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For various reasons, people belonging to various countries and cultures rely on one
another. People all over the world communicate using both verbal and nonverbal means. The
better our intercultural communication skills are, the easier it will be for us to fit into international
society. As firms compete across national borders and on a global scale, the perception of
global and local labour has shifted dramatically. Firms from Europe, Asia, and the United States
have expanded their operations globally in order to form international partnerships,
collaborations and ties. When dealing with a multinational workforce, such firms‟ management
and employees must pay close attention to local laws, cultures, and business practices. To
succeed in such a corporate climate, one must overcome the barriers of communication.
In the area of education, this is quite accurate. In case you aspire to studying a foreign
country, you have to take time to learn about the culture of that particular place in order to be an
excellent communicator. Knowing the business procedures, social traditions, and etiquette of
the nation in which one is working, is essential for success, whether as a student or a
professional.
In different cultures, several types of nonverbal communication have distinct meanings.
For example, in the United States, a particular gesture or action may indicate one thing, but it
may mean something quite different in Japan. While an American might use his or her index
finger to point, a Japanese person would use their hand instead, as pointing with the index
finger is considered impolite in many Asian cultures.
An important cultural difference when it comes to nonverbal communication is the
display of emotion. Some cultures are more restrained than others and refrain from excessive
displays of emotion in public or at all. Some cultures may also suppress facial emotion,
believing that an animated face indicates a lack of emotional control.
Another component of nonverbal communication that varies by culture is eye contact.
Direct eye contact is typically regarded as a sign of trustworthiness and interest in a person‟s
remarks in the United States. A prolonged stare, on the other hand, may be seen by some as a
sign of sexual interest or desire. Eye contact is typically avoided in nations such as Japan,
where direct eye contact is considered impolite. In Arabic civilizations, on the other hand, eye
contact is seen to indicate attention and honesty.
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