Communication between cultures Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: 8TH EDITION Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Space, Time, and Silence © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

Key Ideas Functions of nonverbal communication Defining nonverbal communication Studying nonverbal communication Classification of nonverbal communication Improving nonverbal communication skills © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

Functions of nonverbal communication Expressing internal states Important judgments and decisions based on observations of nonverbal behavior Emotions reflected in posture, face, eyes, tone of voice, proximity, and touch Creating identity Variety of non-verbal messages help people make judgments about others Things such as skin color, use of makeup, facial expressions, dress, etc. © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

Functions of nonverbal communication Regulating interaction Repeating the message Substituting for words © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

Defining nonverbal communication Nonverbal communication involves all those nonverbal stimuli in a communication setting that are generated by both the source and his or her use of the environment and that have potential message value for the source and/or receiver. © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

Defining nonverbal communication Messages may be intentional or unintentional Verbal and nonverbal messages Difficult to separate verbal and nonverbal messages Often use nonverbal message to repeat a point © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

Studying nonverbal communication Nonverbal communication can be ambiguous Multiple factors influence nonverbal communication It includes cultural universals Nonverbal communication is learned in the process of socialization Different cultures have their own rules for nonverbal communication such as the use of facial expression © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

Classification of nonverbal communication Messages of the body Appearance Judgment of beauty Skin color Attire Body movement – Kinesics Posture Gestures Facial expressions Eye contact and gaze Touch © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

Classification of nonverbal communication Body movement – Kinesics Vocal qualities (pitch, rate, pitch, tempo, resonance, pronunciation, tone) Vocal characteristics (laughing, crying, moaning, whining, yawning) Vocal segrates (“uh-huh,” “shh,”, “uh,” “ooh,” “um,” “mmmh,” “hmmm” © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

Classification of nonverbal communication Space and distance Personal space Intimate distance (actual contact to 18 inches = 45 cm) is normally reserved for very personal relationships. You can reach out and touch the person at this distance. Because of the closeness of the participants, voices are usually in the form of a whisper. Personal distance (45cm to1.25 m) there is little chance of physical contact, and you can speak in a normal voice. This is distance reserved for family and close friends. © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

Space and distance /Personal space Social distance (1.25m to 3.66m) is the distance at which most members of the dominant culture conduct business and take part in social gatherings. Public distance is usually used in public presentations and can vary from relatively close to very far. As with most forms of communication, space is associated with cultural values. A good example of the link between the use of space and culture can be seen in the values of individualism and collectivism. © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

Space and distance The way people use space, including how they arrang themselves in a group, is often rooted in their culture. © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

Space and distance /Seating Like so many features of nonverbal communication, seating arrangements send both inconspicuous and obvious messages. © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

© Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

© Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

© Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

© Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

Space and distance/ Furniture arrangement The way people arrange furniture (chairs, tables, desks, etc.) also communicates. - feng shui reflects some of the history and values of China - in the United States, where furniture is often arranged to achieve privacy and interpersonal isolation. © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

CONSIDER THIS a. What are the average distances between the people you observed? Were there differences related to culture? b. What differences did you observe in touching behavior? How did people greet each other? Did people hug, kiss, shake hands, etc.? c. What differences did you observe in facial expressions? Were people animated, reserved, etc.? d. Did you notice any differences in gestures? Did some people use more or fewer gestures? © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

Space and distance/Time If you arrive 30 minutes late for an important appointment and offer no apology, you send a certain message about yourself….. “Time is money.” “Time is fixed and measurable… “Time is also limited”because there are so many things to do in one’s lifetime. When cultures employ time in dissimilar ways, misunderstandings and even antagonisms can occur. © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

Monrchromatic (M-Time) : time is linear, sequential, and segmented To better recognize some contradictory ways of using time we will examine two cultural perspectives: Informal time Punctuality Pace Monrchromatic (M-Time) : time is linear, sequential, and segmented Polychromatic (P-Time) : time is less tangible and people are usually not in a hurry to finish an assignment or chore © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

Punctuality Cultures vary in their punctuality standards: How late is “late”? This varies greatly. In Britain and America, one may be 5 minutes late for a business appointment, but not 15 and certainly not 30 minutes late, which is perfectly normal in Arab countries. On the other hand, in Britain it is correct to be 5 to 15 minutes late for an invitation to dinner. An Italian might arrive 2 hours late, an Ethiopian after, and Japanese not at all—he had accepted only to prevent his host from losing face. Status relationships can influence punctuality in Japan © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

Pace “Life is in constant motion. People consider time to be wasted or lost unless they are doing something.” From fast-food restaurants to gas stations where you can do your marketing while you are putting gas in your car, to microwave cooking, to computers that use the fastest available processors, Big cities live life at a very hectic pace. Even the expression “rush hour” describes how commuters in major cities are hurrying and dashing to get from point “A” to point “B.” © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

Monochromatic (M-Time) Cultures that can be classified as M-time include Germany, Austria, Sweden, Norway, England, Finland, Canada, Switzerland, and the dominant U.S. Culture. M-time culture people schedule appointments in advance, try not to be late to meetings, try to be succinct in making presentations, and have “a strong preference for following initial plans. © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

Polychromatic (P-Time) Arab, African, Indian, Latin American, South Asian, and Southeast Asian, is more leisurely than the one found in M-time cultures. In P-time cultures human relationships, not tasks, are important. “A polychronic view of time sees the maintenance of harmonious relationships as the important agenda, so that use of time needs to be flexible in order that we do right by the various people to whom we have obligations.” © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

A Comparison of Monochronic and Polychronic Cultures Do many things at once Easily distracted and subject to interruption Consider time commitments an objective to be achieved, if possible Are high context and already have information Are committed to people and human relationships Change plans often and easily Do one thing at a time Concentrate on the job Take time commitments (deadlines, schedules) Are low context and need information seriously Are committed to the job Adhere to plans © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

A Comparison of Monochronic and Polychronic Cultures Are concerned about not disturbing others; follow rules of privacy Show great respect for private property;seldom borrow or lend Emphasize promptness Are accustomed to short-term relationships Are more concerned with people close to them (family, friends, close business associates) than with privacy Borrow and lend things often and easily Base promptness on the relationship Have tendency to build lifetime relationships © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

Classification of nonverbal communication Silence Periods of provide an interval in an ongoing interaction during which the participants have time to think, check or suppress an emotion, encode a lengthy response, or inaugurate another line of thought Silence also provides feedback, informing both sender and receiver about the clarity of an idea or its significance in the overall interpersonal exchange © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

Classification of nonverbal communication Silence In most Western cultures, talk is highly valued, and it is often difficult to determine the meaning behind someone’s silence, because it can be interpreted as an indication of agreement, anger, lack of interest, injured feelings, or contempt Silence can be interpreted as an indication of agreement, anger, lack of interest, injured feelings, or contempt © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

Classification of nonverbal communication Silence Intercultural implications of silence as a means of interpreting ongoing verbal interactions are as diverse as those of other nonverbal cues Knowing how various cultures use silence is essential Buddhism - many people feel comfortable with the absence of noise or talk and actually believe that words can contaminate an experience © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

Classification of nonverbal communication Silence Japanese – silence is important and complex People are expected to know what another person is thinking and feeling without anything being said Silence is linked to credibility Hindu Self-realization, salvation, truth, wisdom, peace, and bliss are all achieved in a state of meditation and introspection when the individual is communicating with himself or herself in silence © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

Improving nonverbal communication skills Monitor your nonverbal actions Is my behavior making people feel comfortable or uncomfortable? Am I am adjusting my nonverbal messages to the feedback I am receiving from my communication “partner”? How are people reacting to my use of space, touch, paralanguage, time, and the like? If my messages are being misinterpreted is it because my unintentional messages, rather than my intentional messages, are impacting my communication “partner”? © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

Improving nonverbal communication skills Monitor feedback Be sensitive to the context Be aware of nonverbal ambiguity Know your culture © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space

Communication between cultures Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: 8TH EDITION Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Space, Time, and Silence © Cengage 2012 Chapter 9 Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Time, and Space