Intercultural Class Notes
Chapter 6: Nonverbal Issues in Intercultural Communication

I. Comparing verbal and nonverbal communication

a.

b.

i. When nonverbals contradict verbals, we tend to believe the nonverbals because they are often on the unconscious level.

c. Nonverbal behavior communicates relationship, status, and power.

i. Nonverbals communicate the relationship aspect of messages such as how we really feel about someone. (Context is important here)

ii.

1. For examples, a supervisor may be able to touch subordinates, but it may not be acceptable the other way around.

iii.

1. Researchers believe that verbal and nonverbal behaviors that are distinctive to a particular person communicate deception.

2. Only a few nonverbals seem likely to indicate deception (pupil dilation, blinking, higher

pitch).

a. Nonverbal Codes

i. Personal space

1. The “comfort zone” for each person

2. The difference in people’s spatial comfort depends on their cultural background

3. U.S. spaces (Edward T. Hall)

ii. Some cultures are identified as contact cultures while others are considered noncontact cultures

a. Contact cultures--

b. Noncontact cultures--

iii. Eye Contact

1. Can communicate a level of respect and status, and often regulates turn taking.

2. Eye contact also varies by culture

iv. Facial expressions

1. There are six/seven basic emotions that are communicated in much the same way in most societies.

a. SADFISH—

2. There is a lot of variation in what causes people to smile or frown.

3. Cultural rules often regulate facial expressions.

v. Gestures

1. Emblems—

2. Illustrators—

3. Regulators—

4. Adaptors—

vi. Time

1. Monochromatic time orientation—

2. Polychromatic time orientation—

3. International business negotiations can be challenged because of the different time orientations.

vii. Speaking and Silence

1.

2.

a. In Japan, silence may be used to show respect for theperson who has just spoken or to unify people

b. Keith Basso identified 5 contexts for appropriate uses of silence among Western Apache in Arizona: meeting strangers, courting someone, seeing friends after a long absence, being with people who are grieving, and getting cussed out.

b. Obviously understanding nonverbals that may be characteristic to particular cultures may be helpful for future communication, however they should not be universally accepted as stereotypes.