Non-verbal interaction: The importance of body language signalling

In the blog last week, we explored the extent to which norms relating to the acceptability or otherwise of physical contact in public spaces vary significantly across cultures. This week, we will examine the broad topic of body language signalling formally known as kinesics. More specifically, a focus will be placed on the influence of the cultural context in shaping the meaning and interpretation of this form of interpersonal communication. Finally, as an introduction to this very complex form of behavioural interaction, examples will be provided on the topics of facial expressions and head movements.

The importance of kinesics during interactive communication

Kinesics is the study of body language signalling that includes a range of often subtle movements such as gestures, facial expressions, and the positioning of hands during interpersonal communication.

However, at the outset, it is important to note that body language frequently functions independently of speech and is critical in shaping relationships, managing social interactions, and facilitating or disrupting understanding. It is also the primary medium through which people convey emotions such as happiness, sadness, fear, anger, and surprise.

Then, acquiring proficiency in body language signalling in an unfamiliar cultural context can typically be more challenging than the initial learning of basic verbal language competencies.

Finally, a failure to successfully interpret key body language messaging can trigger a sense of confusion, frustration, misunderstanding, or even outright culture clash leading to the breakdown of interpersonal relationships.

The importance of the cultural context

As will become increasingly clear across this series, the purpose, meaning, and interpretation of non-verbal signalling varies significantly across cultures. This is due to mediating influences that, when combined, shape the distinctive cultural context. These include shared knowledge, expectations, norms, beliefs, and the more deeply-embedded values.

Consequently, what at the surface level can often appear to be common or even universal signalling actions in practice convey significantly different meanings that can be baffling to the new arrival in an unfamiliar cultural setting.

Some examples of variations in cross-cultural signalling

Smile

First, facial expressions communicate a range of emotions including joy, warmth, surprise, sadness and anger. Some of these expressions can at a superficial level be perceived as being common universal behaviour such as smiling.

However, while smiling is generally assumed to be appropriate positive signalling when greeting and welcoming people across the English-speaking nations, this is not always the case in other cultures. For example, in Italy and France that are generally viewed as being warm and expressive nations, during initial encounters with strangers in more formal settings, smiling is often delayed. This is an attempt to signal the seriousness of the engagement together with respect for the visitor. Then, relatively soon after initial encounter, smiling, laughing, joking, and expressive positive gesturing typically follow as the dominant behavioural norms.

Moreover, in other cultures, people are even more cautious about initial smiling such is often the case in relation to Russians. Now, this does not indicate that Russians are less friendly to outsiders. Indeed, beyond an initial encounter, Russians are typically extraordinarily friendly and warm-hearted. However, the initial reservation towards smiling is perfectly and somewhat comically explained in the common saying that people who smile at strangers in the street are probably indicating that they are mad.

Finally, we need to incorporate a more culturally cautious reflective stance in some cultural contexts rather than glibly assuming smiling to be a constant positive. For example, across East Asia, a smile is a rather complex social expression. This is because it can signal a range of emotions depending on the context combined with subtle movements of the eyes, mouth, and hands that are difficult for the outsider to note or interpret.

Head movements

Next, there is the even more complex issue of interpreting head movements that convey multiple contrasting signals across cultures. One notable example is the famous Indian Head Wiggle that takes a multitude of very subtle forms. Indeed, this signalling is so complex and intricately variable that it would take a long time just to introduce the basic concept and intended purpose to any outsider.

Then, this everyday signalling expression increases in complexity as it is also combined with other non-verbal mediating factors such as facial expressions, hand movements, the specific context, and behavioural expectations relating to status or caste given that India is a somewhat ridged hierarchical nation.

Then, once again returning to East Asian context, such as in the case of Japan or China, there is a frequent use of head movements to express a full range of emotions across a continuum from disagreement, confusion to contentment. This signalling is further complicated by the addition of very subtle non-verbal indicators such as the use of silences that can be totally mysterious, especially to the Westerner.

More specifically, from the Japanese perspective, an ability to accurately interpret such signalling is known as ‘reading the air’, which is gradually acquired starting from an early age and is a key component of their rather unique cultural setting.

Finally, to shift the cultural context, another interesting example of the use of head signalling is illustrated in many Africa nations, where slightly tilting their head to either the left or right indicates deference or respect. In contrast, in the West context it can be interpreted as a sign of submission, confusion, or even limited understanding of the communication.

Of course, there are numerous body language signalling actions that vary significantly across cultural contexts. For those who wish to learn more about the subject, Global Dexterity, by Andy Molinsky is a sound initial starting point, though seemingly endless articles are available online.

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Question 1

Why is learning to become proficient and comfortable in body language signalling so challenging?

Question 2

Is it always desirable to mimic body language signalling in an unfamiliar cultural context?

Question 3

How does voice modulation significantly influence the interpretation of interpersonal signalling?

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We shall explore Question 3 in the next blog.