Nonverbal Communication - Essay Example

Nonverbal Communication Nonverbal Communication Nonverbal communication refers to the non-linguistic communication, mostly, by the use of visual cues between people. The most commonly used cues in nonverbal communication include facial expressions, gestures, eye movements, and body orientation. Facial expressions depend largely on the eye movements during a conversation. The eye gazes, pupil size and blinking are some examples of eye movements. Constant eye contact shows that the addressee is paying attention. Large pupil size shows attraction. Body orientation refers to the degree of movement of the speaker’s shoulder and legs. Movement of legs towards the addresses communicates liking. The speaker’s volume, pitch or tone communicates their moods. Nonverbal expressions vary considerably in meaning with culture where different cultures may perceive similar expressions differently. The expressions also dictate the nature of the relationship between the two conversing parties (Henningsen, Braz & Davies, 2008). Some research findings conclude that the nonverbal expressions carry about two-thirds of the communicated message’s value. It is amusing though that in most cases, people are not aware of the expressions that accompany their conversations. The essay herein will explore the field of nonverbal communication based on cultural differences. Specifically, the article will discuss the Arabic culture and the Canadian culture in addition to considering the differences in the use of gestures in these two contrastingly different cultures. Nonverbal expressions illustrate how a person feels. The expressions are not usually integral to the communication as they may contradict, emphasize, underscore, complement, substitute, or regulate the flow of words. Spoken words convey thoughts and ideas while the nonverbal cues carry information on rational matters such as respect, liking, and social control (Henningsen, Braz & Davies, 2008). However, the nonverbal cues are important in establishing a relationship between two communicating parties. An appropriate application of these nonverbal expressions in communications enhances a person’s credibility, attractiveness, and likeability. Moreover, a favorable application of the expressions during a conversation helps to create and enhance a more impressive interpersonal relationship (Jacques-Tiuran et al., 2007). The advancement of technology has introduced a computerized communication and eliminated the face-to-face communication. Mobile phones and computers reduce the application of the nonverbal expressions, and the communicating parties rely exclusively on the verbal aspect of the message. Computer-assisted communication is, therefore, not as effective as the face-to-face communication in relaying messages. The recent computer communications applying emoticons and smiley to express certain facial and gestured expressions justifies the assertion. However, the emoticons portray different meanings since different people have diverse interpretation of such emoticons. The message reaches the recipient with a changed meaning depending on the recipient’s interpretation and perception. Shortened words such as LOL (laugh out loud) are also in frequent use to aid online communications (Jacques-Tiuran et al., 2007).Many users of online media have found the use of such symbols in online communication disgusting and, therefore, presume the sender as lazy since they cannot type the full words. In most cases, the aspects of online communication supersede the cultural norms (Henningsen, Braz & Davies, 2008). Culture refers to the society’s collective behavior, patterns, beliefs, art and institutions. Culture depicts a person’s sense of belonging to a certain group of persons. The cultural disparities significantly affect how an individual communicates nonverbally (Bardzell & Odom, 2008). A particular culture may regard as offensive the cues that another culture considers as acceptable. These differences lead to a classification of cultures in two broad variations each with contrasting differences. The immediacy and expressive culture demonstrates the level of closeness in a given conversation scenario. High immediacy cultures, also known as contact cultures, are most prevalent in Arab countries and other warm-temperate regions while low immediacy cultures are most common in cool countries of America and Europe. Individualism and collectivism distinguish cultures according to the level of closeness and togetherness of the members of the society. Individualistic cultures usually display less nonverbal communication due to less cohesion whereas collectivistic cultures present a more prominent use of nonverbal cues (Bardzell & Odom, 2008). The collectivistic culture stresses more on cohesion and often spends most of their time close to one another. Masculinity groups culture based on the aspect of how the society perceives gender. High masculinity cultures underrate the female gender and hence prohibit women synchrony in their movements than the low masculinity cultures. Power distance dimension groups culture according to the recommended respect for those in authority. High power distance cultures stress respect for those in authorities and view loudness to one another as offensive and a form of disrespect. The last aspect groups culture according to the frequency with which the society accepts the predominant use of either verbal or nonverbal communications. The aspect classifies cultures as either high or low context. The high context cultures pay more attention to the nonverbal cues and perceive verbal persons as less attractive. The high context society accepts more of nonverbal codes of communication as opposed to the low context cultures. A close examination of the Arabian versus the Canadian cultures yielded significant differences in gesture use. The research considered the cultures of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Canadian culture. Saudi Arabia is a typical Arabian country while Canada is an American state. The Arabian culture is a high contact culture since Arabs view togetherness and closeness as a sense of strong relationships. Conversely, the American culture is a low contact culture paying little attention to togetherness and closeness among people from a common society. Arabian culture greets with a right-hand shake at the beginning and the end of a meeting. The Arabs consider the use of the left hand in greetings, receiving foodstuffs and eating as disrespectful and unclean. The Arabs also hold hands for a little longer than the Canadians while shaking hands. The handshake is relatively weaker, and the individuals grasp the elbow with the left hand during greeting. Close friends usually hug and kiss on the cheeks during greetings in the Arabian cultures. The Arabs place their right hand on their nose to gesture it is one’s obligation. They also call individuals to approach their direction by pulling out their right hand while holding their palms down. They then bring their fingers towards themselves repeatedly while clawing their fingers. Arabs also display the sense of dislike for an individual by not touching them. Arab men can hug and kiss on the cheek in public, and the society does not consider the act as homosexuals. The gesture implies a close relationship between the individuals. Arabs feel constant eye contact as a display of respect. Lack of eye contact demonstrates rudeness and lack of consideration for other people. Arabs consider placing the palm of the right hand on the chest while bowing down a little and closing the eyes as a sign of thanking the other person. The Arabs highly condemn the gestures involving biting the right forefinger, hitting the right fist into the open palm of the left hand and placing a half-closed hand in front of the stomach. The Arabs interpret the above gestures as wishing evil, harm and lying to someone respectively. The gestures are very offensive in the Arab culture. On the contrary, the Canadian culture greets with a firm handshake while maintaining eye contact. The handshake is more firm than the Arabian and the Canadian regard a weak handshake as a sign of weakness. They then exchange business cards after the handshake to introduce themselves. Canadians do not find it difficult to say no as seen in the Arabian culture where a blunt no is offensive. Canadian children can address an adult in a similar way they talk to their friends. Saudi Arabians however consider the act as a lack of respect for adults. Canadians maintain a lot of space while conversing. They stand two feet off the other party while talking. The Canadian culture accepts the thumbs up sign to mean approval while the sign is invalid in the Arabian world. The Canadians consider circling the thumb with a forefinger to indicate that everything is okay. In the Arab world, the sign is offensive and avoided at all costs. Canadians flash their palms of the right hand forward to slow down an oncoming object. Conversely, the Arabians hold their fingers in a pear shaped pattern with the tips pointing at the waist level to slow down an approaching object. The sign also signal take care in the Arabian world. Evidently, the use of nonverbal cues in communication signals different meanings governed by the cultural setting. An individual traveling to other cultures should refrain from using the expressions, and instead stick to the verbal communication. The practice ensures the individual avoids the unpleasant responses that might arise as a result of using the offensive cues. Conversely, a person may choose to familiarize with the ways of the other cultures gestures and minimize offending their conversation parties at public places. References Bardzell, S., & Odom, W. (2008). The Experience of Embodied Space in Virtual Worlds Ethnography of a Second Life Community. Space and Culture, 11(3), 239-259. Henningsen, D. D., Braz, M., & Davies, E. (2008). Why Do We Flirt? Flirting Motivations and Sex Differences and Working and Social Contexts. Journal of Business Communication, 45(4), 483-502. Jacques-Tiura, A. J., Abbey, A., Parkhill, M. R., & Zawacki, T. (2007). Why Do Some Men Misperceive Womens Sexual Intentions More Frequently Than Others Do? An Application of the Confluence Model. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 33(11), 1467-1480. Read More