Transcript Lecture 4 - 同济大学精品课程

Lecture 4
Non-verbal communication
-Space, body language, time,
touch, voice
1. Space
Personal space
What is personal space?
Personal space is the region
surrounding each person, or
that area which a person
considers their domain or
territory.
What is personal space?
Often if entered by
another being without
this being desired, it
makes them feel
uncomfortable.
Personal space
The average personal distance
varies from culture to culture.
Generally speaking, people
from cold areas need larger
personal space than those
from warm areas.
E.g.: Indian
Personal space
Personal space
Those who live in a densely
populated environment tend to have
smaller personal space requirements.
Personal space
Personal space can also be heavily affected by a
person's position in society, with the more affluent a
person being the larger personal space he demands.
It is variable and difficult to measure accurately.
(for an average westerner)
24.5 inches (60 centimeters) on either side,
27.5 inches (70 centimeters) in front and
15.75 inches (40 centimeters) behind
Personal space--exceptions
People usually make exceptions to modify
their space requirements, when they see an
immediate need or reason to temporarily allow
a change in their usual personal space needs.
Often a person's comfort zone is different
depending upon where they are and who they
are with. In certain circumstances people can
accept having their personal space violated.
Personal space--exceptions
In romantic relationships, the lack of personal
space is usually expected as well as desired.
Personal space--exceptions
Similarly family members often welcome hugs
and affection in exchange for their personal
space.
These close and personal situations are often built on high
levels of trust.
Personal space--exceptions
Crowded events: such as concerts, fairs, sports
arenas, buses and elevators, normally don’t leave room
for ample personal space.
Zones of Personal Space
In 1966 Anthropologist Edward Hall identified
four different zones of personal space
Americans like to keep around them.
Personal space in the US
Intimate distance:
– extends roughly 18 inches (45.7 cm) from the
individual and is reserved for family, pets and very
close friends.
Personal distance:
extends 18 inches to 4 feet (.457 - 1.5 m) is
reserved for friends and acquaintances.
Social distance:
– extends from about 4 to 12 feet (1.2 - 3.7 meters) and
is used for formal, business and other impersonal
interactions such as meeting a client.
Public Space:
– extends more than 12 feet (3.7 m) and is not guarded.
Secret Service agents will commonly attempt to
ensure 12 feet (3.7 m) of open space around
dignitaries and high ranking officials.
2. Body Language
Body language is an important part of
nonverbal communication and it is
connected with culture. In order to make
successful exchange in intercultural
communication, we should know the body
language from different cultures.
1) Body movements: also known as body
language or kinesics
– Including gestures, head movements, facial
expressions, eye behaviors, etc.
– Ekman and Friesen:
five categories of kinesic behaviors: emblems,
illustrators, affect displays, regulators, adaptors
– Emblems 象征性动作
OK, Victory
– Illustrators 说明性动作
used with verbal messages, to indicate accuracy and help explain,
eg. Calling for a taxi
– Affect displays 情绪表露性动作
facial and body movements
many are universally recognized, such as happiness, sadness,
anger, fear, surprise, disgust, contempt, interest
Unconscious and unintentional, eg. Startled look of surprise, a blush
of embarrassment
Conscious and intentional, purposeful smile and look at another
person to convey warmth and affection
– Regulators 调节性动作
sequencing in conversation, used by speakers to indicate
whether others should take a turn and by listeners to indicate
whether they wish to speak or would prefer to continue listening
High-context cultures: eyes (p.204-205)
– Adaptors 适应性动作
personal body movements that occur as a reaction to an individual’s
physical or psychological state.
Self-adaptors, alter-directed adaptors, object-adaptors
Eg.: Scratching an itch, fidgeting (unrest), tapping a pencil,
smoothing one’s hair
Often performed unconsciously
Classification
Eye language
Postures
Touch
Facial expressions
Eye language
As saying goes “The eyes are the window
of the soul”. we can read one’s mind
through his/her eyes. Eye language can
express complicated feelings and it is an
important way to judge the intimacy of
communicators.
If two Chinese are in conversation, they
will look at each other warmly. Because
they think eyes are the key of their
existence. But in American eyes, they
think this behavior is unsuitable or a
homosexual behavior.
The educated Englishmen believe direct
eye contact with our communicators is
gentlemanly. But Swedish use eye
language more often than Englishmen.
And the French especially like to look
attentively at the other communicators with
admiration. Japanese often look at the
other communicator’s neck when they are
in conversation. They believe eye contact
is impolite.
Postures
“Posture is a matter of how people sit,
walk, stand and move.”
According to Chinese tradition, people
who are sitting have right to take charge of
others: Monarch sits and officer stands;
father sits and son stands; leader sits and
employee stands and so on. So the
younger give the old a seat to show
respect.
But in America and Britain, people who are
in charge of others have tendency to stand.
They will make use of the height of space
to indicate the high status.
Touch
Touch refers to the way people exchange
information by touching one’s body. The
most common touch behavior is hands
shaking and hugs.
In China, people greet with each other with
head nodding, smile, hand shaking and so
on. Even good friends just hold hands for
a short time or hammer softly on the other
friend’s shoulder.
In English speaking countries, people
used to hug or kiss each other in public
between males and females, which is
unacceptable and only exists between
lovers and couples in private in China.
In America, common friends and
acquaintances will avoid body touch. Even
in the elevator, body touch is not allowed.
Touching the other people slightly or
unconsciously, people will say “Sorry”,
“Very Sorry”, “Excuse me” in a hurry to
express apology.
Facial expressions
We constantly read facial expressions to
understand what others are feeling. The
face provides vital clues to our own
feelings and those of the people around us.
In many cultures, smiles are signs of happiness
or friendliness, like America and China.
When we have guests at home, we will smile to
show welcome. But American Indians will cry to
express welcome. Smiles will not only represent
happiness and friendliness but also indicate
apology and understanding.
Conclusion
The study of body language makes us
understand others very well and behave in
proper ways. Only when we make a clear
understanding on body language, can we
use body language of English speaking
countries to make an efficient
communication and avoid
misunderstanding.
3. Time
Chronemics
Chronemics is the study of the use of
time in nonverbal communication. The
way we perceive time, structure our
time and react to time is a powerful
communication tool, and helps set the
stage for communication.
Time systems
Technical time systems
Formal time systems
Informal time systems
Technical time systems
The precise, scientific measurements of
time that are calculated in units
E.g.: light year
atomic pulses
Formal time systems
Refer to the ways in which units of time
are described and comprehended by the
members of a culture
E.g.: century, year, month, week, day, hour,
minute, second, etc.
Phases of the moon, changing seasons,
rising and falling of the tides, etc.
Formal time systems
Seven Characteristics:
1. ordering
2. cyclicity
3. valuation
4. tangibility
5. synthesisity
6. duration
7. depth
Seven Characteristics
Ordering
the sequences of events are invariable
Cyclicity
time is the circulation of time units
Valuation
time is precious and should be cherished
Tangibility
time is commodity; can be gained, wasted,
spent, lost, saved, and measured, etc.
Time is money.一寸光阴一寸金／一刻千金。
Time and tide wait for no man．岁月不等人。
Lost time is never found again．光明一去不复返。
We have only a short life to live．人生朝露。
Life is but a span．人生一世，草木一秋。
Strike while the iron is hot．趁热打铁。
Never put off till tomorrow what you can do
today．今日事，今日毕。／一生待明日，万事成
蹉跎。
The early birds catches the worm．捷足先登。
A stich in time saves nine．一针不补，十针难缝。
Seven Characteristics
Synthesisity
time is accumulated; the larger units of
time are made up by smaller ones
Duration
Depth
the past is the foundation of the present
Informal time systems
Refer to the assumptions that cultures
make about how time should be used or
experienced
Monochronic-time or M-time
Polychronic-time or P-time
M-time system
People who have a monochronic concept
of time regard it as a commodity: time can
be gained, lost, spent, wasted, or saved.
In this orientation, time is linear, with one
event happening at a time.
In general, monochronic cultures value
highly punctuality, completing tasks, and
keeping to schedules.
E.g.: North America and Northern Europe
P-time system
A polychronic orientation conceptualizes
time as more holistic, perhaps more
circular: many events can happen at once.
Personal involvement is more important
than schedules where the emphasis lies
on personal relationships rather than
keeping appointments on time.
E.g.: Latin America and the Middle East
Many international business negotiations
and technical assistance projects fail
because of differences in time orientation.
International students and business
personnel often complain that U.S.
Americans do not care enough about
relationships and about the personal
aspects of living.
Plan in advance
To plan an activity in advance is a
significant feature of modern social life.
Meetings, appointments, and social
activities, etc.
Punctuality
Begin at 7pm→arrive at 7pm (punctual?)
Formal activities:
In Britain and north America: on time/less than 5
minutes late
In Arabian countries: 15 minutes late is normal and
acceptable
Family dinners:
In English speaking countries, 10 minutes late is
acceptable, but never arrive before the time
In China, we usually think that it is polite to arrive
before the time.
Time Length of an activity
In Arabian countries and Latin American
countries, the time length of social
activities is longer than that in Britain and
north American countries.
Short: inhospitable and unfriendly
In China, it is usually less than 3 hours.
4. Touch
Definition of touch
Touch, which is known as haptics
Most basic component of human
communication.
One of the nonverbal communication.
it can create a more direct message than
dozens of words
Touch communication occurs first in a
human beings life; in the mother’s womb
the child kicks
5 types / functions
Affect
Playfulness
Control
Ritualistic
Task-related
-by Stanley Jones and A. Elaine Yarbrouhgh.
1.Affect
positive and negative feelings
Positive meaning of touch
-Connection to people
-Provide affirmation, reassurance and
stimulation
- Decrease self-esteem
- Warmth
- Approval
- Emotional support
-
-
Negative meaning of touch
Frustration
Anger
Aggression
Punishment
Invasion of personal space and privacy
Subservient (奉承) relationship
Hugging
Stroking
Kissing
Slapping
Hitting
kicking
2. Playfulness
These touches serve to lighten an
interaction. These touches communicate a
double message since they always involve
a play signal, either verbal or nonverbal,
which indicates the behavior is not to be
taken seriously. affectionate
aggressive
Playful affection: Serve to lighten interaction.
The seriousness of the positive message is
diminished by the play signal. These touches
indicate teasing and are usually mutual.
Playful aggression: Like playful affection these
touches are used to serve to lighten interaction,
however, the play signal indicates aggression.
These touches are initiated, rather than mutual.
3. Control :
These touches serve to direct the behavior,
attitude, or feeling state of the recipient.
The key feature of these touches is that
almost all of the touches are initiated by
the person who attempts influence.
compliance, attention-getting, and
announcing a response.
Compliance: Attempts to direct behavior of
another person, and often, by implication, to
influence attitudes or feelings.
Attention-getting: Serve to direct the touch
recipient’s perceptual focus toward something.
Announcing a response: Call attention to and
emphasize a feeling state of initiator; implicitly
requests affect response from another.
4. Ritualistic
These touches consist of greeting and
departure touches. They serve no other
function than to help make transitions in
and out of focused interaction.
Greeting: Serve as part of the act of
acknowledging another at the opening of
an encounter.
Departure: Serve as a part of the act of
closing an encounter
5. Task-related
These touches are directly associated with
the performance of a task.
this is usually related to a job or, maybe
not necessarily even a work job, that
where you earn your income, but any kind
of jobs where touch is essential.
i.e) a hair dresser, a massage person, nail
person and so on…
Culture and touch
1. The amount of touching that occurs within
a culture is largely based on the relative
high context or low context of the culture.
High contact cultures
-Arab world, Middle East
- France, Southern Europe, Latin America
Moderate/Variable contact cultures
-Russia, East-Central Europe
-North America, Australia/ New Zealand
Low contact cultures
-Northern Europe, most of Asia
2. Culture also differ in where people can be
touched
3. Cultures vary in their expectations about
who touches whom.
4. Cultures differ in the settings or occasions
in which touch is acceptable.
Cultural differences in touch
Western Cultures
– Handshake is
common (even for
strangers)
– Hugs, kisses for
those of opposite
gender, family
(usually) on an
increasingly more
intimate basis.
– Some differences
between African
American & Anglo
Americans
Cultural differences in touch
Islamic/Hindu cultures
– Typically don’t touch
with left hand
– Generally don’t touch
between genders; with
same sexes is
appropriate
– Common to see two
men or two women
holding hands
(friendship)
Cultural differences in touch
Many Asian cultures
– Don’t touch the head
because it houses the
soul. (Thailand and
Malaysia.)
Cultural differences in touch
Latino, Middle-Eastern, &
Jewish cultures
– Touch is okay—
emotion encouraged
– Opposite-sex
handshakes
acceptable; usually
same-sex
Cultural differences in touch
English, German,
Scandinavian, Chinese &
Japanese cultures
– Do not subscribe to
overt displays of
affection
And always remember:
the more we know
of other cultures,
the greater the
possibility is of a
successful
communication!
Conclusion
misunderstandings can be avoided if we
are aware of and understand our cultural
differences
non-verbal communication changes
constantly