2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART A : INTRODUCTION
PART B : DEVELOPMENT
1. Definication of conversation distance.
2. Classification of conversation distancdes
2.1 Intimate distance
2.2 Personal distance
2.3 Social distance
2.4 Public distance
3. Factors effecting conversation distances
3.1 High – low contact culture
3.2 Gender
3.3 Relationship
3.4 Age
3.5 Population density
3.6 Intended message
PART C : CONCLUSION
3. PART A : INTRODUCTION
•• Ourlife , there areis to
In main purpose
compare and contrast types
many types of
of conversational distances
distance as
in human interactions and
geography, space
the influence of the and
time. Especially, the
informants’ parameters on
conversationl distance
conversational distances in
the two cultures in and to
between people order
clarify similarities and
people. There are
differences in the way the
intimate distace,
Vietnamese and the
personal distance,
American apply
social distance and
conversational distances.
public distance.
4. PART B : DEVELOPMENT
• 1. Definication of conversation distance.
- Conversational distance or personal space is defined
in a variety of ways, especially in different cultures.
For Americans, personal space is very important and
often results in some of the most offensive
actions……
- our own personal space that the concept of "
proxemics " becomes important in our lives…
- What is the proper amount of personal space
between you and another individual?
- Is it necessary, then, to walk around all day with a
ruler and space ourselves appropriately away from
the person next to us?
5. 2. Classificationf conversational distances
2.1 Intimate distance
Subdistance
Length
Communicators
Far
phase
6 - 18
inches (15 –
46
centimetres)
- Spouses, lovers, parents-children, close
friends... showing intimate emotion; or
- Communicators expressing high
negative attitude
Close
phase
0 - 6 inches - Spouses, lovers, parents-children, close
(0 - 15
friends... showing love emotion; or
centimetres) - Communicators expressing very high
defiance attitude which can leads to
physical conflict
6. 2.1 Intimate distance
• Intimate distance
ranges from body
contact to
approximately
eighteen inches (just
less than half a
meter)……
7. 2.2 Personal distance
SubLength
Communicators
• Personal distance
distance from 1.5 to four
ranges
feet between-people…..Communication among friends,
Far
2.5 4 feet •phase not (0.77 - 1.23 colleagues; or
It is
difficult to
realize that VietnameseCommunicators possibly
metres)
normally use far phase
expressing negative attitude
of personal distance if
Close are of the2.5
1.5 - oppositeCommunication among close
they
phase
sex… feet (0.46 - relatives; or
0.77
- Communicators expressing
metres)
negative attitude
8. 2.3 Social distance
Sub- Social
Length
Communicators
distance (four to
distance
12 feet) is the casual
interaction-distance
Far
7 - 12 feet
- Communication among
between (2.16 - 3.7
phase acquaintances strangers
and strangers. It is
metres)
common in business
meetings, classrooms, and
impersonal 4 - 7 feet
social affairs.... Communication among
Close
phase
(1.23 - 2.16 acquaintances
metres)
9. 2.4 Public distance.
- Public distance ranges
SubLength
Communicators
from 12 to 25 feet or more.
distance
Its phase 15 25 feet
Farclose phase -(12 to 15 - One person speaks in public
feet) provides the 7.7
(4.6 - amount
of space generally desired
metres) or
among strangers, while its
further
far phase (15 to 25 feet) is
necessary for large feet - Communication among
Close
12 - 15
audiences….. - 4.6
phase
(3.7
strangers
metres)
10. 3. Factors effecting conversational
distances
• 3.1 High - low
contact culture
• 3.2 Gender
• 3.3 Relationship
- -Cultural background is
In terms of gender,
Another factor in
one of between
distancethe most people of
deciding thefactors in
influential interpersonal
the same sex is smaller
distance is relationship.
nonverbal
than between those of
communication in
The more intimate the the
general sex….
opposite and proxemics
interactants are, the
in particular.
smaller the physical
- Researchers have
distance tends to be in
divided cultures into
communication. This can
three types: highcontact culture,
be seen very clearly in the
moderate-contact
four distance zones:
culture and low-contact
culture...
11. 3.4 Age
• Generally, during
childhood, people tend to
stand closer to each other.
• When being teenagers and
over, we begin to have
awareness on social
distance and the personal
space becomes greater.
• Old age will lead to close
distance in communication
as human are assumed to
receive the subject’s
support for being weak.
12. 3.5 Population density
- The two pictures above illustrate the difference in the use of
personal space between men from the city and those from the
countryside. City dwellers have their private 18-inch….
13. 3.6 Intended message
Distances between
faces
Tones of voice
Types of message
Very close (3 - 6
inches)
Soft whisper
Top secret or sensual
Close (8 - 12 inches)
Audible whisper
Very confidential
Neutral
Soft voice, low
volume
Personal subject matter
Far (4.5 - 5 feet)
Full voice
Non-personal
information
Across the room (8 - 20 Loud voice
feet)
Talking to a group
Stretching the limits (20 Loud hailing voice
- 24 feet) indoor and up
to 100 feet
Departures and arrivals
14. PART C: CONCLUSION
• Culture does not always determine the message of
nonverbal communication….
• People are generally comfortable with others who
have "body language" similar to their own….
• we choose to emphasize the former or the latter, the
"silent language" is much louder than it first
appears….
• Nonverbal aspects of communication vary widely
across cultures. American and Vietnamese people
have their own ways of interacting verbally and/or
nonverbally, and their cultural norms greatly affect
their communication styles….
