GROUP 3

GROUP MEMBERS
NAME REG NUMBER
NUSURAH SSENTONGO A16/08393/22
BLESSED MWENDE A16/01740/21
FELIX ONYANGO A16/08615/22
MAURICE WAMALWA A16/08628/22
WINSTAR JAIKA A16/08323/22
EMMANUEL IRERI A16/08595/22
ANTONY MUTUKU A16/08600/22
CULTURE AND NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION
INTRODUCTION
Culture plays a significant role in non-verbal communication, as it influences how people
express themselves and interpret the non-verbal cues of others. Non-verbal communication
encompasses a wide range of behaviors and signals that convey messages without using words,
such as body language, facial expressions, gestures, tone of voice, eye contact, and proxemics
(the use of space).
People can misinterpret nonverbal communication that is culturally different from their own. Of
course, this can also happen in conversation among individuals of the same cultural background,
but it doesn't not usually happen as often or to the same degree. Many people think that all they
really need to pay attention to in a conversation is the spoken word, however, this is far from the
truth.
Language studies traditionally emphasized verbal and written communication. Since about the
1960's, however, researchers seriously began to consider what takes place without words in
conversations. In some instances, more nonverbal than verbal communication occurs. For
example, if you ask an obviously depressed person, "What's wrong?" and he answers "Nothing,
I'm fine." you probably won't believe him. Or when an angry person says "Let's forget this
subject. I don't want to talk about it anymore!" she hasn't stopped communicating. Her silence
and withdrawal continue to convey emotional meaning.
One study done in the United States showed that 93 percent of a message was transmitted by the
speakers tone of voice and facial expressions. Only 7 percent of the person's attitude was
conveyed by words. Apparently, we express our emotions and attitudes more nonverbally than
verbally.

Culture Differences in Non-verbal communication

Nonverbal communication expresses meaning or feeling without words. Universal emotions,
such as happiness, fear, sadness, are expressed in a similar nonverbal way throughout the world.
There are, however, nonverbal differences across cultures that may be a source of confusion for
foreigners. Let's look at the way people express sadness. In many cultures, such as the Arab and
Iranian cultures, people express grief openly. They mourn out loud, while people from other
cultures (e.g., China and Japan) are more subdued. In Asian cultures, the general belief is that is
unacceptable to show emotion openly (whether sadness, happiness, or pain).
Another example of how cultures differ in their nonverbal expression of emotion. Feelings of
friendship exist everywhere in the world, but their expression varies. It is acceptable in some
countries e.g. European for men to embrace and for women to hold hands; in other countries, e.g.
African countries these displays of affection are discouraged or prohibited.
As with nonverbal communication, what is considered usual or polite behavior in one culture
may be seen as unusual or impolite in another. One culture may determine that snapping fingers
to call a waiter is appropriate, whereas another may consider this gesture rude. We are often not
aware of how gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, and the use of conversational distance
affect communication. To interpret another culture's style of communication, it is necessary to
study the "silent language" of that culture.
1) Gestures and Body movement/positioning
Different cultures have unique gestures and body language, which can convey varying meanings.
For example, a thumbs up gesture is a positive signal in many Western cultures but can be
offensive in some Middle Eastern and Asian cultures. Understanding the appropriate use of
gestures is essential for effective cross-cultural communication. For example hand motions
alone can convey many meanings: "Come here," Go away," It's okay," and "That's expensive!"
are just a few examples. The gestures for these phrases often differ across cultures, beckoning
people to come with the palm up is common in the United States. This same gesture in the
Philippines, Korea, and parts of Latin America as well as other countries is considered rude. In
some countries, only an animal would be beckoned with the palm up.
Children imitate and learn to use these nonverbal movements to accompany or replace words.
When traveling to another country, foreign visitors soon learn that not all gestures are universal.
For example, the "O.K." gesture in the American culture is a symbol for money in Japan. This
same gesture is obscene in some Latin American countries. (This is why the editors of a
Brazilian newspaper enjoyed publishing a picture of a former American president giving the
"O.K." symbol with both hands!)
Many American business executives enjoy relaxing with their feet up on their desks. But to show
a person from Saudi Arabia or Thailand the sole of one's foot is extremely insulting, because the
foot is considered the dirtiest part of the body. Can you imagine the reaction in Thailand when a
foreign shoe company distributed an advertisement showing a pair of shoes next to a sacred
sculpture of Budda?
2) Facial expressions
Facial expressions carry meaning that is determined by situations and relationships. They are a
universal form of non-verbal communication, but their interpretation can still vary across
cultures. For instance, a smile is generally associated with happiness or friendliness worldwide.
However, the degree and context of smiling can differ, and some cultures may use smiles to
conceal discomfort or negative emotions. For instance, in American culture the smile is typically
an expression of pleasure. Yet it also has other functions. A woman's smile at a police officer
does not carry the same meaning as the smile she gives to a young child. A smile may show
affection, convey politeness, or disguise true feelings. For example many people in Russia
consider smiling at strangers in public to be unusual and even suspicious behavior. Yet many
Americans smile freely at strangers in public places (although this is less common in big cities).
Some Russians believe that Americans smile in the wrong places; some Americans believe that
Russians don't smile enough. In Southeast Asian cultures, a smile is frequently used to cover
emotional pain or embarrassment. Vietnamese people may tell the sad story of how they had to
leave their country but end the story with a smile.
Our faces reveal emotions and attitudes, but we should not attempt to "read" people from another
culture as we would "read" someone from our own culture. The degree of facial expressiveness
one exhibits varies among individuals and cultures. The fact that members of one culture do not
express their emotions as openly as do members of another does not mean that they do not
experience emotions. Rather, there are cultural restraints on the amount of nonverbal
expressiveness permitted. For example, in public and formal situations many Japanese do not
show their emotions as freely as Americans do. More privately and with friends, Japanese and
Americans seem to show their emotions similarly. Many teachers in the United States have a
difficult time knowing whether their Japanese students understand and enjoy their lessons. The
American teacher is looking for more facial responsiveness than what the Japanese student is
comfortable with in the classroom situation.
3) Eye Contact
Eye contact is important because insufficient or excessive eye contact can create communication
barriers. In relationships, it serves to show intimacy, attention, and influence. As with facial
expressions, there are no specific rules governing eye behavior, except that is considered rude to
stare, especially at strangers. In parts of the United States, however, such as on the West Coast
and in the South, it is quite common to glance at strangers when passing them. For example, it is
usual for two strangers walking toward each other to make eye contact, smile, and perhaps even
say "Hi," before immediately looking away. This type of contact doesn't mean much; it is simply
a way of acknowledging another person's presence. In general the significance of eye contact
varies across cultures. In some cultures, maintaining strong eye contact is seen as a sign of
confidence and attentiveness, while in others, it can be perceived as confrontational or
disrespectful. Understanding these cultural differences is crucial to avoiding misunderstandings.
4) Conversation distance/ Proxemics
The use of personal space, or proxemics, differs across cultures. Some cultures prefer close
interpersonal distances, while others value more personal space. Being aware of these
preferences is vital for respecting cultural norms and ensuring comfortable communication. The
amount of space changes depending on the nature of the relationship. For example, we are
usually more comfortable standing closer to family members than to strangers. Personality also
determines the size of the area with which we are comfortable when talking to people. Introverts
often prefer to interact with others at a greater distance than do extroverts. Culture styles are
important too. Also in most African Countries, children are expected to stand at a certain
distance when being talked to by their elders different from the ways of western countries.
Culture does not always determine the message of nonverbal communication. The individual's
personality, the context, and the relationship also influence its meaning. However, like verbal
language, nonverbal language is linked to person's cultural background. People are generally
comfortable with others who have "body language" similar to their own.
 5) Paralanguage
Paralanguage includes elements like tone of voice, pitch, and rhythm of speech. These factors
can convey emotions, attitudes, and emphasis in communication. Different cultures may have
distinct paralinguistic features, such as the use of tone to express respect, authority, or politeness.
For examples Kisii of Kenya speak using high tone during normal conversations and they
consider it normal which may sound offensive in other cultures.

6) Context and Meaning

The interpretation of non-verbal cues can be highly context-dependent. Cultural context and
individual experiences can influence the meaning ascribed to non-verbal signals. What may be
considered an appropriate non-verbal cue in one culture might be perceived differently in
another.

Conclusion
To navigate cultural differences in nonverbal communication effectively individuals and
organizations should engage in cultural sensitivity and competency training. This helps people
develop an understanding of the non-verbal norms and expectations of different cultures, which
can lead to more successful and respectful interactions in a diverse world. Additionally, when
interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds, it's essential to be open-minded,
patient, and willing to learn from each other's non-verbal cues and adapt as needed to foster
positive and effective communication.

References
“Non-verbal communication in Human interaction” by Mark L. Knapp and Judith A. Hall
“Cultures and organizations: Software of the Mind” by Geert Hofstede and Gert Jan Hofstede