LL250: Intercultural
Communication
Prof. Bauer-Ramazani
Name _________________
Worksheet for Chapter 5
Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of
Action, Space, Time, and Silence
Directions: Use the
information in this chapter to support your answers to the following questions.
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"Nonverbal communication is all around us."
Comment and give examples.
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How important is NVC?
Are there possibilities for misunderstandings?
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What elements are included in S&P's
definition of NVC, and what does this definition imply?
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Name the five uses/functions of NVC
and give an example of each.
Nonverbal Communication and Culture
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"Similar to culture, NVC is invisible,
omnipresent, and learned." Comment and give examples.
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Name the 7 components of
NVC associated with body language and the 3 associated with the setting/context.
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By the husk you may judge
the nut." and "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Comment on the
inference made from a person's appearance..
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Give an example of
a common American sitting posture that is insulting or offensive to other
cultures.
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T / F All gestures are innate.
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T / F Gestures
for "come here" (beckoning) are universal.
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T / F Nodding and shaking one's
hand are universal expressions of accepting and understanding.
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T / F Co-cultural and gender
differences are expressed in the amount and significance of gestures.
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T / F Some facial expressions
are innate and universal.
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What problems may arise from direct eye
contact?
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What does the fact that Japanese has no word
for "kiss" indicate?
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With which culture would Americans
miscommunicate regarding smell?
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Define paralanguage and give
examples.
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T / F World Englishes are
dialects.
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Define proxemics.
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T / F Silence has universal
meaning.
In the grid below, give examples of nonverbal
communication in the different cultures and co-cultures. Indicate the
cultural patterns/value dimensions, and/or orientation associated with
them.
|
Nonverbal
Communication |
Characterics/
Examples |
Interpretations
(by own + other cultures) |
Cultural Pattern/
Value Dimension / Orientation |
Appearance/beauty
- US
- Japan
- Africa
- Russia
- China
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Attire
- Arabs
- Germans
- Japan
- African-Americans
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Kinesics--Posture
- Japan
- Thailand
- India
- US: African-American
- US: male-female
|
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| Kinesics--Gestures--Pointing
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Kinesics--Gestures--culture-specific gestures
- US--OK sign
- sexual connotation gest.
|
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Kinesics--Gestures--beckoning
- US
- Korea
- Germany
- Arab cultures
- Spain
|
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| Kinesics--Gestures--Acceptance & Understanding
|
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Facial Expressions
Grief/sadness
- Mediterranean men
- white US males
- Japanese males
- Koreans
- Chinese
|
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Facial Expressions
Smile
- US
- German
- Korean
- Thai
- Indonesian
- male/female
|
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Direct Eye contact
- US
- Japan
- Latin America
- Africa
- India
- Egypt
- Germans
|
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Staring
- Native Americans
- Mexican-Americans
- African-Americans
- US: male/female
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Touch/Physical Contact
- Arabs
- Asians
- African-Americans
- Southeast Asia
- India
- US: male/female
|
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Paralanguage
Volume
- Arabs
- Israelis
- Germans
- Thais
- Japanese
- African-Americans
- US: male/female
|
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Paralanguage
Sounds/noises (Vocal characteristics, incl. laughing)
|
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Proxemics
Personal space
- US
- Great Britain
- Germany
- Australia
- Arab cultures
- Asian cultures
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Proxemics
Seating
|
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Proxemics
Furniture arrangements
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Time
Informal Time--punctuality
- US/GB
- Arab cultures
- Italy
- Java
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| Time--pace
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Time
Past, Present, Future
- GB, China, Japan, Irish, Native Americans
- Filipinos/Latins
- US
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Time
Monochronic
- Germany, Austria, Switzerland, US
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Time
Polychronic
- Turks, Arabs, Asians, Latins, Africans
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Silence
- US, Germans, French, Southern Europeans, Arabs
- Eastern cultures
- Japan
- India,
- Native Americans
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©2004 Christine
Bauer-Ramazani, Saint Michael's College. Last updated:
July 09, 2017
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