CulturesCultures

andand

Non-verbal codesNon-verbal codes

CODE… CODE… A system of communication

•VerbalVerbal

•Non-verbalNon-verbal

Non-Verbal BehaviorNon-Verbal Behavior

• How do people stand when they talk to one How do people stand when they talk to one another?another?

• What are the accepted seating What are the accepted seating arrangements?arrangements?

• Are there generally accepted religious Are there generally accepted religious principles that cannot be violated, such as principles that cannot be violated, such as certain foods (accepted or taboo), colors, certain foods (accepted or taboo), colors, icons, and particular forbidden behaviors?icons, and particular forbidden behaviors?

• What hand gestures are acceptable?What hand gestures are acceptable?• What do various items of apparel What do various items of apparel

communicate?communicate?

High context cultureHigh context culture

The message is implicitThe message is implicit

[Asian, Southern European][Asian, Southern European]

The “info” is read through the grid of non-verbal codes—the

context

Low-context cultureLow-context culture

The message is explicitThe message is explicit

[Northern Europe, U.S.][Northern Europe, U.S.]

The “info” is primarily read through the grid of verbal

codes

(“words, words, words...”)

CODE… CODE… A system of communication

•The Non-verbal CodesThe Non-verbal Codes

[Some explanations and examples][Some explanations and examples]

CHRONEMICSCHRONEMICS

•Communicating through Communicating through timetime

•M-TIME –monochronemicM-TIME –monochronemic•P-TIME -polychronemicP-TIME -polychronemic

Let me tell you about the “time” I Let me tell you about the “time” I attended a wedding…attended a wedding…

Should one be on time or late?Should one be on time or late?

PROXEMICSPROXEMICS

•Communicating through Communicating through space and distancespace and distance

Physical orientation - Close? Too Physical orientation - Close? Too close????close????

Face to face? (American) Side to side? Face to face? (American) Side to side? (Chinese)(Chinese)

House design…placement and sizes of House design…placement and sizes of doorways, windows, etc.doorways, windows, etc.

KINESICSKINESICS

CommunicatinCommunicating through g through movement movement

and gesturesand gestures

• Facial Facial expressionsexpressions

• Waving goodbyeWaving goodbye• BeckoningBeckoning• Yes/noYes/no• Death/suicideDeath/suicide• GreetingsGreetings• DisagreementDisagreement

HAPTICSHAPTICS

Communicating through Communicating through touchtouch

Shaking hands --Shaking hands --Who offers first?Who offers first? (Vietnam – (Vietnam –

women and women and elders elders offer hand first)offer hand first)

Thailand – no touching of the headThailand – no touching of the head

OCULESICSOCULESICS

•Communicating through the eyesCommunicating through the eyes

““Look me in the eye!” - Know the Look me in the eye!” - Know the culture!!!culture!!!

Widening of eyes -- Widening of eyes -- Anger? (Chinese) Anger? (Chinese) Surprise? (Anglo) Help/assistance? (Hispanic)Surprise? (Anglo) Help/assistance? (Hispanic)

Native Americans – children taught eye Native Americans – children taught eye contact shows disrespectcontact shows disrespect

OLFACTICSOLFACTICS

•Communicating through Communicating through smellsmell

Body odorsBody odorsUse of perfume or colognesUse of perfume or colognesIncenseIncenseSpicesSpicesSelling your home…Selling your home…

VOCALICSVOCALICS

•Communicating through Communicating through paralanguageparalanguage

Grunts, uh-huhsGrunts, uh-huhs

Giggling (young Japanese girls)Giggling (young Japanese girls)

““hai” = yes, but indicates hai” = yes, but indicates understandingunderstanding

PHYSICAL APPEARANCEPHYSICAL APPEARANCE

•Communicating through Communicating through dressdress

What does the way you dress say What does the way you dress say about you?about you?

Uniforms?Uniforms?

Occasional wear?Occasional wear?

SILENCESILENCE

•Communicating through Communicating through stillnessstillness

In the U.S. culture, what does silence In the U.S. culture, what does silence indicate? indicate?

““Squeaky wheel gets greased…”Squeaky wheel gets greased…”

Eastern cultures – lengthy, social Eastern cultures – lengthy, social silencesilence

Codes…Codes…

Understand a culture’s Understand a culture’s “codes” “codes”

to understand theto understand the

people…people…