CROSS - CULTURAL COMMUNICATTION

KHACHATRYAN HAYKUHI JUFALAKYAN MARO

Gestures

Hands - In a number of situations we can observe people using open palm, or palm facing towards the person they are speaking to, which can indicate friendliness and a feeling of being united. Also many oaths are taken with the palm of the hand over the heart, which indicates truth and honesty. People usually use palm facing upwards and it is characteristic of the beggar asking for money or food. Putting hands together like in a prayer can signify a promise, or a symbol of unity.

Arms - Rubbing the palms together is a way in which people non-verbally communicate positive expectation like “I can hardly wait for it “. Or one palm gripping the other hand behind the back is a superiority/confidence gesture position. Another arm gesture is the one like both arms are folded together across the chest as an attempt to ‘hide’ from an unfavorable situation. It is a universal gesture signifying the same defensive or negative attitude almost everywhere.

Fingers - Rapidly tapping fingers or fidgeting can be a sign that a person is bored, impatient, or frustrated. The pointed finger is one of the most irritating gestures that a person can use while speaking, particularly when it beats time to the speaker’s words. Finger pointing or any other gesture which is seen to be very in your face can come across as hostile or threatening.

Whole Body - When someone for example stands with hands placed on the hips that can be an indication that a person is ready and in control, or it can also possibly be a sign of aggressiveness. Or crossed legs can indicate that a person is feeling closed off or in need of privacy. Crossing or folding the arms or legs suggests that a negative or defensive attitude exists, and this is also the case with the ankle lock gesture.

Eye Contact - Between men, prolonged eye contact may signal aggression or intent to dominate. Although more contact is tolerable as a relationship grows, eye contact needs to be broken often.

Women tend to maintain better eye contact in conversations with other women–more so with friends and family than with strangers. Generally, women interpret eye contact as a sign of trust and compassion.

Prolonged eye contact, an intent-look in particular, between men and women may quickly be interpreted as a sign of intimate interest. The amount of eye contact varies in different cultures. In Asian cultures, for instance, where formal social structures exist, eye contact with somebody superior can be offending. In some parts of India, men and women do not keep eye contact with their in-laws, out of respect. In most cultures, a longer eye contact while interacting with the other gender may be read as a sign of intimacy and expression of interest. If you are from a country where direct eye contact is normal, you may be offended or confused when someone is not making eye contact with you while you are speaking to them. Likewise, if you are from a country that avoids using direct eye contact, you may be taken aback that someone could be so brazen as to look at you straight in the eyes while you are speaking to them, especially if they are younger than you, subordinate to you, or are of a different gender.

Facial Expressions

The head and Forehead - Although slapping of the head indicates forgetfulness when person slaps his hand on his head, either the forehead or the neck. If he slaps his forehead he signals that he is not intimidated by your having mentioned his forgetfulness. Those who habitually rub their foreheads to non-verbalize an error tend to be more open, easy-going people.

Eyes and Eyebrows - When a person looks directly into your eyes when having a conversion, it indicates that they are interested and paying attention. People often blink more rapidly when they are feeling distressed or uncomfortable. Infrequent blinking may indicate that a person is intentionally trying to control his or her eye movements. The sideways glance is used to communicate either interest or hostility. When it is combined with slightly raised eyebrows or a smile, it communicates interest and is frequently used as a courtship signal. If it is combined with down-turned eyebrows, furrowed brow or the corners of the mouth down-turned, it signals a suspicious, hostile or critical attitude.

The Nose - In essence, the nose touch gesture is a sophisticated, disguised version of the mouth guard gesture. It may consist of several light rubs below the nose or it may be one quick, almost imperceptible touch. Some women perform this gesture with small discreet strokes to avoid smudging their make-up.

The Chin and Jaw - When the listener begins to use his hand to support his head, it is a signal that boredom has set in and his supporting hand is an attempt to hold his head up to stop himself from falling asleep. The degree of the listener’s boredom is related to the extent to which his arm and hand are supporting his head. Extreme boredom and lack of interest are shown when the head is fully supported by the hand and the ultimate boredom signal occurs when the head is on the desk or table and the person is snoring. This chin-stroking gesture is the signal that the listener is making a decision.

Any part of the face or head in combination with the hands and fingers - The fingers are placed in the mouth when a person is under pressure. Most hand-to-mouth gestures involve lying or deception, the fingers-in-mouth gesture is an outward manifestation of an inner need for reassurance. Men usually rub their eyes vigorously and if the lie is a big one they will often look away, normally towards the floor. Women use a small, gentle rubbing motion just below the eye. When the index finger points vertically up the cheek and the thumb supports the chin, the listener is having negative or critical thoughts about the speaker or his subject. Often the index finger may rub or pull at the eye as the negative thoughts continue.

Personal Space - With someone you know fairly well, such as a co-worker you see several times a week, you might feel more comfortable interacting at a closer distance. Talking in front of a class full of students or giving a presentation at work are good examples of such situations. It is also important to note that the level of personal distance that individuals need to feel comfortable can vary from culture to culture. One oft-cited example is the different between people from Latin cultures and those from North America. People from Latin countries tend to feel more comfortable standing closer to one another as they interact, while those from North America need more personal distance. The distance is usually larger between two males than between two females. Two women talking to each other can get comfortable enough to be affectionate; two men won’t normally be comfortable to be so close to each other, unless they were brothers or lovers.

Touching - And yet a touch can often say as much as a lot of words. This is probably most obvious when someone you know is in trouble or in sorrow, taking hold of his or her hand or putting an arm around the shoulder often is much more effective than words. The nearness, the closeness, the touch says that you are ready to help if needed. Touch is usually reserved for our most intimate relationships and for communication between close friends. Although it is acceptable for women to touch in public, many believe it is not 'proper' for men to do so. Sadly, even in the privacy of the home, a son may be embarrassed when he is embraced by his father.

Questions and Cases

1. Explain how thought patterns and problem solving differ in the us and other cultures?

In US people talk about the problem and they try to make a solution good for both sides, even in family they talk try to find something good for them, talking about it is the key to solve it , like in Arab countries like UAE IRAQ JORDAN Saudi Arabia and most of them , people don’t talk in family mom and dad use violence again their children if they do something wrong a little people sit down and talk about the problem, even in schools they hit the kids for not doing homework or not ready for the lesson, so US people talk to each other better and try to understand.

2. Discuss differences in paralanguage and metacommunication of people in various cultures.

Paralanguage is the sounds and tones which we use in conversations and speech behaviors that accompanies the message. The non-verbal sounds and characteristics of speech are called paralinguistic features. For ex. Arabs often evaluate the speaking style in the US as non- expressive, cold, distinct. Paralanguage and metacommunication can be used as influences on how diversity is viewed. The tone of a white person's voice when speaking to a black person may be not as kind when compared to another white person. His body language may also change in the presence of the black person. This nonverbal reaction to a person's diverse background sends a message without using verbal communication.

3. Explain how attitudes toward time vary from culture to culture.

These two types of response to time are not merely personal traits; they rather characterize cultures as a whole, with individuals acquiring those characteristics through acquiring culture. Nordic and Central Europe, North America, Great Britain, and Japan are traditionally considered as monochronic cultures, while polychromic countries include the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, South and Southeast Asia. There is also a group of countries ‘in between’, called variably monochronic cultures. Russia, Southern Europe and most of East-Central Europe, are among them. When representatives of cultures with different approaches towards time meet, they often fail to understand each other’s intentions and ways to interact, especially in business communication. Monochronists view their opponents as undisciplined, lazy, irresponsible people, who can’t be blindly trusted or relied on. On the other hand, polychronists consider their foreign partners to be obsessed with rules and formalities, and seek to establish emotional bonding before switching to professional matters.

4. Discuss differences in space needs of persons in the us, Japan, Greece and Latin America.

5. Identify cultures that favor direct eye contact and those that avoid eye contact.

Japanese tend to favor indirect eye contact over direct. They may view direct eye contact as intimidating and threatening. Japanese usually use indirect eye contact when speaking with their elders or superiors as a sign of respect and deference.

Brazilians favor direct eye contact over indirect. However, service people such as maids, delivery people, repair people, etc., will often avoid eye contact when dealing with people they are serving or working for. During conversations sustained eye contact is commonplace rather than intermittent. They associate a steady gaze with sincerity. Brazilians tend to look at each other often in public places/situations (on a bus, in the elevator, etc.). Jamaicans tend to favor direct eye contact over indirect. Avoiding eye contact can be viewed as suspicious behavior. Eye contact and touch etiquette also vary dramatically in different cultures. Asian cultures do not believe in touching in public settings, and they don't favor direct eye contact. Like the Asian culture, Hispanics also view direct eye contact as a lack of respect.