Intercultural Communications: Chapter 06 oral & nonverbal communication

1. Chapter 6 Oral and Nonverbal Communication Patterns Intercultural Business Communication, 4th ed., Chaney & Martin

3. What is meant by nonverbal communication ? Nonword messages, such as gestures, facial expressions, interpersonal distance, touch, eye contact, smell, and silence. Intercultural Business Communication, 4th ed., Chaney & Martin

12. Space (Proxemics) Intercultural Business Communication, 4th ed., Chaney & Martin People in the U.S. tend to need more space than do persons of other cultures. U.S. persons back away when people stand too close. Standing too close is interpreted as being pushy or overbearing; standing too close may also be interpreted as unwelcomed sexual advances.

14. U.S. people need more space than do Greeks, Latin Americans, or Arabs. The Japanese stand even farther away than do U.S. persons. Intercultural Business Communication, 4th ed., Chaney & Martin

15. Elevator Proxemics Axtell, Gestures A psychology professor at a southern university gave his students an assignment to test elevator proxemics . Students reported the usual U.S. behaviors of facing the front and watching the illuminated floor indicator, assuming the Fig Leaf Position (hands/purses/ briefcases hanging down in front of the body), and positioning themselves in the corners or against the elevator walls. Then the professor added another assignment: students were to break the rules and get on the elevator, stand at the front facing the other occupants and jump backward off the elevator just before the door closed. One of the elevator occupants was heard to whisper, “Call 911; we’ve got a real weirdo here.”

18. Gaze/Eye Contact (Oculesics) Intercultural Business Communication, 4th ed., Chaney & Martin Although people in the U.S. favor direct eye contact, in other cultures, such as the Japanese, the reverse is true; they direct their gaze below the chin. In the Middle East, on the other hand, the eye contact is more intense than U.S. people are comfortable with. A prolonged gaze or stare in the U.S. is considered rude. In most cultures, men do not stare at women as this may be interpreted as sexually suggestive.

25. Fast, Body Language in the Workplace Several years ago, when President Carter was mediating peace talks between Egypt and Israel, Anwar Sadat frequently placed his hand on President Carter’s knee. While this subtextual message was intended as a gesture of warm friendship, the subtler message Sadat was conveying to the world was that he was President Carter’s equal.

40. Ricks, Blunders in International Business United Airlines unknowingly got off on the wrong foot during its initial flights from Hong Kong. To commemorate the occasion, they handed out white carnations to the passengers. When they learned that to many Asians white flowers represent bad luck and even death, they changed to red carnations.