Anthropology 340
LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
Non-Verbal
Communication
Communication
• Definition: the act of
transmitting information from
one individual or organism to
another
• Language is only one part of
communication
Human Communication
includes:
•Language
•Paralanguage
•Kinesics
•Proxemics
•Social Expectations
•Cultural Meanings
Paralanguage
• Definition: Pitch, tone and
cadence used in speech
• Accents depend in part on
paralinguistic differences in how
the same words and sentences
are spoken.
Kinesics
includes
•Facial Expressions
•Gestures
•Body Language
Facial Expressions
In which case
are these
women . . .
___Making a
point
___Explaining
something
___Listening
1
2
3
Facial Expressions
Go to:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/
mind/surveys/smiles/index.shtml
and
Take the test!
Gestures
Making a strong point . .
.
Explaining precisely . . .
Greeting . . .
Explaining precisely . . .
Making an angry point . .
.
Explaining precisely . . .
Body Language
Which man is . . .
___Bored
___Defensive
___Relaxed
1
2
3
Body Language, con’t
Which man is . . .
___Bored
___Defensive
___Relaxed
1
2
3
Body Language, con’t
FLIRTING
Females contract
and make
themselves smaller
Females face their
bodies and their
faces toward the
male
Males make
themselves bigger
Males keep their
bodies neutral
and turn their
heads to face the
female
Proxemics
•Definition: the culturally
determined use of space to
communicate social roles,
statuses and activities.
Proxemics
When given an
unstructured
social setting with
flexible objects,
people will
rearrange the
objects to reflect
the activities that
are occuring, and
the closed social
groups that have
formed.
Proxemics
On this beach, people have used towels and
blankets to claim private space for themselves.
The blankets can be very close together, but as
long as they are not touching, they are not
part of an adjoining private space.
Personal Space
Each culture has its
definitions for how
close people should be
in differing social
situations. This photo
of research on breath
odor violates the
American notion of
personal distance.
Personal Space, con’t
. . . As does this
photo of odor
researchers at
the same
institute. In
American
society, we
should not be
able to smell the
bodily odors of
those with whom
we socialize.
Social & Business Space
The executive desk used in western
industrialized societies is designed to keep
communicators at appropriate social distance.
Social & Business Space,
con’t
These American workers
would be too close
without the barriers in
this office complex. The
barriers give the
illusion of appropriate
social distance, but do
not keep out sound or
smells from adjoining
cubicles. By standing,
one can even see how
close others are.
However, seated at
work, the illusion is
maintained.
Social & Business
Space, con;t
Here desks are
arranged so that
appropriate
distance is
maintained in a
more informal
and open
environment than
the previous
picture.
This is a much
more informal
work environment
than the last.
Informality is
signaled by the
lack of barriers
and the facing
positionof the
desks.
Public Space
Public
distance is
maintained
here with
the use of
the stage,
which keeps
the
audience
and the
participant
20 to 30 feet
apart.
Social Expectations
• Definition: the culturallydefined behavior patterns that
are associated with social
settings.
EG. The student who called me
“missy” in the classroom was
communicating that she saw
herself in a particular kind of
social relationship with me.
Cultural Meaning
• Definition: the shared meanings
associated with behaviors that
can only be correctly interpreted
by insiders who know them
• EG. In the past, only men shook
hands. Now women have the
choice to shake or not to shake.
When they choose to shake, they
are communicating something
about their personal attitudes
regarding gender issues in this
culture that is understood by
other Americans.