Unit Six Unit Six Non-verbal Non-verbal Communication Communication
Unit SixUnit SixNon-verbal Non-verbal
CommunicationCommunication
Unit Six Non-verbal communication Objectives Non-verbal Communication Gestures Facial Expressions Eye Contact Distance and Power Distance Language Appropriateness Group Tasks
Thanks!
Your Objectives
By the end of this unit, you should be able to
have a general idea of what is non-verbal communication;
understand what is artifacts/objects language; Understand what is touching; understand what is time perception; understand body language covering gestures,
posture, facial expressions, and eye contact; recognize spatial distance and power distance.
Non-verbal Communication
Questions for group discussion: What do you think a non-verbal language is? How many non-verbal acts does the non-verbal
communication include as far as you know?
Physical Category of Non-verbal Communication
Non-verbalcommunication
artifacts 物体论 /objects
haptics 触觉论 /touchingkinesics 举止神态学
body language
chronemics时间观 /time
proxemics 空间关系学 /
spatial distance
Object Language/ Artifacts
Object Language
accessories小配件furniture
cosmetics
clothes
trinkets小饰件
Do you Know Color Clues?
What color clothes do you prefer to wear? The colors you choose could tell you something about your personality.
Red indicates an assertive, passionate and enthusiastic nature;
Orange means you are warm-hearted, quick-witted and active;
Yellow indicates cheerfulness, optimism and originality; Green shows you are responsible, hopeful and into green
issues; Blue displays a cool, calm and peaceful nature;
Do you Know Color Clues?
Violet means you are sensitive, tasteful and artistic; White is innocence, enlightenment, and efficiency; Black means you are mysterious, unconventional
and dominant; Brown indicates a trustworthy, reliable and home-
loving nature; Grey shows a desire to be anonymous.
Body Language/ Kinesics
Body Language
gestures
posture
facial expression
eye contact
Touching / Haptics
Touchinglanguage
handshakes
pats
kisses
hugging
Low contact cultures stress less touchingwhile high contact cultures stress much touching.
Time Perceptions/ Chronemics
The time can be saved, wasted, kept, bought, sold or even killed. Time perceptions include punctuality and ways of social interactions. Usually people's lifestyles, such as daily routine, making appointments, body movements, even speech speed and taking a turn in the conversation are affected by different time perception.
Spatial Distance/ Proxemics
One of the terms used in non-verbal language is proxemics. It studies how closely one person stands to another. Edward T. Hall coined this term in the 1950’s and 1960’s for interrelated observations and theories of man's use of space as a specialized elaboration of culture.
The Purposes of Non-verbal Communication
Purposes
convey our attitudes
replace verbal
communication
modify verbal
communication
manage social
interaction
convey our emotions
Gestures
Gestures Patting a child’s but not the teenager or the adult’s
head
---In China, shows affection, otherwise might cause offence.
---In Britain or America, means giving comfort, consolation or encouragement between close friends.
-- In India, Sri Lanka and Thailand, would be shocking and offensive, as the head believed to be the seat of the soul.
Gestures
The ring gesture In America, “OK”; in Japan, “ mone
y”; France “zero or worthless”; in Tunisia “I’ll kill you!”
The single finger beckon In Yugoslavia and Malaysia beckoni
ng animals. In Indonesia and Australia for prosti
tutes. In South America---an attractive wo
man.
Gestures
In China, when offering or accepting, both hands are used to show respect.
The eyelid-pull
In France and Greece --“You can’t fool me!”
In Spain and Italy -- “You should be alert”
In South America -- an attractive woman
Gestures
The thumbs-up sign
In Britain -- OK and for hitch-hiking
In Greece -- an insult The ear-tug
In Spain -- a sponger
In Greece -- warning
In Italy -- homosexual
Gestures
Ear rub
I can’t believe my ears—someone making this sign suspects the speaker of telling a lie.
Fingertip Flitter
If a person just makes a grab for your fingers, they are insecure and wish to keep you at a distance.
Gestures
On Top The person who grasps your hand with their palm
down feels confident, superior and is trying to dominate you.
Two-hand People who grasp your hand with both of theirs w
ant you to think they are honest and trustworthy.
Gestures
Partial Barrier People sometimes modify the basic arms barrier
by crossing just one arm, indicating that they are uncomfortable with strangers or lack confidence.
Disguised Barrier People who continually fiddle with their sleeves,
watches or bracelets use a very sophisticated version of the arm barrier. People who do not want to realize they are nervous often use this.
Facial Expressions
Facial Expressions
surprise
disgust
happiness
anger
fear
furious
fury
horror
horrified
revolted
revulsion
ecstatic
ecstasygrief-stricken
grief sadness
shocked
shock
Behind the Mask
The norms governing acceptable emotions display vary between societies.
Displaying anger is much less acceptable among the Japanese than among Americans. Japanese people tend to control or restrain their emotions, feelings, especially negative ones more than people in other cultures.
Eye Contact
Eye Contact
Eye contact important rules concerned with when to look/ how long; who/ who not to look at,etc.
When sitting a stranger opposite, usual response is to behave friendly/naturally, glancing at the other person, exchanging small talk or remaining silent.
Eye ContactBut it is regarded as a sign of respect not to meet someone’s eyes in some Asian countries such as Japan, and in some Latin American countries like Puerto Rico.
The ability to look someone straight in the eye is considered significant in North America and many European countries, and there is a saying in English “Don’t trust anyone who won’t look you in the eye.”
Eye Contact
To look at somebody while listening is a sign of showing respect in China.
When speaking in public, to look at your audience frequently is the normal practice.
Eye Contact The rules for eye contact among the British:
Avoid staring but at the same time avoid ignoring them when passing strangers in the street.(look until 8 feet, veer away/turn,change away)--the closer the proximity (nearness) the greater the tendency to avoid eye contact.
Eye Contact
Communicating with one another, British practice demands (expects) eye contact, though not have to be constant. Not looking could imply fear, contempt, uneasiness, guilt or indifference,etc.
In addressing an audience, a British lecturer should look at his audience now and then.
Distance and Power Distance
Keeping One’s Distance
Four Main categories of distance:
a) intimate distance ranging from direct contact to about 45cm., which applies to the closest relationships such as husband and wife;
Keeping One’s Distance
b) personal distance, 45 to 80cm., usually maintained for conversations between friends and relatives;
Keeping One’s Distance
c) social distance 1.30 to 2 meters, which covers people work together or meeting at social gatherings;
d) public distance, beyond social distance, such as that kept between a lecturer and his audience.
Keeping One’s Distance
The appropriateness of physical contact varies between different cultures and even sub-cultures within one society.
e.g. the Americans trying to keep the normal distance between themselves and their partners might seem “stand-offish”; while the Arabs tending to keep much closer distance might seem a bit “pushy”.
Power Distance
Questions for group discussion: What’s your job? How do you do it? Is your boss Chinese or Western? Is your boss satisfied with your job? What are your boss’ expectations from you? Do you have any puzzlement for your work?
Power Distance
Power distance (权力距离 ): In all cultures some people have more power or higher status than other people. There is no society in the world in which everyone is precisely equal to everyone else, hence the power distance. The power distance is the extent to which less powerful members of institutions and organizations within a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally. (Hofstede page 262). The contrast value put forward by Hofstede is an attempt to measure cultural attitudes about inequality in social relationships.
Power Distance
Small power distance (较弱的权力距离感 ): In other cultures, people believe that everyone is by nature equal to everyone else. There are differences in power and status in these countries, but people think they should be eliminated or minimized. These are low power distance cultures.
Power Distance
In those countries bosses and subordinates work close together and consult each other. Subordinates and superiors consider each other as or less equal even there is a difference in education level. The hierarchical system can always change depending on the circumstances. The hierarchies are flat with a decentralized organization and a small number of supervisors who are expected to be accessible for their subordinates.
Power Distance
Within a company the degree for unequal treatment is reduced to a low level. There is an interdependence between employer and employee. The salary range is narrow between the top and bottom in companies. Subordinates expect to be consulted within the decision-making process.
Power Distance
Large power distance (较强的权力距离感 ): In some countries, there exist the emotional and social distance between people who occupy different places in a hierarchy, in other words, people’s different social positions are considered to be natural and important. People are unequal by nature.So these countries are large power distance cultures.
Power Distance
In large power distance countries the relation between boss and subordinate is strictly ruled and dependent on the decisions of the boss. In companies with larger power distance which have a very centralized organization, subordinates expect to be told what to do from their superiors because they consider each other as unequal. Inequalities are normally expected and privileges are seen as desirable by superiors.
Power Distance
There is a large extend to centralization and the salary range is wide. People in high power distance cultures positive emotions are expressed to superiors and negative emotions to subordinates.
Power Distance
Where does the boss come from, a large or small power distance country? Why?
A works as a secretary in a company. A’s boss often tells A how he wants his time scheduled and A then makes appointment for him according to his instructions. A translates memos and other documents. If the manager does not think A has done well, he tells A right away. He is very demanding, but A feels that she knows what her duties are and knows what her manager expects. She is confident that she is doing a good job.
Power Distance
Questions for group discussion:
What might be Chinese people’s attitudes and behaviors concerning power distance according to your own experiences?
Please work out a case of intercultural communication where misunderstanding might occur because of different power distance.
LanguageAppropriateness
Useful Expressions
feel puzzled at
feel embarrassed baffled
bewildered
confused
perplexed
Matching Work 1
consistent
perplexed
inscrutable
hold in check
regulate
confused and puzzled
in agreement
mysterious
control
adjust, adapt
Reference
consistent
perplexed
inscrutable
hold in check
regulate
confused and puzzled
in agreement
mysterious
control
adjust, adapt
Matching Work 2
movement of the hands or head
unfriendly, frigid
position of sitting and standing
the person who spends other people’s money
attractive
mock, jeer
to include ( esp. a variety of things)taunt
encompass
sponger
eyeful
posture
frosty
gesture
Reference
movement of the hands or head
unfriendly, frigid
position of sitting and standing
the person who spends other people’s money
an attractive person
mock, jeer
include ( esp. a variety of things)
taunt
encompass
sponger
eyeful
posture
frosty
gesture
Matching Work 3
wear
declare, show confidence
bowman
signal
lady of the night, street girl
not straight
a face showing no feeling
assert
beckon
prostitute
crooked
archer
poker-faced
don (the mask)
Reference
wear
declare, show confidence
bowman
signal
lady of the night, street girl
not straight
a face showing no feeling
assert
beckon
prostitute
crooked
archer
poker-faced
don (the mask)
self-abasement
self-inferiority/servilityprudence
wise thought before acting
vulgar
indecent
insolent
arrogant/ haughty
Matching Work 4
Reference
self-abasement self-inferiority/servility
prudence wise thought before acting
vulgar indecent
insolent arrogant/haughty
Eye Contact
Fill in the blanks with the chosen words as given and change the form necessary:
gaze, glance, peep, stare, peer, inspect, gawk
1. Noticing that he was ______at me, she felt quite uncomfortable.
2. _____ out of the window for hours on end instead of reading the novel, Susan was totally lost in her own memories.
staring
Gazing
Eye Contact
Fill in the blanks with the chosen words as given and change the form necessary:
glance, peep, stare, peer, inspect, gawk
3. I don’t like Joe, for he would do nothing but sit in the couch, ________ at the television all day.
4. The moon _______ from behind dark clouds.
5. He ________ the car before he bought it.
gawking
peered
inspected
Eye Contact Fill in the blanks with the chosen words as given
and change the form necessary:
glance, peep, stare, peer, inspect, gawk
6. He _______ his head through the door.
7. At first ______ the plan seemed unworkable.
8. The new postman_______ through the mist, trying to find the right house.
peeped
glancepeered
Idioms Matching 1
Lay a finger on somebody
Put one’s hand in one’s pocket
Give somebody /get a big hand
Keep one’s hand in
Ask for a woman’s hand
To be ready to spend or give money
To applaud somebody loudly
To do an activity occasionally in order to remain skilled at it
To propose marriage
To touch with the intention of harming
Reference
Lay a finger on somebody
Put one’s hand in one’s pocket
Give somebody /get a big hand
Keep one’s hand in
Ask for a woman’s hand
To be ready to spend or give money
To applaud somebody loudly
To do an activity occasionally in order to remain skilled at it
To propose marriage
To touch with the intention of harming
Idioms Matching 2
Keep sb. at arm’s length
Put one’s finger on something
Keep one’s hand on the pulse
Hold somebody’s hand
Within arm’s reach To comfort or help somebody in a sad or difficult situation
Identify an error, or cause of a problem
Sth. which you can reach easily
Avoid becoming too friendly or involved with sb.
Know all the latest news, development
Reference
Keep sb. at arm’s length
Put one’s finger on something
Keep one’s hand on the pulse
Hold somebody’s hand
Within arm’s reach
To comfort or help somebody in a sad or difficult situation
Identify an error, or cause of a problem
Sth. which you can reach easily
Avoid becoming too friendly or involved with sb.
Know all the latest news, development
Group Tasks
Group Task 1
The purpose of this activity is to develop observational skills and to discuss nonverbal communication.
Directions: Working in pairs or in groups of three or four, observe people’s use of space, eye contact, touching, and gestures in the classroom.
Group Task 2 Questions for group discussion: 1. Do you recall from your childhood how you
learned to use nonverbal language (space, gestures, eye contact, etc.)?
2. Are there any expressions or proverbs in your language that say something about nonverbal communication? For example, in English there is the expression, “He shake hands like a dead fish”.
3. What should a foreigner learn about nonverbal communication in China before coming here?
Group Task 3
Please work out a case of intercultural communication where misunderstanding might occur because of different power distance.
Home Work
Please make observations on the use of space, gestures, eye contact and touching between people. You can also make observations while watching movies.
Suggested areas:
restaurants tea house
park bookstore
bus stops classrooms
library elevators
Thanks!