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Nonverbal Communication (continued)
Silence
Silence is the sign of a good listener; or is it? In many Western cultures, especially in central and southern Europe, it is expected that you will actively show you are listening by commenting- "I see", "that's interesting", "really" etc. You may also interrupt people. In these cultures, silence may suggest a lack of interest, boredom or ignorance. It may make the speaker uncomfortable. In other cultures, being silent while others speak is a sign of respect, a sign that you are paying attention and considering the speaker's words carefully.
Turn-taking
Related to silence is turn-taking. How do you know when it is your turn to speak? Do you wait to be invited? Do you wait until the other person has finished? Or do you just interrupt when you see an opportunity to do so? If so, exactly how do you interrupt? Having different turn-taking behavior from other people can cause problems and frustration.
Eye Contact
Eye contact is another crucial aspect of communication, and one that can lead to cross-cultural misunderstanding, as different cultures attach different values to prolonged eye contact.
In many Western cultures, maintaining eye contact shows trust, confidence, interest, etc. Avoiding eye contact suggests that the person may not be trustworthy or is hiding something. In Asian cultures it is quite the reverse- avoiding eye contact is a sign of respect, and maintaining eye contact may be seen as challenging and disrespectful. What passes as eye contact in one country becomes staring for another country. /21awards.htm
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