UNIT 5.

Nonverbal Communication: Speaking Without Words

“Culture hides much more than it reveals, and strangely

enough, what it hides, it hides most effectively from its own
participants.”

Pre-Reading Discussion
1. Can you think of what culture hides in the area of nonverbal
communication? What does the last part of the above quote
mean: “What it hides, it hides most effectively from its own
participants?
2. What are some of the ways that people communicate without
using words? Compare your answers with those of other students.
3. In your culture, how close do you stand to people when you are
talking to them? Demonstrate the distance. Do you think this
space differs across cultures?

Pre-Reading Vocabulary
1. Definitions
a. Verbal communication : spoken communication, including
the use of words and intonation to convey meaning
b. Nonverbal communication: “silent” communication, including
the use of gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, and
conversational distance
Discussion : Do you depend very much on nonverbal language to
communicate? Or is most of your meaning conveyed through
verbal communication? Can you make any cultural generalizations

51
regarding the degree of verbal and nonverbal communication that
people use?
2. Definitions
a. Universal : global, worldwide
Discussion : What types of nonverbal communication do you think
are universal? For example, do you think the smile, eye contact, or
facial expressions have the same functions across cultures?
3. Definitions
a. Gesture : movement of the body or part of the body, especially
the hands
Discussion : From your observations of Americans, do you think that
they “talk” a lot with their hands? Have you noticed differences
among Americans from various ethnic groups?

Skimming : For General Information

To get the general idea of the reading that follows:
1. Read the titles and headings of the sections,
2. Read the first and last paragraphs of the readings.
From your skimming, answer the following:
1. Do members of all cultures have the same nonverbal
communication?
2. Where in the reading is the answer stated?

Scanning: For Specific Information

To find specific information in the reading, look for clues such as
certain words and numbers. Scan the reading to find the answers to
the following:

52
1. In which paragraph do the authors quote a research study that
gives the percentage of nonverbal communication used in
conveying attitudes? What is the percentage?
2. In which paragraph do the authors mention a specific
conversation distance that is common among Americans? What
is the distance?

Reading Text
Nonverbal Communication: Speaking Without Words

“He didn‟t look at me once. I know he‟s guilty. Never

trust a person who doesn‟t look you in the eye.”
American police officer
“Americans smile at strangers. I don‟t know what to
think of that.”
Russian Engineer
“Americans seem cold. They seem to get upset when
you stand close to them.”
Jordanian Teacher
The American police officer, the Russian engineer, and the
Jordanian teacher made these comments about interactions they
had with someone from a different culture. Their comments
demonstrate how people can misinterpret nonverbal
communication that is culturally different from their own. Of course,
this can also happen in conversation among individuals of the same
cultural background, but it does not usually happen as often or to
the same degree. Many people think that all they really need to pay
attention to in a conversation is the spoken word. This is far from the
truth!

53
 Language studies traditionally emphasized verbal and written
communication. Since about the 1960s, however, researchers
seriously began to consider what takes place without words in
conversations. In some instances, more nonverbal than verbal
communication occurs. For example, if a person asks an obviously
depressed person, “What‟s wrong?” and he answers, “Nothing, I‟m
fine,” the person probably will not believe him. Or when an angry
person says, “Let‟s forget this subject. I don‟t want to talk about it
anymore!” she hasn‟t stopped communicating. Her silence and
withdrawal continue to convey emotional meaning.
One study done in the United States showed that 93 percent
of a message was transmitted by the speaker‟s tone of voice and
facial expressions. Only 7 percent of the person‟s attitude was
conveyed by words. Apparently, people express their emotions and
attitudes more nonverbally than verbally.
Cultural Differences in Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal communication expresses meaning or feeling
without words. Universal emotions, such as happiness, fear, and
sadness, are expressed in a similar nonverbal way throughout the
world. There are, however, nonverbal differences across cultures
that may be a source of confusion for foreigners. Let‟s look at the
way people express sadness. In many cultures, such as the Arab and
Iranian cultures, people express grief openly. They mourn out loud,
while people from other cultures (e.g. China and Japan) are more
subdued. In Asian cultures, the general belief is that it is
unacceptable to show emotion openly (whether sadness,
happiness, or pain).
Let‟s take another example of how cultures differ in their non-
verbal expression of emotion. Feelings of friendship exist everywhere

54
in the world, but their expression varies. It is acceptable in some
countries for men to embrace and for women to hold hands; in
other countries, these displays of affection are discouraged or
prohibited.
As with verbal communication, what is considered usual or
polite behavior in one culture may be seen as unusual or impolite in
another. One culture may determine that snapping fingers to call a
waiter is appropriate, whereas another may consider this gesture
rude. People are often not aware of how gestures, facial
expressions, eye contact, and the use of conversational distance
affect communication. To interpret another culture‟s style of
communication, it is necessary to study the “silent language” of that
culture.
Gestures and Body Positioning
Gestures are specific body movements that carry meaning.
Hand motions alone – can convey many meanings: “Come here,”
“Go away,” “It‟s O.K.,” and “That‟s expensive!” are just a few
examples. The gestures for these phrases often differ across cultures.
For example, beckoning people to come with the palm up is
common in the United States. This same gesture in the Philippines,
Korea, and parts of Latin America as well as other countries is
considered rude. In some countries, only an animal would be
beckoned with the palm up.
As children, people imitate and learn to use these nonverbal
movements to accompany or replace words. When travelling to
another country, foreign visitors soon learn that not all gestures are
universal. For example, the “O.K.” gesture in the American culture is
a symbol for money in Japan. This same gesture is obscene in some
Latin American countries. (This is why the editors of a Brazilian

55
newspaper enjoyed publishing a picture of a former American
president giving the “O.K.” symbol with both hands!)
Many American business executives enjoy relaxing with their
feet up on their desks. But to show a person from Saudi Arabia or
Thailand the sole of one‟s foot is extremely insulting, because the
foot is considered the dirtiest part of the body. Can you imagine the
reaction in Thailand when a foreign shoe company distributed an
advertisement showing a pair of shoes next to a sacred sculpture of
Buddha?
Exercise
The following are some of the more common gestures used in
American culture. These are movements that are made with hands,
arms, and shoulders; each has a specific meaning. Demonstrate
them in class, and discuss any cross-cultural difference in their
meaning. Ask the lecturer to demonstrate typical American gestures
that convey boredom, excessive talking, and money.

56
 O.K.

Good luck. I hope it works out.

Don‟t ask me; I don‟t know.

I didn‟t hear you. I can‟t hear you.

Cut! That‟s enough; Stop! or, It‟s all over for me.

57
 Oh, I forgot!; Don‟t tell me [surprised]!

Wait a second.; Slow down.; Relax.

Come here.
Act out the following situations, practicing the gestures listed
above and those by your lecturer.
- You can‟t hear your friend‟s voice.
- You want a child to come to your side.
- Your friend has just walked into the class to take an important
examination. Wish him or her good luck.
- Somebody has asked you a question, and you don‟t know the
answer.
- You signal to your friend that the person on the phone is talking
too much.
- You are ready to enter the restaurant when you notice that a
simple dinner costs almost $25.
Facial expressiveness
Facial expressions carry meaning that is determined by
situation and relationship. For instance, in American culture the smile
is typically an expression of pleasure. Yet it also has other functions.
A woman‟s smile at a police officer does not carry the same
meaning as the smile she gives to a young child. A smile may show

58
affection, convey politeness, or disguise true feelings. It also is the
source of confusion across cultures. For example, many people in
Russia consider smiling at strangers in public to be unusual and even
suspicious (although this is less common in big cities). Some Russians
believe that Americans smile in the wrong places; some Americans
believe that Russians do not smile enough. In Southeast Asian
cultures, a smile is frequently used to cover emotional pain or
embarrassment. Vietnamese people may tell the sad story of how
they had to leave their country but end the story with a smile.
People faces reveal emotions and attitudes, but a person
should not attempt to “read” people from another culture as he/she
would “read” someone from his/her culture. The degree of facial
expressiveness one exhibits varies among individuals and cultures.
The fact that members of one culture do not express their emotions
as openly as do members of another does not mean that they do
not experience emotions. Rather, there are cultural restraints on the
amount of nonverbal expressiveness permitted. For example, in
public and in formal situations many Japanese do not show their
emotions as freely as Americans do. More privately and with friends
Japanese and Americans seem to show their emotions similarly.
Many teachers in the United States have a difficult time knowing
whether their Japanese students understand and enjoy their lessons.
The American teacher is looking for more facial responsiveness than
what the Japanese student is comfortable with in the classroom
situation.
It is difficult to generalize about Americans and facial
expressiveness because of individual and ethnic differences in the
United States. People from certain ethnic backgrounds in the United
States tend to be more facially expressive than others. The key is to

59
try not to judge people whose ways of showing emotion are
different. If a person judge according to his/her own cultural norms,
he/she may make the mistake of “reading” the other person
incorrectly.

Eye Contact
Eye contact is important because insufficient or excessive eye
contact can create communication barriers. In relationships, it
serves to show intimacy, attention and influence. As with facial
expressions, there are no specific rules governing eye behavior in the
United States, except that it is considered rude to stare, especially at
strangers. In parts of the United States, however, such as on the West
Coast and in the South, it is quite common to glance at strangers
when passing them. For example, it is usual for two strangers walking
toward each other to make eye contact, smile, and perhaps even
say, “Hi,” before immediately looking away. This type of contact
does not mean much; it is simply a way of acknowledging another
person‟s presence. In general, Americans make less eye contact
with strangers in big cities than in small towns. People would be less

60
likely to make eye contact in bus stations, for example, than in more
comfortable settings such as a university student center.
Patterns of eye contact are different across cultures. Some
Americans feel uncomfortable with the “gaze” that is sometimes
associated with Arab or Indian communication patterns. For
Americans this style of eye contact is too intense. Yet too little eye
contact may also be viewed negatively, because it may convey a
lack of interest, inattention, or even mistrust. The relationship
between the lack of eye contact and mistrust in the American
culture is stated directly in the expression, “Never trust a person who
doesn‟t look you in the eyes.” In contrast, in many other parts of the
world (especially in Asian countries), a person‟s lack of eye contact
toward an authority figure signifies respect and deference.
Exercise
In pairs, carry on conversations using different types of eye
contact: (1) minimal eye contact; and (2) your natural style of eye
contact.
Discuss:
1. Did the variations in eye contact affect your conversation?
2. Have you had any experiences where people have used
different types of eye contact? Discuss.
Are there any expressions or proverbs in your language that say
something about nonverbal communication? For example, in English
there is an expression, “He shakes hands like a dead fish.”

61
What kind of impressions do people form of one another based on
nonverbal behavior (e.g., “I don‟t trust him because he stares at
people.”)
What should a foreigner learn about nonverbal communication in
your country before going there?
Conversational Distance
Unconsciously, we all keep a comfortable distance around us
when we interact with other people. This distance has had several
names over the years; including “personal space,” “interpersonal
distance,” “comfort zone,” and “body bubble.” This space between
us and another person forms invisible walls that define how
comfortable we feel at various distances from other people.
The amount of space changes depending on the nature of
the relationship. For example, we are usually more comfortable
standing closer to family members than to strangers. Personality also
determines the size of the area with which we are comfortable
when talking to people. Introverts often prefer to interact with others
at a greater distance than do extroverts. Cultural styles are

62
important too. A Japanese employer and employee usually tend
farther apart while talking than their American counterparts. Latin
Americans and Arabs tend to stand closer than Americans do when
talking.
For Americans, the usual distance in social conversation
ranges from about an arm‟s length to four feet. Less space in the
American culture may be associated with either greater intimacy or
aggressive behavior. The common practice of saying, “Excuse me,”
for the slightest accidental touching of another person reveals how
uncomfortable Americans are if people get too close. Thus, a person
whose “space” has been intruded upon by another may feel
threatened and react defensively. In cultures where close physical
contact is acceptable and even desirable, Americans may be
perceived as cold and distant.
Culture does not always determine the message of nonverbal
communication. The individual‟s personality, the context, and the
relationship also influence its meaning. However, like verbal
language, nonverbal language is clinked to a person‟s cultural
background. People are generally comfortable with others who
have „body language‟ similar to their own. One research study
demonstrated that when British graduate of nonverbal behavior
(making increased eye contact, smiling, and directly facing their
Arab partners), the Arabs felt that these students were more likeable
and trustworthy than most of the other British students.
When one person‟s nonverbal language matches that of
another, there is increased comfort. In nonverbal communication
across cultures there are similarities and differences. Whether we
choose to emphasize the former or the latter, the “silent language”
is much louder than it first appears.

63
Cultural Notes
1. Because the United States is a nation of many minority groups
(African-Americans, Mexicans, Chinese, Italians, Jews, Japanese,
Koreans, Arabs, Vietnamese, etc.), it is difficult to make
generalizations about American nonverbal communication. For
example, touching behavior among Mexican-Americans differs
from that among Anglo-Americans. For the Anglo-American,
touching is more restricted. The Anglo-American male rarely
touches or embraces other males. Distance is usually greater
between men in the Anglo-American culture than between men
in the Mexican-American culture.
2. Edward Hall, in his book The Hidden Dimension, discusses four
categories of informal use of space among white, professional-
class Americans:
For intimate friends ---- from actual physical contact to 18 inches
For friends and personal conversation --- 18 inches to 4 feet
For impersonal conversation ------------------ 4 feet to 12 feet
For public speaking ------------------------------ 12 feet or more
Americans believe that a firm and brief handshake is a sign of
confidence, whereas a loose handshake signifies a lack of
character or strength.

64
During a farewell stage of a conversation, Americans will often
move gradually away from each other and decrease eye contact.
This, of course, is not a rule but it does happen.
Consider the following sample dialogue:
Brian : “It was nice meeting you.” (1 foot apart)
Betsy : “Hope to see you again sometime.” (6 feet apart)
Brian : “Take care.” (15 feet apart)

65