The importance of non-verbal communication increases when we are faced with a different culture, especially in the case when we do not speak the language very well and we need to use our hands in order to support our vocabulary. We have to be careful about our body language and gestures as every culture uses non-verbal communication in a different way. Some cultures express themselves by using a lot of body language (e.g. southern Europe), whereas it is almost hidden by other cultures (e.g. Japan). From my personal experience, I saw that Japanese body language is hidden and the gestures are done very subtly, nevertheless unspoken communication plays a big role in how people communicate with each other. These subtle gestures can have an even stronger meaning than one may expect in comparison to their own culture. Therefore we should focus on these gestures.
Facial Expression as Unspoken Communication:
It is not enough to determine what emotions are read from facial expressions. It is also crucial to discover whether the interpretations of the observers are correct or not. When people look at someone’s face and think that person is afraid, are they right or wrong? Are facial expressions an accurate reflection of emotional experience? Or, are the impressions gained from facial expression merely stereotypes-all agree about it, but they are wrong? To study this question the investigator must find some people whom he knows to be having a particular emotional experience. He must take some photographs, films or videotapes of these people, and then show them to observers. If the observers’ judgments of the facial expression fit with the investigator’s knowledge of the emotional experience of the persons being judged, then accuracy is established.
Greeting as Unspoken Communication:
The ability to connect with others in any venue is a critical business skill. Dynamic communication starts with the greeting and progresses throughout the entire interaction. To walk into a room and make yourself known, to show confidence as you engage in conversation with a wide range of people, and to put others at ease are all sought-after capabilities. It is this kind of social intelligence that identifies individuals with above-average interpersonal skills and determines who will make long-lasting business connections. Greeting is very important for everyone because it is often the first communication when people meet each other. Each country has a different way of greeting and sometimes they express a different meaning, in fact, the greeting does not just mean to say “Hello” or “Good-bye” to someone. This is why the greeting can be a form of non-verbal communication.
Intimacy or Privacy:
Intimacy can be a state of having close personal relationship with someone. According to a survey Japanese rather prefer a larger distance between each other while talking and will therefore avoid physical contact, especially in the beginning. In some European countries, mostly in western countries, they use physical contacts while they are talking and the personal space between people is smaller. By observing the way people greet you can also recognise if the personal space between them is small or large. E.g.: kissing is closer than shaking hands or bowing.
The second aspect is related to the condition of being alone and not to be seen or heard by other people. For example, the intimacy in your bedroom when you are changing clothes. Keep in mind that it depends on the country, the individual personality and the situation.
The third aspect connects to the privacy and the fact of keeping your own feelings and thoughts a secret. Some people want to keep their secrets private. They keep the distance so they do not need to tell anything. The remark that we have mentioned before must also be applied to this subject. There is a proverb “Actions speak louder than words.” In essence, this underscores the importance of unspoken communication. Non-verbal communication is especially significant in intercultural situations. Researches in communication suggest that many more feelings and intentions are sent and received non-verbally than verbally. It has been suggested that only 7 % of message is sent through words, with remaining 93% sent non-verbal expressions (depending on author, verbal part goes up to 35%).
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