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    Tools-F-6 Cultural Differences in Nonverbal Communic

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    Cotuna Bianca Andreea
    Cultural differences in non-verbal communication can lead to misunderstandings. Gestures like pointing, touching parts of the body, and eye contact have different meanings across cultures. Being aware of these differences is important for effective cross-cultural communication.

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    Tools-F-6 Cultural Differences in Nonverbal Communic

    Uploaded by

    Cotuna Bianca Andreea
    20 views1 page
    Cultural differences in non-verbal communication can lead to misunderstandings. Gestures like pointing, touching parts of the body, and eye contact have different meanings across cultures. Being aware of these differences is important for effective cross-cultural communication.

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    Cultural differences in non-verbal communication can lead to misunderstandings. Gestures like pointing, touching parts of the body, and eye contact have different meanings across cultures. Being aware of these differences is important for effective cross-cultural communication.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    20 views1 page

    Tools-F-6 Cultural Differences in Nonverbal Communic

    Uploaded by

    Cotuna Bianca Andreea
    Cultural differences in non-verbal communication can lead to misunderstandings. Gestures like pointing, touching parts of the body, and eye contact have different meanings across cultures. Being aware of these differences is important for effective cross-cultural communication.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
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    CulturalDifferencesinNonverbalCommunication

    Nonverbalcommunicationorbodylanguageisanimportantpartofhowpeople
    communicateandtherearedifferencesfromculturetoculture.Handandarmgestures,
    touch,andeyecontact(oritslack)areafewoftheaspectsofnonverbalcommunication
    thatmayvarysignificantlydependinguponculturalbackground.
    Gestures:
    ThereareanumberofgesturescommonlyusedintheUnitedStatesthatmayhavea
    differentmeaningand/orbeoffensivetothosefromothercultures.Onecommon
    exampleistheuseofafingerorhandtoindicatecomehereplease.Thisisthegesture
    usedtobeckondogsinsomeculturesandisveryoffensive.Pointingwithonefingeris
    alsoconsideredtoberudeinsomeculturesandAsianstypicallyusetheirentirehandto
    pointtosomething.
    Touch:
    Whilepattingachildsheadisconsideredtobeafriendlyoraffectionategestureinour
    culture,itisconsideredinappropriateby manyAsianstotouchsomeoneonthehead,
    whichisbelievedtobeasacredpartofthebody. IntheMiddleEast,thelefthandis
    reservedforbodilyhygieneandshouldnotbeusedtotouchanotherortransferobjects.
    InMuslimcultures,touchbetweenoppositegenderedindividualsisgenerally
    inappropriate.
    Eyecontact/gaze:
    InmainstreamWestern culture,eyecontactisinterpretedasattentivenessandhonesty
    wearetaughtthatweshouldlookpeopleintheeyewhentalking.Inmany cultures,
    however,includingHispanic,Asian,MiddleEastern,andNativeAmerican,eyecontactis
    thoughttobedisrespectfulorrude,andlackofeyecontactdoesnotmeanthatapersonis
    notpayingattention.Womenmayespeciallyavoideyecontactwithmenbecauseitcan
    betakenasasignofsexualinterest.
    Ofspecialnotewhenworkingwith babies:
    AlthoughitiscommoninWesterncultureforadultstoadmirebabiesandyoungchildren
    andcommentuponhowcutetheyare,thisisavoidedinHmongandVietnamesecultures
    forfearthatthesecommentsmaybeoverheardbyaspiritthatwilltrytostealthebabyor
    otherwisecausesomeharmtocometohimorher.
    Moreinformation:
    Theaboveisabriefintroductiontosomeofthenonverbal communicationdifferences
    between cultures.Formoreinformation,pleasereferto otherresourcesfoundinCulture
    andLanguageDifferences"inthistoolkit.
    Sources:
    JoanneIkeda,M.A.,R.D.UniversityofCalifornia,Berkley
    CharlesTidwellJr.Ph.D.AndrewsUniversity,BerrienSprings,Michigan
    ProvidersGuidetoQualityandCulture:
    http://erc.msh.org/mainpage.cfm?file=4.6.0.htm&module=provider&language=English

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