Nonverbal Communication

Even more confusing and often more embarrassing than the verbal aspect of communication is the nonverbal aspect. There are many types of nonverbal communication that have varying effects on interactions.

Touch
The United States is a relatively non-contact country, and the amount of physical contact between two people depends on the nature of their relationship. In a casual friendship there might be a small amount of touching, like a friendly pat on the back. Close friends of the opposite or same gender will often hug each other without any implication of a physical (sexual) relationship. A couple that is dating may touch frequently in public, although explicit public displays of affection are generally frowned upon. Women do not generally hold hands with each other (as they do in some countries) in public, and two men will very rarely touch each other aside from a pat on the back or punch on the arm.

Space or the use of Distance
There are three basic areas: 1) public territory; 2) home territory (which is inviolable); and 3) body territory, which includes the skin and clothes plus a culturally determined personal space. This aspect of communication is easily violated when someone invades another's personal space. For example, an Iranian has a much smaller personal space than an American. This becomes obvious as they talk -- often the American will back up uncomfortably to compensate for the perceived invasion of personal space, while the Iranian will move closer for the opposite reason.

Time
Different cultures perceive time differently; they are on different "cultural clocks." Some cultures treat time loosely while others are more precise. When an American says he will meet you at 7:00, he means 7:00, not 6:55 or 7:08. On the other hand, when a Bolivian says 7:00 he may arrive at 7:15 or 7:45 and not feel that he is late. This varies, of course, according to setting, such as a party or a class meeting. In general, Americans value time and “doing something” rather than “wasting” time. Being on time is very important in many situations, especially if you have an appointment to meet with someone (like a doctor, professor, or your advisor). If you are late, the person with whom you had the appointment may not be able to see you.

Physical Appearance
The way one relates to a Moslem woman from Malaysia in her native dress is different from the way one would relate to the same woman wearing blue jeans, T-shirt, and tennis shoes. Similarly, people who are neatly groomed and well-dressed may often receive more attentive service in a store or restaurant than someone who is unkempt and dressed casually. Many Americans may appear to be extremely materialistic, and place value on the brand of clothing they wear and the type of car they drive. This may be very different from the culture in which you were raised.

Kinesics
This includes gestures, facial expressions, body position and movement. Kinesics are entirely learned within a cultural setting. For instance, posture is used to include and exclude people in conversations. Approximately 55% of our meanings (emotions) are revealed through facial expressions. Kinesics are complicated and vary greatly from one cultural group to another. Observation of interactions between other people is a good way to learn about the kinesics of a culture. You can watch people at parties, in restaurants, walking on campus, or in the classroom to see how they interact with friends, colleagues, professors, or strangers.

Gestures
Two types of gestures are emblems and illustrators. Emblems are gestures that have a relatively precise, clear referent and thus are culturally assigned some meaning. Examples are the American "peace" sign or "victory" symbol--turned around with the palm toward the body, this sign has an extremely different and significantly more vulgar meaning in Ireland. Illustrators serve to augment verbal meanings, to substitute occasionally for words or phrases, and to provide emphasis. For example, in American culture the thumbs-up symbol is a positive reaction to something while in other cultures it has negative connotations.

Amount of Eye Contact
This varies with personality and sex, as well as cultural background. For example, in the United States a female maintains eye contact 80% of the time while a male maintains eye contact only 20% of the time. However, Nigerians consider it disrespectful to hold eye contact with the person to whom they are speaking. In general, eye contact is used to let the other person know that you are paying attention to what is being said. Looking away from the speaker or “staring off into space” implies that you are not paying attention, and casting your eyes around gives the impression that you are “shifty” or not to be trusted. Conversely, if you are perceived to be staring directly and intently at someone, it may make him or her very uncomfortable.

Olfaction or Smell
There are different perceptions from culture to culture as to what is offensive and what is pleasant or at least tolerable. Most cultures are not as antiseptic as the U.S.; Americans are obsessed with soaps, deodorants, and perfumes and they are seen often in television or magazine advertisements. Students need to be aware of and consider the effect of their non-conformity to the new culture. Specifically, Americans are greatly offended by natural body odor and may react quite negatively to those who do not smell “clean.”

Nonverbal communication is perhaps the most difficult aspect of understanding a new culture and may be one major contribution to problems confronted in the hostility stage of culture shock. Nonverbal communication cannot be learned in the classroom, but must be experienced first hand. As the newcomer, international students need to be aware of these prospective difficulties as they will be perceived to be committing the miscommunication. Although it may be very frustrating to try to understand the new culture, over time your efforts and patience will be rewarded.