“Hidden Aspects of Communication”

Reaction paper
(i) A summary of an article related language and culture (Which you may source on your own)
Below is the summary of an article entitled “Hidden Aspects of Communication” written by Dennis O’Neil – downloaded from the internet.
1. INTRODUCTION
Communication is far more than speech and writing. Communication also involves the non-verbal communication techniques which includes the use of gestures, glances, slight changes in tone and voice and other auxiliary communication devices to alter or emphasize what we say and do. We learn these highly culture bound techniques over years largely by observing others and imitating them.

Linguist refers to all of these auxiliary communication devices as paralanguage. Paralanguage is often more important in communication than what is actually being said orally. It is believed that at least 60% of what we communicate when talking directly with others is through paralanguage.

Most of the linguists agree that apart from the use of language which includes speech and writing, the communication process also includes the appropriate use of paralanguage which includes kinesics, tone and character of voice, proxemics as well as clothing, makeup and etc.

2 .KINESICS is the most obvious form of paralanguage. It is also known as body language. The gestures include the use of arms and hands to say good-bye, point, express excitement, threaten and etc. Our head and shoulder in combination may shrug to indicate that we do not know something. While the meaning of some gestures, such as a smile, may be the same throughout the world, the meaning of others may be different. For example, spitting on another person is assign of utmost contempt in North America but can be affectionate blessing if done in a certain way among the Masai of Kenya.
3. TONE AND CHARACTER OF VOICE - The meaning of speech can be also altered significantly by tone and character of voice. In English, the simple sentence “I’m here.’ Can have different connotations depending on whether it is spoken with a voice that is high, low, quick, slow, rising, falling, whispering, whining, yelling, or sighing. Similarly, the sentence “Are you here?” has a different meaning if it is spoken in an ascending tone in contrast to a descending one.

4. PROXIMICS - When we speak to another individual or group, the distance our bodies are physically apart also communicates a paralanguage message. We usually have a sense of what is a comfortable interaction distance to a person we are speaking. The nature of the message communicated also affects interaction distances. Average comfortable distances among people are shown in the following table:-

Distance between faces Tone of voice Type of message
Very close (3”-6”) Soft whisper Top secret or sensual
Close (8” – 12”) Audible whisper Very confidential
Neutral (20” -36”) Soft voice, low volume Personal subject matter
Neutral (4.5” -5”) Full voice Non- personal information
Across the room (8” -20”) Loud voice Talking to a group
Stretching the limits
(20”-24” indoor and up to 100” outdoors) Loud hailing voice Departure and arrivals

5. CULTURAL USE OF SPACE
In North American corporate offices, the boss is usually physically isolated in a very separate private room. This minimizes his or her personal contact with ordinary workers. In contrast, Japanese offices commonly are set up with the boss ‘s desk at the end of a row of pushed together desks used by subordinate employees. This maximizes his interaction with them. Thus, people of different cultural background
tends to uses “ spaces” differently with different perception about space.

6. CULTURAL USE OF TIME
Culture tells us hoe top manipulate time in order to communicate messages. In some of the culture especially the American, punctually in time of dinner or appointment means politeness and respect to your counterpart or friend. However in some of the Asian country, the men with higher status have the habit of coming a little bit late than the others in order to show that they have higher rank or superior than the others.
When people come together with very different cultural expectations about time, there is potential misunderstanding, frustration, and hurt feelings. Therefore it is necessary to learn about others’ perception about time so that we can minimize misunderstanding when we interact with friend and people which have different cultural background

7. COMMUNICATING WITH CLOTHES
People in all cultures use clothing and other forms of bodily adornment to communicate status, intentions and other messages. Long before we are near to talk to someone , their appearances announces their gender, age, economic class , and often even intention. People of different cultural background usually dress differently in different time and places. Putting on certain types of clothing can change our behavior and the behavior of others towards us.. Thus , it is very important to learn about others’ perception about CLOTHES and always be aware of what we are wearing!

8. GENDER DIFFERENCES IN PARALANGUAGE
When traveling to other societies, it is important to understand that there are likely to be significant gender differences in paralanguage I addition to clothes and adornment.
In North America, for instance, men generally prefer face to face conversations and maintain direct eye contact longer. In contrast, women often conserve standing side by side but closer together than is typical for man. Male hand shakes tend to be firmer> in Japan However, women most often speak with an artificially high pitch, especially conversing with men in a business or official setting

9. CONCLUSION The human communication process is more complex than it initially seems. Much, if not most, of our messages in face to face contact are transmitted through paralanguage. These auxiliary communication techniques are highly culture bound. Communication with people from the other societies or ethnic groups is fraught with the danger of misunderstanding if their culture and paralanguage is unknown.

(ii) & (iii) My personal reaction to the article, especially as it relate to your daily life, and end with at least one insightful question as the last sentence in the reaction.
As a person who was born and grew up here in this beautiful country , Malaysia. I am so used to and are very familiar with the various types of the hidden aspects of communication found in my society as well as my nation.
Malaysia is a multi racial and multi cultural country. There are many races here such as the Malay, the Chinese, the Indian, the Iban, the Kadazan, Bidayuh, Kelabit, Dusun, Murut and many others. Besides, there are also many foreign visitors which come to visit the country every year. Thus, this gives me a lot of opportunity to interact with different people which are of different races from time to time.