SERVING STUDENTS OF DIVERSE CULTURES: IMPROVING NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Chaudhari Jaydip (110103) Makwana Hardik(110107) Modi Hitesh (110108) Pandya Bhautik (110110)

SOURCES
- Gestures: The Dos and Taboos of Body Language. by Roger E. Axtell - Gestures: Body Language and Nonverbal Communication. by Gary Imai. www.csupomona.edu/~tas si/gestures.htm.
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NON-VERBALLY
* According the a social anthropologist, Edward T. Hall, in a normal conversation between two persons, less than 35% of the social meanings is actually transmitted by words. * So, at least 65% of it is conveyed through nonverbal channel.
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The Importance of Body Language

(Contd)

* Mario Pei, a communications expert, once estimated that humans can produce up to 700,000 different physical signs. * Birdwhistell estimated that the face alone is capable of producing 250,000 expressions. * People in other parts of the world observe body language more than the North Americans do.
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HEAD
- Nodding the head
- yes in most societies - no in some parts of Greece, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, and Turkey

- Tossing the head backward

- yes in Thailand, the Philippines, India, Laos

- Rocking head slowly, back and forth

- yes, Im listening in India and Thailand
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FACE
* Facial expressions reflect emotion, feelings and attitudes, but.. * The Asians are sometimes known as - emotionless - mixed-up emotion

EYES
* Eye contacts
- Encouraged in America, Canada, Europe - Rude in most Asian countries and in Africa

* Raising eyebrows
- yes in Thailand and some Asian countries - hello in the Philippines

* Winking eye
- Sharing secret in America and Europe - flirtatious gesture in other countries
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EYES (Contd)
* Closed eyes
- bored or sleepy in America - Im listening and concentrating. in Japan, Thailand, China

EARS
* Ear grasp
- Im sorry. in India

* Cupping the ear

- I cant hear you. in all societies

* Pulling ear
- You are in my heart for Navajo Indians

NOSE
* Holding the nose - Something smells bad. universal * Nose tap - Its confidential. England - Watch out. Be careful. Italy * Pointing to nose - Its me. Japan * Blowing nose - In Japan and many Asian countries, blowing the nose at social gathering is very impolite.
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CHEEKS
* Cheek screw
- gesture of praise - Italy - Thats crazy. Germany

* Cheek stroke
- pretty, attractive, success most Europe

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LIPS AND MOUTH

* Whistle, yawn, smile, bite, point, sneeze, spit, kiss.. * Kiss. In parts of Asia, kissing is considered an intimate sexual act and not permissible in public, even as a social greeting. * Kissing sound. To attract attention in the Philippines, to beckon a waiter in Mexico. * Finger tip kiss. In France, it conveys several messages, Thats good! Thats great! Thats 12 beautiful!.

LIPS AND MOUTH (Contd)

* Spitting.
* Spitting in public is considered rude and crude in most Western cultures. * In the PRC and some other Asian countries, spitting in public is very common.

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THE LIP POINTING

* Lip pointing (a substitute for pointing with the hand or finger) is common among Filipinos, Native Americans, Puerto Ricans, and many Latin Americans. * Open mouth. Any display of the open mouth is considered very rude in most countries.
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ARMS
* Some cultures, like the Italians, use the arms freely. Others, like the Japanese, are more reserved; it is considered impolite to gesticulate with broad movements of the arms. * Folding arms are interpreted by some social observers as a form of excluding self, I am taking a defensive posture, or I disagree with what I am hearing. 15

ARMS (Contd)
* Arms akimbo. In many cultures, this stance signals aggression, resistance, impatience, or even anger. * Arms behind back, hands grasped is a sign of ease and control. * Arms in front, hands grasped, common practice in most Asian countries, is a sign of mutual respect for others.
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HANDS
* Of all the body parts, the hands are probably used most for communicating non-verbally. * Hand waves are used for greetings, beckoning, or farewells.
* The American good-bye wave can be interpreted in many parts of Europe and Latin America as the signal for no. * The Italian good-bye wave can be interpreted by Americans as the gesture of come here. 17

HANDS (Contd)
* Beckoning.
* The American way of getting attention (raising a hand with the index finger raised above head) could be considered rude in Japan, and also means two in Germany. * The American come here gesture could be seen as an insult in most Asian countries. * In China, to beckon a waiter to refill your tea, simply turn your empty cup upside down.
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HANDS (Contd)
* Handshaking is a form of greeting in most Western cultures. * In the Middle East, a gentle grip is appropriate. * In most Asian cultures, a gentle grip and an avoidance of direct eye contact is appropriate. * Hand-holding among the same sex is a custom of special friendship and respect in several Middle Eastern and Asian countries.
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HANDS (Contd)
* Right hand. The right hand has special significance in many societies. In certain countries in the Middle East and in Asia, it is best to present business cards or gifts, or to pass dishes of food, to get an attention, using only the right hand. * Left hand is considered unclean in much of the Middle East and in parts of Indonesia.
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HANDS (Contd)
* Hang loose.(thumb and little finger extended) * could convey different meanings: * in Hawaii, its a way of saying, Stay cool, or Relax. * in Japan, it means six. * In Mexico (do vertically), it means, Would you like a drink?
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HANDS (Contd)
* Suicide gesture.
* In the U.S., a person points a forefinger to the temple, thumb pointing upward. * In Japan, a stabbing motion to the stomach is used. * In parts of Asia, putting one hand to throat in a choking motion is the signal for suicide.

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HANDS (Contd)
* Clapping hands.
* Russians and Chinese may use applause to greet someone. * In many central and eastern Europe, audience frequently clap in rhythm.

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FINGERS
* The O.K. signal. (the thumb and forefinger form a circle) means * fine, or O.K. in most cultures, * zero or worthless in France * an insult in Greece, Brazil, Italy, Turkey, Russia

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FINGERS (Contd)
* Thumbs-up. It means: * O.K. good job or fine in most cultures, * Up yours! in Australia * Five in Japan; One in Germany * Avoid a thumbs-up in these countries: Australia, New Zealand, Greece, Turkey, Iran, Russia, and most African countries.
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FINGERS (Contd)
* Pointing.
* Pointing with the index finger is common in North America and Europe. * But it is considered impolite in Japan and China where they favor using the whole open hand. * Malaysians prefer pointing with the thumb.

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LEGS AND FEET

* In Thailand, do not point with your toes. * In Thailand, Japan, China, Malaysia, France.., do not put your feet up on a desk or any other piece of furniture. * Sitting cross-legged is common in North America and some European countries. * Royal Cross is common in England.
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LEGS AND FEET (Contd)

* In Japan, Thailand, and China, a solid and balanced sitting posture is the prevailing custom. Sitting cross-legged shows the sign of disrespect. * In the Middle East and parts of Asia, resting the ankle over the other knee risks pointing the sole of your shoe at another person, which is considered a rude gesture.
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WALKING
* Walking can reflect many characteristics of a culture. For example, * In Thailand and some of the Middle Eastern countries, men who are friends may walk holding each others hand. * In Japan and Korea, women commonly walk a pace or two behind male companion. * Asians often regard Western women as bold and aggressive, for they walk with a longer gait and a more upright posture.
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ASIAN FACIFIC CULTURAL VALUES

* * * * * *

Respectful of ones parents and elders Respectful of authority Interdependent Humble Group oriented Hard-working and frugal
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HOW PEOPLE OF VARIOUS PARTS OF THE WORLD VIEW AMERICANS

* * * * * Careless: with dress, rules, and manners Generous: as neighbors Superficial: shallow and short-lasting friendship Confident: demand almost too much of self Ethnocentric: less interested in others

* Independent: Individually feeling not to fit others mold.

* Source: Tyler, V. Lynn. Intercultural Interacting. (1987)
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THANKS! AND..
YOUR
thoughts experiences questions

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