of friendliness or affection, therefore they cannot
openly show their displeasure. On the other hand, such actions in their own culture would be
considered rude, intrusive and offensive and could arouse a strong dislike and even repugnance.
So the mothers often stand by and watch in awkward silence, with mixed emotions, even when
the fondling is by Chinese friends or acquaintances. Going beyond the milder forms of touching,
we shall take up the matter of hugging and embracing in public. This practice is fairly common
among women in many countries. And in most of the more industrialized countries, it occurs
frequently between husband and wife and close members of the family meeting after a period of
absence. Hugging and embracing among men, however, is a different matter. Among Arabs,
Russians, French, and in several of the East European and Mediterranean countries, a warm hug
and a kiss on the cheeks are a standard way of welcome. The same is true with some Latin
Americans. In East Asia and in the English-speaking countries, though, the practice is seldom
seen. A simple handshake is the custom. The story is told of what happened not long ago when
the Japanese prime minister at the time, Mr. Fukuda, went to the U.S. on a state visit. When he
stepped out of his car in front of the white house, he was greeted by the American president whit
a “bear hug”. The prime minister was flabbergasted; others of the Japanese delegation were
amazed; many Americans were surprised—it was so unusual and so unexpected. If the president
had bowed low in Japanese fashion, it would have been less a surprise than to be greeted in a
way so uncommon in either country!
6
III. Application of the body language
3.1 Greetings
Body language is a vital means to express greetings among people besides verbal communication.
But sometimes, one’s greeting in his way shock another in another country. The followings are
good examples on this point.
Hoa has just arrived from Vietnam. Her cousin Phuong and some of his American friends are
waiting at the airport to greet her. Hoa and Phuong are both excited about this meeting because
they have been separated for seven years. As soon as Hoa enters the passenger terminal, Phuong
introduces her to his friends Tom, Don, and Charles. Tom steps forward and hugs and kisses Hoa.
She pushes him away and bursts into tears.
Among Chinese from Vietnam, if a boy hugs and kisses a girl in public, he insults her. Chinese
culture in Vietnam is very strict about this, especially in the rural areas where Hoa grew up. She
described her village: “After children are ten years old, boys and girls cannot play together. A
boy and girl cannot date without their parents’ approval. A man and woman cannot hug or kiss if
they’re not married.” In Hoa’s village if anyone violated these rules, the villagers punished the
girl by forcing her to knee on the ground so they could spit at her and throw rocks at her. No
wonder that Puong’s American friends frightened Hoa. She did not know what punishment for
public hugging and kissing might be meted out to her in this country. She confused Tom, who by
American standards was dong the right thing. Eventually Hoa learned to be comfortable when
greeted with hugs and kisses, accepting them as merely perfunctory acts.
From the above phenomena, I suggest some rules on greeting,
·When you greet Asians, nodding and giving a verbal salutation is a proper way.
·When you greet most Americans, more body contact is suitable. Women kiss on each check
while men shake hands. Men may also hug and kiss woman on cheek if they are close friends.
3.2 Signs of affection
Body language is a sign of affection. It reflects affections.
· When we are angry, even we are silent; our facial expression reflects our inner affection.
·When we are surprised, we open our eyes and mouth.
·When we are exited, we jump high or hug the other tightly.
7
IV. The necessity and importance of learning nonverbal communication
Nonverbal codes play a very important role in communication and they are an indispensable
component of intercultural communication. Although we may not realize it, when we converse
with others we communicate by much more than words. By our expressions, gestures and other
body movements we send messages to these around us a smile and an outstretched hand show
welcome. A form is a sign of displeasure. Nodding one’s head means agreement—“Yes”. Waving
an outstretched hand with open palm is the gesture for “goodbye”. Leaning back in one’s seat
and yawning at a talk or lecture shows lack of interest, boredom. These gestures have come to be
accepted in general as having the meanings mentioned, at last to Chinese and Americans. There
are parts of the way in which we communicate. This “body language”, like our verbal language,
is also a part of our culture. But not all body language means the same thing in different cultures.
Different people have different ways of making nonverbal communication. The answers to the
questions at the beginning of this chapter are all “no”. Even nodding the head may have a
different meaning. To Nepalese, Sri Lankans, some Indians and some Eskimos it means not
“yes”, but “no”. So in order to communicate effectively in a foreign language, one should know
also the gestures, body movements, mannerisms and etc. that accompany a particular language.
Body language is an important media through when people communicate with each other. It
refers to the patterns of facial expressions and gestures that people use to express their feelings in
communication. The specialist who was on body language research
—
Fen. Lafle. Angles,
once said: "Once it was lost, a baby couldn’t have grown into a normal person". It’s also true to
the juveniles. In school education, body language plays a positive role in cultivating the student’s
characters.
Conclusion
Through the above analysis, we can understand that nonverbal communication plays a vital role
in intercultural communication, and learn that the characteristics of nonverbal communication
have its own cultural backgrounds and different ways of expressing its own culture.
The study of body language should be complementary to the study of language. The
understanding of one should be helpful in the further understanding of the other. Some
authorities feel that the two are dependent on each other. This is certainly true in most situations.
But it is also true that in certain situations body action contradicts what is being said, just as the
spoken words may mean something quite different from what body language communicates.
8
When this occurs, one must try to get further information, or guess the meaning from the context
of the situation. In a sense, all body language should be interpreted within a given context; to
ignore the overall situation could be misleading.
In conclusion, we should try every effort to bear the cultural differences in mind and make good
use to understand people by understanding their basic nonverbal communication skills. By doing
so, we can achieve greater success in the intercultural communication.
9
Bibliography
F. E. Jandt,(1995)，Intercultural Communication: An Introduction, California: Sage Publication
Ltd.
L.A. Samovar, R.E Porter& L.A. Stefani,(2000), communication between Cultures, Beijing:
Foreign language Teaching and Research Press .
Stern H. H, (1983),Fundamental Concepts of Language Teaching, London: Oxford University
Press.
http://www2.Andrews.edu
毕继万, (1999),《跨文化非语言交际》, 外语教学与研究出版.
刘凤霞,(2005),《跨文化交际教程》，北京大学出版社.
10