Nonverbal CommunicationCross Cultural Understanding

Rizki Wahyu Indriani

Aulia Novi Hapsari

Asty Asmarani Putri

Source : Beyond Language ; Intercultural Communication for English as a Second Language by Deena R. Levine and Mara B. Adelman

Language

emphasized

Verbal (Spoken)

Written

Nonverbal

Nonverbal

• Nonverbal is communication that takes place without words.

• Some types, people express more nonverbally than verbally.

• Drawal continue to convey emotional meaning.

Nonverbal

• Example :

A : What’s wrong?

B : (I’m ok)

just answer by nonverbally sign like the picture

Nonverbal

• One study showed that 93% of the message was transmitted by tone of voice & facial expression whereas only 7% was transmitted by words.

• we express 5 our emotions and attitudes more nonverbally than verbally.

Cultural Differences in Nonverbal Communication

• Nonverbal communication expresses meaning or feeling without words, such as happiness, fear, sadness and etc.

Cultural Differences in Nonverbal Communication

• Different nonverbal pattern across cultures can make confusion for foreigners.

• For example, expression varies in feelings of friendship….

Cultural Differences in Nonverbal Communication

• Example :

Men embrace each otherArabic culture

Women hold hand each otherChinese culture

Cultural Differences in Nonverbal Communication

What is acceptable in one culture may becompletely unacceptable in another. In order tocorrectly interpret another culture’s style ofcommunication, it’s necessary to study nonverbalcommunication.

GestureHands can form shapes that convey many meanings: can be expressed nonverbally using only hands. For examples:

“That’s expensive:

“ come here “

“ Go away “

“ It’s OK “

Facial Expression

• Carry meaning determined by context and relationship.

For instance, “SMILE”

• A smile may show affection, convey politeness, or disguise true feelings.

• Pain is conveyed by a grimace, which also signifies disgust or disapproval surprise, shock or disbelief can be shown by raising the eyebrows.

Facial Expression

• People from certain ethnic backgrounds inUnited States may use their hands, bodies,and faces more than other Americans. Thereare no fixed rules, and some people can be“read like a book” others are difficult to read.

To show

Intimacy

Create Communication

Barrier

Eye Contact

To show

Attention

To show

Influence

As with facial expression,there are no specific rulesgoverning eye behavior except 5that it is considered rude to stare,especially at strangers. It is,however, common for twostrangers to walk toward eachother, make eye contact, smileand perhaps even say “Hi”. Thestrangers may immediately lookaway and forget that they evenhad any contact.

In a conversationtoo little eye contactmay be seen negativelybecause it conveys lackof interest. Inattention,or even mistrust.

Japanes

e

Space

Latin

American

s

Arabs

stand

farther

apart

stand

closer

For Americans,distance in socialconversation is aboutan arm’s length to fourfeet. Less space in theAmerican culture maybe associated withgreater intimacy oraggressive behavior.

The common practice of saying “excuse me” or“pardon me” for the slightest accidental touching 5of another person reveals an American attitudeupon by someone, he or she may feel acceptableand desirable, Americans may be perceived as coldand distant.

Conclusion

Culture does not always determine the messagethat our body movements convey. Contexts,personalities, and relationship also influence them.Therefore, no two people in any one society have thesame nonverbal behavior. However, like verballanguage, nonverbal 5 communication cannot becompletely separated from culture. Whether, weemphasize differences or similarities, the “silentlanguage” is much louder then it first appears.