blog assignment 3

Besides verbal language, nonverbal communication is playing a leading role in people’s life. The way or ways that people express themselves without language are much different, the most effective ways that work on people all over the world are: gestures, eye contact, and body space. Admittedly, they differ from culture to culture. These nonverbal communications require us the knowledge of different cultures. Some actions could prove to be highly embarrassing in one country, but not in another country. For instance, in China, one man is okay to put his arm around another man, this action shows friendship between the two men, but the same action may be considered as impolite or other meaning in other cultures. In the United States, if one man puts his arm around another man, the two men are considered as gays. Another example for gesture is that Chinese people turn down their thumbs to express the direction of something, that is, something is under your shoes. However, Americans use this gesture to show their anger or their disagreement. Also, Chinese people stand closer than Americans while talking to friends. On the other hand, some nonverbal communications are similar between China and the United States. We both turn up thumbs to express our appreciation, and we both shake our hands when we meet strangers.