Culture Learning Questions

1 Can you think of what culture hides in the area of non-verbal communication?

2 What are some of the ways that people communicate without using words?

3 Do you depend much on the nonverbal language to communicate?

4 Is most of your meaning conveyed through verbal communication?

5 From your observations of Americans / English, do you think that they “talk” a lot with their hands? Have you noticed differences among Americans / English from various ethnic groups?

Cultural Note

Nonverbal communication expresses meaning or feeling without words. Universal emotions, such as happiness, fear, and sadness, are expressed in a similar nonverbal way throughout the world. There are, however, nonverbal differences across cultures that may be a source of confusion for foreigners. In many cultures, such as the Arab and Iranian cultures, people express grief openly. They mourn out loud, while people from other cultures (e.g. China and Japan) are more subdued. In Asian cultures, the general belief is that it is unacceptable to show emotion openly (whether sadness, happiness, or pain).

Feelings of friendship exist everywhere in the world, but their expressions vary. It is acceptable in some countries for men to embrace and for women to hold hands; in other countries, these displays of affection are discouraged or prohibited.

As with verbal communication, what is considered usual or polite behaviour in one culture may be seen as unusual or impolite in another. One culture may determine that snapping fingers to call a waiter is appropriate, whereas another may consider this gesture rude. We are often not aware of how gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, and the use of conversational distance affect communication. To interpret another culture’s style of communication, it is necessary to study the “silent language” of that culture.

Facial Expressiveness

Culture Learning Questions

1 What types of nonverbal communication do you think are universal? For example, do you think the smile, eye contact, or facial expressions have the same functions across cultures?

2 What facial expressions do people use while communicating in your culture? Do they differ in other cultures?

Cultural Note

Facial expressiveness carry meaning that is determined by situations and relationships. For instance, in American culture the smile is typically an expression of pleasure. Yet it also has other functions. A woman’s smile at a police officer does not carry the same meaning as the smile she gives to a young child. A smile may show affection, convey politeness, or disguise true feelings. It also is a source of confusion across cultures. For example, many people in Russia and Belarus consider smiling at strangers in public to be unusual and even suspicious behaviour. Yet many Americans smile freely at strangers in public places. Some Russians believe that Americans smile in the wrong places; some Americans believe that Russians don’t smile enough. In Southeast Asian cultures, a smile is frequently used to cover emotional pain or embarrassment. Vietnamese people may tell the sad story of how they had to leave their country but end the story with a smile.

Our faces reveal emotions and attitudes, but we should not attempt to “read” people from another culture as we would “read” someone from our own culture. The degree of facial expressiveness one exhibits varies among individuals and cultures. The fact that members of one culture do not express their emotions as openly as do members of another does not mean they do not experience emotions. Rather, there are cultural restraints on the amount of nonverbal expressiveness permitted. For example, in public and in formal situations many Japanese do not show their emotions as freely as Americans do. More privately and with friends, Japanese and Americans seem to shoe their emotions similarly.

In fact it is difficult to generalize about Americans and facial expressiveness because of individual and ethnic differences in the United States. People from certain ethnic backgrounds in the United States tend to be more facially expressive than others. The key is to try not to judge people whose ways of showing emotion are different. If we judge according to our own cultural norms, we may make the mistake of “reading” the other person incorrectly.

1) The facial expression of happiness (while introduction and greetings, at the first meeting or other situations) can be as follows:

Eyes – the lower eyelids are slightly risen. The wrinkles are formed under the eyes and in the corners of the eyes, so called “crow’s paws”.

Mouth – the mouth is stretching when the corners of the lips rise up. The lips smile broadly (the upper lip lifts up and the teeth are shown). The wrinkles are formed from the corners of the mouth to the nose.

Cheeks – the cheeks are plump and lift up. As a result, the eyes get narrow and the wrinkles are formed in the corners of the eyes.

2) The facial expression of astonishment (when meeting people, hearing surprising news and other situations):

Eyes – the eyes are widely opened. You can see whites of the eyes.

Mouth – the jaw is letting down, the muscles of the face are weaken. The mouth is opened.

The eyebrows – the eyebrows are bent and rushed up.

The forehead – the wrinkles are formed across the forehead.

3) The facial expression of fear can be as follows:

Eyes – the upper eyelids are lifted up and opened widely, so the whites of the eyes are seen. The lower eyelids are lifted up and strained.

Mouth – the lips are tensely drawn off back of the opened mouth.

The eyebrows – the eyebrows are lifted up, coincided and curved.

The forehead – the wrinkles are formed across the forehead.

4) The facial expression of sorrow is:

Eyes – the tears can be seen in the eyes.

Mouth – the corners of the mouth are let down. The lips may tremble.

The eyebrows – the internal edges of the eyebrows can lift up. As a result a triangle is made. The wrinkles are formed under the triangle.

The forehead – there are wrinkles on the forehead.

It is very important to express your feeling sincerely because the loss of the dearly-beloved person is the feeling that injures people very heavily.

5) The facial expression of anger can be as follows:

Eyes – the eyes are narrowed. The glance is fixed.

Mouth – the lips are closely compressed together. They form a straight line. The lips may be intently opened.

The eyebrows – as a result of reaction of the facial muscles the eyebrows are pulled down and turned down. The vertical wrinkles are formed at the bridge of the nose. Nose – the nostrils may dilate.

Date: 2016-04-22; view: 1168