According to chapter nine, non-verbal behavior refers to the exchange of information between individuals using non-vocal channels such as gestures and facial expressions. Since many linguists argue that 80 to 92% of all human communication is non-verbal, it is important to study these tenants independently in an attempt to understand a country’s cultural norms (Hall, Horgan & Murphy, 2019). A comprehensive breakdown of nonverbal behavior and its meanings in India and how these findings can be used by my friends and mentor to interpret the Indian culture form the basis of discussion for this paper.
Maintaining eye contact among Indians is considered inappropriate. Although this facet is encouraged in many countries as a sign of concentration, it is not customary in India. However, when a younger person is being addressed by an elder, sporadic eye contact is recommended. We are not supposed to point our index finger towards anyone as it is deemed to be accusatory. Instead, we should stretch the whole arm while ensuring the palm is facing down.
In order to help my mentor and friends interpret the meaning of non-verbal behavior in India, I have created Metaspace, an application where all my findings on this topic have been blended. A course that can help sharpen their observation skills has been included in the application. Similarly, I have liaised with my two Indian friends, who will answer any questions that my friends might have before they visit the country. The section below gives an elaborate description of the topic based on Filbert’s posting.
A quick review of Filbert’s posting indicates the need to eliminate all forms of prejudices and embrace an open mind that is capable of accepting the dynamism in communication across different cultures. Although Filbert argues that some non-verbal behavior convey the same message universally, he emphasizes that the Indian version is totally different especially when perceived by those of us raised in western countries like the U.S. Common non-verbal behavior in Western countries differs greatly from India. For example, he clarifies that some gestures such as the side by side “hallo” gestures are not considered a greeting but rather a rejection signal (Burgoon, Manusov & Guerrero, 2021). According to him, it is important to learn non-verbal behavior before visiting India to avoid misinterpretation of certain expressions. He further explains that developing good observation skills highlighted in chapter nine can help bridge the gap between non-verbal cues and their meanings in different communities.
References
Hall, J. A., Horgan, T. G., & Murphy, N. A. (2019). Non-verbal communication. Annual review of psychology, 70(1), 271-294.
Burgoon, J. K., Manusov, V., & Guerrero, L. K. (2021). Non-verbal communication. Routledge.