Intercultural Competence

Chapter 8 Notes
Derry Parler

Explain nonverbal codes

 It is the way people communicate without the use of words. They include all forms of
communication other than linguistic ones.

List and explain cultural universals in nonverbal communication.

 Nonverbal Displays – Displays such as shoulder shrugs, hand gestures such as pointing,
these are all examples of nonverbal displays that we use every day to convey a certain
meaning. Cultures vary in nonverbal behaviors
 Facial Expressions – smiling, winking, frowning… These are daily facial expressions that
convey feelings.
 Emotional Displays – These are dictated by cultural rules and etiquette for how, when,
and where to express or not express certain emotions. Example:

Example 1
Angela is very bored and tired during her colleague's PowerPoint presentation, but she doesn't dare yawn or
glance at her watch to display these emotions.
Emotional display rules tell us that we should not express discontent or boredom when someone is teaching,
lecturing, or dispelling information because it would be rude and may hurt his feelings. After all, we would
feel hurt if people did that to us, wouldn't we?
 Territoriality – how people use space to communicate ownership of areas or possessions.

Provide examples of nonverbal messages in intercultural communication.

 Physical Appearance – we look for stable features that are regarded as an inherent part of
the person being observed i.e. body shape, body size, body type, facial features, height,
weight, etc.
 Environment – it shapes nonverbal messages. Within an environment are specific tools
and objects that influence potential interactions that send distinct messages.
 Body movements (Kinesics) – these are gestures, head movements, facial expressions,
eye behaviors, and other physical displays that can be used to communicate
o Emblems – symbols that have been selected by members of a culture to convey a
specific and intended meaning.
o Illustrators – nonverbal behaviors directly tied to or accompany the verbal
message. They emphasize, explain, and support a word or phrase.
o Affect displays – facial and body movements that show feelings and emotions.
o Regulators – nonverbal behaviors that help to synchronize the back-and-forth
nature of conversation. It helps to control the flow and sequencing of
communication. Like head nods, eye contact, “uh huh” etc.
 o Adaptors – personal body movements that occur as a reaction to an individual’s
physical or psychological state. Such as scratching an itch, tapping a pencil,
smoothing one’s hair…
 Personal Space – tied to territoriality
o Proxemics – the study of how people differ in their use of personal space.
o Personal space distances are culture-specific.

Describe/explain cultural meanings of touch, time, and voice.

 Touch – often used to indicate affect, emotion, the expression of positive and negative
feelings. Protection, reassurance, hatred, dislike, playfulness… These examples differ
depending on the culture.
 Voice – used to accent or place certain emphasis on communication. Vocalics may
include non-speech sounds. Differences in vocal qualities vary among different cultures.
 Time – cultures vary on how they interact with time.
 Time orientation refers to the value or importance the members of a culture place
on the passage of time.
 Time systems – implicit cultural rules that are used to arrange sets of experiences
in a meaningful way.

Application
Biblical Links

 Proverbs 6:12-13
 12Aworthless person, a wicked man, Is the one who walks with a perverse mouth, 13Who
winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, Who points with his fingers;…

We must be mindful of our bodily expressions as they can be just as hurtful as a wicked tongue.
Often times nonverbal communication can be more powerful than verbal. If this is the case, the
nonverbal expressions we display can be very powerful and influential, and in some cases
malicious.