Look through the table below and discuss with your partner attitudes to personal space in different cultures.
Each of us has a concept of personal space and we don’t like it when someone we don’t know intrudes into our privacy. The extent and size of our personal or private space varies by culture. People with large personal space prefer to keep their distance from others.
How would you describe your culture? Do people have small or large personal space?
People with small personal space
People with large personal space
How close?
Touching
Familiarity with strangers
Personal topics
The home as private space
stand close together when talking
often touch each other as a sign of friendliness.
are easy to get to know.
are happy to discuss personal matters with people they don’t know well.
are more likely to invite you to their home.
feel uncomfortable when standing too close to others.
may shake hands, but don’t generally touch the people they work with.
are reserved with people they don’t know well.
don’t discuss personal matters in a business relationship.
are unlikely to invite you to their home.
Exercise 1
For questions 1-16, read the text below and decide which word A, B, C or D best fits each space.
Body language
Language is commonly believed to be a system of communication that …1…of sounds and written symbols. However, we can also communicate …2…other ways by using our facial …3…, our tone of voice and even our …4…body. In fact, in many situations, non-verbal communication can …5…more accurately what a person is feeling. Body language always speaks the truth, …6…words can often be …7… .
For successful communication both at the office and at home, an understanding of body language is important. At work, non-verbal communication is …8…to power. People …9…charge tend to lean …10…in their chairs, fold their hands behind their heads and …11…their feet up on the desk. They usually …12…conversations, both talking and interrupting more than others. Those who …13…orders, on the other hand, are much less relaxed and tend to sit on the …14…of their chairs with their arms tightly folded.
Body language plays an equally important role at home. Children are particularly quick to pick …15…on non-verbal signals and can distinguish …16…what is said and what is really meant.
A exists
A to
A expressions
A full
A explain
A whereas
A senseless
A associated
A at
A back
A put
A overwhelm
A do
A top
A out
A between
B consists
B for
B shapes
B whole
B announce
B so
B hopeless
B related
B on
B behind
B lay
B master
B give
B edge
B over
B among
C contains
C in
C looks
C partial
C reveal
C except
C mistrustful
C combined
C by
C away
C deposit
C dominate
C lead
C limit
C up
C from
D includes
D by
D aspects
D total
D publish
D therefore
D misleading
D reserved
D in
D against
D lie
D hold
D follow
D border
D at
D that
Exercise 2
Work in groups of 3-4 students. Read and show all body language signs. Then in turn ask your partners to demonstrate some signs (e.g. show the signs of frustration, or boredom, or interest, etc).
eyes
§ direct eye contact (when speaking)
§ widening eyes
§ rubbing eye or eyes
§ blinking frequently
§ eyebrow raising
§ winking
mouth
§ pasted smile
§ twisted smile
§ laughter
§ biting lip
§ chewing pen or pencil
§ hand clamped over mouth
§ nail-biting
head
§ slow head nodding
§ head held high
§ head tilted to one side
§ head forward
§ head tilted downward
§ chin up
arms
§ crossed arms with clenched fists
§ gripping own upper arms
§ arms held behind body with hands clasped
§ handbag held in front of body
§ holding papers across chest
§ adjusting cuff, watchstrap, tie, etc, using an arm across the body
§ hands covering genital region
§ holding a drink in front of the body with both hands
hands
§ palms up or open
§ palms down
§ palms up and moving up and down as if weighing
§ hands on heart
§ finger pointing at a person
§ finger wagging (side to side)
§ index finger and thumb touching at tips
§ thumb(s) up
§ thumbs down
§ rubbing hands together
§ touching nose while speaking
§ hands clamped on ears
§ ear tugging
§ hand stroking chin
§ hand supporting chin or side of face
§ neck scratching
§ hands on hips
§ hands in pockets
§ handshake – palm down
§ handshake – palm up
§ handshake – both hands
§ handshake – equal and vertical
legs
§ uncrossed legs, sitting
§ crossed legs, sitting
§ ankle lock sitting
honesty or faked honesty
interest, appeal
disbelief or tiredness
excitement, pressure
greeting, recognition, acknowledgement
friendly acknowledgement, or sharing a secret or joke
faked smile
mixed feelings or sarcasm
relaxation
tension
self-comforting
suppression, shock
frustration, suppression
attentive listening
superiority, arrogance
non-threatening, thoughtfulness
interest, positive reaction
criticism
pride, confidence
hostile defensiveness
insecurity
confidence, authority
nervousness
nervousness
nervousness
nervousness
nervousness
honesty
authority, strengths, dominance
striving for or seeking an answer
seeking to be believed
aggression, threat, emphasis
warning, refusal
satisfaction “OK”
positive approval
disapproval, failure
anticipation, relish
lying or exaggerating
rejection of, or resistance to something
indecision, self-comforting
thoughtfulness
evaluation, tiredness or boredom
doubt, disbelief
confidence, readiness
boredom
dominance
submission
seeking to convey trustworthiness
non-threatening, relaxed
openness
caution, disinterest
defensiveness
Exercise 3
Match the gestures with heir meanings
1. Shrug your shoulders
2. Kiss someone on the cheek
3. Pat someone on the back
4. Wave
5. Point at something
6. Shake hands
7. Wink
8. Cross your fingers
a) ‘Hello, good to meet you.’
b) ‘I don’t know.’
c) ‘Good luck.’
d) ‘That one, please.’
e) ‘Nice to see you again.’
f) ‘I’m joking.’
g) ‘Well done.’
h) ‘Goodbye.’
Exercise 4
How would you interpret the gestures shown in these cartoons?
Exercise 5
Try to guess the interpretation of non-verbal behavior.
