NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION ACROSS DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

We may believe that nonverbal communication is same all over the world however it’s not. Every culture has its own separate set of gestures and facial expressions. Some gestures may be same in two countries but it may mean something different in another country. Americans usually look directly in to the other person eyes when talking or passing. In American culture proper eye contact is the sign of confidence and also shows the other person’s interest in conversation however in some Asian countries it is the sign of disrespect. People in Japan, Africa, Latin America and Caribbean avoid eye contact to show respect. In Middle East if you pass an object to another person with your left hand is always mean rude.

POSTURES IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

• ·   Your hands in the pocket during conversation is sign of       disrespect in turkey
• ·   It is offensive if you are sitting by crossing your legs in Turkey and Ghana
• ·   Slouching is rude in almost all parts of northern Europe
• ·   German people use their little finger to point out someone and Japanese use their whole hand.
• ·   Handshakes, kisses, hugs are common in American culture however this is not allowed in Islamic culture
• ·   Head nodding is common in Asian culture
• ·   Japanese people stand far apart when talking with each other whereas in Latin America and Arab it shows that the other person is not interested in conversation

We may be existing in global world but nonverbal communication in different countries shows such radical contrast that you may get the inclination that we are from distinctive planet. You must understand these differences if you are immigrant in some other country.

REFERENCE LIST

http://www.andrews.edu/~tidwell/bsad560/NonVerbal.html

http://www.dimensionsofculture.com/2010/11/non-verbal-behavior-in-cross-cultural-interactions/