4.Some nonverbal behaviors in different cultures
Much of our difficulty with people in other countries stems from the fact that so little is known about nonverbal communication. Formal training in the language, history, government, and customs of another nation is only the first step in a comprehensive program. Of equal importance is an introduction to the nonverbal language which exists in every country of the world and among the various groups within each country.
Culture is all-persuasive, multidimensional, and boundless; it is everywhere and in everything. The same is also true of nonverbal behavior. Our clothes and jewelry, the countless expressions we can reflect with our face, the hundreds of movements we can make with our bodies, where and how we touch people, our gaze and eye contact, vocal behaviors such as laughter, and our use of time, space, and silence are just some of the behaviors in which we engage that serve as message.
4.1General appearance and dress
In intercultural communication, appearance and objects are important because the standards we apply and the judgments we make are subject to cultural interpretations. In the United States, people tend to value the appearance of tall, slender women. In Japan, diminutive females are deemed the most attractive.
Clothing---how much, how little, and what kind---is also a reflection of a culture’s value orientation. For example, modesty is highly valued among Arabs. Muslim girls usually wear scarves to cover their heads, and in most instances, girls are not allowed to participate in swimming classes because of the prohibitions against exposing their bodies.
4.2Gestures
Gestures refer to specific body movements that carry meaning. Hands can form shapes that convey many meanings that may differ among cultures. What is acceptable in one culture may be completely unacceptable in another. One culture may determine that snapping fingers to call waiter is appropriate; another may consider this gesture rude. For instance, the “OK” gesture in the American culture is a symbol for money in Japan. The same gesture is obscene in some Latin American countries; while for Chinese or people in the South of France is zero or nothing. (P13)
The same movement with different meaning in cross-cultural communication will lead to misunderstanding in minor degree otherwise to court disaster. The gesture for applauding over the head in America usually means arrogance to defeat the counterpart, while in Russia it is a symbol of friendship. When the Soviet Premier Khrushchev visited America, he performed such gesture to indicate friendship, but this made many Americans feel uncomfortable. (P13)
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