Question

Explain how your co-cultures and cultural orientations influence your perception, language, and nonverbal communication. Be sure to include high or low context language or eye contact.

Answer 1

Culture plays an crucial role in molding us into the people. It creates an environment of a way of thinking, shared belief and method interacting among that group of people. It is dynamic and constantly changing across time. The culture in which the person born will shape his eating behavior, such as what we eat, how we eat, and when we eat. It influence the clothes we choose to wear and the sports we play. Social norms set by the culture will determine how we. interact with family members, friends, and strangers. It is clear that our environment shapes much of our outward behavior; culture also influences brain function, altering the way you think about and perceiveness the world.

Culture is all, shaping our brain and behavior. Furthermore subcultures exist within cultures. Religions, communities, customs and regional accents all work to influence your cognition and perception.
This actually supports the idea that culture “shapes” our thought even more. This shaping happens after birth and apparently, happens over time can be changed more easily than we would think.

Effects of Culture on Non - Verbal Communication

1) General Appearance and Dress
All cultures are concerned for how they look and make judgements based on looks and dress. Americans, for example, appear almost obsessed with dress and personal attractiveness. different cultural have different standards on what is attractive in dress

2) Posture
Different countries have different cultures on their non - verbal communication. Some examples are,
Bowing (criticized, or affected in US; shows rank in Japan), Hands in pocket (disrespectful in Turkey), Sitting with legs crossed (offensive in Ghana, Turkey), Showing feets soles (Offensive in Saudi Arabia and Thailand).

3) Eye Contact and Gaze

Different countries, different cultures Hence they have different meaning for an eye contact..
Some examples are :-
In USA, eye contact indicates: degree of interest or attention influences attitude change regulates interaction, communicates emotion, defines power and status, and has a central role in managing impressions of others.

In case of Western cultures — see direct eye to eye contact as positive (advise children to look a person in the eyes). But within USA, African-Americans use more eye contact when talking and less when listening with reverse true for Anglo Americans. A prolonged eye-contact is often seen as a sign of sexual interest.Arabic cultures make prolonged eye-contact which shows interest and helps to understand truthfulness of the other person. Japan, Africa, Caribbean — avoid eye contact to show respect.