This slide about the culture and rule in non-verbal communication.

1. NON-VERBAL
COMMUNICATION

2. Intercultural Business
Communication, 4th ed.,
Chaney & Martin
What is meant by nonverbal
communication?
Non-word messages, such as
gestures, facial expressions,
interpersonal distance, touch,
eye contact, smell, and silence.

3. Intercultural Business
Communication, 4th ed.,
Chaney & Martin
Areas of Nonverbal Communication
 Chronemics (time)
 Proxemics (space)
 Oculesics (gaze/eye contact)
 Olfactics (smell)
 Haptics (touch)
 Kinesics (body language)
 Chromatics (color)
 Silence

4. Intercultural Business
Communication, 4th ed.,
Chaney & Martin
Time (Chronemics)
 Attitudes toward time vary from culture to
culture.
 Countries that follow monochronic time
perform only one major activity at a time
(U.S., England, Switzerland, Germany).
 Countries that follow polychronic time work
on several activities simultaneously (Latin
America, the Mediterranean, the Arabs).

5. Intercultural Business
Communication, 4th ed.,
Chaney & Martin
Space (Proxemics)
•Proxemics refers to the perception and use of
space
•People in the U.S. tend to need more space than
do persons of other cultures. U.S. persons back
away when people stand too close. Standing too
close is interpreted as being pushy or
overbearing; standing too close may also be
interpreted as unwelcomed sexual advances.
•Some people stand so far apart they have
to lean forwards to shake hands.

6. Intercultural Business
Communication, 4th ed.,
Chaney & Martin
Distance varies greatly with nationality. For example the
casual-personal distance may be:
North America: 18 inches
Western Europe: 14 to 16 inches
Japan: 36 inches
Middle East: 8 to 12 inches
U.S. people need more space than do Greeks, Latin
Americans, or Arabs.
The Japanese stand even farther away than do U.S. persons.

7. Intercultural Business
Communication, 4th ed.,
Chaney & Martin
Gaze/Eye Contact (Oculesics)
•People in the U.S. favor direct eye contact,
•Japanese don’t prefer direct eye contact; they
direct their gaze below the chin.
• In the Middle East, the eye contact is more
intense.
•A prolonged gaze or stare in the U.S. is considered
rude.
• In most cultures, men do not stare at women as
this may be interpreted as sexually suggestive.

8. Intercultural Business
Communication, 4th ed.,
Chaney & Martin
Smell (Olfactics)
 Although people of the U.S. respond
negatively to body odors, Arabs are
comfortable with natural body odors.
 Japan culture - smell plays an important role

9. Intercultural Business
Communication, 4th ed.,
Chaney & Martin
Touch (Haptics)
 Haptic refers to the use of touch.
 Varies across cultures : gender m/f, age, part
(head, hand, shoulder, etc)
 Touch, when used properly, may create
feelings of warmth and trust; when used
improperly, touch may cause annoyance and
betray trust.
 Hierarchy is a consideration when using touch
in the U.S.: people who are older or higher
rank may touch those who are younger or of
lower rank; equals may touch each other.

10. Intercultural Business
Communication, 4th ed.,
Chaney & Martin
“Don't Touch” Cultures
 Japan
 U.S. and Canada
 England
 Scandinavia
 Other N. European
countries

11. Intercultural Business
Communication, 4th ed.,
Chaney & Martin
“Touch” Cultures
 Latin American
countries
 Italy
 Greece
 Spain and Portugal
 Some Asian countries
 Russian Federation

12. Intercultural Business
Communication, 4th ed.,
Chaney & Martin
Body Language (Kinesics)
 Body language includes facial expressions,
gestures, eye gaze and blinking, posture and
stance.
 Hand gesture for e.g OK sign (US) means
Zero/worthless (France), Money (Japan).
 People in some cultures rarely show emotion
(China); Asians will smile or laugh softly when
they are embarrassed.

13.  The Chinese have several facial expressions,
which vary in meaning. For example, sticking
out the tongue expresses surprise, a widening
of the eyes shows anger, and scratching the
ears and cheeks indicates happiness.

14. Meaning in China Body Language
Anger, irritation, frustration, remorse Stamping one’s foot
Thank you; mutual positive feelings Speaker or performer clapping at the same
time audience applauds
Curiosity, sometimes surprise Staring, gaping
Disapproval, hissing “Shoo”
Seldom used; occasionally adults may
pat head of children to show affection;
patting the head of a teenager or adult
would cause displeasure and can be
insulting
Pat on head
“Come here” (beckoning some to come) Hand extended toward person, open palm,
palm down, with all fingers crooked in a
beckoning motion
“Shame on you!” (semi-joking gesture) Forefinger of one hand extended, tip touches
one’s own face several times quickly; similar
to scratching, but with the forefinger straight
(usually with the remark “Shame on you!”)
“I’m very full” (after a meal) One or both hands open, lightly patting one’s
own stomach

15. Body Language Meaning in China
Touching or pointing to tip of one’s own nose
with raised forefinger
“It’s me” “I’m the one” (To Westerners, the
gesture would seem slightly funny)
Using an open hand to cover one’s mouth
while speaking (generally used by older
people)
To show confidentiality and secrecy;
sometimes no meaning
Using both hands (when one would be
enough) in offering something to a visitor or
another person
Respect
(When one’s tea cup is being refilled by the
host or hostess) putting one or both hands
upright, palm open, beside the cup
“Thank you”
Upraised forefinger of each hand coming
together in front of the body until the two touch
Boy and girl in love; a good match

16.  Greeting used when a young man is greeting
an old man or a student greeting a professor
---lower head and bend slightly to show respect
 Put right hand on the position of the heart
--"Sincere promise"
 Pull up one’s sleeve with the hand of the
opposite arm
--Designates that one is ready to fight

17. Deceit
When disusing do not deceit,
this make you look sleepy or
not interested.
Disrespect
Don’t show something
disrespect. This can make
other people feel not
comfortable

18. Pain in the neck
During discussion, aviod to show that you
are in pain
Dominance & Superiority
This make you look rude

19. Intercultural Business
Communication, 4th ed.,
Chaney & Martin
Facial Expressions
 The face and eyes convey the most
expressive types of body language,
including happiness, surprise, fear,
anger, interest, and determination.
 Facial expressions must be controlled
when inappropriate to the setting
(yawning during a presentation).

20. Displeasure & Negative
This show you like in bad mood n
not look really interested
Having Negative Thoughts
Don’t give bad face impression

21. Axtell, Gestures
Gestures
 Emblems or symbols ("V" for victory)
 Illustrators (police officer's hand held up to
stop traffic)
 Regulators (glancing at watch when in a hurry)
 Affect displays (a person's face turns red with
embarrassment)

22. Intercultural Business
Communication, 4th ed.,
Chaney & Martin
Posture and Stance
 Posture can convey self-confidence, status,
and interest.
 Confident people have a relaxed posture,
yet stand erect and walk with assurance.
 Walking with stooped shoulders and a slow,
hesitating gait projects negative messages
of lack of confidence.

23. Intercultural Business
Communication, 4th ed.,
Chaney & Martin
Color (Chromatics)
 Colors have cultural variations in connotations.
 Black is the color of mourning in the U.S., but white is
worn to funerals by the Japanese.
 In the U.S. white is typically worn by brides, while in
India red or yellow is worn.
 Purple is sometimes associated with royalty, but it is
the color of death in Mexico and Brazil.
 Red (especially red roses) is associated with romance
in some cultures including the U.S.

24. In China:
 Black colour used during a funeral to symbolize mourning. A black
ribbon is usually hung over the deceased's picture.
 Red symbolizes good fortune and joy. Found everywhere during
Chinese New Year.
 All traditional red things have been playing special roles in China:
the walls of ancient palaces, the national flag, Chinese knot,
lantern, couplet, clothes, traditional paper-cuts for window
decorations, and even red tanghulu (sugar-coated haws on a stick).
Red is the color of the auspicious, signifying reunion, health,
happiness, harmony, peace and prosperity.
 Blue symbolizes immortality. Dark blue is also a color for somber
occasions like funerals and deaths.
 White is associated with death and is used predominantly in
funerals in Chinese culture.
 Yellow was the color of Imperial China and is held as the symbolic
color of the five legendary emperors of ancient China. Yellow also
represents freedom from worldly cares and is thus esteemed in
Buddhism. Monks’ garments are yellow, as are elements of
Buddhist temples.

26. Intercultural Business
Communication, 4th ed.,
Chaney & Martin
Silence
 U.S. people are uncomfortable with silence.
 The Japanese like periods of silence and do not like
to be hurried. Such Japanese proverbs as, “Those
who know do not speak - those who speak do not
know,” emphasize the value of silence over words in
that culture.
 In Italy, Greece, and Arabian countries, on the other
hand, there is very little silence.
 Oliver (1971) ‘silence in Asia has commonly been
entirely acceptable, whereas in the West silence has
generally been socially disagreeable’.