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Tibet
- 1. Verbal and Nonverbal Communication in Tibet Amy Bailey, Benjamin Capshaw, Jennifer Burns, Jennifer Claggett, Jordan Coby 3 March 2011
- 2. Understanding the History of Tibet By: Jennifer Burns Topics to Include: Geography, Tibetan Facts, History and Government (Wikipedia 2011) (Beebee 2010) Culture is a learned system of knowledge, behavior, attitudes, beliefs, values, and norms that is shared by a group of people and shaped from one generation to the next. (Pg. 150)
- 7. Understanding the Culture of Tibet By: Jennifer Clagget Topics to Include: Understanding and Defining Culture, Tibetan Culture, Education, Nomadic Lifestyle. (Creenglish.com ,2008)
- 12. Religion in Tibet By: Amy Bailey Topics to Include: Tibetan Buddhism, Tibetan Bön , Islam, Christianity (sherabchammaling.com, 2004)
- 14. Tibetan Stupa, and a diagram of the physical symbolism. (Religion, 2005)
- 17. Gender Roles and Nonverbal Communication By: Ben Capshaw Topics to Include: Marriage, Family, Interpersonal Relations, Tibetan Social Norms, Family Hierarchy ( http://www.hkreporter.com/talks/thread-882795-1-1.html , 2010)
- 20. Tibetan Clothing with emphasis on nonverbal communication By: Darin Auvil Topics to Include: Nonverbal Communication Defined, Location, Etiquette, Jewelry and Adornments (Xiaosui, 2011)
- 24. Striped aprons and necklaces(Cultural-China.com, 2010) Intricately braided hair (Hays, 2010) Hada scarf (Cultural-China.com, 2010) Beaded headress (Cultural-China.com, 2010) Traditional adornments (Cultural-China.com, 2010)
- 25. Tibetan Rituals By: Jordan Coby Topics to Include: Buddhist Death Rituals, Lunar Calendar, Buddha Ceremonies, Prayer Flag and Wind Horse Monk performing rituals (tibetanlivingcommunities.org, 2009)
Editor's Notes
- When considering nonverbal communication as a viable way people communicate meaning to others, we must first define nonverbal communication, so that we can grasp a better understanding of what it means before attaching any cultural application. In (2005), Beebe, Beebe and Redmond define nonverbal communication as “communication other than written or spoken language that creates meaning for someone” (p. 86) Based on this definition we need to identify types of nonverbal communication that would not fall under the written word or spoken language umbrella. One such form of communication that is nonverbal in nature and communicates meaning for someone is symbolism. Symbols trigger meaning! Symbols can be gestures or visual images that represent thoughts, concepts, objects or experiences, or they can be representative of the body, like posture or facial expression, how we dress and accessorize with the use of clothing and jewelry; all of which can be perceived to express ideas, attitudes, and feelings (Beebe, p. 6). Identifying a better understanding of what nonverbal communication can look like, let’s apply that knowledge to the Country of Tibet and see what meaning we can derive from the clothing they wear in an attempt to understand their culture from a non written and verbal communicational standpoint.
- The Tibetan culture having evolved over thousands of years, has created its own unique styles of dress depending on simple differences in location, which divides the country North and South. “Northerners who live in a much colder climate also live a much more nomadic, simplistic and prosperous lifestyle as herdsman, than their Southern counterparts. Their clothes are mad of silk and furred robes and are decorated colorful cloth stripes” (Eastbay, 2010). “Southerners on the other hand live a much harder life than their Northern neighbors, toiling the land. As farmers reaping the fruits of their labor, their clothes are much less ornate and light weight due to the type of work and warmer and more humid climate” (Eastbay, 2010). To an even further extent, Northerners or Southerners can be broken down even further with even “different styles of clothing and ornament that are specifically influenced by different sects within their own religious views” (Eastbay, 2010). That being said, these simple differences in clothing define social status or religious sect differences for the people of Tibet, without a single word being said. Observance is the key, but to an outsider they will most likely only pick up on social status differences.
- Other Symbols unspoken in the Tibetan culture are related to clothing etiquette for which the wearer appears in public or shows respect or demonstrated in a right of passage. For the lady, an Apron is an important article of clothing which is worn in addition to her standard attire. Women in all regions of Tibet “wear colorfully striped aprons and braid strips of colored cloth into their hair, and wear gold and silver ornaments, silver jewelry with coral and turquoise and a prayer necklace to indicate that they are married” (Hays, 2010). Womanhood is also demonstrated with a visible symbolism. At the age of 16 a lady will go through a ceremony passing from childhood to womanhood. At this point “her hairstyle, clothing, ornaments, and name will be changed to show her newly acquired womanhood. Braiding their hair into more than ten braids, girls are particularly subject to customs relating to headgear which is called "heavenly head" (Tours, 2011). It is usually quite colorful and ornate. Another unspoken symbol of Tibetan culture is a piece of pure white silk scarf named Hada. “This scarf is a favorite of the Tibetans and represents the most precious gift in a Tibetans’ eyes; usually presented for the sake of respect on many occasions such as happy events, arrival of a visitor from afar, visiting elders and sending off a person who is to take a long journey” (Cultural-China.com, 2010).