Nonverbal Communication
S. Kathleen Kitao
Kenji Kitao Ikubundo Tokyo, Japan Copyright c 2002 by Dr. S. Kathleen Kitao and Dr. Kenji Kitao. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the authors. Printed in Japan. This textbook is accompanied by a tape and a teachers' guide which includes an English explanation of how to use the textbook and answers for the exercises. For class adoption, we offer a complimentary teachers' guide. Published by Ikubundo 5-30-21 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033 Tel 03-3814-5571 Fax 03-3814-5576 ikubundo-01@cam.hi-ho.ne.jp Introduction When we think about communication, we usually think about using words and sentences, that is, verbal communication. ("Verbal" means "with words.") However, communication without words, that is, nonverbal communication, is also very important. When you smile to show that you are happy or frown to show that you are sad, you are using nonverbal communication. When you take another person's hand to show affection, you are using nonverbal communication. When you turn your back on someone to show that you are angry, you are using nonverbal communication. These are all examples of ways we communicate without using words. To communicate effectively, we need to understand not only the meanings of words but the meanings of nonverbal communication. Therefore, the purpose of this book is to help students both to understand concepts and theory related to nonverbal communication and to see how it is used in daily life. In this book, you will be introduced to various areas of nonverbal communication. The first section is an introduction to nonverbal communication, explaining what it is and what its characteristics are. The second section includes areas of nonverbal communication that involve behavior. This section deals with such areas as gestures, facial statement, and touch. The third section is on artifacts and the environment, which are the objects we have and surround ourselves with. The final section is on two other areas of nonverbal communication, which are verbal expressions related to nonverbal communication and differences between Japanese and Americans in nonverbal communication. Each chapter has a reading passage, a list of difficult vocabulary words defined in easy English, and exercises to help you understand the reading. The first exercise is a pre-reading exercise, which should be done before reading the passage. It introduces students to the concepts in the chapter by demonstrating a concept or activating knowledge that students already have about nonverbal communication. Other exercises help the students understand the content of the reading and see how they use nonverbal communication in their daily lives. The final exercise in each chapter is an activity, a role play, an observation, etc., which helps students apply what they have learned. * * * * * * We would like to express our appreciation to Juliet Winters Carpenter of Doshisha Women's College, and Blake E. Hayes of Heian Women's University, and Christine Sato of Doshisha Women's College for reading this manuscript and making valuable comments. S. Kathleen Kitao Kenji Kitao February 2001 Table of Contents I. Introduction 1. Aspects of Nonverbal Communication -- 1 2. Aspects of Nonverbal Communication -- 2 II. Behavior 3. Body Movements and Gestures 4. Facial Expression 5. Eye Behavior and Gaze 6. Territoriality 7. Personal Space 8. Touching Behavior 9. Time 10. The Voice and Vocal Expression -- Characteristics of the Voice 11. The Voice and Vocal Expression -- Information Communicated through the Voice III. Artifacts 12. Clothing as Communication 13. Personal Artifacts as Communication 14. Environmental Influences on Communication 15. What the Environment Communicates IV. Other Aspects of Nonverbal Communication 16. Verbal Expression and Nonverbal Communication 17. Differences in Nonverbal Communication of Americans and Japanese
Chapter 17 Differences in Nonverbal Communication of Americans and Japanese So far in this book, you have learned about nonverbal communication mainly in relation to how Americans communicate nonverbally. While nonverbal communication is in some ways similar in Japan and the US, it is also different in many ways. In this chapter, you will learn about some of the differences and similarities. Gestures One very obvious area of difference between Americans and Japanese in nonverbal communication is in the area of gestures, particularly emblems (that is, gestures which have a specific verbal meaning, such as waving for "goodbye"). This is an area where there is some potential for misunderstanding. When gestures used by Americans and Japanese are the same, there is not likely to be a problem. For example, both Americans and Japanese nod for "yes," shake their heads for "no," applaud to show approval of a performance, etc. However, in some cases Americans use different gestures than Japanese speakers for the same meaning. A circle formed with the thumb and index finger means "money" to Japanese speakers but "OK" to Americans. The thumb pointed up is a gesture of approval to Americans, but it represents a man or boyfriend to Japanese speakers. Also, sometimes similar or similar-looking gestures have different meanings. For the meaning "come here," Japanese speakers gesture with the palm down. This gesture looks similar to one that Americans use for "go away." (Americans use a palm-up gesture for "come here.") An American who is not familiar with the gesture that Japanese speakers use is likely to go away rather than come toward the speaker. There are also a number of gestures used by Japanese speakers that do not have any equivalent for Americans, and which Americans would not be likely to recognize or understand, unless they were familiar with Japanese culture. There are no gestures similar to touching the side of the neck with the flat hand (fired); a fist with the little finger extended (girlfriend); a hook formed with the index finger (thief); or the two index fingers beside the head (angry; oni). Finally, there are a number of gestures that Americans use that are not used by Japanese. These gestures include circling the index finger beside the head (crazy); crossing the fingers (good luck); rubbing one index finger along the other (shame); pointing the thumb down (disapproval). Touch In general, Americans touch in public more than Japanese do. Hugging or kissing as a gesture of greeting or leave-taking is not at all common in Japan. While Americans do not touch in public as much as people in some European and South American cultures do, they touch more than Japanese people do, especially in a situation such as greeting or saying good-by to someone at an airport. A study of American and Japanese college students indicated that the American students touched others and were touched more than twice as much as the Japanese. In addition, almost all the touching for Japanese was of the head, shoulders, and arms, while touching was more widespread for Americans. Gaze and Eye Contact In general, Americans maintain eye contact more than Japanese do. Looking down is a sign of respect in Japanese culture, but Americans may interpret looking down or avoiding eye contact as a sign of deceitfulness. This may cause misunderstanding, because an American might think that the Japanese person is hiding something or lying, while the Japanese person is trying to show respect. Facial Expression Many scholars believe that facial expression is innate, that is, we are born with the ability to use certain facial expressions to express certain emotions. Therefore, the same facial expressions are used for the same emotions in every culture. However, different cultures have different rules about the circumstances under which emotions can be expressed. Some Westerners have the idea of the "inscrutable Oriental," that is, that Asian people do not show their emotions at all. It may be true that Japanese do not show their emotions, especially negative emotions, as much as Americans do. In one study that demonstrated this difference, the researchers had Japanese and American students watch an unpleasant film. When the students were alone watching the film, their facial expressions were similar. However, when they watched the film with others, the Americans showed more emotions than the Japanese did. Time Because the history of the United States is relatively short, about 220 years as a nation, Americans take a shorter view of time and of history than people in cultures with longer histories. Japan, in contrast, has a much longer history, so they take a longer view of history than Americans do. The United States is generally a future-oriented culture. Tradition is not particularly important, and people feel that the future is going to be better, if they work for it. Japan, in contrast, has been a past-oriented culture, where history and tradition has been very important and older people are respected. This has gradually changed, however, and in recent decades, Japan has become more future-oriented, and tradition and history have become less importantCespecially to younger people. Personal Space In general, Japanese people interact at a slightly greater distance than Americans do. The exception is communication with authority figures, such as professors. Americans and Japanese seem to maintain about the same distance from authority figures. Conclusion There are a number of differences that have been observed in nonverbal communication between Japanese and US cultures, and these differences can sometimes cause misunderstandings, especially if people do not understand the other culture. However, still more research into these differences is necessary. (930 words) Vocabulary 1. similarities: points on which things are alike or similar 2. applaud: express approval by clapping the hands 3. crossing the fingers: twisting the first and second fingers together 4. hugging: putting one's arms around someone 5. leave-taking: expressions one uses when they are saying goodbye to someone 6. gaze: the direction that a person is looking 7. deceitfulness: not telling the truth 8. facial: of the face 9. innate: from birth; natural 10. inscrutable: not showing emotions 11. Oriental: person from East Asian countries, such as Japan, China, or Korea 12. interact: communicate with someone through words, looks, or actions Pre-Reading Exercise In this book, you have learned about nonverbal communication. Most of the examples that have been used have been from American culture. What differences are there with American culture, or with another culture you are familiar with? True/False Questions T F ? 1. There is potential for misunderstanding due to the differences between emblems in the US and Japan. T F ? 2. Making a circle with the index finger and thumb has the same meaning in the US and Japan. T F ? 3. The Japanese gesture for "come here" looks similar to the American gesture for "go away." T F ? 4. For Americans, holding up two index fingers beside the head means "crown." T F ? 5. Circling the finger by the head means "crazy" for Americans, but has no meaning for Japanese. T F ? 6. Putting the hand over the heart means "promise" for Americans, but has no meaning for Japanese. T F ? 7. Japanese take a longer view of history than Americans do, because they have a much longer history. T F ? 8. Like the US, Japan has become future oriented. T F ? 9. Japanese always maintain a greater distance from other people than Americans do. Comprehension Questions 1. What gestures do Americans and Japanese use that are the same? 2. Who touches more, Americans or Japanese? US Americans or South Americans? 3. What does looking down mean for Japanese? For Americans? 4. What is similar about facial expressions throughout the world? What is different? Cloze Exercise Caroline just got back from Japan. Her friend Aaron, who is studying nonverbal communication, asks her about how nonverbal communication is different in the US and Japan. Aaron: Did you find any 1____________ that were different in Japan? Caroline: Yes, I did. For example, a 2___________ formed with the thumb and index finger means "money." And if you want to say "come here," you gesture with your palm 3___________, like this. Aaron: That looks like "4___________ 5____________," doesn't it. Caroline: Yes, it can be confusing. Aaron: What about eye contact? Caroline: Japanese make eye contact less that Americans do, I think. They look down as a sign of 6____________. It may make Americans think they are trying to 7_____________ something. Aaron: Oh, really. And are Japanese really inscrutable? Caroline: They show emotions less than Americans do, especially 8____________ emotions. Aaron: I've heard that Japan is a past-oriented culture. Caroline: I had heard that, too, but I think it recent years, it has become more 9______________ oriented. Certainly tradition is not as important as it used to be. Role Play Exercise Choose some of the differences in nonverbal communication between Japanese and Americans. Use them in a role play. Catalog (in Japanese)