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UNIT 3:
NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION: SPEAKING WITHOUT
WORDS

“He didn’t look at me once. I know he’s guilty. Never trust a person who doesn’t look you in
the eye.”

American Police Office

“Americans smile at strangers. I don’t know what to think of that.”

Russian Engineer

“Americans seem cold. They seem to get upset when you stand close to them.”

Jordanian Teacher

[A] The American police officer, the Russian engineer, and the Jordanian teacher made these
comments about interactions they had with someone from a different culture. Their comments
demonstrate how people can misinterpret nonverbal communication that is culturally different
from their own. Of course, this can also happen in conversation among individuals of the
same cultural background, but it does not usually happen as often or to the same degree. Many
people think that all they really need to pay attention to in a conversation is the spoken word.
This is far from the truth!
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This is far from the truth!

[B] Language studies traditionally emphasized verbal and written communication. Since about
the 1960s, however, researchers seriously began to consider what takes place without words in
conversations. In some instances, more nonverbal than verbal communication occurs. For
example, if you ask an obviously depressed person, “What’s wrong?” and he answers,
“Nothing, I’m fine.”, you probably won’t believe him. Or when an angry person says, “ Let’s
forget this subject. I don’t want to talk about it anymore!” she hasn’t stopped communicating.
Her silence and withdrawal continue to convey emotional meaning.

[C] One study done in the United States showed that 93 percent of a message was transmitted
by the speaker’s tone of voice and facial expressions. Only 7 percent of the person’s attitude
was conveyed by words. Apparently, we express our emotions and attitudes more nonverbally
than verbally.

Cultural Differences in Nonverbal Communication

[D] Nonverbal communication expresses meaning or feeling without words. Universal

emotions, such as happiness, fear, and sadness, are expressed in a similar nonverbal way
throughout the world. There are, however, nonverbal differences across cultures that may be a
source of confusion for foreigners. Let’s look at the way people express sadness. In many
cultures, such as the Arab and Iranian cultures, people express grief openly. They mourn out
loud, while people from other cultures (e.g., China and Japan) are more subdued. In Asian
cultures, the general belief is that it is unacceptable to show emotion openly (whether sadness,
happiness, or pain).

[E] Let’s take another example of how cultures differ in their nonverbal expression of
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[E] Let’s take another example of how cultures differ in their nonverbal expression of
emotion. Feelings of friendship exist everywhere in the world, but their expression varies. It is
acceptable in some countries for men to embrace and for women to hold hands; in other
countries, these displays of affection are discouraged or prohibited.

[F] As with verbal communication, what is considered usual or polite behavior in one culture
may be seen as unusual or impolite in another. One culture may determine that snapping
fingers to call a waiter is appropriate, whereas another may consider this gesture rude. We are
often not aware of how gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, and the use of conversational
distance affect communication. To interpret another culture’s style of communication, it is
necessary to study the “silent language” of that culture.

Gestures and Body Positioning

[G] Gestures are specific body movements that carry meaning. Hand motions alone can
convey many meanings: “come here”, “go away”, “it’s O.K”, and “that’s expensive!” are just
a few examples. The gestures for these phrases often differ across cultures. For example,
beckoning people to come with palm up is common in the United States. This same gesture in
the Philippines, Korea, and pares of Latin American as well as other countries in considered
rude. In some countries, only an animal would be beckoned with the palm up.

[H] As children, we imitate and learn to use these nonverbal movements to accompany or
replace words. When traveling to another country, foreign visitors soon learn that not all
gestures are universal. For example, the “O.K” gesture in the American culture is a symbol for
money in Japan. This same gesture is obscene in some Latin American countries. (This is why
editors of a Brazilian newspaper enjoyed publishing a picture of a former American president
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editors of a Brazilian newspaper enjoyed publishing a picture of a former American president

giving the “O.K” symbol with both hands!)

[I] Many American business executives enjoy relaxing with their feet up on their desks. But to
show a person from Saudi Arabia or Thailand the sole of one’s foot is extremely insulting,
because the foot is considered the dirtiest part of the body. Can you imagine the reaction in
Thailand when a foreign shoe company distributed an advertisement showing a pair of shoes
next to a sacred sculpture of Buddha?

Facial Expressiveness

[J] Facial expressions carry meaning that is determined by situations and relationships. For
instance, in American culture the smile is typically an expression of pleasure. Yet it also has
other functions. A woman’s smile at a police office does not carry the same meaning as the
smile she gives to a young child. A smile may show affection, convey politeness, or disguise
true feelings. It also is a source of confusion across cultures. For example, many people in
Russia consider smiling at strangers in public to be unusual and even suspicious behavior. Yet
many Americans smile freely at strangers in public places (although this is less common in
big cities). Some Russians believe that Americans smile in the wrong places; some Americans
believe that Russians don’t smile enough. In Southeast Asian cultures, a smile is frequently
used to cover emotional pain or embarrassment. Vietnamese people may tell the sad story of
how they had to leave their country but end the story with a smile.

[K] Our faces reveal emotions and attitudes, but we should not attempt to “read” people from
another culture as we would “read” someone from our own culture. The degree of facial
expressiveness one exhibits varies among individuals and cultures. The fact that members of
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expressiveness one exhibits varies among individuals and cultures. The fact that members of
one culture do not express their emotions as openly as do members of another doers not mean
that they do not experience emotions. Rather, there are cultural restraints on the amount of
nonverbal expressiveness permitted. For example, in public and in formal situations many
Japanese do not show their emotions as freely as Americans do. More privately and with
friends, Japanese and Americans seem to show their emotions similarly. Many teachers in the
United States have a difficult time knowing whether their teacher is looking for more facial
responsiveness than what the Japanese student is comfortable with in the classroom situation.

[L] It is difficult to generalize about Americans and facial expressiveness because of

individual and ethnic differences in the United States. People from certain ethnic backgrounds
in the United States tend to be more facially expressive than others. The key, is to try not to
judge people whose ways of showing emotion are different. If we judge according to our won
cultural norms, we may make the mistake of “reading” the other person incorrectly.

Eye Contact

[M] Eye contact is important because insufficent or excessive eye contact can create
communication barriers. In relationships, it serves to show intimacy, attention, and influence.
As with facial expressions, there are no specific rules governing eye behavior in the United
States, except that it is considered rude to stare, especially at strangers. In parts of the United
States, however, such as on the West Coast and in the South, it is quite common to glance at
strangers when passing them. For example, it is usual for two strangers walking toward each
other to make eye contact, smile, and perhaps even say, “Hi”, before immediately looking
away. This type of contact doesn’t mean much; it is simply a way of acknowledging another
person’s presence. In general, Americans make less eye contact with strangers in big cities
than in small towns. People would be less likely to make eye contact in bus stations, for
example, than in more comfortable settings such as a university student center.

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[N] Patterns of eye contact are different across cultures. Some Americans feel uncomfortable
with the “gaze” that is sometimes associated with Arab or Indian Communication patterns.
For Americans, this style of eye contact is too intense. Yet too little eye contact may also be
viewed negatively, because it may convey a lack of interest, inattention, or even mistrust. The
relationship between the lack of eye contact and mistrust in the American culture is stated
directly in the expression, “Never trust a person who doesn’t look you in the eyes”. In
contrast, in many other parts of the world (especially in Asian countries), a person’s lack of
eye contact toward an authority figure signifies respect and deference.

Conversational Distance

[O] Unconsciously, we all keep a comfortable distance around us when we interact with other
people. This distance has had several names over the years, including “personal space”,
“interpersonal distance”, “comfort zone”, and “body bubble”. This space between us and
another person forms invisible walls that define how comfortable we feel at various distances
from other people.

[P] The amount of space changes depending on the nature of the relationship. For example,
we are usually more comfortable standing closer to family members than to strangers.
Personality also determines the size of the area with which we are comfortable when talking
to people. Introverts often prefer to interact with others at a greater distance than do
extroverts. Cultural styles are important too. A Japanese employer and employee usually stand
farther apart while talking than their American counterparts. Latin Americans and Arabs tend
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farther apart while talking than their American counterparts. Latin Americans and Arabs tend
to stand closer than Americans do when talking.

[Q] For Americans, the usual distance in social conversation ranges from about an arm’s
length to four feet. Less space in their American culture may be associated with either greater
intimacy or aggressive behavior. The common practice of saying, “Excuse me”, for the
slightest accidental touching of another person reveals how uncomfortable Americans are if
people get too close. Thus, a person whose “space” has been intruded upon by another may
feel threatened and react defensively. In cultures where close physical contact is acceptable
and even desirable, Americans may be perceived as cold and distant.

[R] Culture does not always determine the message of nonverbal communication. The
individual’s personality, the context, and the relationship also influence its meaning. However,
like verbal language, nonverbal language is linked to a person’s cultural background. People
are generally comfortable with others who have “body language” similar to their own. One
research study demonstrated that when British graduate students imitated some Arab patterns
of nonverbal behavior (making increased eye contact, smiling, and directly facing their Arab
partners), the Arabs felt that these students were more likeable and trustworthy than most of
the other British students.

[S] When one person’s nonverbal language matches that of another, there is increased
comfort. In nonverbal communication across cultures there are similarities and differences.
Whether we choose to emphasize the former or the latter, the “silent language” is much louder
than it first appears.

Exercises:

I. Multiple Choices

1. The quotations at the beginning of the reading are examples of how people can
misinterpret:
a. nonverbal communication.
b. verbal communication.
c. cultural values.

2. Many people think that it is the spoken word that is most important in conversation. This
perception is often: [A]
a. true.
b. not true.
c. exact.

3. The authors say that nonverbal communication expresses meaning or feelings: [D]
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3. The authors say that nonverbal communication expresses meaning or feelings: [D]
a. with many words.
b. with song and dance.
c. with no words.

4. According to the authors, feelings of friendship are universal, but their expression is: [E]
a. not always the same.
b. usually exactly the same.
c. not very different.

5. The authors say that the meaning of facial expressions is determined by: [J]
a. relationships.
b. situations.
c. feelings.
d. both (a) and (b)

6. The fact that members of one culture don’t express their emotions as openly ad members of
another means that: [K]
a. they do not experience emotions as intensely as others do.
b. cultural rules affect how expressive a person can be.
c. cultural values forbid any nonverbal expressiveness in some cultures.

7. Eye contact is important because too much or too little eye contact can create: [M]
a. communication barriers.
b. interesting relationships.
c. strange expressions.

8. According to the authors, what determines the comfortable distance when we interact with
other people? [P]
a. the nature of the relationship
b. personalities
c. cultural styles
d. all of the above

9. The authors say that in cultures where close physical contact is important, Americans are
sometimes perceived as: [Q]
a. distant and cold.
b. cold and close.
c. quiet and distant.

10. The authors say that when the nonverbal language of one person matches the nonverbal
language of another person, there is: [S]
a. increased discomfort.
b. decreased comfort.
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c. increased comfort.

Answer Key

II. Short Answers

1. According to the authors, when do people express themselves more verbally than
nonverbally? [B, C]

2. The authors state that if people want to understand other cultural styles of communication,
they should study the “silent language” of that culture. Of what four aspects of nonverbal
communication do the authors say people are not usually aware? [F]

3. The authors tell us that hand movement can convey meaning. Are the meanings of gestures
the same in all cultures? Give example of differences. [G]

4. According to the authors, when people imitate and learn their nonverbal communication?
[H]

5. According to the authors, facial expressions show emotions and attitudes. Can you assume
that people from other cultures know the exact meaning of your facial expressions? Give an
example of a situation in which there might be cross-cultural misinterpretations. [K]

Answer Key

Review

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