For example, Bulgarians and Russians nod their heads in exactly the opposite way when they want to say “yes” or “no”; there are many other lesser known differences in reactions. In general, it is customary to distinguish between cultures in which spoken words are perceived almost literally, they contain practically no hidden meaning. These are the so-called low-context cultures. Such cultures include, for example, American and German.
In other cultures, in particular in Russian, French, Japanese, the meaning of the context is very high, to the point that the meaning of what was said can change to the opposite.
In the second type of cultures, non-verbal factors of communication are of particular importance. In any case, even in cultures with the so-called low level of context (for example, in America), a lot of attention is paid to non-verbal aspects of communication.
What American American gestures have penetrated into our lives today? How necessary are these gestures for us?
In different cultures, the concept of norm is different. So, the distance at which people talk is not the same.
What do you think, when talking with a Russian client or with an Estonian client, the distance should be greater? Justify.
In business conversations, for example, Russians are suitable closer friend to a friend than the Americans. In other words, social distance for Russians is less than for Americans, and coincides with their personal or intimate distance. Such a decrease in social distance and its translation into “intimate” can be interpreted by Americans as a kind of violation of “sovereignty”, excessive familiarity, and Russian people can perceive an increase in distance as coldness in relations, increased officiality. After a few meetings, this misinterpretation of behavior usually disappears. However, at first it can create tension in the conversation. A. Pease gives a description of a curious scene that he had to observe during one of the conferences. An American and a Japanese were talking and slowly moving around the room. The American believed that the distance in a business conversation should be approximately 90 cm; he constantly took a step back, and the Japanese, for whom a similar distance is 25 cm, constantly approached him.
Representatives of different nations during a conversation prefer the following distances:
· Close - Arabs, Japanese, residents South America, French, Greeks, Negroes and Spaniards living in North America, Italians, Spaniards;
· Average - British, Swedes, Swiss, Germans, Austrians;
· Large - white population North America, Australians, New Zealanders.
The use of symbolic gestures causes the most confusion. They are often resorted to when they do not know the language spoken by the partner, but still strive to explain themselves, assuming that the meaning of symbolic gestures is the same everywhere. This profound delusion leads to a mass of comical, and sometimes awkward situations. So, in our country, a thumbs up symbolizes the highest rating, and in Greece it means "shut up." In the US, this gesture may in some cases imply "everything is in order", in others - the desire to catch a passing car, and if the finger is sharply thrown up, then this is foul language. How the finger is thrown (at least until recently) did not matter in Russian culture, but in American this detail radically changes what was said. One can imagine the bewilderment and even fear on the faces of Americans when, after business meeting one of the Russian participants, not knowing in English, but wanting to express satisfaction with the results of the meeting, he abruptly raised his thumb. The conclusion is obvious: if unknown exact values gestures, when communicating with foreigners, it is better to exclude them altogether. These gestures are either simply not understood or have a different meaning.
If an official or a policeman hits the edge of the palm of one hand on the bend of the other at the elbow, then he offers to show the documents. The hand extended forward, palm down, the fingers make a movement, as it were, scraping through the air, symbolizes a request to approach, to approach. If an Arab interlocutor wants to express a concurrence of opinions, consent, then he rubs his index fingers against each other, and the rest of the fingers will be bent.
If an Arab interlocutor liked your joke, then he impulsively grabs your palm and slaps it loudly with his outstretched fingers. The same gesture expresses agreement to make a deal. A sharp short movement of the head back, a raised chin and eyebrows, accompanied by a click of the tongue, symbolize denial.
In all countries of the Middle East, three fingers, folded "in a pinch" and turned up, testify to the request "do not rush", "wait a minute." If fingers folded in this way protrude from the window of a car in front, they warn: "be careful, there is danger ahead."
So, the gesture with which the Russian contritely demonstrates the loss or failure, for the Croat means a sign of success and pleasure. If in Holland you twist your index finger at your temple, implying some kind of stupidity, then you will not be understood. There, this gesture means that someone said a very witty phrase. Speaking about himself, a European shows his hand to his chest, and a Japanese - to his nose.
In some parts of Africa, laughter is a sign of amazement and even confusion rather than a sign of amusement.
The inhabitants of Malta, instead of the word "no", lightly touch their chin with their fingertips, turning the brush forward. In France and Italy, this gesture means that something hurts a person.
In Greece and Turkey, you should never show two fingers to a waiter (by your understanding - two coffees) - this is a cruel insult, like spitting in the face.
The most ancient gesture is “horns”: the little finger and index fingers extended forward, and the ring and middle fingers are bent. The origin of this gesture dates back to about the sixth or fourth millennium BC. His image can be found in cave drawings, on frescoes in the tombs of the Etruscans, who inhabited the territory of modern Italy. It is said that in those days this gesture was used to scare away evil spirits.
Over time, the old meaning was replaced by a new one, connected mainly with adultery in marriage. Showing the “horns” to the interlocutor, you call him a cuckold. Although this gesture is understood by many peoples, yet on other continents it must be used very carefully, as it may be interpreted differently.
In the process of communication, representatives different peoples nod their heads. For some peoples, this is a sign of agreement, while for others (for example, among the Bulgarians), a nod is a sign of denial. The Japanese have a vertical fast moving the head rather means "I am listening to you carefully", but not a mandatory agreement. In this regard, foreigners sometimes complain: “How come, all the time my partner nodded in the affirmative, but when it came to concluding a deal, it turned out that he did not agree with me.”
Germans often raise their eyebrows in admiration for someone's idea. But the same thing in England would be regarded as an expression of skepticism.
A Frenchman or Italian, if he considers any idea stupid, expressively knocks on the head. The German, slapping his forehead with his hand, seems to say with this: "Yes, you've lost your mind." And the British or Spaniard with the same gesture show how pleased they are with themselves. If a Dutchman, while banging his forehead, stretches his index finger up, this means that he appreciated your mind. A finger to the side indicates that you are "not all right with your head."
The French have the most expressive sign language. When the Frenchman is delighted with something, he connects the tips of three fingers, brings them to his lips and, raising his chin high, sends a tender kiss into the air. If he rubs the base of his nose with his index finger, then this means that he warns: "Something is unclean here", "Caution", "These people cannot be trusted."
An Italian tapping his index finger on his nose means: "Beware, there is danger ahead, they are up to something." But the same gesture in Holland means: “I am drunk” or “You are drunk”, in England - conspiracy and secrecy.
The movement of a finger from side to side in the USA, Italy can mean a slight condemnation, a threat or a call to listen to what is said. In Holland, this gesture means refusal. If it is necessary to accompany the reprimand with a gesture, the index finger is moved from side to side near the head.
In communication, we do not attach much importance to the left or right hand. But be careful in the Middle East: do not try to give someone money or a gift with your left hand. For those who profess Islam, it is considered unclean, and you can insult your interlocutor.
In general, in any culture, gestures of insincerity are associated with the left hand, while our right hand is “cultivated”, it does what it needs, and the left does what it wants, betraying the secret feelings of the owner. Therefore, if in a conversation with you the interlocutor gestures with his left hand, there is a high probability that he does not say what he thinks, or simply has a negative attitude towards what is happening. It is necessary to change the subject of the conversation or interrupt it altogether.
Sometimes even a slight change in a gesture can completely change its meaning. So in England it happened with a gesture of two fingers, index and middle, raised up. If at the same time the palm is turned towards the interlocutor, this is a terrible insult, and if the palm is turned towards oneself, then this is the first letter of the word "victory" (victory). We have often seen how with this gesture we expressed our joy famous politicians, and also remember the forest of “V” soaring over the heads of their supporters greeting them.
All peoples have a custom to greet each other, however, the forms of greeting can vary greatly. For example, the English, when they meet for the first time, shake hands with each other. This also applies to goodbye forever. In other cases, they completely do without handshakes. As forms of greeting, kissing and hugging are extremely rare in the English hostel.
Compared to the British, Americans are more sociable. This contributes to the ease of acquaintance and ease of greetings, when, in addition to a friendly handshake, it is quite appropriate to pat someone you know or not very familiar on the shoulder.
In the Czech Republic, after the traditional greeting: “Hello! How are you doing? How is your health?" in response, they hear continuous complaints about the difficulties in business, about worries and difficulties. It seems that the interlocutors are doing badly. However, it is not. It’s just that Czechs don’t say when they meet that life is going well, but prefer to complain about it, although this is said in a cheerful tone. They seem to be proud of the difficulties and worries, because, according to their concepts, only idlers live without difficulties, and serious people have only worries in their minds.
In Japan, handshakes are not accepted, because the Japanese consider this gesture foreign. It is especially unacceptable for women. And if the Japanese notice women shaking hands, they have the most unfavorable opinion about such women. This rejection of the handshake in Japan, scientists explain two reasons. Firstly, the Japanese avoid the direct gaze that is inevitable when shaking hands, and secondly, they do not like the way they touch each other.
In Korea, a handshake is used when meeting with acquaintances, as well as when meeting and at official meetings. At the same time, a sign of respect is shaking the partner's hand with both hands, which is accompanied by a slight and rather long shaking of it. Shaking with one hand and holding the shaking hand with the other under the elbow is also a sign of respect, but it has a patronizing connotation. Holding out one hand to greet is also an expression of politeness, but means that the one who extends the hand considers the status of the one whom he greets below his own.
With a dismissive attitude towards the interlocutor in Korea, it is not customary to extend a hand to greet. A pat on the shoulder there may express disdain in the form of patronage, although in general it indicates approval. When greeting, a Korean showing respect, like a Japanese, leans in, bending at the waist, which makes it possible to direct the look from the bottom up, regardless of height.
Arabs at a meeting, in addition to shaking hands, touch their foreheads with their palms and make a small bow. When they meet after a long separation, they hug and kiss each other's shoulders, and if they want to show their closeness, they do not take their hands away for a long time. When shaking hands, the Arabs do not look into each other's eyes, because they consider this a sign of bad taste. Older people, wanting to express their respect to the interlocutor, after shaking hands, kiss their palm before touching their forehead with it.
If two familiar Arabs meet, they greet each other with the words: “Peace be with you!” or “Peace be upon you, abundance and the mercy of God!” It will be impolite if the greeting person says: “Peace be with you”, since the obligatory answer to the greeting will be “And peace be with you!” If an Arab meets with a group of people, his greeting should be addressed to everyone at the same time, but he shakes hands only with two or three of the most respectable people. Everyone says the answer to the greeting. In the event that a greeting is transmitted through someone, then the one who received it should answer: “To you, and to him, and peace to you!”
Let us now consider some of the gestures that are accepted in European countries, but differ somewhat in meaning from those we have.
We are accustomed to counting by bending our fingers starting with the little finger. In Europe, when counting, the fingers of the left are thrown out of the center of the palm to the side. If both hands take part in the count, then the index finger of the right hand moves away from the center of the palm to the side, first the little finger, then the other fingers in order. If the count is kept with one hand, then the thumb is thrown to the side first, then the index finger, etc.
A raised right hand at shoulder or head level means inviting a waiter. The snapping of the thumb and middle fingers has the same meaning - a gesture that we consider offensive. The same negative reaction in us is caused by another gesture of inviting the waiter, adopted in the West - repeated bending of the index finger.
If in our educational institutions a pupil or student ready to answer raises his hand, then in European schools they raise the index finger of the right hand. If, at the end of a lecture in universities in Germany, you hear the knock of fists on the tables, then this is not an obstruction to the teacher, but gratitude for a well-read lecture.
Characteristic gestures that can puzzle or deceive a foreigner exist among the Arabs. In particular, the first thing that attracts foreigners in Lebanon is a gesture of denial: a short sharp movement of the head back, raised chin and eyebrows, click of the tongue. A person who does not own Arabic, you will also have to face an expression of bewilderment: shaking your head from side to side, eyebrows raised high, mouth half open.
If an Arab is dissatisfied with the words of the interlocutor, he can show it in the following way: the clothes at chest level twitch with the thumbs and forefingers of both hands, the remaining fingers are slightly bent and set aside. And when an Arab is indignant, then his arms bent at the elbows with palms open and directed away from him rise sharply up on both sides of his face, his eyebrows are raised. The rotational movement of the hand or hands of both hands with half-open palms expresses puzzlement or annoyance. The release or rejection of an unpleasant business is indicated by the “cleansing” of the palms one on the other, while the arms are bent at the elbows.
If an Arab asks the interlocutor to pay attention, to be silent or to wait, he expresses it this way: the palm turns up, the fingers fold in a pinch, their tips are directed towards the interlocutor, the hand moves from top to bottom. Another gesture is also used, calling for attention: the arm bent at the elbow rises from the side a little higher than the head, the palm is turned to the temple and half open. When the index fingers rub against each other with an edge, and the rest of the fingers are bent, this means friendship, equality or similarity.
If in a conversation an Arab is satisfied with the successful phrase of the speaker, he claps his outstretched fingers on his substituted palm. When expressing grief, the Arab throws off his headdress to the ground, and his hand directed to the face with spread fingers is a gesture of cursing.
A foreigner heading to the Middle East should keep in mind that the invitation to approach is indicated as follows: the outstretched hand is turned palm down, the fingers make, as it were, scratching movements through the air. From afar, this gesture can be perceived in the opposite sense - as a demand to leave. The order to present documents is indicated by a blow with the edge of the palm on the fold of the other at the elbow.
Peoples of different cultures have different ideas about optimal distances between interlocutors. For example, Russians in business conversations come closer to each other than Americans. In other words, the social distance for Russians is less than for Americans. And if we take the Americans, then they will have this distance more than, for example, Latin Americans. Thus, the inhabitants of the United States usually conduct a conversation, standing at a distance of no closer than 60 centimeters from each other. A Hispanic in a conversation with a US resident seeks to get closer to the interlocutor, while a US resident, if asked about his impression of a Hispanic, may answer that he is too persistent and claims to establish close relationships. And the Hispanic will say with bewilderment that his interlocutor is an arrogant and arrogant person. And both, thus, will be mistaken, because during the conversation the distance habitual for each of them was involuntarily violated.
After a few meetings, this misinterpretation of behavior usually disappears. Alan Pease, a well-known Australian psychologist, gives a description of a curious scene that he had to observe during one of scientific conferences. An American and a Japanese were talking and slowly moving around the hall. The American, accustomed to the fact that the distance in a business conversation should be about 90 cm, kept stepping back, and the Japanese, for whom the same distance is 25 cm, constantly approached him.
Representatives of various nations during a conversation prefer the following distance:
- close distance - Arabs, Japanese, Italians, Spaniards, Greeks, French, South Americans;
- the average distance - the British, Germans, Austrians, Swedes, residents of Switzerland;
— long distance- the white population of North America, Australians, New Zealanders.
There are differences among peoples of different cultures and in the perception of space. Thus, the Americans are accustomed to work either in large premises, or for - if there are several premises - only with open doors, since they believe that "an American in the service must be at the disposal of others." open office means that his master is in place and, most importantly, that he has nothing to hide. Many skyscrapers in New York are built entirely of glass and are visible through and through. Here everything - from the director of the company to the messenger - is constantly in sight. This creates a well-defined stereotype of behavior among employees, causing them to feel that "all together are doing one common thing."
For an American, the refusal to talk to a person who is in the same room with him means an extreme degree of negative attitude towards him. In England, this is a generally accepted rule.
An American, when he wants to be alone, goes into a room and closes the door behind him. The Englishman, on the other hand, has been accustomed since childhood not to use space in order to isolate himself from others. The divergence of views on the use of space leads to the fact that the more an American closes in space in the presence of an Englishman, the more persistently he tries to find out if everything is in order.
In England, Americans are considered to speak unbearably loudly, noting their intonational aggression. The thing is that Americans are forced to speak out by their complete disposition towards the interlocutor, as well as the fact that they have nothing to hide. The English, on the contrary, regulate the sound of their voice just enough to be heard in the room by only one interlocutor. In America, this manner of conducting a business conversation is considered "whispering" and causes nothing but suspicion.
When meeting with foreigners or visiting other countries, a business person should know the facial expressions, gestures and postures characteristic of them. Frivolous handling of gestures that are usual for us can lead to the most unexpected consequences. The situation is also aggravated by the fact that often the same expressive movement or gesture among different peoples can have a completely different meaning. different meaning.
So, the gesture with which the Russian contritely demonstrates the loss or failure, for the Croat means a sign of success and pleasure. If in Holland you twist your index finger at your temple, implying some kind of stupidity, then you will not be understood. There, this gesture means that someone said a very witty phrase. Speaking about himself, a European shows his hand to his chest, and a Japanese - to his nose.
In some parts of Africa, laughter is an indicator of amazement and even confusion, and not a manifestation of amusement at all.
The inhabitants of Malta, instead of the word "no", lightly touch their chin with their fingertips, turning the brush forward. In France and Italy, this gesture means that something hurts a person.
In Greece and Turkey, in no case should you show two fingers to a waiter (by your understanding - two coffees) - this is a cruel insult, like spitting in the face.
The most ancient gesture is “horns”: the little finger and index finger are extended forward, and the ring and middle fingers are bent. The origin of this gesture dates back to around the sixth or fourth millennium BC. His image can be found in cave drawings, on frescoes in the tombs of the Etruscans, who inhabited the territory of modern Italy. It is claimed that in those days this gesture was used to scare away evil spirits.
Over time, the old meaning was replaced by a new one, associated mainly with adultery in marriage. Showing the “horns” to the interlocutor, you call him a cuckold. Although this gesture is understood by many peoples, yet on other continents it must be used very carefully, as it may be interpreted differently.
Quite often, the same gesture has not only a different, but also the exact opposite meaning.
Having formed a ring of thumb and forefinger, Americans and representatives of many other nations tell us that things are “ok”. But the same gesture is used in Japan when talking about money, in France it means zero, in Greece and Sardinia it serves as a sign go-ahead, and in Malta they characterize a person with perverted sexual instincts.
In the process of communication, representatives of different nations nod their heads. For some peoples, this is a sign of agreement, while for others (for example, among the Bulgarians), a nod serves as a sign of denial. In Japanese, a vertical quick movement of the head is more likely to mean "I'm listening to you carefully", but not a mandatory agreement. In this regard, foreigners sometimes complain: “How come, all the time my partner nodded in the affirmative, but when it came to concluding a deal, it turned out that he did not agree with me.”
Germans often raise their eyebrows in admiration for someone's idea. But the same thing in England would be regarded as an expression of skepticism.
A Frenchman or Italian, if he considers any idea stupid, expressively knocks on the head. The German, slapping his forehead with his hand, seems to say with this: "Yes, you've lost your mind." And the British or Spaniard with the same gesture show how pleased they are with themselves. If a Dutchman, while banging his forehead, stretches his index finger up, this means that he appreciated your mind. A finger to the side indicates that you are "not all right with your head."
The French have the most expressive sign language. When the Frenchman is delighted with something, he puts the tips of three fingers together, raises them to his lips and, raising his chin high, sends a gentle kiss into the air. If he rubs the base of his nose with his index finger, then this means that he warns: "Something is unclean here", "Caution", "These people cannot be trusted."
Tapping an Italian with the index finger on the nose means: "Beware, there is danger ahead, they are up to something." But the same gesture in Holland means: "I'm drunk" or "You're drunk", in England - conspiracy and secrecy.
Moving a finger from side to side in the USA, Italy can mean a slight condemnation, a threat, or a call to listen to what is said. In Holland, this gesture means refusal. If it is necessary to accompany the reprimand with a gesture, the index finger is moved from side to side near the head.
In communication, we do not attach much importance to the left or right hand. But be careful in the Middle East: do not try to give someone money or a gift with your left hand. For those who profess Islam, it is considered unclean, and you can insult the interlocutor.
In general, in any culture, gestures of insincerity are associated with the left hand, while our right hand is “cultivated”, it does what it needs, and the left does what it wants, betraying the secret feelings of the owner. Therefore, if in a conversation with you the interlocutor gestures with his left hand, there is a high probability that he does not say what he thinks, or simply has a negative attitude towards what is happening. It is necessary to change the topic of conversation or interrupt it altogether.
Sometimes even a slight change in a gesture can completely change its meaning. So in England it happened with a gesture of two fingers, index and middle, raised up. If at the same time the palm is turned towards the interlocutor, this is a terrible insult, and if the palm is turned towards oneself, then this is the first letter of the word “victory” (victory). We have often seen how well-known politicians expressed their joy with this gesture, and we also remember the forest of “Vs” flying up over the heads of their supporters who greeted them.
All peoples have a custom to greet each other, but the forms of greeting can vary greatly. For example, the British, when they meet for the first time, shake hands. This also applies to goodbye forever. In other cases, they completely do without handshakes. As forms of greeting, kissing and hugging are extremely rare in the English hostel.
Compared to the British, Americans are more sociable. This contributes to the ease of acquaintance and the ease of greetings, when, in addition to a friendly handshake, it is quite appropriate to pat a friend or not very familiar on the shoulder.
In the Czech Republic, after the traditional greeting: “Hello! How are you doing? How is your health?" in response, they hear continuous complaints about the difficulties in business, about worries and difficulties. It seems that the interlocutors are doing badly. However, it is not. It’s just that Czechs don’t say when they meet that life is going well, but prefer to complain about it, although this is said in a cheerful tone. They seem to be proud of the difficulties and worries, because, according to their concepts, only idlers live without difficulties, and serious people have only worries in their minds.
In Japan, handshakes are not accepted, because the Japanese consider this gesture foreign. It is especially unacceptable for women. And if the Japanese notice women shaking hands, they have the most unfavorable opinion about such women. This rejection of the handshake in Japan, scientists explain two reasons. Firstly, the Japanese avoid the direct gaze that is inevitable when shaking hands, and secondly, they do not like the way they touch each other.
In Korea, a handshake is used when meeting with acquaintances, as well as when meeting and at official meetings. A sign of respect in this case is shaking the partner's hand with both hands, which is accompanied by a slight and rather long shaking of it. Shaking with one hand and holding the shaking hand with the other under the elbow is also a sign of respect, but it has a patronizing connotation. Holding out one hand to greet is also an expression of politeness, but means that the one who extends the hand considers the status of the one whom he greets below his own.
With a dismissive attitude towards the interlocutor in Korea, it is not customary to extend a hand to greet. A pat on the shoulder there may express disdain in the form of patronage, although in general it indicates approval. When greeting, a Korean showing respect, like a Japanese, leans in, bending at the waist, which makes it possible to direct the look from the bottom up, regardless of height.
Arabs at a meeting, in addition to shaking hands, touch their foreheads with their palms and make a small bow. Meeting after a long separation, they hug and kiss each other's shoulders, and if they want to show their closeness, they do not take their hands away for a long time. When shaking hands, the Arabs do not look into each other's eyes, because they consider this a sign of bad taste. Elderly people, wishing to express their respect to the interlocutor, after shaking hands, kiss their palm before touching their forehead with it.
If two familiar Arabs meet, they greet each other with the words: “Peace be with you!” or “Peace be upon you, abundance and the mercy of God!” It would be impolite if the greeter says, "Peace be with you," as the obligatory response to the greeting is "And peace be with you!" If an Arab meets with a group of people, his greeting should be addressed to everyone at the same time, but he shakes hands only with two or three of the most respectable people. Everyone says the answer to the greeting. In the event that a greeting is transmitted through someone, then the one who received it should answer: “To you, and to him, and peace to you!”
Let us now consider some gestures that are accepted in European countries, but differ somewhat in meaning from those that prevail with us.
We are accustomed to counting by bending our fingers starting with the little finger. In Europe, when counting, the fingers of the left are thrown out of the center of the palm to the side. If both hands take part in the count, then the index finger of the right hand moves the little finger from the center of the palm to the side, then the other fingers in order. If the account is kept with one hand, then the thumb is thrown to the side first, then the index finger, etc.
A raised right hand at shoulder or head level means an invitation to the waiter. The snapping of the thumb and middle fingers has the same meaning - a gesture that we consider offensive. The same negative reaction in us is caused by another gesture of inviting a waiter, adopted in the West - repeated bending of the index finger.
If in our educational institutions a pupil or student who is ready to answer raises his hand, then in European schools they raise the index finger of the right hand. If, at the end of a lecture in German universities, you hear the knock of fists on the tables, then this is not an obstruction to the teacher, but gratitude for a well-read lecture.
Characteristic gestures that may puzzle or deceive a foreigner exist among the Arabs. In particular, the first thing that attracts foreigners in Lebanon is a gesture of denial: a short sharp movement of the head back, raised chin and eyebrows, click of the tongue. A person who does not speak Arabic will also have to face an expression of bewilderment: shaking his head from side to side, eyebrows raised high, mouth half open.
If an Arab is dissatisfied with the words of the interlocutor, he can show this in the following way: the clothes at chest level are twitched with the thumbs and forefingers of both hands, the remaining fingers are slightly bent and set aside. And when an Arab is indignant, then his arms bent at the elbows with palms open and directed away from him rise sharply up on both sides of his face, his eyebrows are raised. The rotational movement of the hand or hands of both hands with half-open palms expresses puzzlement or annoyance. The release or rejection of an unpleasant deed is indicated by the “cleansing” of the palms one on the other, while the arms are bent at the elbows.
If an Arab asks the interlocutor to pay attention, to be silent or to wait, he expresses it this way: the palm turns up, the fingers fold in a pinch, their tips are directed towards the interlocutor, the hand moves from top to bottom. Another gesture is also used, calling for attention: the arm bent at the elbow rises from the side a little higher than the head, the palm is turned to the temple and half open. When the index fingers rub against each other with an edge, and the remaining fingers are bent, this means friendship, equality or similarity.
If in a conversation an Arab is satisfied with the successful phrase of the speaker, he claps his outstretched fingers on his substituted palm. When expressing grief, the Arab throws off his headdress to the ground, and his hand directed to the face with spread fingers is a gesture of cursing.
A foreigner heading to the Middle East should keep in mind that the invitation to approach is indicated as follows: the outstretched hand is turned palm down, the fingers make, as it were, scratching movements through the air. From afar, this gesture can be perceived in the opposite sense - as a demand to leave. The order to present documents is indicated by a blow with the edge of the palm on the fold of the other at the elbow.
Peoples of different cultures have different ideas about the optimal distances between interlocutors. For example, Russians in business conversations come closer to each other than Americans. In other words, the social distance for Russians is less than for Americans. And if we take the Americans, then they will have this distance more than, for example, Latin Americans. So, US residents usually conduct a conversation, standing at a distance of no closer than 60 centimeters from each other. A Hispanic in a conversation with a US resident seeks to get closer to the interlocutor, while a US resident, if asked about his impression of a Hispanic, may answer that he is too persistent and claims to establish close relationships. And the Hispanic will say with bewilderment that his interlocutor is an arrogant and arrogant person. And both, thus, will be mistaken, because during the conversation the distance habitual for each of them was involuntarily violated.
After a few meetings, this misinterpretation of behavior usually disappears. Alan Pease, a well-known Australian psychologist, describes a curious scene that he had to observe during one of the scientific conferences. An American and a Japanese were talking and slowly moving around the hall. The American, accustomed to the fact that the distance in a business conversation should be about 90 cm, kept stepping back, and the Japanese, for whom the same distance is 25 cm, constantly approached him.
Representatives of various nations during a conversation prefer the following distance:
Close distance - Arabs, Japanese, Italians, Spaniards, Greeks, French, South Americans;
Middle distance - British, Germans, Austrians, Swedes, Swiss;
A long distance - the white population of North America, Australians, New Zealanders.
There are differences among peoples of different cultures and in the perception of space. Thus, Americans are accustomed to work either in large rooms, or for - if there are several rooms - only with open doors, since they believe that "an American in the service must be at the disposal of others." An open office means that its owner is in place and, most importantly, that he has nothing to hide. Many skyscrapers in New York are built entirely of glass and are visible through and through. Here everything - from the director of the company to the messenger - is constantly in sight. This creates a well-defined stereotype of behavior among employees, causing them to feel that "all together are doing one common thing."
The Germans have a similar working room only causes confusion. Traditional forms of workspace organization in Germany are fundamentally different. Every room there must be provided with secure (often double) doors. The door, wide open, symbolizes the extreme degree of disorder for the German.
For an American, the refusal to talk to a person who is in the same room with him means an extreme degree of negative attitude towards him. In England, this is a generally accepted rule.
An American, when he wants to be alone, goes into a room and closes the door behind him. The Englishman, on the other hand, has been accustomed since childhood not to use space in order to isolate himself from others. The divergence of views on the use of space leads to the fact that the more an American closes in space in the presence of an Englishman, the more persistently he tries to find out if everything is in order.
In England, Americans are considered to speak unbearably loudly, noting their intonational aggression. The thing is that Americans are forced to speak out by their complete disposition towards the interlocutor, as well as the fact that they have nothing to hide. The English, on the contrary, adjust the sound of their voice just enough to be heard in the room by only one interlocutor. In America, this manner of conducting a business conversation is considered "whispering" and causes nothing but suspicion.
Thus, not knowing the differences in non-verbal communication among different peoples, you can easily get into trouble, offending or worse, offending your interlocutor. To avoid this, every entrepreneur (especially those who deal with foreign partners) should be aware of the differences in the interpretation of gestures, facial expressions and body movements among representatives of the business world in different countries.
Every day we have to deal with people, effective interaction with which directly depends on how correctly and psychologically competently the system of verbal and non-verbal communications is built. Non-verbal communication (through facial expressions, gestures and interpersonal space) is of particular interest, since it is unconscious in nature and practically uncontrollable, which means it should be the subject of our special attention.
In the course of special experiments, the scientist Meyerabian found that the transfer of information occurs due to: verbal means(only words) by only 7%; sound means (including tone of voice, intonation, sound) by 38%; non-verbal means (!) by 55%.
Professor Birdwhistle, having done similar research on the share of non-verbal means in people's communication, found that verbal communication in a conversation takes less than 35%, and more than 65% of the information used for discussion. interpersonal relationships transmitted through human gestures and facial expressions.
There are a number of factors that affect non-verbal language and its individual elements:
Nationality (the same gestures may not mean the same thing for different peoples);
The state of health (a person in a painful state has a change in gaze, sound of voice, gestures
usually more lethargic, although there are diseases accompanied by increased excitability, emotionality);
Profession of a person (a weak handshake is not always a sign of weakness: maybe the profession requires you to protect your fingers);
The level of culture, which affects the set of gestures, ideas about etiquette, about proper education;
The status of a person (the higher he stands on the hierarchical ladder, the more stingy with gestures, more in terms of words; his gestures become more refined);
Acting abilities (many are able to play not only with words, but also with non-verbal signs);
Age (in young years, the same state can be expressed in different gestures; in addition, the age factor often plays the same role as status; with age, the speed of movements may decrease). But like any language, each nation has its own non-verbal language. Indeed, the same expressive gesture in different peoples can have completely different meanings. Even your suit and its color can carry ambiguous information in different parts Sveta. The gesture with which a Russian person contritely demonstrates a loss or failure, for a Croat means a sign of success and pleasure.
The most difficult to understand are gestures that have nothing to do with what they mean. Very indicative in this respect is the famous American “ring” formed by the thumb and forefinger (“OK” - everything is fine!”). This gesture is more than a hundred years old, and it appeared thanks to the street vendors of newspapers, who shortened sensational phrases to a few letters to speed up the presentation of information. According to one version, it is believed that “OK” is an incorrect abbreviation “All correct” (Everything is correct), according to another, it is the antonym of the abbreviation KO (“Knok-out” - knockout). This gesture is very popular not only in America, but also in Europe and even Asia. However, in a number of countries, the “ring” may have a completely different meaning.
Ignorance of the national features of the sign language played a cruel joke on the American President Nixon. While on an official visit to Brazil, he used this gesture to express his friendliness towards the inhabitants of this country, which puzzled the male part of the population. The fact is that the “ring” of fingers facing the man hints at his non-traditional sexual orientation.
In most Western civilizations, when the question of the role of the right and left hand arises, neither of them is given preference (unless, of course, the traditional handshake with the right hand is taken into account). But be careful in the Middle East, as in other Islamic countries such as Indonesia or Malaysia. You can not give someone food, money or a gift with your left hand. There she is known as an unclean hand and is notorious. In Russia, traditionally the right hand is placed above the left. "This is my right hand" - that's what Russians say about indispensable assistant or executive subordinate. This preference is most likely due to the fact that when doing this or that work, we mainly use the right hand. In America and the countries of Western Europe, where there are more left-handers, the attitude towards both hands is the same, except in rare cases. So, for example, when meeting as a sign of greeting, it is customary to extend only right hand. The situation is different in the Middle East. In the Islamic world left hand traditionally considered unclean, so it is not used when they want to pass a dish of food, money or give a gift.
So, it would seem, a universal way of expressing pleasure, friendliness and Have a good mood, a smile, in some parts of Africa very often indicates confusion and an extreme degree of surprise. And in Japan, a smile can express a whole range of feelings - from friendliness to sadness and from embarrassment to contempt. The smile of a Japanese at the sight of a couple in love holding hands is a clear sign of condemnation, since in the Country rising sun It is not customary to walk holding hands. And a benevolent and friendly smile will always be accompanied by a characteristic gesture of the hand, which the Japanese wave back and forth near his face.
With all Europeans, without exception, a protruding tongue expresses mockery. But for the inhabitants of Tibet, this is nothing more than a greeting, denoting a kind attitude towards a stranger. In India, a person sticks out his tongue to show his displeasure, and in China, a threat. The Mayan Indian shows his tongue to his interlocutor if he wants to show his intellectual superiority over him.
Fans of rock music are well aware of such a gesture as "goat" (middle, nameless and thumb pressed to the palm, little finger and index finger raised up). In some countries it is very undesirable to use it outside of rock concerts: in Argentina, Italy and Romania, the interlocutor will think that you called him a cuckold, and in some parts of Africa they will perceive this gesture as a message to where Makar did not drive calves. However, in Brazil and Venezuela, the "goat" is considered a wish for good luck.
Using gaze in different countries
Different peoples use the gaze in communication in very different ways. Ethnopsychologists dealing with this issue conditionally divided human civilizations into "contact" and "non-contact". In "contact" cultures, the look during conversation and communication is of great importance, however, as is the close distance between the interlocutors. These cultures include Arabs, Latin Americans, peoples of southern Europe. The second group, conditionally "non-contact", includes Indians, Pakistanis, Japanese and Northern Europeans.
So, the Swedes, when talking, look at each other more often than the British.
The Japanese, when talking, look at the neck of the interlocutor, a direct look in the face, according to their concepts, is impolite. And among other peoples, for example, among the Arabs, on the contrary, it is considered necessary to look at the one with whom you are talking. Children are taught that it is impolite to talk to a person and not look him in the face.
Thus, a person who does not look much at the interlocutor seems to be insincere and cold to the representatives of contact cultures, and to the “non-contact” interlocutor, the “contact” one seems intrusive, tactless, and even impudent. However, most peoples have an unwritten law, a kind of taboo, forbidding point-blank consideration of another person, especially a stranger.
Intimate distance - up to 50 cm. This is how close people communicate;
Interpersonal distance - 0.5-1.2 m. Optimal for a conversation of friends, acquaintances, informal
communication between colleagues;
Social distance - 1.2-3.7 m. Suitable for social, business relations. The upper limit corresponds to formal relations;
Public distance - more than 3.7 m. Used when speaking in an audience
Thus, Americans are accustomed to work either in large rooms, or - if there are several rooms - only when open doors because they believe that "an American in the service must be at the disposal of others." An open office means that its owner is in place and, most importantly, that he has nothing to hide. Many skyscrapers in New York are built entirely of glass and can be seen through. Here everything - from the director of the company to the messenger - is constantly in sight. This creates a well-defined stereotype of behavior among employees, causing them to feel that "everyone is doing one common thing together."
For the Germans, such a workplace causes only bewilderment. Traditional German forms of workspace organization are fundamentally different. Each room they have must be equipped with reliable (often double) doors. The open door symbolizes for them the extreme degree of disorder.
For an American, the refusal to talk to a person who is in the same room with him means an extreme degree of negative attitude towards him. In England, this is a generally accepted rule.
An American, when he wants to be alone, goes into a room and closes the door behind him. The Englishman, on the other hand, has been accustomed since childhood not to use space in order to isolate himself from others. The discrepancy between views on the use of space leads to the fact that the more an American closes in space in the presence of an Englishman, the more persistently he tries to find out if everything is in order.
In England, Americans are considered to speak unbearably loudly, noting their intonational aggression. The thing is that Americans are forced to speak out loud by their full disposition towards the interlocutor, as well as the fact that they have nothing to hide. The English, on the contrary, adjust the sound of their voice just enough to be heard in the room by only one interlocutor. In America, this manner of conducting a business conversation is considered "whispering" and causes nothing but suspicion.
In Greece and Turkey, you should never show two fingers to a waiter (for example, having
two cups of coffee) is considered a very offensive gesture. We consider this to be commonplace.
In France and the countries of the Middle
of the Mediterranean, kisses on the cheek are common, in Latin America- hugs. Two huddled together
palms in front of the chest - Indian national greeting.
Germans, British, Belgians, other businessmen European countries they don’t like it if invitees are late for a business meeting. It is customary to arrive at the meeting 10-20 minutes before the appointed hour.
Interestingly, the requirements for men's business attire are the same in almost all countries - a black or gray suit, white or blue shirt, a matching tie, polished shoes, expensive watches ... However, these rules do not apply to a business woman, and each country has its own idea of \u200b\u200bhow a real business woman should look like.
Americans consider a fashionable, well-tailored trouser suit to be suitable clothing for a business woman. Highly visible and carefully applied make-up is required. Hairstyle can be any, but preference is given to a business short haircut.
Business Englishwomen, in contrast to the prevailing opinion about them, are not stiff, but adhere to strict rules of etiquette. For a business meeting, they will pick up a classic suit of non-cutting colors. As little jewelry as possible, carefully applied makeup.
Germans tend to be somewhat conservative in their clothing. They prefer calm, slightly boring classics, calm color scheme. Strict business hairstyle. Minimum embellishment.
French women are very good at dressing. And although they adhere classical style, but without dryness, "with a kind of charm": a light scarf to an elegant suit, a fashionable, tasteful brooch...
Italians prefer expressive and extravagant business clothes. High Quality and exquisite taste. Expensive jewelry, bright and warm color palette.
Business Spaniards most often use a combination of black and white or black and red with gold trim in their clothes. And the Greek women are close to the business silhouette of the flowing pastel-colored fabric...
Thus, as we can see, each country has its own idea of the norms and rules of non-verbal communication. Knowing these features will help not only avoid misperceptions, but also make a favorable impression on the interlocutor and establish long-term partnerships with him.
The number and frequency of body movements accompanying verbal communication also bear the imprint of a particular national culture. Traditionally emotional, and, therefore, expressive are the French, Italians and residents of Latin America. For comparison: in the course of an hour-long conversation, a Mexican makes about 180 movements, a Frenchman - 120, an Italian - 80, and a Finn - 1.
The main features are observed among the symbolic gestures. As a rule, these are gestures of greeting and farewell, consent and denial, approval and censure, calls for silence, etc. Making eye contact, tactile forms of expressing relationships, spatial arrangement during communication also have distinctive features. Let's dwell on this in more detail.
GESTURES OF GREETINGS AND FAREWELL
Let's start with the most common element of meeting and parting - handshakes. The handshake carries great amount information about a person's attitude to the interlocutor, his feelings and intentions. As a rule, this information is transmitted through the duration and intensity of the handshake, as well as through the position of the hands.
In the culture of different peoples, the sign of greeting - a handshake - is diverse and has different shades. It can be condescending, casual, cold, friendly, hot, etc. But, despite this, a handshake at a meeting is very important, because. demonstrates a disposition towards a person and the absence of aggressive intentions.
It is known that men usually shake hands. It is customary to shake a woman's hand only if she herself wishes it and demonstrates this by giving her hand to the interlocutor first. But Italians are an exception to the generally accepted rules and use this greeting gesture with pleasure. And in Denmark, handshakes are common even with children.
A friendly and firm handshake is one of the advantages of our culture of communication and the culture of communication in different countries.
In the countries of the Middle East, greeting with a handshake is very common. At a meeting, the Arabs, in addition to this gesture, touch their foreheads with their palms and bow slightly. Old man, showing his respect to the interlocutor, after shaking hands, first kisses his palm, and only then touches his forehead with it and bows. If the men have not seen each other for a long time, then when they meet, they hug and kiss their shoulders. If you happen to see Arabs hugging each other and standing in this pose long time, know that this is how they express their closeness and the joy of meeting after a long separation.
In Latin America, during a long handshake, touching the interlocutor by the elbow or shoulder is widespread. Among contact and open Latin Americans, in order to express pleasure from the beginning of communication and respect for each other, it is also customary to hug.
A feature of non-verbal communication in China is the use of a handshake in a situation of interaction with strangers only at the official level. Expressing their respect for a partner, the Chinese can shake the interlocutor's hand with both hands and shake it for a long time. When communicating with people who are close and know each other well, a handshake is not common, but a pat on the shoulder or on the back is quite common.
In Japan, the handshake is not accepted and is resorted to only in exceptional cases. And here it is imperative to remember that you cannot grab your interlocutor by the wrist or elbow with your free hand, and also put your hand on his shoulder. This is explained by the fact that the Japanese do not like the manner of touching each other in the process of communication. In addition, a handshake is inevitably accompanied by a direct and intent gaze, and the Japanese do not like this.
The Japanese, like the Koreans, use a different sign of greeting and respect for the interlocutor - a polite bow. Moreover, in Japan they bow especially - when they see a friend, they “freeze” for a while, and then seem to break in the lower back.
Speaking of greeting and farewell gestures, it should be noted that they can look different. In Spain, they hug tightly; in France, kisses on the cheek are common. Everyone is familiar with the national Indian greeting and farewell - the palms of the hands pressed to each other in front of the chest.
In most countries, a slight nod of the head and a wave of the hand raised to the level of the head or slightly higher is considered a common form of greeting and farewell. This form of communication is used with ease and success by men and women of different ages.
GESTURES OF CONSENT AND DENIAL
During communication, people of different nationalities and cultures nod their heads. The nod can be safely attributed to the most common feature of non-verbal communication in different countries.
We are accustomed to the fact that a simple nod of the head means "Yes" or an affirmation. But in Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria and India, the nod has the opposite meaning. In order to express agreement with what you are saying, a Turk, a Greek, a Bulgarian, and an Indian will shake their heads slightly from side to side, which in our non-verbal language is associated with a negative answer.
Quick head nods in Japanese indicate that the person is listening to you very carefully. But this does not mean that he agrees with what you say.
Gestures that can puzzle a foreigner also exist among the Arabs. They express their disagreement with something with a short but sharp movement of the head back. All this is accompanied by a resounding clatter.
Perhaps many of you are familiar with how people in the Middle East express their indignation. They impulsively and sharply raise their arms bent at the elbows on both sides of the face. Annoyance from what is happening is expressed with the help of rotational movements of the hands of both hands. The Arabs demonstrate the refusal or liberation from an unpleasant deed by a kind of cleansing of the palms one against the other, while the arms are bent at the elbows.
GESTURE "V"
Everyone knows the V-shaped gesture. In our culture, this gesture has a double meaning - "Victory" or "Two".
But in different countries this gesture is perceived differently. Moreover, even a slight change in this gesture can radically change its meaning. When using the “V” gesture, a lot depends on the rotation of the palm.
In England, New Zealand and Australia, the V-shaped sign is a symbol of victory only if the palm with fingers apart is turned away from you. If the palm is turned in the direction of oneself, then this gesture acquires an offensive meaning, such as "Shut up!" or "And go you ...".
It's easy to imagine unpleasant situation when a person, not knowing the intricacies of national symbols, shows two fingers to an Australian waiter, in the hope that two coffees will be brought, but in fact, severely offends an innocent person
GESTURE "EVERYTHING IS EXCELLENT!"
Let's talk about one more feature of non-verbal communication in different countries - a gesture, the meaning of which is "Everything is fine!", "Great!", "Well done!" etc. For us, it is a brush clenched into a fist and a thumb raised up.
But not in all countries this gesture symbolizes the highest rating. In Germany, Austria, Italy and France - this is "One", in Japan - "Five", and in Greece, Nigeria, Australia, England, America, with this gesture with a sharp throw of the thumb "send to hell."
In addition, in England, America, New Zealand and Australia, this gesture symbolizes the desire to catch a passing car and a request to stop when voting on the road.
Let's talk about another well-known gesture - the pads of the thumb and forefinger are connected into a ring. For the first time this gesture began to be used at the beginning of the 19th century in America. Its value in all English speaking countries, as well as in some countries of Asia and Europe - "Oh, kay!" , “Everything is fine!”, “Everything is in order!”.
However, for the French, this gesture means "Zero" or "Nothing". The Japanese use it when talking about money, and in Sardinia and Greece it serves as a go-ahead. In Portugal and Brazil, the ring formed from fingers is considered an offensive gesture, and Muslims perceive it as an accusation of homosexuality.
Obviously, if you do not know the non-verbal language of the country, even a simple gesture and its inept use can lead to significant trouble.
GESTURE "HORN", "GOAT"
The “Horns” gesture, when the little finger and forefinger are extended forward, and the thumb, middle and ring fingers are gathered into a fist, is considered one of the most ancient. The origin of this gesture is attributed to approximately the sixth or fourth millennium BC. Historians claim that in those ancient times, the gesture of the "Horn" served as a signal to scare away evil spirits.
Nowadays, this gesture is often used in games with kids. Remember: “There is a horned goat, there is a butted goat. I gore, I gore, I gore!”?
If you raise your hand a little, then the “Horns” gesture turns into the “Goat” gesture, well-known to rock music fans (the little finger and index fingers are raised up, the rest are gathered into a fist).
In countries such as Romania, Italy, Argentina, it is undesirable to use the "Goat" gesture outside of rock music concerts. Seeing him, the interlocutor may be seriously offended by the fact that he was called a "cuckold." And in some parts of Africa, this gesture is regarded as a frank message.
But it is not all that bad. In Venezuela and Brazil, the "Goat" gesture is perceived as a wish for good luck.
GESTURES OF APPROVAL
Gestures are not only movements of the hands, they are movements of the head, legs and, in general, the whole torso. It is generally accepted that gestures have a social origin, and therefore the features of non-verbal communication in different countries are especially pronounced. Directly this applies to gestures of approval.
How do we show our approval in public places– at concerts, meetings, rallies, etc.? Most of the time we just applaud. Ovations can be long and friendly, but they can be short and calm. Ultimately, it all depends on the type of event and how satisfied we are with the event.
How do Americans show their approval? Few of them applaud like we do. In most cases, they pound their fists and feet on a hard surface. Also in Germany. Knocking fists on the table is one of the forms of showing approval and gratitude to the speaker.
The Arabs, satisfied with the successful phrase of the speaker, will surely clap their outstretched fingers on the palm of the interlocutor. So they express satisfaction and approval of what is happening.
Approving their actions, the British and Spaniards slap their foreheads with their palms. So they show that they are very pleased with themselves.
A Frenchman will express his admiration for something very simply and gracefully. He will connect the tips of three fingers, bring them to his lips, and then, raising his chin high, will send a gentle kiss into the air.
Few people, before traveling to another country on vacation, think about the problem of the language barrier: having a low level of the same English, in principle, it will be possible to understand the situation, or, in extreme cases, use gestures. But there are a lot of features here, and you need to use gestures carefully.
Many people think that non-verbal communication- universal. But each country has its own culture, each developed, one might say, apart from the others. So before you go to an unfamiliar country, we advise you to familiarize yourself with such features.
For example, the habitual nod of the head in most countries means “Yes”, but in Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece it is “No”. Also, the well-known gesture is the index finger and thumb folded in a ring. From America, he came to us as "OK", but the French perceive it as "zero", the Japanese - "pay", and the Portuguese and Brazilians will take it as an insult. Muslims, on the other hand, will perceive it as an accusation of homosexuality. It is also important that the meaning of this gesture depends on how the hand is turned.
The “goat” gesture in some countries should not be used outside of rock concerts: this way you can call an Argentinean, Italian, Romanian a cuckold, and in African countries you can simply send it to hell. But in Brazil and Venezuela, you wish the person good luck.
A thumbs up does not always mean "Excellent", as we usually do. In Germany, Austria and France, it means “one”, in Japan it means “five”, and in Australia, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Greece, southern Italy and the Middle East, this gesture is again sent somewhere.
In Latin America, Turkey and the countries of the Mediterranean, a fig or a figure that has taken root in our country is perceived as an insult, that is, as a middle finger. And in Japan, with this gesture, moths call men to themselves.
The specificity of non-verbal communication in different countries is expressed not only in gestures, but also in the size of the zone of personal space. To put it simply, the hotter and more temperamental the country, the smaller the distance when communicating. For example, for Europe it is 70 cm, and in Latin America it is 30 cm.
The best option when communicating with a foreigner is to let him set the distance between you. But be careful, because you can understand some things wrong.
The list of features can be quite long, so let's formulate main idea: going to another country, study its features of communication, namely gestures, intonations, facial expressions. Try to be discreet and don't do things you're not sure about.