This document discusses intercultural communication and body language. It begins with definitions of communication and intercultural communication, which focuses on differences in language and behavior patterns between cultures. It then outlines four areas of nonverbal communication studied: proxemics (personal space), haptics (touch), oculesics (eye contact), and kinesics (body language). Specific gestures and their meanings are then examined, including variations between cultures for areas like eye contact, hand gestures, and bowing. Intercultural nonverbal communication can impact understanding if not properly interpreted between cultures.

1. Intercultural
Communication
and
Body Language
Presented by: KADDARI Ibrahim Elkhalil
ALI MOUSSA Yassine
BOUALEM Fethi

2. Lecture Plan
1) What is communication and intercultural
communication?
2) Nonverbal communication
3) Gestures used in different cultures and
their meaning.

3. Communication
Communication is the activity or process of
giving information to other people or living
things.
M. Kovyazina Comparative Culturology Lectures, Tyumen State University, 2004-2009

4. Intercultural Communication
 focuses on differences in language and
behavior patterns
 the theory of intercultural communication
encourages the understanding of the
differences between two speakers from
unique national cultures

5. Intercultural Verbal
Communication Advice
 Speak slowly
 Repeat as necessary
 Be sincere and empathetic
 Keep it simple and short
 Show and demonstrate by using
examples /illustrations

6. Intercultural Verbal
Communication Advice
 Check the other person's understanding by
asking, “What do you understand?” not
“Do you understand?”
 Be patient, use encouragement and praise
sincerely
 Watch for body language cues to
understand real meaning in
communication

7. Communication
Verbal
(words)
Non-verbal
(gestures, glances,
changes in the tone
of voice, etc. )
(= paralanguage)

8. Nonverbal communication is
studied by:
1. Proxemics /pr k si m ks/ɒ ˈ ː ɪ
2. Haptics / hæpt ks/ˈ ɪ
3. Oculesics / kj lis ks/ˈɒ ʊ ɪ
4. Kinesics /ka ni s ks/ɪˈ ː ɪ

9. Proxemics –
The study of the spaces that people feel it necessary
to set between themselves and others as they vary in
different social settings, or between different social
groups or cultures
(the study of space in interpersonal relationships)
comfortable interaction
distance (comfort zone)

10. Average comfortable distances
Distance between
faces Tone of voice Type of message
very close (7-15 cm) soft whisper top secret or sensual
close (20-30 cm) audible whisper very confidential
neutral (50 cm-1 m)
soft voice, low
volume
personal subject matter
neutral (1.3 m-1.5 m) full voice non-personal information
across the room
(2.5 m-6 m)
loud voice talking to a group
stretching the limits
(6 m-7m indoors and
up to 30 m outdoors)
loud hailing voice
departures and arrivals

11. Proxemics –
organization of space
Western offices Japanese offices

12. Haptics –
Pertaining to, or relating to the sense of touch or
tactile sensations.
(the study of touch)
Low-contact
cultures
High-contact
cultures
North Americans,
the British,
China, Japan
Italians, the
French, Russians,
Arabs and Latin
Americans

13. Oculesics –
the study of the use of the eyes in
interpersonal communication
(connected with the eye as a bodily organ)
In China and Japan people avoid
looking at each other in public places
or in a crowd.

14. Oculesics –
the study of the use of the eyes in
interpersonal communication

15. Oculesics –
the study of the use of the eyes in
interpersonal communication
Asians, Puerto Ricans, West Indians, African
Americans and Native Americans consider a
direct eye contact to be rude, or
disrespectful, or intimidating, while
Europeans find it a sign of openness and
honesty.

16. Kinesics –
The study of those body movements and gestures by which,
as well as by speech, communication is made; body
movements and gestures which convey meaning non-vocally.
(the study of bodily movements and facial expressions)
Gestures
instinctive
coded
acquired

17. Instinctive gestures
we do them unconsciously
“I’m happy!”
“I’m sad…”

18. Universal hand gestures
MEANING HAND GESTURE
“I am hungry.” Patting the stomach with the hands
“I am cold”, or it's
cozy.
Rubbing the hands together.

19. Coded / technical gestures –
hand signals used by TV directors,
gestures of referees or brokers in the
stock market
Acquired gestures – socially
generated

20. Facial expressions and head
gestures
• The “ultimate gesture”
• Yes / No gestures

21. Hand and arm gestures
• "O.K." gesture
• Victory/Peace sign

22. Hand and arm gestures
• finger beckoning
• upraised hand

23. Hand and arm gestures
• touching a child on the top of the
head
• point at an object
• placing your hand behind your
head

24. Hand and arm gestures
• linking your pinky with someone
else's pinky

25. Hand and arm gestures
• “Good luck” gesture
• “Crazy” sign

26. Trunk and leg indications
• pointing the sole of your shoe toward
someone
• bowing

27. International Gestures QuizInternational Gestures Quiz
Look at the pictures showing gestures
and guess their meaning (some
gestures have more than one meaning)

36. THANK YOU
FOR
YOUR ATTENTION