non-verbal communication and culture_omaid

8/8/2019 Non-Verbal Communication and Culture_Omaid

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Presented by: Omaid Ansari

G.R#: MEPGDN-0235

Facilitator: Mr. Muhammad Khurshid Khan


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y Nonverbal communication involves those nonverbalstimuli in a communication setting that are generatedby both the source [speaker] and his or her use of the

environment and that have potential message value forthe source or receiver [listener]

y Basically it is sending and receiving messages in avariety of ways without the use of verbal codes

(words). It is both intentional andunintentional. Most speakers / listeners are notconscious of this.


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y Gaze and Eye contact

y Touch (Physical Contact)

y Body Language

y Gesturesy Posture

y Facial Expression

y

Sounds (Paralanguage)y Dress

y Smell


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Gaze & Eye Contact

y Gaze is the term used to mean looking at a person.y Eye Contact mean mutual gaze, where the two look at

each other at the same time.

y Maintaining eye contact signals genuinenessy Avoiding it signals shiftiness

y Very direct Eye contact: Middle East, French, some LatinAmerican.

y

Moderate Eye contact: American, Northern European,Britishy Minimal Eye contact: East Southeast Asia, East Indians,

Native Americans


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Touch (Physical Contact)

y Shaking hands, touching, holding, embracing,

pushing.

y This reflect an element of intimacy or

y

Feeling of (or lack of ) attraction


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Body Language:

y Watching peoples action can bring you a lot closer to

the truth than merely listening to what they say(which might be a cover-up).

y Outward expression of inner feelings.

y Openness: Open hands, unbuttoned coat

y Defensiveness: Arms crossed, buttoned coat

y Insecurity: Chewing pen, biting fingernail

y Cooperation: Open handsy Confidence: Hands behind back

y Nervousness: Clearing throat, covering mouth


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Gesture

y Hand Shake

y Eye Contacty O.K Gesture

y Nodding Yes or No

y Putting feet on table

Posture

y Affected

y Angry

y

Curiousy Puzzled

y Rejecting

y Welcoming


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y Facial Expression:


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y General Appearance and Dress

All cultures are concerned for how they look and make

judgments based on looks and dress. Americans, forinstance, appear almost obsessed with dress andpersonal attractiveness. Consider differing culturalstandards on what is attractive in dress. Note ways

dress is used as a sign of status?


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y Posture

y Consider the following actions and note culturaldifferences:y Bowing (not done, criticized, or affected in US; shows

rank in Japan)

y Slouching (rude in most Northern European areas)

y Hands in pocket (disrespectful in Turkey)

y

Sitting with legs crossed (offensive in Ghana, Turkey)y Showing soles of feet. (Offensive in Thailand, Saudi

Arabia)


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Gesturesy Impossible to catalog them all. But need to recognize: 1)

incredible possibility and variety and 2) that an acceptablein ones own culture may be offensive in another. In

addition, amount of gesturing varies from culture toculture.y Even simple things like using hands to point and count

differ.y Pointing : US with index finger; Germany with little finger;

Japanese with entire hand (in fact most Asians considerpointing with index finger to be rude)

y Counting: Thumb = 1 in Germany, 5 in Japan, middlefinger for 1 in Indonesia.


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Facial Expressionsy Facial expressions are identical, meaning attached to

them differs. Majority opinion is that these do havesimilar meanings world-wide with respect to smiling,

crying, or showing anger, sorrow, or disgust. However,the intensity varies from culture to culture.y Many Asian cultures suppress facial expression as much as

possible.y Many Mediterranean (Latino / Arabic) cultures exaggerate

grief or sadness while most American men hide grief or

sorrow.y Some see animated expressions as a sign of a lack of control.y Too much smiling is viewed in as a sign of shallowness.

y Women smile more than men


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Eye Contact and Gazey In USA, eye contact indicates: degree of attention or

interest, influences attitude change or persuasion,regulates interaction, communicates emotion, defines

power and status.y Western cultures see direct eye to eye contact as positive

(advise children to look a person in the eyes). But withinUSA, African-Americans use more eye contact when talkingand less when listening with reverse true for Anglo

Americans. This is a possible cause for some sense of unease

between races in US.

y Arabic cultures make prolonged eye-contact. believe itshows interest and helps them understand truthfulness of theother person.

y Japan, Africa, Latin American, Caribbean avoid eye

contact to show respect.


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Eye Contact and Gaze


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Touchy USA handshake is common (even for strangers), hugs,

kisses for those of opposite gender or of family (usually). MostAfrican Americans touch on greeting but are annoyed if

touched on the head (good boy, good girl overtones).y Islamic and Hindu: Typically dont touch with the left

hand. To do so is a social insult. Mannerly in India/Pakistanto break your bread only with your right hand.

y Islamic cultures generally dont approve of any touchingbetween genders (even hand shakes). But consider suchtouching (including hand holding, hugs) between same-sexto be appropriate.


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Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton asked why.

~Bernard Baruch


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By: Omaid AnsariHamdard University ofManagement & Sciences

non-verbal communication and culture_omaid

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