INTRODUCTION

In this section, we will discuss about Gesture, Facial Expression, Eye Contact and Space
in USA’s Culture. In the world, communication between people of different cultures is
sometimes difficult. However, by watching gestures, facial expressions, eye contact and space,
even the most difficult ideas can be understood. Gestures, facial expression, eye contact and
space rarely have completely fixed meanings. Gestures especially are very flexible and can mean
a variety of different things. This paper will show you how to understood a conversation with
someone or many people that you meet with gestures, facial expressions, eye contact and space.

DISCUSSION

What is Nonverbal Communication ?

Nonverbal communication expresses meaning or feeling without words. When we interact
with others, we continuously give and receive wordless signals. All of our nonverbal behaviors
—the gestures we make, the way we sit, how fast or how loud we talk, how close we stand, how
much eye contact we make—send strong messages. These messages don't stop when you stop
speaking either. Even when you're silent, you're still communicating nonverbally.
Nonverbal communication involves the processes of encoding and decoding. Encoding is the
act of generating the information such as facial expressions, gestures, and postures. Decoding is
the interpretation of information from received sensations from previous experiences. Nonverbal
communication is when people do not need to talk to communicate their ideas.
Nonverbal communication represents two-thirds of all communication. Nonverbal
communication can portray a message both verbally and with the correct body signals. Body
signals comprise physical features, conscious and unconscious gestures and signals, and the
mediation of personal space. The wrong message can be established if the body language
conveyed does not match a verbal message. Nonverbal communication strengthens a
first impression in common situations like attracting a partner or in a business interview:
impressions are on average formed within the first four seconds of contact. First encounters or
interactions with another person strongly affect a person's perception. When the other person or

1
group is absorbing the message, they are focused on the entire environment around them,
meaning the other person uses all five senses in theinteraction: 83% sight, 11% hearing, 3%
smell, 2% touch and 1% taste.

Types of Nonverbal Communication :

A. Facial Expressions

Facial expressions carry meaning determined by contexts and relationships. For instance,
the smile, which is typically an expression of pleasure, has many functions. The human face is
extremely expressive, able to express countless emotions without saying a word. And unlike
some forms of nonverbal communication, facial expressions are universal. The facial expressions
for happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, fear, and disgust are the same across cultures.

 Communication of Facial Expressions :

 Micro expressions
Micro expressions are the facial expressions that last less than a second that can help to
determine the true feelings or emotions of the sender in communication. These expressions have
been gaining more attention over the years for many reasons. It is unknown how this tiny
demographic has learned such a useful skill and researchers are still trying to determine what
qualities people may possess to make them successful. So far, researchers have not been able to
find a technology that can accomplish the same lie-detecting skills as people who are natural lie
detectors. However, it is possible for anyone with a computer to be formally trained in the art of
detecting micro expressions.

2
 Cues that tip off lie-detectors can be through the mouth, eye movements, or even our
eyebrows. A split second can tell a natural lie detector everything they need to know about the
truthfulness of what a person is communicating. Micro expressions have become increasingly
studied over the years due to how much help they can be in detecting danger or someone's true,
underlying emotions.

 Sign Languages
Facial expression is used in sign languages to convey specific meanings. In American
Sign Language (ASL), for instance, raised eyebrows combined with a slightly forward head tilt
indicate that what is being signed is a yes/no question. Lowered eyebrows are used for wh-word
questions. Facial expression is also used in sign languages to show adverbs and adjectives such
as distance or size: an open mouth, squinted eyes, and tilted back head indicate something far
while the mouth pulled to one side and the cheek held toward the shoulder indicate something
close, and puffed cheeks mean very large. It can also show the manner in which something is
done, such as carelessly or routinely. Some of these expressions, also called non-manual signs,
are used similarly in different sign languages while others are different from one language to
another

 How to Easily read faces and facial expressions ?

a. Before trying to read anyone's face, teach yourself to recognise 'micro-expressions'.

These are small facial expressions, a different one for whenever someone is feeling an
increase in any different emotion. They are:

 Happiness - A smile, quite an obvious one, however, if there is no wrinkling,

increase in puffiness or general muscle movement around the eyes, the person is
faking the smile.
 Sadness - Eyebrows up, lips down-turned. Eyebrows up can also mean the person
is feeling guilty.
 Contempt - One corner of the mouth rises, like a sort of 'half-smile'. In extreme
contempt, the person's mouth shifts over in an odd way.
 Disgust - The top lip is raised, showing the teeth in extreme cases, like a scorn.

3
  Surprise - Gaping mouth with eyebrows raised. If this expression lasts longer than
a second, the person is faking it.
 Anger - Lips tightened, flaring nostrils, eyebrows pulled down and together are all
signs of anger.
 Fear - Eyebrows raised and lower part of the mouth lowered in extreme cases.
Swallowing also indicates fear.

b. Start looking.
When you've taught yourself to recognise micro-expressions try looking for them in people
you see everyday.

c. Establish a 'baseline' in the person you're looking for micro-expressions in.

A baseline is their normal muscle activity when feeling little or no emotion. Ask them
normal questions. Take mental note of their muscle activity when telling the truth. You're pretty
much done. Just look for micro-expressions and try and fit them in with what the person is
saying.

B. Gestures

Gestures refer to specific body movements that carry meaning. Hands can form shapes that
convey many meanings: “That’s expensive.” “Come here,” “Go away,” and “it’s OK” can be
expressed nonverbally using only hands. The gestures for these phrases may differ among
languages. Gestures are woven into the fabric of our daily lives. We wave, point, beckon, and
use our hands when we’re arguing or speaking animatedly—expressing ourselves with gestures

4
often without thinking. However, the meaning of gestures can be very different across cultures
and regions, so it’s important to be careful to avoid misinterpretation.
Gestures may be made with the hands, arms or body, and also include movements of the
head, face and eyes, such as winking, nodding, or rolling one's eyes. Although the study of
gesture is still in its infancy, some broad categories of gestures have been identified by
researchers. The most familiar are the so-called emblems or quotable gestures. These are
conventional, culture-specific gestures that can be used as replacement for words, such as the
hand wave used in western cultures for "hello" and "goodbye." A single emblematic gesture can
have a very different significance in different cultural contexts, ranging from complimentary to
highly offensive. For a list of emblematic gestures, see List of gestures. There are some
universal gestures like the shoulder shrug.
Gestures can also be categorized as either speech independent or speech related. Speech-
independent gestures are dependent upon culturally accepted interpretation and have a direct
verbal translation. A wave or a peace sign are examples of speech-independent gestures. Speech-
related gestures are used in parallel with verbal speech; this form of nonverbal communication is
used to emphasize the message that is being communicated. Speech-related gestures are intended
to provide supplemental information to a verbal message such as pointing to an object of
discussion.
 Gestures can be subdivided into three groups:
a. Adapters
Some hand movements are not considered to be gestures. They consist of
manipulations either of the person or some object (e.g. clothing, pencils, eyeglasses) – the kinds
of scratching, fidgeting, rubbing, tapping, and touching that people often do with their hands.
Such behaviors are referred to as adapters. They may not be perceived as meaningfully related to
the speech in which they accompany, but may serve as the basis for dispositional inferences of
the speaker’s emotion (nervous, uncomfortable, bored).

b. Symbolic
Other hand movements are considered to be gestures. They are movements with
specific, conventionalized meanings called symbolic gestures. Familiar symbolic gestures
include the “raised fist,” “bye-bye,” and “thumbs up.” In contrast to adapters, symbolic gestures

5
are used intentionally and serve a clear communicative function. Every culture has their own set
of gestures, some of which are unique only to a specific culture. Very similar gestures can have
very different meanings across cultures. Symbolic gestures are usually used in the absence of
speech, but can also accompany speech.

c. Conversational
The middle ground between adapters and symbolic gestures is occupied by
conversational gestures. These gestures do not refer to actions or words, but do accompany
speech. Conversational gestures are hand movements that accompany speech, and are related to
the speech they accompany. Though they do accompany speech, conversational gestures are not
seen in the absence of speech and are only made by the person who is speaking.

 Gestures and body language in American culture

 American people do not like too little space between themselves and their speaking
partners and they do not like to touch or being touched while having conversation.
Even if they are on public programmes, at sporting events or in the theatre, cinema,
they usually slide into a crowded aisle while facing the people.
 They use the frequent gesture of shaking hands when at greeting. They learn this
gesture at a very young age and very often use it.
 While greeting or talking they look into their partner’s eyes directly. They learn that
the opposite means weakness or shyness and they do not want to show themselves
like this.
 They often raise their arm and waggle it back and forth. It is sign of saying “hello” or
“goodbye” or if they want to get someone’s attention. They do the same by raising
their index finger with a curling motion and it tells the other to come closer.
 V shape with their index and middle fingers: show victory or peace. When making
the V sign with the index and middle finger be careful how the hand is positioned. If
the palm is turned inward, the gesture won't be appreciated in Britain. It might be
because during the battle of Agincourt on October 25, 1415, British archers who were
captured by their French enemies had those fingers injured, so they could not utilize

6
 their bows and arrows. The men who survived the battle with no injuries showed
these fingers to the French as a way of cursing them in a non-verbal manner )
During the Second World War Winston Churchill popular used its use as a
"Victory" sign (for V as in victory) initially with palm inwards and later in the war
palm outwards. In the United States of America, with the palm outwards and inward
as well is also used to mean "Peace”. This meaning became popular during the peace
movement of the 1960s. (hippies used it).
 If we see Americans who form a circle with their thumb and index finger, they refer
to something good, this signal means “OK,” “yes” or “fine”. It has several meanings
in many countries. In Japan, after purchasing something you would be telling the
sales clerk that you would like your change in coins. In France, the meaning is
negative but not insulting; it simply means "zero" or "worthless."
 There is another sign with the same meaning, and for that, people have to close their
fist and rise up their thumb. The origin of this gesture goes back to the Roman age
when gladiator duals were so popular. The fighting men were adjudged by this signal:
if the imperator showed thumb up, it meant that the gladiator might survive. In the
opposite case, if he showed his thumb down, the fighter had to die, he did not get the
act of grace. In 1997, Professor Anthony Philip Corbeill from Kansas concluded that
the thumbs up actually meant, "kill him," basing his assertion on a study of hundreds
of ancient artworks. The crowds would point their thumbs "up", the thumb pointing to
the throat which held a similar meaning to moving one’s thumb across their throat.
Thus, the "thumbs up" was an approval of the gladiator's request to kill his beaten
oppose.
 Another generally used gesture is whistling, which is quite often used at sport events,
performances or watching a pretty woman in the street.
 Making a circular motion near the temple or ear is the next gesture, and it is used it to
express that somebody is “crazy.”

 Head-gestures in America.
 Scratching the head means three different things: thinking, being confused or
sceptical.

7
  Winking can be flirtatious or can mean sharing a secret.
 Eyebrow flashing can also be a flirtatious gesture by men. If somebody rolls his
eyes, probably he is incredulous or amazed by something.
 If somebody disgusts or can smell something stinky, he wrinkles his nose or holds
it with his thumb and index finger.
 By voice giving, they can express two things: the first one, whistling has already
been mentioned earlier, it can mean approval, and on the other hand, hissing and
booing means disapproval. The next one, yawning means tiredness or boredom.
 Sticking out the tongue is a quiet and impolite gesture, and means derision.
Stroking the chin or tapping the head with the index finger is the signal of
thinking and contemplation.
 Legs and feet make another category of gestures. The first one is crossing the legs
when a person is sitting. If the person is a male, he crosses his legs at the ankles or
rarely at the knees. Females cross their legs at their knees and curl the upper foot
around the calf of the lower leg.
 While standing, people can have an aggressive, masculine stance if their legs are
in wide distance, or a feminine stance standing with feet apart in a narrow
distance. There is another type of standing which is quite rare, with military
exhibiting respect with heels together.

 American gestures made with arms, hands, and fingers.

 They can express a goal, victory or surrender with upraised arms and disagree with
folded arms.
 If they are angry or impatient, they stand with hand of the hips bowed outward but
they applaud if they appreciate something or praise.
 Another gesture for showing anger of opposition is shaking the fist.
 High five means “congratulations.”
 There are too aggressive hand gestures. The hand to the throat, which means choking.
The other one is the hand cutting across the throat, which expresses suicide.

8
  If they point at something or somebody, they extend their hand with their index
finger. They use their index finger for negation, too. They do it by waggling the index
finger back and forth.
 They cross their fingers to wish good luck and snap their fingers if they want to get
someone’s attention or if they listen to music.

C. Space

Have you ever heard someone refer to their need for "personal space"? Have you ever
started to feel uncomfortable when someone stands just a little too close to you? The term
proxemics refers to the distance between people as they interact. Just as body movements and
facial expressions can communicate a great deal of nonverbal information, so can this physical
space between individuals.

 Intimate distance - 6 to 18 feet

This level of physical distance often indicates a closer relationship or greater comfort
between individuals. It often occurs during intimate contact such as hugging, whispering,
or touching.

 Personal distance - 1.5 to 4 feet

Physical distance at this level usually occurs between people who are family members or
close friends. The closer the people can comfortably stand while interacting can be an
indicator of the intimacy of the relationship.

 Social distance - 4 to 12 feet

This level of physical distance is often used with individuals who are acquaintances. With

9
 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. In cases where you do not
know the other person well, such as a postal delivery driver you only see once a month, a
distance of 10 to 12 feet may feel more comfortable.

 Public distance - 12 to 25 feet

Physical distance at this level is often used in public speaking situations. 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.

D. Eye Contact

Since the visual sense is dominant for most people, eye contact is an especially important
type of nonverbal communication. The way you look at someone can communicate many things,
including interest, affection, hostility, or attraction. Eye contact is also important in maintaining
the flow of conversation and for gauging the other person’s response.

 Why Eye Contact Is Important to Communication ?

10
 Have you ever realized how much one moment of locking eyes can mean? Try looking a
stranger in the eye or even someone you know pretty well. Eyes are one of the best attributes of
human expression because they can be direct and elusive, as well as show a million different
emotions in just one look. Even one glance can tell you a lot about a person’s character,
especially if a smile or smirk is thrown in. One thing that shy people have as a disadvantage is
that they have trouble holding eye contact. It’s well known that in Western countries like the
United States, giving those in power eye contact is revered. However, in Eastern countries, eye
contact to those in power is viewed as rude and a sign of disrespect. It’s important to recognize
these differences, since eye contact can mean many different things depending on the setting and
the people locking eyes. Why is it good to practice strong eye contact in your every day life?

 Respect
As I said above, in Western countries like the United States, eye contact in order to show and
earn respect. From talking to your boss at work to thanking your grandmother for a birthday gift,
eye contact shows that you see the person as equal or someone you view as important. Of course
there are other ways to show respect, such as staying eye-level with the person and positioning
yourself as leaning into them when you’re talking, but eye contact shows that you’re on the same
page in the most straight-forward way. As they say, “eyes are the window to the soul.” Sincerity
can be felt through eye contact, therefore, genuine respect will be received if you pay strong
attention through your eyes.

 Interest
If you like someone in any way, shape, or form, why not look them in the eye when you’re
talking to them? Looking down or away from them can come off as aloof, especially if the
person is telling you about something important or trying to get your attention. In order to put the
most effort into showing interest, look the person in the eye and smile. This can be taken
different ways depending on what you and the other person are intending - interest could mean
familial, friendship, a respectful authoritarian interest, love interest, or even just a strong bond
that you and the other person have. Eye contact can say so much, yet leave so much to
assumptions and analyzing body language.

11
 Appreciation
You can convey appreciation quite easily with the eyes - just give a meaningful look into their
eyes while you’re thanking them and the other person is able to recognize how you
feel. Showing emotions like appreciation is quite important in terms of friends and family
members if they do something nice or helpful for you, so eye contact is vital in these situations.
It’s a socially constructed way to keep up a positive image with people in your life, yet also an
extremely good way to show your thanks with sincerity.

 Understanding
A locking of eyes can be all you need to have some understand something you mean. If
you’re trying to get a point across or just want some reassurance, eye contact can be an important
asset in communicating your thoughts. Eye contact is one of the most intimate forms of
communication because sight has the ability to pick up so much that people convey. It’s possible
to guess what someone’s thinking based on their eyes and how they look at you. Eye contact, or
lack thereof, is invaluable for learning to trust someone and having that same respect given in
return.

 Eye contact can be the difference between seeming aloof and a new friendship.
If you’re giving someone eye contact, this could be the start of friendly, warm
communication with a new person. By keeping yourself open to locking eyes with a stranger,
you’re inviting them to look at you and perhaps start a conversation. You’re leaving yourself
open to people if you’re willing to make eye contact and keep up a friendly face. While there’s a
clear difference between good eye contact and glaring, it’s important that you know when it’s
appropriate to use either. Warm, friendly eyes could be the deciding factor in whether you make
a possible friend or scare someone away! While there are exceptions to leaving yourself open
with your eyes (ie. when you’re somewhere new and you feel rather sketched out), it’s important
to not let opportunities where eye contact could help you to pass you by. Surprising things could
happen if you just open your eyes!
In general, eye contact is something people don’t think enough about. It’s important to teach
children from a young age to look people in the eye when they’re talking to them or they could
develop a habit of seeming aloof or disinterested in communicating with other people. Locking

12
eyes and knowing when to look away is a good people skill to possess. Use your eyes to project a
positive image and one look could be the catalyst for change in your life.
How can we express all these things without saying anything at all? The simple act of
making eye contact is an important part of communication with others. Nearly everyone has had
the experience of speaking to someone who doesn't make eye contact. In conversations where
eye contact is lacking, people quickly lose interest and communication is lost.
When there is no eye contact, one might think, "Perhaps he can't hear me at all. Even worse,
maybe he's not listening." Yes, the importance of eye contact cannot be denied. Making and
maintaining eye contact sends the clear message, "I am listening to you" or "Right now, you are
all that matters." Effective communication simply doesn't occur without eye contact. The sender
of a message must look at the person he's talking to in order to assure that the listener is paying
attention, understanding him, and listening.
It goes without saying that the receiver can better receive the information being
communicated if she makes eye contact with the sender. Making eye contact aids in focusing on
the sender of the message. Thus, the listener is more likely to receive the "correct" message, i.e.
the one the sender intends to send. Communication has occurred.
Eye contact between 2 people can even be the catalyst for the development of a beautiful
relationship. Remember that age old story of 2 strangers in a crowd? From across the room they
make eye contact. They smile. They walk toward each other. Well, you know the rest.
The eyes serve as a barometer for human emotions. In this case, communication happens
without much effort. The eyes reveal so much about what a person is thinking or how she may be
feeling. Many have had the experience of looking into the eyes of a loved one and recognizing
that he is feeling unhappy, hurt, or afraid. People even communicate sorrow and understanding
with a certain look. A quick glance communicates disinterest. Worse yet, it may indicate that one
feels hurt or disappointed.

 Why Eye Contact Is Vitally Important for Creating Positive Connections with Others ?

Why does making eye contact with people have such a dramatic effect in improving their
perception of you? There are four main reasons:

13
  Our eyes were made to connect.
It’s easy to see why the eyes of others capture our gaze: they’re free-moving orbs
lodged in an otherwise stationary face; eyeballs are really kind of weird when you think
about them, aren’t they? But they also grab our attention for a reason that is distinctly
human. While our irises and pupils float on a bright white canvas, none of the other 220
species of primates have white in their eyes at all, or at least whites that can readily be seen.
The whites of our eyes make it very easy for others to see exactly what we’re
looking at and notice when our focus changes direction. While primates will typically turn
their gaze in the direction a person points his whole head towards, a human infant is more
likely to follow the person’s eyes, regardless of which way the person’s head is
tilted. Anthropologists think our uniquely human eyes evolved to help us achieve a greater
level of cooperation with others, which is helpful in survival and building a civilization. All
of which is to say: your eyes were made to communicate with the eyes of other people.

 Our eyes reveal our thoughts and feelings.

You’ve probably heard the old expression: “The eyes are the window to the soul.”
While that may not be literally true, they do reveal a great deal about what we’re really
thinking and feeling from moment to moment.
Think of all the eye-related expressions we have in our language. We’re seduced by
“bedroom eyes,” wary of “shifty eyes,” and afraid of getting the “evil eye.” We’re attracted
to people who have “kind eyes” and eyes that “sparkle,” “glow,” or “twinkle,” while we’re
repelled by those who are “dead behind the eyes.” When someone is eager and peppy we
say they’re “bright-eyed;” when they’re bored we describe their eyes as “glazed over.” Love
stories in both fiction and real life very often begin with two pairs of eyes meeting across a
room. And Bryan Adams says you can gauge your love for a woman from your ability to see
your unborn children in her eyes! Kind of romantic, kind of creepy.
That we give so much credence to the idea that we can read someone from what’s in
their eyes is due to the fact that even when we hide what we’re really thinking and feeling in
our body language and facial expressions, it’s often still revealed in our eyes. “The eyes
don’t lie” as people say (although good liars can, in reality, get their eyes to fib for them).

14
 This is why poker players often wear sunglasses in order to disguise their reactions to the
hands they’re dealt.
The human propensity to look to someone’s eyes in order to decipher what they’re
thinking starts very early in life. Around 9-18 months, infants will begin to look to their
parents’ eyes to figure out what they’re trying to convey when their face is otherwise
ambiguous. And we continue to do this for the rest of our lives.
Finally, we lend a lot of weight to eye contact in our interactions because it’s a form
of simultaneous communication. You don’t have to take turns expressing yourselves as you
do with talking. If you’ve ever had a whole mini conversation across the room with your
spouse, using only your eyes, you know how this works.

 Eye contact shows attention.

Sociologists tell us that people are starved for attention these days. Despite the fact
that we’re more “connected” than ever, folks are hungry for face-to-face interactions and
someone to really, sincerely listen to them. This hunger for attention can manifest itself in
things like “conversational narcissism.” And if you read our discussion about that social
malady from awhile back, you’ll remember that we talked about how you show your
attention to someone with whom you are talking by using “support-responses,” such as
nodding your head and offering “background acknowledgments” like “mmm’s” and
“yeah’s.” Well, eye contact is another form of background acknowledgement—and a very
important one at that. It shows the speaker that you’re tuned in to what he’s saying. Think of
how crappy you feel when you’re talking with someone and he’s looking all around the
room for someone else to ditch you for.
The ability to give eye contact to someone as they speak is an especially powerful
tool these days; it has become so common for people to break their gaze to check their
phone during a conversation, that giving someone your complete and undivided attention
can truly win them over.

 Eye contact creates an intimate bond.

When I am performing a task or feeling an emotion, and you are observing me do so, the
same neurons that are being lit up in my brain by actually having the experience, are the ones

15
 that light up in your brain just from watching me. This is made possible by the presence of
“mirror neurons” in our craniums. And the activation of these mirror neurons is especially
sensitive to facial expressions, and, you guessed it, eye contact. Have you ever been hit hard
with an emotion after looking into the eyes of someone who was experiencing it? Eye contact
creates moments where you are able to really feel what someone else is feeling. It links
together your emotional states and creates empathy and an intimate bond.
This is why when we’re interacting as disembodied selves on the internet, it can be very
easy to be angry and hateful to people, but when you see someone face-to-face, and look into
their eyes, you often can get a sense of their humanity and your anger greatly dissipates.
Getting in-sync with others, sharing our feelings, showing attention, creating a bond: eye
contact is truly a powerful tool for connecting with others.

 Why Is It So Hard to Make Eye Contact?

While people like to see our eyes so they can get a handle on what we’re really thinking
and feeling, from our side of things, revealing what’s going on inside our heads can make us feel
very vulnerable. We avoid eye contact when we don’t want people to take a closer look at us and
see more of who we are. This reticence can be rooted in several causes:

 Hiding deceit. If you’re purposefully hiding the truth from someone, you may hesitate to
look them in the eye because you’re worried that your eyes will give away the truth, and
because creating the kind of intimate bond described above when you’re knowingly
duping someone makes you feel especially ashamed. This is why people will sometimes,
although not always, avoid your gaze when they’re lying to you, why people say things
like: “Look me in the eye when you tell me that!” and why people who do make solid eye
contact are considered more trustworthy.

 Masking emotions. There are times when you’re not trying to disguise a lie outright, but
simply wish to conceal your true feelings from others, such as when you do not think
your reaction to something will be received favorably by them. Anger, fear, and surprise
are the emotions that register most through our eyes, and are hardest to hide. And they’re
also the emotions we most often want to keep from others.

16
  Insecurity. Finally, one of the most common reasons that people avoid eye contact is
from simple insecurity. Eye contact invites more interaction, and you might not want
people to take a closer look at you because of how you feel about yourself.
People will also avoid eye contact when saying a sarcastic, as opposed to a sincere,
comment, as sarcasm is often used by those who are too insecure to show aggression or
state their opinion directly.

E. Paralinguistics

Paralinguistics refers to vocal communication that is separate from actual language. This
includes factors such as tone of voice, loudness, inflection and pitch. Consider the powerful
effect that tone of voice can have on the meaning of a sentence. When said in a strong tone of
voice, listeners might interpret approval and enthusiasm. The same words said in a hesitant tone
of voice might convey disapproval and a lack of interest.

F. Body Language and Posture

Posture and movement can also convey a great deal on information. Research on body
language has grown significantly since the 1970's, but popular media have focused on the over-
interpretation of defensive postures, arm-crossing, and leg-crossing, especially after the
publication of Julius Fast's book Body Language. While these nonverbal behaviors can indicate
feelings and attitudes, research suggests that body language is far more subtle and less definitive
that previously believed.

G. ProxemicS

People often refer to their need for "personal space," which is also an important type of
nonverbal communication. The amount of distance we need and the amount of space we perceive
as belonging to us is influenced by a number of factors including social norms, situational
factors, personality characteristics and level of familiarity. For example, the amount of personal
space needed when having a casual conversation with another person usually varies between 18

17
inches to four feet. On the other hand, the personal distance needed when speaking to a crowd of
people is around 10 to 12 feet.

H. Haptics

Communicating through touch is another important nonverbal behavior. There has been a
substantial amount of research on the importance of touch in infancy and early childhood. Harry
Harlow's classic monkey study demonstrated how the deprivation of touch and contact impedes
development. Baby monkeys raised by wire mothers experienced permanent deficits in behavior
and social interaction. Touch can be used to communicate affection, familiarity, sympathy and
other emotions.

I. Appearance

Our choice of color, clothing, hairstyles and other factors affecting appearance are also
considered a means of nonverbal communication. Research on color psychology has
demonstrated that different colors can evoke different moods. Appearance can also alter
physiological reactions, judgments and interpretations. Just think of all the subtle judgements
you quickly make about someone based on his or her appearance. These first impressions are
important, which is why experts suggest that job seekers dress appropriately for interviews with
potential employers.

F. Differences Non Verbal Communication in Other Countries

1. England

British people have a reputation for being undemonstrative and for with holding their
emotions from public view as to not inadvertently make someone feel awkward. This means

18
that within British culture, gestures are not overdone and only basic gestures are performed
with any frequency.
An example of nonverbal communication in England is eye contact, which is typically
held for a relativity short time. Sometimes, direct eye contact can be misconstrued to suggest
aggressiveness. If a group setting, eye contact should be made with the entire group rather
than focusing on one individual.
Personal space in England is very important as well. It is advised that people keep an
appropriate distance in order to not make someone feel uncomfortable. Hand gestures can be
efficient tools to help convey meaning of an expression. Hand gestures can do a great deal to
help understand the emotional state of a person. It might be perplexing but there can be a
sound link between a person’s physical movement and the emotional processes that goes on
in one’s brain. Being able to correctly identify one’s body language can be very beneficial to
understand one’s emotional state, how one feels or thinks. It is crucial to understand that
body language can be both voluntary and involuntary. Hand gestures can also be a physical
reaction to a situation, stress or strain.

If you do not understand the hand gestures or the body language used in certain cultures
there is always a danger of using certain gestures in the correct manner. It is a fact that body
language and hand gestures are not used likely all over the globe. Hand gestures can have
very different meanings. Hand gestures are not used in the same manner around the world. A
hand gesture that is considered friendly in one culture can be considered obscene in another
culture. Hand gestures form a crucial part of the non-verbal communication. On the other
hand, gestures can also do a complementary task to aid verbal communication.

Hand gestures are particularly popular in England. Just like in the Italian culture, the
English culture also makes exclusive use of hand gestures. If you are intending to visit U.K
whether it be for business or pleasure it is important that you learn about England hand
gestures. Knowing about England hand gestures can help you a great deal to get along or
mingle with the English people. On the other hand not knowing when to use the correct
England hand gestures can get you caught up in awkward situations. To avoid
misunderstandings it is vital that you interpret the body language and hand gestures in the
correct manner.

19
 ‘Thumbs up’ and ‘Thumbs down’

There are many kinds of England hand gestures and to be able to correctly decipher the
hand gestures requires the right kind of skills and practice. Thumbs up is a gesture that is
commonly used in the English Culture. This gesture is one of the most popular England hand
gestures and is a positive sign. Thumbs up is used to indicate that things are okay. Likewise,
thumbs down denote a contrary meaning indicating rejection or disapproval. It is believed that
this hand gesture came to widespread use after the second world war.

 Finger snap

The finger snap is another popularly used England hand gesture. Finger snap is used to
indicate that the person using the gesture has just remembered something. Moreover, if the
gesture is used again and again it indicates that the person is trying hard to remember
something that he/she has forgotten.

 ‘OK’ gesture

The ‘OK’ gesture is also common in England. This gesture is made with the index finger
and the thumb forming a circle. In this gesture the remaining fingers of the hand are pointed
upwards. This is one of the most common England hand gesture to denote that thing are
perfect or great. Likewise another popularly used England hand gesture is the ‘V sign’.

 ‘V sign’

The V sign is formed with the help of the middle and the index finger pointing upwards.
In this gesture the thumb and the remaining fingers are facing the person using the gesture.
The V sign in many other cultures are viewed as the victory or the triumph sign. In the United

20
States this sign was frequently used by President Richard Nixon. Many a times the ‘V sign’ is
also indicative of peace.

 ‘The Corna’

Similarly, ‘The Corna’ is another frequently used England hand gesture. This gesture is
performed with the help of the pinky finger and the index finger pointed upwards. In this
gesture the thumb and the two middle fingers are curled in the palm (under). ‘The Corna’ is
frequently used by music (heavy metal) fans. This gesture can also be indicative of the horns
of the Devil (a satanic meaning). In the United States ‘The Corna’ can be symbolic of
longhorn (mascot) associated with the University of Texas.

 ‘I love you’ sign

Another most commonly used hand gesture in the England is the ‘I love you sign’. This
sign is performed with the index finger; the thumb and the pinky finger pointed out while the
two middle fingers are curled under resting in the palm. This sign can be indicative of “I love
you” both in England and the United States. This hand gesture is getting more and more
popular over time.

Hand gestures are very effective while communicating with others. If you want to learn
about England hand gesture it is crucial that you learn it from the English people itself. You
can be friends with the English people or alternatively, talk to your acquaintances (if you have
any) which are from England. It might also be a good thing to learn about English hand
gestures from English movies and Videos. Online Platforms like youtube.com and
Metacafe.com can also come as a great aid to you if you are intending to understand England
hand gestures.

If you are not from England it might be tough for you to master the English hand
gestures, however, if you give it some time and practice you will find yourself progressing a
lot. It is also recommended that you rent DVD’s teaching communication skills and hand
gestures. The fact that communication skills are vital for survival cannot be undermined. In
order to master communication skills you will have to master body language, facial expression

21
 and hand gestures equally. Lastly and most importantly, you should put into practice what you
have learnt.

2. France

Below is a chart that shows different interpretations of non-verbal communications between

USA and France:

Non Verbal Gesture France USA

“Okay” sign with Means “Worthless” or “Zero” Hand Means perfect or okay
your hand Gesture
This sign is perfectly
If a waiter was to ask you how your acceptable when used to tell
meal was and you are busy chewing someone that something is
and you give this sign, you are telling good.
him it was worthless!

Greeting The French often greet friends with Greeting someone with a
kisses on both cheeks, not particularly hand shake in the USA
in the business world but on a daily whether is a family member
basis amongst their close friends and or a business partner is
family. acceptable.

The Handshake The French shake hands upon meeting In the USA people great one
someone for the first time, particularly another with a bold, strong
in the business world. Acquaintances gripped hand shake with
and business associates also shake multiple pumps.
hands each time they see one another.
The French handshake is quick and
light – no pumping up and down or

22
 strong grips. If hands are full, dirty,
or wet, the French may offer an
elbow or a finger for the other person
to grasp.

Counting using the When using the fingers to count In USA people generally
hand in France, the thumb is the first start to count using the index
counter. When holding your hand up finger as one and so on and
to indicate a number, hold up your the thumb is #5.
hand with the thumb as the first
counter and add from there.

“Bicep Flex” motion This motion is the equivalent of Flexing the bicep or simply
holding up your middle finger. Hold showing of your muscles.
your arm out with your hand in a fist,
then smack your other hand onto it
just above your elbow so that your
hand swings up. Also known as “le
bras d’honneur”

Facial Expressions
The French are very reserved, which is In USA people generally
often interpreted as being rude. This express their feelings and
is most clearly seen in their facial emotions with the use of
expressions. The French do not facial expressions. One can
smile frequently because they feel it is usually tell if a person has
necessary only to smile when there angry, sad or happy.
is something to smile about.
Therefore, they do not just smile as
they are walking down the street as
Americans do, which is often
interpreted as rude.

With out being properly informed you may offend someone when travelling abroad with the
simplest hand gestures. In France many gestures may be offensive to French people, that is a
compliment in USA. This could cause problems with interpersonal communications as soon as
you meet someone. If you do not greet a person according to their customs it may lead to
awkwardness and a bad first impression. This can be seen as ignorant and offend the person.
Leading to a rough start to what was supposed to be a promising business partnership. In the
business field the way you carry yourself is very important and an improper greeting or hand

23
signal could lead to the thought of you being unprofessional and not a trustworthy candidate to
engage in business activities with.

Another Non-verbal Communication in France :

 Eye Contact is used in everyday conversation amongst Americans, even if we are talking
to a stranger. In France, eye contact is only used amongst close friends and family. If you
keep eye contact with a stranger it is considered too personal and can be interpreted as a
requst for a relationship.

 Kissing

In France, it is widely practiced for one to greet another with a kiss on the cheek. The French
trade our regular hello and goodbyes handshakes to kisses on both cheeks. It is a norm to start off
with the right cheek, and often there isn't a lip-to-cheek contact.

 Hand Movements

24
 In France, there are several hand movements that are oftenly used. Let the pictures do the
talking. The commonly used "OK" sign in America means the number ZERO in France.

For counting purposes, the thumb is the first counter and the index finger is two, followed
by the middle finger which is three et cetera.

By holding up a fist and holding up in front of the nose indicates that someone is drunk.

Using your index finger to pull the skin under your eye signifies, "I don't believe you."

25
And this, means "Okay."

 Personal Apperance

In France, it is very important to sit up & stand up straight. Children are constantly
reminded to follow the procedures as it is known as a form of disrespect if one were to slouch.

3. India

Non Verbal Communcation of India vs United States

When I began research on India I went back and thought about what my Mom had said
when she traveled there years ago. The respect the have for everyone, even people they do not
even know is insane. The very second you do something to offend them though is when you

26
completely lose all respect they had for you and gaining it back is very hard to do. Research on
India was very easy, already knowing a lot about India was definitely a benefit all I really had to
do was fact checking and comparison with what my group members came up with. Below are the
main, most common and most important comparisons of India and the United States that anyone
should take into consideration before traveling there.

India:
 Never touch anyone’s head in India, because it is considered the “seat of the soul” and
is very offensive.
 A head shake means yes while a head nod means no.
 Starring is considered not offensive and a sign of “natural curiosity.”
 Winking or whistling is considered rude. Winking is considered an immediate
invitation for sex. Women in India would take a wink as being “too flirtatious” and
unattractive.
 Avoid use of the left hand. It is considered the “unclean” hand. Also accepting items
and eating with the left hand is considered offensive.
 Use a bow with hands together to greet someone.
 Waving is the sign of “go away” instead of “hello.”
 To call someone with your hand, your palm must be facing downward toward the
ground.
 The Indians have a “one arm length” rule when communicating.
 Pointing is very frowned upon and considered a very rude gesture.
 The cutis is another way of saying “F” you. This is done by placing ones thumbnail
behind the upper front teeth and then “flicking” it at the person it is untended to.
 Pointing your feet or showing the bottom of your feet is offensive because the feet are
also considered like the left hand “unclean”.
 Before entering indoors, shoes must be removed and socks must be on and clean
without any holes.

United States:
 A head pat or head touch is an affectionate way of saying “well done” or “good job”.

27
  A head nod means “yes” and a head shake means “no”.
 Starring is considered rude in the USA, and very frowned upon.
 Winking or whistling can be taken as a funny, fool around idea. Also can be taken
offensively in different situations.
 The use of any hand is acceptable, depending on your preferable hand.
 Hand shake or any sentimental touching is acceptable (ex- handshake, hug, kissing)
Waving is a polite way to say hello from a distance.
 Palm can be facing up to call someone.
 The Americans have a one arm length along with the Indian culture.
 In America, pointing is also a very rude gesture and could initiate confrontation.
 The cutis in America is done by sticking up the “middle finger”.
 There is no real communication regarding feet in America.
 Each household or place has a different rule about shoes and socks depending on the
household owner.

Overall:
When communicating with the Indian Culture, there are many ways to easily offend them.
Educating yourself on their culture could have great benefits to communication and respect.
Barriers include improper hand gestures that could propose disrespect and arrogance to the
culture. When doing business or just simply greeting an Indian person, the last thing you want to
happen is offend them or their culture. Lastly, knowing there are different ways of
communicating between cultures will have a positive outcome from a business aspect and also a
social aspect.

4. Russia

28
Non-verbal communication in Russia :

 Non verbal communication in Russian Business Punctuality Face to Face meetings Non
verbal communication in Russia Business deals tend to be a lengthy process patience.
 A handshake is always appropriate when greeting or leaving. The “ok” sign is
considered a very rude gesture in Russia Public physical contact is common. Hugs,
backslapping, kisses on the cheeks are common among friends or acquaintances and
between members of the same sex Russians stand close when talking. When a Russian
touches another person during conversation, it is usually a sign of confidence. Speaking
or laughing loudly in public is discouraged Nonverbal communication in Russia
 Businessmen in Russia usually wear suits that are dark and well tailored along with
good dress shoes. A businessman’s wardrobe demonstrates the individual’s image as a
professional. Men often do not take off their jackets in negotiations. Do not stand with
your hands in your pockets (this is considered rude)Women dress rather conservatively,
avoiding overly flashy or gaudy outfits. Take care about your appearance in a Russian
meeting
 Talking too loudly : Russians find this uncultured to speak so loud that everyone car
hear your conversation (as Americans do)Smiling too much : Russians do smile but they
do so only when they have a reason. They find constant smiling false and a bit silly.
Apologizing all the time : Don't say "I'm sorry," when someone gives you bad news. Try
the more clear "That's a shame." Save "I'm sorry" for when you've actually done
something to offend someone. Being False : Russians value honesty, even brutal honesty,
much more than niceties. Be open and honest, and it will be much appreciated. Making
Snap Judgments : Russian national pride runs deep. Think twice before making overly
negative comments about Russia. Remember, you are a guest here. Be aware aboutsome
important points in communication with Russian people.

Facial Expressions:

Most Westerners believe Russians are rude and always fighting. Non-verbal language is
very important both in our culture and in the Russian culture, and every culture of the world.
When you think two people are fighting look at their face, usually in Russia you will see that

29
they are smiling. Foreign perceptions of Russians are very different than the actual reality. For a
persons first trip to Russia it can be very off putting, because they seem to always be fighting in a
western viewpoint, and they are not real friendly to strangers.
Some things you might find as you go to Russia, and or study their cultures. Here are some do’s
and don’ts of Russian Culture.

An appropriate gesture to show approval

Acceptable Non-verbal communications in Russia:

“Eye contact is very important in Russia, you will be expected to keep eye contact as long as you
are being spoken to, espcially when first introduced.”

“A handshake is always an appropriate greeting. It is also appropriate when you are leaving.”

“The thumbs up sign is an appropriate show of approval.”

“If you need to becon a server do so by discreetly raising your hand with your index finger
extended.”

These of course are just a few of the approved of gestures in Russia.

30
 Laughing in Public is discouraged, considered rude

Gestures that are not appropriate in Russia:

The word “Nyekulturny” means uncultured in Russia, so any of these gestures would be
considered uncultured and inappropriate.
“Speaking or laughing loudly is discouraged.”

“Wearing your coat or winter boots inside a public place is considered unacceptable.” I find this
one very interesting.

“Whistling in a home or in another indoor place, is very Nyekulturny, and a superstition says it
will cause a grave financial loss.”

“It is insulting to summon someone with the forefinger. Instead, turn your hand so that the palm
faces down and motion inward with all four fingers at once.”

Non-verbal communication is very important. When we speak we only communicate about

7% of our message. The rest of the message is in our non-verbal communications. This is a fact
for all societies, and cultures of the world. We also look for meaning by use of non-verbals when
what is being said is unclear to us, or someone listening to us speak.

Russian vs American - Nonverbal Communication

There are several differences in communication between these cultures. One example is
smiling, Russians typically view smiling at a stranger as unusual and suspicious, while in
America this is practiced routinely. Many Russians feel that Americans smile at wrong times and

31
too much. Touching is basically the opposite. If a stranger, even someone you know started
touching you we Americans might find it weird. But in Russia it show friendliness.

Being 15-20 minutes late or coming earlier is quite normal for Russians and is not
considered impolite or disrespectful. (I found this to be because Russians, in contrast are present
oriented. Russian proverbs say, ‘new time, new songs’, or ‘new time, new burden’. Russians
often say, ‘I want everything and now’. For that reason, long-term projects are not much
appreciated in Russia. Spontaneity is typical of Russians in any field: business or daily life. They
can put aside a decision, prolong doing an important activity, but finally it will be done very fast
and unexpected even to them themselves. This is very different then in America. If an American
was doing business with a Russian a misunderstanding about this could completely ruin a
business relationship.

 Russia

Smiling- Smiling at a stranger is unusual and suspicious.

Touching- This is seen as being friendly.

Handshake- Handshakes are taken more seriously in Russia. If you have gloves on you must take
them off.

"OK" Sign- Rude gesture.

 America

Smiling- Being friendly.

Touching- Too much touching can be a little weird. Especially with a stranger.

Handshake- More casual then in Russia.

"OK" Sign- Means OK.

5. Japan

32
Non verbal communication in Japan :

Conversational overlaps and interruptions: Pointing with the index finger is considered
rude. You should point with the entire hand. Avoid physical contact Frowning while someone is
speaking is interpreted as a sign of disagreement. Most Japanese maintain impassive expression
when speaking laughing. Women hide their mouth because of tradition Japanese find it hard to
say 'no'. The best solution is to phrase questions so that they can answer yes. For example, do
you disagree with this? The use of silence: To ask someone to get closer saying „I“ or „my“„I
have no idea “The way to say goodbye greeting with reference depending on the respect ask for
silence. Japanese people put their forefinger in front of their mouth

Eye Contact : Eye contact shows that you are being aggressive, and rude. It is normal in
Japan to avoid eye contact as it shows respect touching : Asking permission to pass by. Shaking
the hand in vertical position in front of the body when entering a private home or traditional
restaurants, it is usually customary to remove your shoes and place them with the toes pointing
toward the outdoors other important information : Walking habits: The Japanese walk in short
quick strides and drooping shoulders this low posture is called teishisei. They don’t show any
emotion while talking.

6. Indonesia

33
  Nonverbal Communication
Like several other Asian and East Asian cultures, Indonesia places a high importance on
nonverbal communication and picking up on body language. One thing to remember is do not
try to summon someone by using your index finger. Similar to some Middle Eastern and Latin
American countries, beckoning someone with your index finger can be seen as offensive
or obscene.

 Nonverbal Greeting
When greeting in Indonesia, it is customary that people will talk very close to one another.
Greeting in Indonesia begins just like it does in many other countries, with a handshake. Their
handshakes are more limp and tend to last 15 to 20 seconds. When shaking hands, always start
with the eldest person in the group. Like other Muslim countries, men do not touch woman. If a
person in Indonesia is welcoming of another person, they may put their hand on their heart or
even bow slightly. When meeting new people, business attire represents a person who is
conservative. Also, woman are expected to dress in attire that covers them from head to toe.
This represents Muslim tradition and also conservatism.

7. Republic of China

Non verbal communication in China :

Eye Contact : For the Chinese, a lack of steady eye contact is not an indication of lack of
attention or respect. Because of the authoritarian nature of the Chinese society, steady eye
contact is viewed as inappropriate, especially when subordinates talk with their superiors.
Conversational overlaps and interruptions :Never use your index finger to beckon anyone. If you
need to call a Chinese person, face the palm of your hand downward and move your fingers in a

34
scratching motion. Chinese don‘t point with the index finger but with an open hand. During
conversations, be especially careful about interrupting – Listening is a sign of politeness and of
contemplation. The use of silence :Chinese tend to smile easily when they feel difficulty or
embarrassed. Smile because of embarrassment by a Chinese might be interpreted as being
friendly by a westerner, but not for Chinese.

Touching : The Chinese don‘t like being touched by strangers. Therefore don‘t make any
body contact. Personal contact must be avoided at all cost. It is highly inappropriate for a man to
touch a woman in public. Tipping is considered insulting, however the practice is becoming
more common. Other important information :Do not use large hand movements. The Chinese do
not speak with their hands. Your movements may be distracting to your host. Jeans are not
acceptable for business meetings. Revealing clothing for women is considered offensive to
Chinese businessmen.

Gestures according to power relation :

Dead gestures are gestures which have existed in ancient times and which are not used or
understandable today. Like verbal language, the gesture has birth and death. Every gesture is
born based on a specific cultural background. For example, China is a country with many
nationalities. Among them, the 'Hanna' nationality, with over 90% population, is the biggest one.
In the past centuries, 'Hanna' was conquered by other nationalities. In that peroid, the living
custom of Chinese people was influenced by the ruling class. For example, in Qing Danasty,
Chinese people had special, in modern eyes, strange ways of expressing meaning which were
influenced of the "Mang" nationality (the ruling class at that time). When men of similar social
status sent greetings to each other, they used the following gesture,

but when noble women met or sent greetings to each other, they use gestures like this one

35
 ;.

The following picture shows how to meet the emperor

This gesture, called 'koutou', is complicated and has strict regulations. It consists of three steps:

i) right sleeve brushing the left arm from top to the fingers,

ii) left sleeve brushing the right arm from top to the fingers,

iii) bend down, one knee on the floor, right hand on the back and left hand hitting the floor.

People had to complete series of actions to say "yes" and listen the imperial edict, no
mistakes were permitted, otherwise people would be punished. When women met the emperor,
they should show pleasant feelings on their faces in order to please the emperor. The gestures
mentioned above were very popular during the "Qing Dynasty" among the officials and nobles,
but not very popular among the common people. In present, all of them have died, because the
kingdom was overthrowed and the ruling class was changed. These gestures disappeared quickly.
We can only see them in movies, but the descendants of "Mang" in Beijing are proud and glad to
talk about their great history .

36
 In 1970s (the culture revolution), China was under the leadership of Mao, people used series
of gestures and emotions to show their loyalty to him and their confidence in the revolution.
Please, see the following two pictures

"I am loyal to Chairman Mao!"

"I am a true revolutionary!"

These gestures were popularly used at that time. The gestures occurred everywhere, between
different people when they talked about Mao. For example, people use these special gestures and
emotion when they took pictures of themselves.

The language is changing, but also some gestures are changing in the process. Today they are
like souvenirs, representing the past culture. However, some old gestures, as well as some
archaic words and expression, are still used today, such as the gesture equal to the expression
"Thank you for serving me!". This gesture appeared during the Qing Dynasty when Emperor
Qianlong visited South China with civil clothes, that is, in secret of the common people. During
the visit, the emperor served tea to his officers, but since they were in public they couldn't use the
'koutou' gesture illustrated above and that is why they invented a more discreet gesture of
showing respect and subordination

37
 Here the fingers move up and down continuously, thus, metaphorically depicting repeated
bowing, not with heads down to the ground but with fingers to the table. From that time, the
gesture was spread generation by generation. Being conscious of the meaning of this gesture may
be very important in certain intercultural contexts since the same sequence of finger movements
on the table express nervousness and impatience in many European and Western countries.

Contemporary gestures are gestures which are currently used gestures in one social
community. Since china is a very large country there are significant linguistic and cultural
differences between the distant regions. Most typical is the distinction between north and south
China. However, most studies have been concentrated on analyzing differences in verbal
communication, habits and traditions but not on differences and similarities between gestures.
Thus we will distinguish between two main regional types of gestures: gestures from the north
and gestures from the south.

Furthermore, there are different things we want to express and do with gestures. We will
distinguish between: gestures of emotion, on one side, which we will define as emotive
nonverbal acts, thus echoing the definition of speech acts, such as promise, agreement and
gestures of counting, on the other.

Positive emotions and speech acts :

greetings

When you meet your professor you should lower your head and bend slightly to show
respect. The same posture is used when a young man is greeting an old man.

Shaking hands is not used between people of radically different status, as the previous two
cases, but between socially equal people, friends or businessman.

agreement

38
 This gesture is used in informal situations, when you reach an agreement with somebody else.
In China, it is not only a gesture, but also a good wish. Each of you hopes the agreement will be
long.

promise

If you put your right hand on the position of the heart means it "sincere promise" but since a
promise is a promise only if it is sincere. The ancient Chinese thought that the calculating
functions and the memory of human beings are based in the heart, thus this gesture is a typical
iconic metaphor.

satisfaction

This gesture represents a feeling of self-satisfaction. It is usually used by women when they
feel satisfied and don't want other people to know it. Typical for the Chinese culture as a whole
is that Chinese women express their feelings in a more introvert or discreet manner.

wishes

39
 "Thank you!"

"I wish you good fortune!"

In China, when you don't know how to express your gratitude to somebody, may be gesture
1 will be helpful, you don't need to say a single word, but everyone knows that you are
expressing your thankfulness. But when you gesticulate like 2 especially on festivals, all the
people you gesticulate to will be very happy, because you wish them good fortune.

"Thank you for serving me! "

Nord Chinese gesture for "Thank you for serving me!"

South Chinese gesture for "Thank you for serving me!"

In China, when being served, it will be very polite to make a gesture to express your feeling
of thankfulness, but you should do it in different way if you are in the different areas of China. In
North China, you should do like that like in 1, but in South China, you should do 'the koutou'
gesture (desribed also as a dead gesture above). It is especially important in public occasions.

40
Neutral emotion

hesitation

This gesture symbolizes confrontation with difficult problems and attempts to solve them, in
other way, it means hesitation.

Negative emotion

insulting

When people show gestures like this one, that means that they look down upon somebody.
And when you use one of your fingers to scrape your face looking at somebody, in fact, the
corresponding verbal expression may be said to be "Shame on you!"

irritation and instigating

If someone insults you, but you don't want to fight with him, the following gesture may
express your irritation. It means "Damn you!", but if you make this gesture first, it means "If you
have guts, come and take me!".

41
 CONCLUSION

 Nonverbal Communication : Nonverbal communication expresses meaning or feeling

without words. When we interact with others, we continuously give and receive wordless
signals. Types of Nonverbal Communication : Facial Expressions, Gesture, Space and
Eye Contact.

 Facial Expressions : Facial expressions carry meaning determined by contexts and

relationships. For instance, the smile, which is typically an expression of pleasure, has
many functions. Communication of Facial Expressions : a. Micro Expressions, b. Sign
Language.

 Gestures : Gestures refer to specific body movements that carry meaning. Hands can
form shapes that convey many meaning. Gestures can be subdivided into three groups:
Adapters, Symbolic and Conversational.

 Space : Space refers to the distance between people as they interact. Just as body
movements and facial expressions can communicate a great deal of nonverbal
information, so can this physical space between individuals. Space have 4 physical
space : Intimate distance - 6 to 18 inches, Personal distance - 1.5 to 4 feet, Social distance
- 4 to 12 feet, and Public distance - 12 to 25 feet.

 Eye Contact : Eye contact is an especially important type of nonverbal communication.

The way you look at someone can communicate many things, including interest,
affection, hostility, or attraction. It’s well known that in Western countries like the United
States, giving those in power eye contact is revered. However, in Eastern countries, eye
contact to those in power is viewed as rude and a sign of disrespect. It’s important to
recognize these differences, since eye contact can mean many different things depending
on the setting and the people looking eyes.

42
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

 Levine, R Deena, et, al. 2010. Beyond Language. Intercultural Communication for
English as a Second Language. American Language Institute San Diego university:
Prentice Hall.
 http://www.fujishima-h.ed.jp/teacher/materials/American%20Gestures.pdf
 http://www.artofmanliness.com/2012/02/05/look-em-in-the-eye-part-i-the-importance-of-
eye-contact/
 http://www.helpguide.org/mental/eq6_nonverbal_communication.htm
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonverbal_communication
 http://psychology.about.com/od/nonverbalcommunication/ss/understanding-body-
language_8.htm
 http://www.wikihow.com/Easily-Read-Faces-and-Facial-Expressions
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facial_expression
 http://hellobeautiful.com/2011/08/04/5-reasons-why-eye-contact-is-important/
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWFPHW7BCCI
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtokVJcKSPM
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIgGatxQZ5M
 http://rhampton23.wordpress.com/2013/02/04/non-verbal-communication-differences-
between-usa-and-france/
 http://cody-meyer.blogspot.com/2011/09/nonverbal-communication-in-france.html
 http://bcplgn012.blogspot.com/2013/05/non-verbal-communication-in-france.html
 http://thepolishedprofessional.wordpress.com/2009/11/06/non-verbal-communication-
can-tell-on-you-be-careful-with-gestures/
 http://caseyleese.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/nonverbal-communication-of-india-vs-
united-states/
 http://jacryannorman.blogspot.com/2012/01/fashion-and-myself.html
 http://www.slideshare.net/dragon888/non-verbal-communication-russia-japan-and-china
 http://janieeckstein.wordpress.com/2012/10/21/non-verbal-communication-in-russia/
 http://www.culture-4-travel.com/nonverbal-communication.html
 http://www.ling.gu.se/~biljana/gestures2.html

43
 http://www.chinateachingnet.com/non-verbal.shtml

44