Leah Barnett
Intercultural Communication
September 20, 2015
Dr. Gournelos
The majority of our feelings and intentions can be sent through nonverbal
communication. We tend to search for signals when verbal messages are unclear to
us. Kinesics is a way we communication by sending and receiving signals between
each other. Since some signals are consistent across cultures, one can still
communicate with people of another country by using kinesics. For most international
students living in Shanghai, language can prove to be one of our most valuable
assets. But if we do not have access to that, we can communicate effectively in other
ways.
For this blended activity I conducted two in-depth interviews with two female
American college students, a student who is a conversational Chinese speaker and
one who struggles because she is just beginning to study the language. I focused on
how they overcome communication barrier through non-verbal communication,
particularly in daily activities like ordering food and requesting a cab. Both students
choose to study abroad in Shanghai because of the opportunities they have to
improve their Chinese language skills.
While interviewing these two participants, there were many parallels between
both participants’ experiences. Overall, they both believed the intensive language
barrier started almost immediately when leaving the plane. They both agree that a
simple task to Americans, like getting the attention of a cab driver, is more difficult in
China. One student said, “Trying to get the taxi driver to understand your destination
- for almost five minutes - is not the best way to begin life in China”. They are both
used to being more assertive, but that is less successful because people in China
are less confrontational. Both agree their use of hand gestures in Shanghai can be
taken the wrong way and they have to be careful not to be disrespectful.
Of course, one of the major topics that came up was ordering food everyday.
What I found interesting was that although one of the students can successfully order
food using her knowledge of the Chinese language, she often chooses not to. Both
agree that it was more efficient to point and signal at menus, because the waiters will
often get disoriented when foreigners speak Chinese. One student said her Chinese
language skills are getting better but her tones are “usually the reason Chinese
people don’t understand what I’m saying”. The other student spoke on about how
much she wants to have conversations with Chinese speakers so she can improve
her skills. But in practice, she says, “I can easily confuse them so I’d rather take the
easy way out”. When communicating verbally does not work, it is really easy to feel
confused and become frustrated.
However, one student was very attracted to living in Shanghai and improving
her language skills. She believes that non-verbals can be a crutch for foreigners,
especially when it is so easy to point at what you want, gesture where you want to go
or give a certain facial expression, on a daily basis. Student two commented on that,
agreeing that while there is a negative connotation on using non-verbals in that way,
it can also be used to enhance communication between co-cultures and build
relationships. She believes Chinese people appreciate the things you do to respect
their culture. She mentioned using both hands when offering something to another
person. She said, “Most students will practice this often when giving cab drivers the
card with directions to Tohee Apartments”.
What you can say more than the words you use. Kinesics can add emotion to
what you do or say in any situation, and have the ability to help or persuade. Both
students concluded that there has to be balance when speaking Chinese in every
day life. They noted some people can have a surface level experience living abroad
and rely on non-verbals to navigate their life. However, they both recognize that
nonverbals can communicate more in certain situations, and help to create crosscultural communication.