One of the lessons this week focused on nonverbal communicat

One of the lessons this week focused on nonverbal communication behaviors common with Americans and in the U.S. workplace. Our class is very diverse and many of you have strong ties to cultures other than American. What differences have you noticed between American nonverbal communication and other cultures? Differences in the use of time? Space? Territory? Gestures? Body movement? Touch?

You can mention differences in the behaviors discussed in the lecture or any nonverbal behavior.

Solution

What differences have you noticed between American nonverbal communication and other cultures? Differences in the use of time? Space? Territory? Gestures? Body movement? Touch?

Differences in the use of time – The Americans consider time as high importance. Americans prefer to maintain punctuality during meetings. However, other cultures like the people from the Eastern countries prefer Fridays as a religious day and hence spend their time in prayers. Hence, meetings and other events should not be conducted on Fridays (for Eastern cultures) and Sundays (for Western cultures).

Space – People from Middle Eastern countries prefer to go near to talk to other people. Americans and Europeans however do not have that much acceptance for the practice of going near people to talk to them. Japanese do not react strongly for an accidental touch whereas the Americans do not accept any touch by the strangers.

Gestures – Gestures have different meaning in different cultures. Americans use the “OK” sign to symbolize that something is acceptable however Japanese culture use the hand symbol for depicting money.

Touch – In America using handshake is a practice to greet an individual however in France it is a practice in their culture to kiss an individual on both cheeks to greet him/her.

Body movement – Body movement and postures play a major role in non-verbal communication. For example, in America sitting cross legged shows the status of an individual however it is considered as offensive in the culture of people from Turkey.