Communication
Nonverbal communication can be simply defined as communication without the usage of words. This ability is both innate, but it can also be improved through study. The importance of nonverbal communication is increasing more and more as the importance and levels of communication increase. NVC is best revealed through body language, such as grimaces, gesticulation or voice intonations. Alongside with dances, moves, the food we eat or serve, the clothes we wear (uniform for instance make a statement of authority) they make up forms of nonverbal communication (Exploring Nonverbal Communication).
A homogenous community generally uses the same forms of NVC, but when entering a new community, it may be difficult for one to grasp at first the features of their body language. This situation then raises the necessity to understand the concept of nonverbal communication across different cultures. Most of the differences are determined by the cultural background. The most relevant example may be the expression of emotions in the Middle East and in Asia. While the people in the first region will mourn openly, enjoy loudly or feel pain to its maximum, the Asian cultures impose restrictions on openly expressing feelings (Levine and Adelman, 1993).
Another example of NVC differences across culture refers to the expression of affection. While some cultures will allow heterosexual and homosexual couples to hold hands, embrace or even kiss in public, others will discourage or even prohibit such public manifestations of affection. The interaction between customer and employee is also subjected to differences and an example in this sense is given by the snapping of fingers to call on the waiter. While some cultures will find the gesture appropriate, others will catalogue it as rude (Levine and Adelman, 1993).
In a nutshell, nonverbal communication is present in all cultures and knowledge of it is crucial for a most efficient interaction. A more thorough understanding of the differences requires an elaborate analysis of NVC across diverse cultures.
References
LeBaron, M., July 2003, Cross-Cultural Communication, Beyond Intractability, http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/cross-cultural_communication/last accessed on February 5, 2009
Levine, D.R., Adelman, M.B., 1993, Beyond Language, http://www.rpi.edu/dept/advising/american_culture/social_skills/nonverbal_communication/reading_exercise.html. Ast accessed on February 5, 2009
Exploring Nonverbal Communication, http://nonverbal.ucsc.edu/last accessed on February 5, 2009
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