Intercultural Communication Chapter 6: Where Can We Look to Explain Nonverbal Misunderstandings?

Objectives for Chapter 6 Understand the relationship between verbal and nonverbal communication. Recognize the major functions of nonverbal messages. Identify and understand the many different kinds of nonverbal communication that may lead to cultural misunderstanding. Appreciate the importance and challenges of effective listening in intercultural encounters.

Roles of Nonverbal Communication Very broad concept! Everything around us that influences communication but is not the actual words of our language is nonverbal. What nonverbal cues can you observe in this photo?

Repetition and Contradiction Repetition: nonverbal communication often reinforces what is also being conveyed in the verbal code. By repeating the verbal message nonverbally, there is a better chance that the message will be clear to the audience. Contradiction: it is often claimed that when nonverbal messages contradict verbal ones, the nonverbal messages have more credibility and power. This is because the nonverbal messages seem harder to manipulate consciously.

Substitution and Accentuation Substitution: certain types of messages and forms of information require verbal communication to get the message across, but many do not. These nonverbal ways of expression do not require any verbal communication to get their meaning across, and in that sense can be viewed as substituting for a verbal message. Accentuation: sometimes nonverbal cues do much more than just repeat a verbal message. We have the ability to communicate a message in an accented message. Example: Your professor may say “Please don’t talk in class”, and you gain a certain understanding. On the other hand, your professor may slam down a group of books and yell those same words. In this case, you would gain a different understanding.

Complement and Regulation Complement: nonverbal messages complement and, in part, modify our verbal messages. Example: A hushed voice as you tell someone you love them, the stern facial expression as you express anger, or the shoulder pads and helmet you wear as you talk about being a part of a football team. This complementary redundancy helps us to communicate effectively. Regulation: nonverbal communication also helps us to regulate the flow of verbal communication. A nod of the head may encourage someone to continue or stop what they are doing.

Forms of Nonverbal Communication Kinesics: study of body movements and what they communicate Learned early and usually unconscious 1. Facial expressions: Eye contact – direct or indirect? Smile – intention and interpretation? What do these two facial expressions convey?

Types of Emotion 6 primary emotions: Primary emotions consistent across cultures 6 primary emotions: Surprise Joy/happiness Disgust Anger Fear Sadness Not necessarily expressed the same way!

Forms of Nonverbal Communication: Kinesics 2. Gestures or Body Movements: Eat with right hand in Arabic cultural communities Hailing a taxi in different countries Ok to show the bottom of feet? Does a shiver hold various interpretations? Even with awareness of variety, hard to remember! Largely unconscious action and interpretation What can you interpret in these photos?

Five Functions Our kinesic behaviors are typically seen as fulfilling five major functions. They are: Emblems Illustrations Affect displays Regulators Adaptors

Emblems Emblems are gestures that convey a precise verbal meaning that is associated with them. Emblems may substitute for what would otherwise be said verbally, such as waving goodbye rather than using the words. Examples: In Italy disregard for another is expressed by flicking fingers out forward from under the chin. In the United States the thumbs-up sign and the circling of the forefinger and thumb in the okay sign are quite common emblems. But emblems are not universal.

Illustrators Illustrators are intentional gestures that are meant to help clarify or support a verbal point or message, such as pointing to an object that is being discussed. A gesture that in some instances functions as an emblem substituting for the verbal message may at other times function as an illustrator supporting the verbal message. Some cultural communities (France and Italy, in particular) are famous for extensive use of illustrators, but these nonverbal cues are found throughout the world, and their use can help clarify verbal messages.

Affect Displays Affect displays are generally linked to people's facial expressions and serve to express emotion. Appear to be spontaneous rather than consciously intended as emblems or illustrators. Ever heard this expression: “My emotions are written all over my face”? A person may subtly, yet visually, express disappointment even while verbally expressing happiness. Generally, affect displays that contradict the verbal message are viewed as more truly reflecting a person's feelings. In international negotiations many individuals try to eliminate or carefully control any affect displays.

Regulators Regulators are nonverbal cues that help to coordinate turn-taking and other interactional tasks. Regulators tend to happen quickly and routinely, without much conscious thought. Examples: Quick movement of the eyes or eyebrows, a nod of the head, a change in how one's body is posed (leaning backward or forward).

Adaptors Adaptors are assumed to be largely involuntary actions that provide a valuable source of information about what a person is really feeling. Adaptors include things like a quick flick of the hand to straighten one's hair, scratching oneself, or dabbing at a tear. These nonverbal actions are thought to help individuals adjust to a situation, rather than to communicate a message purposefully.

Proxemics Use of space Touch interactions with others and interactions with objects in our environment Public space = 12-25 ft Social space = 4-12 ft Personal space = 1-4 ft Touch Who, where, how Related to cultural upbringing

Paralanguage Associated with expressiveness Rate Accent—often associated with stereotype Pitch Laughter Volume Turn-taking cues

Silence One cannot think about silence without simultaneously thinking about its counterpart, sound Has different connotations in various cultural communities Informs communication in multiple contexts: Silence and socio-cultural identities Silence and social relationships Silence and conflict

Other Nonverbal Communication Living Environment Decorating homes, offices, places of worship, etc.

Other Nonverbal Communication Clothes Different colors, levels of brightness “Lack” of clothing worn by Americans seems “obscene” to many other cultures Tend to “dress up” or casual?

Other Nonverbal Communication Food: Seaweed, cows, fried, boiled . . . Smell: Familiar = “good”; ??? = “bad”

Other Nonverbal Communication Time How long and what time to eat? Arrive late? Work v. Party Ch. 2: Polychronic and monochronic

Intercultural Listening Listening ≠ Hearing Not just hearing the words, also reading nonverbal communication Oculistics The study of eye contact and other eye behaviors and movements Amount and type of eye contact vary in meaning across cultural communities