Non-verbal Communication AND ITS Relationship to Culture

Besides that, our faces reveal emotions and attitudes, but we should not attempt to “read” people from another culture as we would “read” someone from our own culture. The fact that members of one culture do not express their emotions as openly as members of another culture does not mean that they do not experience emotions. Rather, there are cultural restraints on the amount of nonverbal expressiveness permitted. For example, in public and formal situations many Japanese do not show their emotions as freely as Americans do. More privately and with friends, Japanese and Americans seem to show their emotions similarly. Many teachers in the United States have a difficult time knowing whether their Japanese students understand and enjoy their lessons. In Malaysian cultures suppress facial expression are shown as much as possible to enable the communicator to convey the message, in the best way that can be understood by the person receiving the communication. Many Mediterranean (Latino / Arabic) cultures exaggerate grief or sadness while most American men hide grief or sorrow.

Importance of Culture in Communication

Culture does not always determine the message of nonverbal communication. The individual’s personality, the context, and the relationship also influence its meaning. However, like verbal language, nonverbal language is linked to person’s cultural background. People are generally comfortable with others who have “body language” similar to their own. Thus, to ensure that other people are comfortable when we communicate with them, it is importance and very helpful to understand the culture of the people first.

Culture is vital, as a source for continued multiple viewpoints, so that the quest for universal standards sees continued individual expression and uniqueness. Any social unit; whether a relationship, group, organization, or society, develops a culture over time. While the defining characteristics or combination of characteristics of each culture are unique, all cultures share certain common functions. Three such functions that are particularly important from a communication perspective are; linking individuals to one another, providing the basis for a common identity, and creating a context for interaction and negotiation among members.