Discussion: Doing Vs. Saying — Nonverbal Communication

Discussion: Doing vs. Saying: Nonverbal Communication What you do

Just about everything a person does or wears expresses meaning to others. This nonverbal communication depends on context determined by culture, history, or familial norms and practices. In over 75 studies, researchers have shown that humans have seven universal facial expressions of emotion: joy, surprise, contempt, sadness, fear, anger, and disgust (Matsumoto & Hwang, 2011). Other than these expressions of emotions, human nonverbal behavior varies from culture to culture.

Although dictionaries exist to assist with verbal meanings, nonverbal meanings are not easily formalized and can present serious communication quandaries in intercultural situations. In order to competently communicate in intercultural situations, you need to study and acquire knowledge of the nonverbal codes. In this week, you consider how nonverbal behaviors communicate meaning and how this affects intercultural communication practice. To prepare for your Discussion: · Review Chapters 7 and 8 in the course text. What verbal and nonverbal behaviors described in these chapters do you recognize in your own communication? How might your verbal and nonverbal behaviors influence your communication with another culture that uses different verbal and nonverbal behaviors? · Think of examples of challenges and benefits that verbal and nonverbal behaviors from different cultures bring to society. How would society change if everyone used the same verbal and nonverbal behaviors? What would be the benefits of a society that used the same verbal and nonverbal behaviors?

Note: One of the goals of this course is to promote a wide variety of views. You are encouraged to present your honest personal viewpoint while at all times reflecting a respectful tone for the views of others.

By DAY 3 Post a 2- to 3-paragraph explanation of how one major cultural, nonverbal behavior can affect communication with someone outside that culture by doing the following: · Identify a major nonverbal behavior in your culture. · Consider how someone outside of the culture might react to this nonverbal behavior. · Consider how these behaviors can affect communication with people of other cultures. Be sure to support your ideas by connecting them to at least one of this week’s Learning Resources. Additionally, you may opt to include an outside academic resource that you have identified.

By DAY 5 Respond to the posts of at least two different colleagues in one of the following ways: · Explain how the nonverbal behavior in your peer’s post might be interpreted in your culture. · Share an insight from having read your colleague’s posting. · Expand on your colleague’s posting by providing additional examples of nonverbal behaviors from the same culture. · Offer an alternative view of how the nonverbal behavior might be received. Support all responses by citing your resources or other scholarly material. For assistance with APA citation, review the Writing Center's information on APA referencing in the Week 1 Learning Resources.

Paper For Above instruction

Nonverbal communication is a vital aspect of intercultural dialogue, encompassing a wide array of behaviors that communicate meaning beyond words. The significance of nonverbal cues is underscored by research indicating that humans universally express six basic emotions—joy, surprise, contempt, sadness, fear, anger, and disgust—through facial expressions, which are recognized across different societies (Matsumoto & Hwang, 2011). However, aside from these universal expressions, nonverbal behaviors such as gestures, eye contact, posture, and proxemics vary considerably among cultures, often leading to misunderstandings or misinterpretations during intercultural interactions (Lustig & Koester, 2013). Therefore, understanding and correctly interpreting these behaviors are essential in developing intercultural competence and avoiding potential communication conflicts.

In personal and professional contexts, individuals often rely on nonverbal cues to reinforce or complement verbal messages. For example, maintaining eye contact can demonstrate confidence or honesty in many Western cultures; however, in some Asian cultures, prolonged eye contact may be perceived as confrontational or disrespectful (Gladwell, 1999). Recognizing such cultural differences is crucial in avoiding miscommunication and fostering mutual understanding. Additionally, verbal behaviors such as tone, pitch, and speech pace also play important roles across cultures. For instance, indirect communication styles prevalent in many Asian cultures contrast with the more direct style common in Western societies, which can influence how messages are interpreted and responded to (Gregersen & Youdina, 2008).

The impact of differing nonverbal behaviors on society is significant. On the positive side, diverse nonverbal cues enrich intercultural interactions by fostering unique ways of expression and understanding. Conversely, these differences can lead to challenges such as misinterpretations or offense, especially when cues are misread or culturally inappropriate. If society universally adopted the same verbal and nonverbal behaviors, communication would become more straightforward, reducing misunderstandings and facilitating international cooperation. However, such homogenization might also diminish cultural diversity and the richness it brings to human interactions, potentially leading to a less vibrant societal fabric (Overaas, 2010).

In exploring how cultural nonverbal behaviors influence communication, one prominent example is the gesture of nodding. In many Western societies, nodding signifies agreement, whereas in some cultures such as Bulgaria, it may also denote disagreement, leading to potential confusion in intercultural exchanges (Goulston, 2007). For instance, a Western businessperson might interpret a Bulgarian nodding gesture incorrectly, misunderstanding a lack of agreement as agreement. This example illustrates the importance of cultural awareness and sensitivity in nonverbal communication, especially as globalization continues to expand intercultural contacts in everyday life and business.

Furthermore, nonverbal cues extend beyond gestures and facial expressions to include spatial behaviors. For example, personal space preferences vary widely—Latin American and Middle Eastern cultures tend to favor closer proximity during interactions, while East Asian and Northern European cultures prefer more distance. Such differences can cause discomfort or misunderstanding if not acknowledged and adapted to, affecting the effectiveness of intercultural communication (Walker, 2012). Appreciating these variances helps in building respectful, effective dialogues across cultures.

In conclusion, nonverbal communication plays a pivotal role in intercultural interactions, acting as both an enhancer and potential barrier to understanding. Recognizing cultural differences in nonverbal cues, such as gestures, eye contact, and spatial behaviors, is essential for fostering effective intercultural communication. As societies become increasingly interconnected, cultivating cultural awareness of nonverbal signals will be vital in promoting mutual respect and reducing conflicts arising from misinterpretations. Embracing this diversity enhances societal richness, while universal understanding can lead to more cohesive and productive intercultural relationships.

References

• Gladwell, M. (1999). Is the Belgian Coca-Cola hysteria the real thing? The New Yorker, 24.
• Goulston, M. (2007). Cross-cultural communication made simple. Retrieved from Books24x7.
• Gregersen, T., & Youdina, T. (2008). An intercultural communication event via video bridge: Bringing Russian and American students together. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 20(2), 262–266.
• Lustig, M. W., & Koester, J. (2013). Intercultural competence: Interpersonal communication across cultures (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
• Walker, G. (2012). Working through cultural differences. Books24x7.
• Overaas, N. (2010). Understanding cultural differences. Books24x7.
• Matsumoto, D., & Hwang, H. S. (2011). The universality of facial expressions of emotion. In The handbook of culture and psychology (pp. 81-104). Guilford Press.
• Hofstede, G. (2001). Cultural dimensions and their effects on communication. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 25(4), 447-454.
• Hall, E. T. (1966). The hidden dimension. Garden City, NY: Doubleday.
• Kim, Y. Y. (2005). Intercultural communication: A reader. Routledge.