Influence of Nonverbal Communication Across Cultures
Alyssa Hoag, Mellissa Narine, Amanpreet Singh, Kristen Patterson
June 14, 2020
BUSI 1073 Business Writing and Communications 11/11(20S-O-D)
Karen Ervin
Agenda 2
Introduction to Nonverbal Communication
What is Nonverbal Communication?
Influence of Nonverbal Communication Across Cultures
Nonverbal Cues & Kinesics
Classifications of Nonverbal Cues
Symbolic & Spontaneous
The Cultural Presence of Nonverbal Communication
Facial Expressions
Body Language & Proximity
Effect of Nonverbal Communication Across Cultures
The Use Nonverbal Communication to Form Communities
How Nonverbal Communication Has Allowed Humans to Develop Interpersonal Skills
Importance of Nonverbal Communication
Users of Nonverbal Communication
Uses of Nonverbal Communication
Recommendations
Conclusion
3
The following presentation dives into the high-level
Introduction to cultural differences found within nonverbal
communication, and how a lack of understanding
Nonverbal these differences may negatively impact human
interaction.
Communication
Influence of Nonverbal Communication Across Cultures
Nonverbal Communication Defined
4
Any form of communication with the absence of words,
accounting for 65% of all human interactions (Pan,
2014).
What is Nonverbal Cues
Nonverbal Most widely used and most difficult to pinpoint and
understand
Communication? Can enhance or contradict verbal communication
Kinesics [Body Language]
Singular or combined use or gestures,
postures, facial expressions, clothing, and even
scent (Preston, 2005)
Cultural Example - Winking
In North America, winking portrays flirtation, or
sarcasm in a statement
InNigeria, winking tells a person to exit the room
immediately and without question
Influence of Nonverbal Communication Across Cultures
Subtop ic One: Nonverbal Communication Defined
Spontaneous
Classifications of Unintentional signs driven by the emotional state of
Nonverbal Cues the user (Buck, 1988)
Occur as part of the sender’s subconscious, often
leaving the sender unaware
Symbolic
Cues, patterns, and gestures that are culturally
learned over a lifetime of experiences (Miller, 1988)
Intentionally used to support a predetermines
output, decided by the sender (Buck, 1988)
Users are aware of their message being portrayed
Influence of Nonverbal Communication Across Cultures
Facial Expressions
Momentary expressions that signal the emotions of6
the user
The only facial expressions that are easily interpreted
by most cultures are known as the basic six
The Cultural emotions: (a) disgust, (b) fear, (c) joy, (d) surprise, (e)
sadness, and (f) anger (Sanchez, 2018)
Presence of
Use of Eye Contact
Nonverbal
The eyes are the window to the soul, and are the
Communication in most dominant and reliable facial feature for
Humans and Their expressing human emotion (Akechi, 2013)
Surroundings Depending on cultural background, eye contact
during a conversation can be perceived as a positive
or negative nonverbal cue (Sanchez, 2018)
Cultural Example
North Americans maintain eye contact with people
they trust and respect
Japanese cultures avoid eye contact as this is a sign
of respect or deference (Akechi, 2013)
Influence of Nonverbal Communication Across Cultures
7
The use of body language and physical proximity is
Body Language and important when communicating with different
cultures.
Proximity Tactical Sensitivity
Refers to the use of touch within communication
Cultural Example
• North American cultures are considered
'contactless' or 'fingertip' culture and stand an arm's
length (Sanchez, 2018)
Latin and Arabia cultures are considered 'contact
cultures' and use the sense of touch to enhance
a messages meaning (Gonzalez, 2018)
South American cultures are called 'elbow cultures'
and prefer to stand at an elbows length when
talking to one another (Sanchez, 2018)
Influence of Nonverbal Communication Across Cultures
8
Using Nonverbal Human beings have an innate need for
interacting with others, which has led to the
Communication to formations of communities within today's
Form Communities society (Castillo, 2018).
Influence of Nonverbal Communication Across Cultures
9
How Nonverbal
Communication has When using an open method of communication it allows
for receivers to be more open to communicating.
Allowed Humans to When Doctors used an open method of communcation
Develop this allowed for patients to be more trusting” (Vogel,
2018).
Interpersonal Skills Components such as empathy, respect and openness
is important in communication. (Kovtun, 2016).
Influence of Nonverbal Communication Across Cultures
10
The Importance of Utilizing nonverbal communication correctly
elevates productivity without speaking (Salerno,
Nonverbal 2014).
Communication
Influence of Nonverbal Communication Across Cultures
11
There are different nonverbal modes used for conveying
messages will vary from country to country, and within a
single country depending on the cultural diversity. These
Users of Nonverbal modes will help in understanding the uses of this
Communication communication, and some of the examples from a
specific culture are given below:
Drum Language
Puppet theater
Gong language
Masquerades
The above-mentioned modes are the examples of
primarily Nigerian cultures. These nonverbal modes
reflect tensions that exist between oral and literate
cultures (Ogbondah & Siddens, 1999).
Influence of Nonverbal Communication Across Cultures
12
The influences of Nonverbal communication across can
be understood by taking its different characteristics into
account. There are several characteristics of nonverbal
Uses of Nonverbal communication, their meanings vary culture to culture.
Communication Influential Nonverbal Communication
Ambiguous Nonverbal Communication
Pervasive Characteristics
Rooted in Culture
Emotional Cues of Nonverbal Communication
Research has suggested that 93% of all human
interaction is communicated through nonverbal cues,
mainly through facial expressions and vocal qualities
(Anonymous, 2008). Slight misinterpretations of these
cues can have a ripple effect and cause issues later.
Influence of Nonverbal Communication Across Cultures
13
How Using Reading others better in social situations
Nonverbal Traveling into a country with different culture
Communication is Understanding people with different social back
rounds
Beneficial
Influence of Nonverbal Communication Across Cultures
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In conclusion, nonverbal communication can create
connections on an interpersonal level. Increasing
awareness will result in a better understanding of cross
Conclusion culture nonverbal communication.
Influence of Nonverbal Communication Across Cultures
References
15
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Influence of Nonverbal Communication Across Cultures
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