Your actions speak louder than words
Your actions speak louder than words
Your actions speak
louder than words.
Communication process is not limited to what we say with
words. There are 3 elements of communication: Words (7% of information is
communicated though words), Body language (55%) and tone of voice (38%). Thus,
93% of communication is non-verbal.
The patterns of non-verbal communication that people use are
defined by their culture, gender and social status.
There are several types of Non-verbal communication: Kinesics,
Proxemics, Chronemics, Oculesics, Haptics.
Kinesics – movement of the body
(head, arms, legs, etc.). For example, the gesture of slitting one’s throat in
America means “I’ve had enough” or “I’m in trouble” in Swaziland means “I love
you”.
Proxemics – the use of interpersonal
space. For example Greeks and South Americans find it comfortable to stand, sit
or talk to people at a distance which seems to North Americans and some
Europeans intolerably close.
The closeness of Greeks and South Americans
is unusual to Europeans and North Americans and it causes them to have the
feelings of hostility, discomfort and intimidation.
However if Americans back away to their
distance of comfort they’ll be perceived as cold, unfriendly and distrustful.
Chronemics – the timing of verbal
exchanges during conversation. Americans expect their partner to respond to
their statement immediately. But, for example in eastern cultures, in Japan or
China, they leave silence between each statement.
For Americans this silence is unsettling
and the person might seem shy, inattentive or nervous. In intercultural
situation, it might be best for the visitor to tolerate the silence and wait
for a response.
Oculesics – eye-to-eye contact or
avoidance. Eye contact is very important in communication. People use their
eyes to show interest. It is considered impolite to fix one’s eyes on smb., but
some eye-contact is necessary to show that your interest and attention.
Haptics – is the tactile form of
communication. Where, how and how often people can touch each other while
having a conversation are culturally defined patterns.
Italians and people in Latin America touch
each other more often than Americans and the English.
It also depends on the kind of
communication situation one is in. For example, in Russia among close friends
and the family touching is quite common, whereas at work it is not appropriate
at all.
The ways of non-verbal communication differ from culture to
culture. We should be aware of those differences in order not to be
misunderstood and to properly understand other people.