Unit 5

Nonverbal Communication

Contents

Time language

Space language

Body language

Paralanguage

Objectives

• Warm-up cases• Cultural Differences in Nonverbal Communication

A. Time language

B. Space language

C. Body language

D. Paralanguage• Summary• Assignments

Case 1 Personal Space

Question: Why did that woman suddenly stop talking with Mark and turned to another man?

Comment: This is a typical case of misunderstanding caused by different perceptions about body distance. In Denmark, people prefer intimate space which is between 20-30 centimeters while in Australia, the body distance of 40-50 centimeters is more acceptable. Obviously she felt somewhat threatened and lost her sense of comfort.

Case 3 Left in the ColdComment:

This is a typical cultural clash between Chinese and Westerners. There is a great difference in the concept of appointment and its behavior pattern in different cultures.

To Americans: An appointment is a confirmation to meet at a precise time. If it is scheduled, both parties should respect the appointment time. And it should not be interrupted by other things or people. They are good time-keepers.

To Chinese:

They view appointments in a more flexible manner and they are more casual about commitments. The Director should have tried to avoid any interruption since he made an ten o’clock appointment. What’s more, he was still talking with another teacher when K arrived on time and when their meeting finally began, it was interrupted again. No wonder K became frustrated and angry.

Case 4 She Is Not Supposed to Be Wearing Trousers

• Comment:

In Korea, a woman with social status will generally wear dress or skirt. Women wearing trousers are generally common citizens of low social status. The Korean interpreter assumed that the Chinese female college teachers held high social status and should therefore wear skirts.

Case 7 A misunderstanding of Seating Culture

Comment:

One can control one’s verbal language to disguise himself consciously. But unconsciously his physical behavior can give him away.

e.g.

Putting one’s feet with leather shoes onto the desk----Americans

Talking and eating with a squatting posture---Shanxi, the Yellow Plateau of China.

Time Language

Lead-in stories

Explanation

Summary

Lead-in stories

A traveler was catching the train in India, he was half an hour late on the way to the station. He was depressed. However, he was told that, “The train will wait for us.”

A man was waiting for his Indian friend to pick him up to dinner. They predetermined to meet at 3 pm, but his friend finally showed up at 7 pm. His friend did not apologize, instead he told him that he gave him the wonderful experience of the whole afternoon.

Dr. Tom Brown from NY is practicing medicine in a rural area in Arab. His opening day was booked fully a week ago. But half an hour passed, neither of his first two patients arrived.

Why?

Why?

Why? Why?

Questions for discussion

2. Why do you think it is acceptable to be late in these countries?

1.What conclusion can you get from the stories?

Monochronic Time: punctuality and promptness

Polychronic Time:More flexible and human-centered

Northern American, Western and Northern European cultures

Latin American, African, Arab and most Asian cultures

Explanation

Please come up with as many words or phrases about puntuality as possible.

punctualon scheduleon timeon the minute on the hourwell-timed

Brainstorm:

timelyin timein good timeat the stated timeperfect timingat the appointed time

Practice

A. 6: 45 B. 7:00 C. 7:15 D. 7:30 or 8:00

Your are invited to a cocktail party tonight at 7:00. When are you supposed to get there? Why?

To an American or Canadian home C

To a German or Sweden home B

To a Latin American home D

Summary There are two time systems: Monochronic Time

(M-Time) and Polychronic Time (P-Time) . Northern American, Western and Northern Eur

opean cultures are typical M-Time cultures. The two striking features of M-Time are punctuality and promptness.

Latin American, African, Arab and most Asian cultures are P-Time cultures. They schedule several activities at the same time and the time is more flexible and more human-centered.

Space Language

Please have a discussion about the following picture and tell your partner why the other man moved away.

Lead-in pictures

Explanation

2-3 m

1.3-3 m

45-80cm

0-45cm

Body distance

Short

Medium

Long

Latins

Mediterranean Arabs

Mediterranean Europeans

Japanese

Americans

Northern Europeans

Touch & Non-touch culture

Cultures of Arabs, Southern and Western Europeans, Jews and Latins

Cultures of Americans, Northern Europeans and Orientals

Arabs envelop each other in their breath.

Comfortable and desirable

English-speaking countries

Avoid physical contact

If touch accidentally, make an apology

“Sorry, oh, I’m sorry.”

“Excuse me.”

Summary

There are 4 types of distances: intimate, personal, social and public.

Latins and Mediterranean Arabs prefer short distance.

Americans and Northern Europeans fond of medium distance.

Japanese and Mediterranean Europeans would like long distance.

Body Language

(1) Posture

(2) Gestures

(3) Facial expressions

(4) Eye contact

(5) Smell

1. Please try to find out the kinds of body languages in the video.

2. Do our body languages always tell the truth? Or can we discover some true meanings out of the body languages?

body language

Lead-in Video watching

deep in thinking or in the blues

(1) Posture

attentive and interested

absent-minded or lacking interest

US: confortable, friendly

Arab/ Thailand: the sole should never be pointed in the direction of another person.

Germany/Sweden/China: a sign of rudeness and poor maners

(2) Gestures

Look at the following two pictures carefully and find out the different meanings of the two gestures.

V for victory Sth. dirty or obscence

Point to objects and people

US: ok

Asia: rude

German

Janpanese

US: OK

Japan and Korea:

money

Latin American countries

and Germany:

obsceneTunisian:I will kill you.

Arabs: (a baring of teeth)

extreme hostility

Nodding the head

In north America (up and down): I agree

Japan: I am listening.

down: I agreeIn the Middle East

up: I disagree

Shaking the head

SriLanks, Nepal, and India: agreement

most countries: refusal or disapproval

Australia and Nigeria: “up yours.”

Most of the world: good

Parts of America and Europe:A lift

German:The number 1

Japan:The number 5

Sign of telling sb to come closer

American: wave goodbye

American

Chinese

Burma: palm downward, fingers moving

Filipinos: a quick downward nod of the head

Germany/Scandinavia: tossing the head back

Arabs: palm upward, opening and closing the hand

Please match the following pictures of facial expressions with their meanings.

(3) Facial expression

(3) Facial expressions

SadnessAnger

SurpriseFear

EnjoymentDisgust

Contempt

anger fear joy sorrow contempt surprise disgust

Sadness

Mediterranean coultures: exaggerate signs of grief or sadness—men crying in public

• American: suppress the emotions

• Japanese: hide expressions of anger, sorrow, or disappointment—laughing or smiling

• Chinese: control emotions—saving face

Smile

American: a sign of happiness or friendly

affirmation

Japanese: mask an emotion or avoid

answering a question

Korean: too much smiling a shallow person

Thailand: the land of Smiles

(4) Eye contact

North Americans: direct eye contact a sign of honesty

If not, a sign of untruthfulness, shame or embarrassment

Chinese: avoid long direct eye contact to show politeness, or respect, or obedience

Japanese: prolonged eye contact is considered rude, threatening and disrespectful.

Latin American and Caribbean people: avoid a sign of respect

Summary

Just like verbal language, body language is part of culture. It plays an important role in daily communication. So, it is very important to understand and use it correctly.

Assignment

1. Finish the exercises of unit 5 from page 111 to 114.

2. Try to find more information about the nonverbal language on the Internet.

1.Good luck!/ I hope everything goes well!2.A person is crazy. (joke. About a third person)3.I don’t know./I have no idea.4.I can’t/didn’t hear you.5.That’s enough./It’s all over for me.6.Thumbs down---rejection/refusal7.Something is a bit suspicious/odd here (US or western

countries)8.Come here.9.ok(US)10. Hero (Italy) /Come here (Indonesians, Malaysians

Arabs)11. Oh, I forgot (surprise)12.Slow down/ relax/ Wait a second.

Cultural Puzzle The Japanese culture is very group-oriented. When one person left(this was probably the leader), the rest felt that they had to leave, even if they didn’t’ want to. Americans don’t ususally arrive or leave in groups, so this behavior seemded strange to them. The Japanese guests were trying to be polite by avoiding staying too long at the party. They didn’t realize that two hours was too short for the Americans and that the Americans might get hurt by the fact that their guests left early.

Answers

Unit 1 T F F T T T T F T F

Unit 2 T T T T F F F F F T

Unit 3 T T T F T F F F F T

Unit 4 F F F T F T F T T T

Unit 5 T F T T F T T T F F

Unit 6 T F T T F F T T T T