In one of the last sections of the chapter (“Cultural Variation or Stereotype?”), it talks about how the cultural variations we have in our nonverbal behaviors might lead to stereotyping.  It says that nonverbal behaviors can often trigger prejudice and it can often communicate prejudice.  Based on this section of the chapter and the lecture, address the following questions in your discussion post.

• Do you feel the statements made in the section about nonverbal behaviors both triggering and communicating prejudice (or stereotyping) are accurate?  Why or why not?  Give examples.
• If you do feel these statements are accurate, what can we as communicators do to eliminate or lessen this?

Response options to other students’ posts (Response Due Date–Saturday, Mar 30 [2 responses @ 5pts each =10 points])

When responding to your fellow classmates’ posts, consider the following questions/comments (you can choose one or both possible ways to respond):  (You need to respond to two classmate’s initial posts, but feel free to respond to more if you’d like.)

• Do you agree with what they said about whether or not our nonverbal behaviors can either trigger or communicate prejudice?  Why or why not?
• Or, start your response with, “I really like what you said here because…” OR “I can relate to what you said here because…”

Experiencing Intercultural Communication
An Introduction
6th edition

Judith N. Martin & Thomas K. Nakayama

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All rights reserved. Authorized only for instructor use in the classroom.  No reproduction or further distribution permitted without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

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Chapter 6

Nonverbal Communication Issues

©McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. Authorized only for instructor use in the classroom.  No reproduction or further distribution permitted without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

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Defining Nonverbal Communcation

Communication through means other than language

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Defining Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal communication also involves the notion of cultural spaces
Cultural spaces: Contexts that form one’s identity
Where we grew up
Where we live
How do cultural spaces impact our identity?
What are the cultural meanings learned in our cultural spaces?

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Comparing Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
Both verbal and nonverbal communication:
Are symbolic
Communicate meaning
Are governed by rules determined by contexts and situations AND culture

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Comparing Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
Differences
Nonverbals learned more “unconsciously” than verbal (through socialization)
Nonverbals can reinforce, substitute for or contradict our verbal behaviors
Since nonverbal communication operates at a more subconscious level, we tend to think people have less control over it

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What Nonverbal Behavior Communicates
Relational messages: messages that express how we really feel about others
Responsiveness
Liking
Power/Status

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What Nonverbal Behavior Communicates
Deception (or offer deception clues)
Leakage
Facial expressions
Pupil dilation
Speech patterns
HOWEVER…

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What Nonverbal Behavior Communicates
Three guidelines to prevent hasty interpretations
Think about the context
Consider the person’s other nonverbal behaviors
Consider the verbal messages along with the nonverbal messages

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Paralinguistics
The study of vocal behaviors that indicate how something is said
Includes:
Speaking rate
Volume
Pitch
Stress/emphasis

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Paralinguistics – Two Types
of Vocal Behavior
Voice qualities – Tone of voice
Include:
Speed
Pitch
Rhythm
Vocal range
Articulation
Vocalizations – Sounds that do not have the structure of language
Include:
Vocal cues – Laughing, crying, whining, or moaning
Fillers, such as “uh-huh,” “uh,” “ah,” and “er”

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Paralinguistics Serves Several Functions
Expresses mood and emotion
Creates emphasis
Creates a distinctive identity
Regulates conversation

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Personal Space (Proxemics)
The “bubble” around each of us that marks the territory between ourselves and others
Edward Hall’s Proxemic Zones (for Americans)
Intimate (skin-18 inches)
Personal (18 inches-4 feet)
Social (4 feet-12 feet)
Public (12 feet and out)

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Personal Space (Proxemics)
How does this affect us?
The distance we choose affects how we regard others (what zone are they in)
Territoriality (also part of proxemics)
Any geographical areas we assume “rights” to
Work space, room, chair in classroom, etc.
How we use space can communicate power/status

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Personal Space (Proxemics)
Contact cultures
Stand closer together while talking
Use more direct eye contact
Touch frequently
Speak louder
Example – South America and Southern Europe

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Personal Space (Proxemics)
Noncontact cultures
Stand farther apart while talking
Use less eye contact
Touch less often
Example – Northern Europe, North America, and East Asia

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Physical Appearance
Weight, height, body shape
Personal grooming and personal artifacts (jewelry, glasses, backpacks, purses, etc.)
Physical attractiveness is dynamic and variable
Two universal measures of attractiveness
More emphasis on female attractiveness than male
Men consistently express stronger preferencecs for attractive mates than women (seems to matter to them more)

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Physical Appearance
What some cultures find attractive vary
How some cultures use clothing/artifacts vary

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Eye Contact
An element of personal space because it regulates interpersonal distance
Direct eye contact shortens distance between two people
Lack of eye contact increases the distance
Communicates meanings related to respect and status; regulates turn taking in conversations
Patterns of eye contact vary from culture to culture

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Facial Expression
Several facial expressions that convey emotion tend to be universal (smiling, laughing, frowning, etc.)
However, some recent research says “no”
There is variation in many aspects of facial expressions and the rules that regulate them
Less distinctions between facial expressions in some cultures
What causes someone have a facial expression may vary between cultures
What is acceptable in certain contexts

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Gestures
Arm and hand movements that communicate nonverbally
Kinds of gestures
Emblems: Gestures that have a specific verbal translation
Illustrators: Gestures that go along with and refer to speech
Regulators: Gestures used to guide the flow of conversation
Adaptors: Gestures related to managing our emotions

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Time Orientation
How we use and view time
Monochronic culture
Time is regarded as a commodity
It can be gained, lost, wasted, or saved
It is linear
Events happen one after another
Monochronic cultures value punctuality, completion of tasks, and adherence to schedules

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Time Orientation
Polychronic
Time is conceptualized as holistic or circular
Many events can happen at once
Personal obligations are more important than schedules
Tasks are accomplished because of personal relationships, not in spite of them
Many international business negotiations, technical assistance projects, and team projects fail because of differences in time orientation

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Time Orientation
Time orientation
Monochronics on polychronics
They never plan for the future
They are losing time and money
They fail to plan and so cause problems
Polychronics on monochronics
They are always in a hurry
They don’t give priority to the art of living
They do not give priority to people
The implications for intercultural misunderstandings between people with these different time orientations are significant.
It takes a great deal of patience and cross-cultural understanding to work together in these situations

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Silence
Cultural groups may vary in the emphasis placed on speaking and on silence
U.S.—silence is not highly valued
We often talk (ask Q’s) to reduce uncertainty
Other cultures—silence is highly valued
Used to show respect, be polite
Also used to reduce uncertainty

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What Does Silence Communicate?
U.S
Silence is not valued
It communicates awkwardness in developing relationships and can make people feel uncomfortable
People talk to reduce uncertainty
Japanese
Use silence to be polite and to convey respect
Finnish
Present a fixed and expressionless face
Believe that talkativeness is a sign of unreliability
Silence reflects thoughtfulness, consideration, and intelligence
Silence can be as meaningful as language

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How can we use silence to communicate interculturally?
Healthcare—nurses and doctors encouraged to honor silent patients and employ silence themselves
Business—talking too much can sometimes kill a business deal
Education—teachers can ask students to silently reflect after they give back student papers or performances with comments on them

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Cultural Variation or Stereotype?
We don’t want to overgeneralizing these nonverbal variations
This can result in stereotyping groups
Can result in prejudice (often based on the NVs we see)
Teachers might be influenced by this
One must be careful not to assume that every member of a group exhibits the same nonverbal behaviors

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Building Intercultural Skills
Chapter 6 – Nonverbal Issues
Become more conscious of your nonverbal behavior in intercultural encounters
Become more aware of others’ nonverbal communication
Practice your decoding skills
Expand your nonverbal communication repertoire
Be flexible and adaptable in your nonverbal communication in intercultural encounters
Become more aware of your prejudicial assumptions based on nonverbal behavior

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