The people do communication use some
ways to deliver their message, desires and needs. As already mentioned before,
communication is the process of social interaction that interrelated aspects
social life throughout two ways, verbal communication and non verbal
communication. Verbal communication, is one of the way people speak to others
by using words (tend to be orally), while non-verbal communication is the way people
communicate with others without using words. It means the words can be replaced
by other way, just like gestures, eye contact, facial expressiveness, or others.
It is about the way of delivering desire and needs to others. In this occasion,
the topic will be concerned in non verbal communication. Gudykunst mentions
that humans communicate interpersonal closeness through a non-verbal as a series
of action that called immediacy behaviour (2003, p.74). While, he also quoted
that nonverbal involves intimacy and expressiveness, (Burgoon and LePoire,
1999; Floyd and Burgoon, 1999; Patterson, 1983). This topic will focus on the
features in the people communicate non-verbally and will cover several aspects that
related with it.
The aspect of the different culture
sometimes makes people misunderstand and misinterpret nonverbal communication. Even
it happens in the people that come from same cultural background. It is caused
from the people from different culture have different meaning about the use of
nonverbal communication. Traditionally, language emphasizes spoken and written
communication, and since 1960 the study concerned with non verbal
communication. In one research in United States showed that 93% a message was transferred
by facial speaker and tone of voice of speakers. And only 7% was conveyed by
words, (1993, p.102). The effect of cultural differences in nonverbal communication
will vary. Non verbal communication itself affects in expressing the meaning or
feeling even though without words. Universal emotions (happiness, fear, and
sadness) are expressed in the similar nonverbal communication way in the world,
notwithstanding there are nonverbal differences from the different culture that
appear different meaning. For example; the contrast of Arab-Iranian with China
and Japan in expressing of mourning, Arab and Iranian tend to be grief openly
rather than China and Japanese culture tend to be more subdued. Even, in Asian
culture, it is undesirable to show motion openly (sadness, happiness, or pain).
Again, such as the formula in verbal communication, what is considered usual
and acceptable behaviour (polite) in one culture might be considered different in
another culture (impolite).
Then, the issue of using gestures and
body positioning, Adelman and Levine stated that gestures are specific body
movement bring up the meaning (1993, p.103). Gesture and body positioning are
two of type’s non verbal communications. Body positioning or body motion (kinesics) includes
our faces that might signal whether we open to interaction and how we feel
about others (2009, p.138). The example of gesture just like the meaning of
hand motion that interpret some meanings, it may be “O.K”, or “That is
expensive!” It would be different meaning if we consider from different
culture. In United Stated, beckoning people to come with palm up is common, but
in other countries (Philippines, Korea, and parts of Latin America) will seem
or be considered as the rude action. Actually, we use non verbal movements to
replace or accompany our words in communication.
Then the issue of facial
expressiveness that is unwavering by situation and relationship. Facial expressions
(intended and spontaneous) wield many influences to others and it has special
significance because people have great control by their faces (201, p.322). Smile
for American culture is typically expression for pleasure, yet in it is also
has other function when the women give smile to police and to young children. In
other case, Russian considered that giving smile to strangers in public is
unusual. So, in this case, the culture of American and Russian is very
different in its context. Our faces can expose
our emotion and attitudes. But we can not judge or read other from another
culture by using our culture norm. If we judge according to our own cultural
norms, it would make us have a mistake of reading other person incorrectly,
(1993, p.106)
The issue of eye contact also support
the topic of non-verbal communication because it is one of the type non verbal communications.
Eye contact focus would be important point for Adelman and Levine because of
insufficient or excessive eye contact can create communication fences (1993, p.106).
It is supported by Christine and Penny in their book mentioned that one
important type of non verbal communication is using gaze and eye contact. When
two people do communicate, they tend to spend abut 61% in time of gazing, and
it last about three seconds. While, eye contact is really mutual gaze that tends
to spend around 31% in eye contact, and it used less than one second (2005,
p.108). Another researcher states eye contact means a sign of honesty and
respect (2012, p.123). As the example, the people from Watanabe tend to
consider the people who speak while look directly to their partner is rude.
Pattern of eye contact also different through cultures, some American feels
comfort with intensively gaze, and it is different with Arab or Indian
cultures.
The last issue is about conversational
distances. It related with the amount of space changes depending in nature relationship.
Just like some people when speak tend to be more comfortable standing closer to
their family members than stranger. For American, the usual distances in social
conversation range about an arm’s length to four feet (1993, p.109).
Based on the explaining above, non
verbal communication overwhelmed many types of ways. It might be gestures or
body positioning, facial expressiveness, eye contact or gaze, or even conversational
distance. The misunderstanding in interpreting the meaning those ways different
culture might happens from, but it depends on the people paradigm to consider
their judge not based from their own culture.
References
Books
|
Brain, Christine and
Penny Mukherji. Understanding Child Psychology. 2005. Chletenham : Nelson
Thornes.
|
Gudykunst, B. William. 2003. Cross
Cultural and Intercultural Communication. 2th ed. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publ.
Knapp, Mark L. and Judith A Hall.
Nonverbal Communication in Human Interaction. 7th Ed. 2010. Boston, MA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Levine, R.
Deena and Mara.B.Adelman. 1993. Beyond Language: Cross Cultural
Communication. 2nd Ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall Regence.
Wood, Julia T. Communication in
Our Lives. 5th Ed. 2012. Boston,
MA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
____________ Communication in Our
Lives. 6th Ed. 2012. Boston,
MA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
