The Silent Language: Nonverbal Communication is a Powerful Tool

Touch me, touch me not

And now, to get a better “feel” of what nonverbal communication can mean, let us examine one of our 5 main senses.

Judging from the two pictures above, can you tell that they belong to different cultures? The one on the left shows a supervisor addressing a employee, with physical closeness but with no real physical contact. It represents the British culture with a sense of formality. The second picture, on the other hand, shows a worker putting his hand on his colleague’s shoulder. This is representative of US culture as being more open and less conservative. 

Touch can be interpreted into four main categories, mainly professional, social, friendship and intimacy. A trainer positioning you during an exercise is a professional touch; a handshake with an acquaintance is a social touch; a pat on the back of a friend is a friendship touch; a touch of the cheek, rubbing the shoulders or the back of a partner is an intimacy touch.

Though touching someone gives a sense of informality and closeness, depending on cultures and situations, it can be ambiguous. For example, it is no surprise to find a superior touching the shoulder or arm of an employee, especially in a more open society like the US. According to a survey, women are less likely to define touch from men as harassing if the man is attractive while men believe that sexual harassment can only come from a superior. Hence, we see that the definitions of touch can transcend cultural as well as gender boundaries.

Finger Gestures

In many pictures we see nowadays, especially in photographs, we see youngsters putting up the “V sign with their fingers. The “V” sign is commonly known as the “peace sign” or the “victory sign” and is given with the palm facing outward. Originally strictly a victory sign, it evolved into a “peace” sign during protests against the Vietnam War and subsequent demonstrations. However, in Great Britain, it has a whole new meaning if the palm is faced inward towards the person making the gesture. It is an insult which is not tolerable.

The picture shown above means “okay” in the US and most other English countries. In France, though, it means “zero”, while in Japan, it means “money” and is often perceived as a bribe. In the Mediterranean region, this gesture is a big insult, calling someone a “parasite”, a homosexual, or even a threat.

A thumbs-up in any British-influenced culture means “okay”, “good job”. It is also used as a signal to hitch a ride from a passing vehicle. However, in other countries without the British influence, it is a form of insult. And hence, we see that the “good” thumbs-up symbol does not necessary mean good across all cultures.