How do culturally different people interpret nonverbal communication?
Let’s say that you’re traveling to a country where you don’t speak the language. You didn’t have time to pick up a dictionary, so you’ll have to get around using only hand gestures. The problem? Every hand gesture you do offends someone. What gives?
We may think that nonverbal communication is universal, but it’s not. Every culture interprets body language, gestures, posture and carriage, vocal noises (like shrieks and grunts), and degree of eye contact differently.
Facial expressions might be the only form of nonverbal communication that could be considered universal. No matter where you are, it seems, you must remember that your body is always saying something, even when you’re not speaking.
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