Eye contact and touch have different meanings across cultures. Making eye contact can be seen as rude in parts of Asia and the Middle East, and some Eastern cultures discourage women from looking at men. Touch is more common in Western cultures like handshakes, but most Asian cultures prefer to avoid touching. Gestures also vary significantly by culture, such as pointing, tongue gestures, and the meaning of nods. Physical distance preferences and rules around facial expressions, attire, posture, paralanguage, and high/low context communication also differ across cultures and need to be appropriately considered in intercultural interactions.

1. NON-VERBAL
COMMUNICATION
Across cultures

2. "Top 8 Cultural Differences in Nonverbal Communication"
From: https://online.pointpark.edu/business /cultural-differences-in-
nonverbal-communication/

3. Eye Contact
Eye contact signals confidence in the West but
can be seen as rude or challenging in parts of
Asia and the Middle East. Also, there are
gender rules around eye contact, with many
Eastern cultures discouraging women from
making eye contact with men as it conveys
authority or sexual interest.

4. Touch
Touch often is used frequently in communication, even in a business setting,
with customs such as the handshake. But other cultures consider touching
other people inappropriate. Those who live in Asia tend to take a more
conservative approach when it comes to touching, with a bow typically
replacing a handshake. Another example of the differences with touching is
patting someone on the head. The U.S., it’s seen as endearing and shows
affection with children. But in some Asian cultures touching children or adults
on the head is disrespectful. The U.S. is more conservative in other areas,
such as not kissing on the cheek as they do in many parts of Europe.

5. Gestures
Many businesspeople who work internationally discipline
themselves to keep hand gestures to a minimum, as they
are a bit of a minefield. For example, pointing at
someone else is an insult in most parts of the world, but
in some places, it is often used simply as a reference.
Polynesians stick out their tongue to greet people, but
that doesn’t fly in other parts of the world. The most
common gesture in the world is a nod, but even that can
mean different things in different cultures.

6. Physical Distance
The rule of thumb here, no matter where you are in the world, is to give
people more space than you think they might need. Only get close if
invited. People in different cultures view physical distance differently.
However, it’s best to never enter anyone’s personal space, about 2 feet. If
it’s not personal intimacy, many people find such proximity
uncomfortable.

7. Facial
Expressions
The good news is that facial expressions for
happiness, sadness, anger, and fear are
universal. The bad news is that not every culture
is OK with using them in a business setting. The
Japanese, for example, try to remain a neutral
facial expression, believing that showing your
emotions burdens the other person.

8. Appearance
Conservative attire is the safest bet. Some places in the
United States are fine with very relaxed appearances,
while others see even an exposed shoulder or leg as
cause for offense. The best choice is to simply dress
conservatively. You can also loosen up your wardrobe if
it becomes apparent that is acceptable.

9. Posture
Again, the traditional route is the best route. Don’t slouch when sitting or
sit with legs crossed. Face people as they speak to you and nod enough
to show you are paying attention to what they say. Stay mindful of where
you sit in meetings – in some cultures, there’s a strict hierarchy for who
gets to sit where.

10. Paralanguage
Paralanguage refers to communication that is
vocalized but not words. This includes tone of
voice, loudness, speed of speech and inflection.
Paralanguage is key to understanding the
context or meaning of the words used. It’s
important to be mindful of these issues, and to
understand they are not discernible in emails
and texts, so great care must be used in the
words you choose.

11. High Context vs. Low Context
Another way to help with understanding the cultural difference in
nonverbal communication is understanding the difference between high
context and low context cultures.
High-context cultures rely more on nonverbal communication than low -
context cultures. They use personal relationships, social hierarchies and
cultural knowledge to convey meaning.
In “low-context” cultures, words are more important. Communication is
direct, relationships begin and end quickly, and hierarchies are relaxed.