Jandt, An Introduction to Intercultural Communication 9e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
Chapter Exercises
Chapter 4: Nonverbal Communication
Exercise 1: Observations of Nonverbal Communication
Purposes
1. To recognize and categorize nonverbal behaviors
2. To recognize that the meanings of nonverbal behaviors are subjective
Instructions
With at least one other person observe a group of two or three people having a
conversation in a public place. From a distance and out of hearing range, observe this group
for 15–20 min. Without comparing notes during the observation, note the nonverbal
behaviors that you observe, and later indicate what you believe was being communicated by
the different behaviors.
Compare your observations and conclusions with those of your partner(s) and discuss any
differences.
Example:
Behavior Description
Nonverbal Type
Communication Message
One touched other’s arm
Haptics
Emphasize point being made
verbally
Conclusions
What can you conclude about the comparison of your observation with that of your partner(s)?
Exercise 2: Acknowledging Nonverbal Communication Differences
Purposes
1. To recognize how culture affects various aspects of nonverbal communication
2. To become able to put to work your knowledge of intercultural communication in business
contexts
Instructions
You work for a corporation that is preparing to open a joint venture in Japan.
You work for the human resources office and, in this capacity, you are asked to prepare a
presentation about what employees who will travel to Japan are to expect in regard to
cultural differences. When researching and preparing your presentation, focus on the
following nonverbal aspects of Japanese communication and compare them with those of
the United States:
Japanese people’s use of space
Japanese people’s use of body language
Japanese people’s use of time
Japanese people’s use of silence
How touch is typically used for communication in Japan?
Then, answer the questions in the “Conclusions” section of the exercise.
Conclusions
1. How are the Japanese similar to and different from the majority of U.S. Americans in regard
to nonverbal communication?
2. How might this presentation look different for other countries?
Exercise 3: Examples of the Functions of Nonverbal Communication
Purposes
To better understand the functions typically performed through nonverbal communication
(replacing spoken messages, making relationships clear, regulating interaction, and reinforcing
and modifying verbal messages)
Instructions
For each of the functions of nonverbal communication (listed above), create an example of a
nonverbal message that meets that function.
Conclusions
1. How can the same nonverbal message fulfill different functions?
2. Why does nonverbal communication matter in our interactions?
Exercise 4: Observations of Uses of Silence
Purposes
1. To examine the use of silence in your interactions with people of other countries and
cultures
2. To recognize that the meanings of silence vary across cultures and contexts
Instructions
Observe the use of silence in your interactions with people around you, especially those that
may be of a different cultural background than yourself. Take note of the occasions when
silence is used. Be observant and jot down details of the interaction, such as purpose of
interaction, nationality of the person, nature of relationship, number of other people present,
task on hand, and so on. Based on the information, decipher the intended meaning.
Then, answer the questions in the “Conclusions” section of the exercise.
Conclusions
1. What can silence communicate? How many different uses can you identify?
2. What does silence feel like? What can make it feel different in different situations?
3. What can you conclude about your observations?
Exercise 5: Living Space and Nonverbal Communication
Purpose
To recognize the role of territoriality, or how space can influence communication
Instructions
Draw a floor plan of your current place of residence. Also include major pieces of furniture
in your plan.
Label the typical conversation patterns attached to specific areas of your home (i.e., light
conversation over dinner table, intimate conversation in bedroom, etc.).
Then, answer the questions in the “Conclusions” section of the exercise.
Jandt, An Introduction to Intercultural Communication 9e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
Conclusions
1. How are shelter, environment, and communication related?
2. How are privacy and roles reflected in the environment?
3. How do you think your floor plan and conversation patterns might change if your residence
were in a very hot and/or cold climate?
4. How do you think your socioeconomic status impacts your living space and the
communication that occurs?
Exercise 6: Clothing
Purpose
To recognize cultural influences on clothing
Instructions
Describe clothing that is unique to a culture, subculture, or subgroup.
Conclusions
Explain how that clothing reflects elements of the culture, subculture, or subgroup.
Exercise 7: Symbols
Purpose
To associate symbols with the group most likely to recognize them
Instructions
The happy yellow smiley face is a symbol created in the 1960s as an employee morale booster
and seems to appear everywhere, even on a 1999 U.S. postal stamp. In e-mail, smiley appears as
a colon, hyphen, and parenthesis :-). Try to think of examples of the following types of symbols:
1. religious symbols (religious symbols date to prehistoric times)
2. symbols found only in particular regions, states, or cities in the United States
3. symbols more familiar to certain ethnic groups, such as trademarks for brands of ethnic
foods
4. symbols of colleges and universities, airlines, buses, trains, hotels, cars, clothing, chinaware,
etc. (e.g., Nike’s “swoosh” symbol)
Jandt, An Introduction to Intercultural Communication 9e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
5. symbols more easily recognized by most men or most women
Conclusions
1. Why are symbols important to us?
2. How do we use symbols?
Exercise 8: Culture and Emotions
Purpose
To recognize how culture affects the expression and interpretation of emotions
Instructions
It is said that because of a homogeneous cooperative culture, Japanese people traditionally tend
to avoid conflict. Most disputes are resolved through discussion. A person who expresses
emotions first is regarded as the loser. For example, a police officer at an accident scene may
perceive the emotionally expressive person as guilty. For each of the situations below describe
how people from each country might interpret an emotion from the behavior described.
Example:
Behavior/Event
Japanese Interpretation of
Emotion
U.S. Interpretation of Emotion
Accident victim crying while
testifying in court
Interaction between drivers of
two cars involved in an
accident; one yelling at the
other
Then, answer the questions in the “Conclusions” section of the exercise.
Conclusions
1. In what ways does culture affect the expression of emotions?
2. In what ways does one’s culture affect the interpretation of the behaviors, emotions, or lack
of emotions of someone from a different culture?
Exercise 9: Chronemics
Purpose
To better understand how individuals in monochronic and polychronic time
Instructions
Imagine you are meeting a friend for coffee and over text, you decide on 2 p.m. You are from a
monochronic time culture and arrive at 1:55 in order to grab a table and account for any possible
traffic. At 2:05, your friend has not arrived. At 2:15, you text them asking where they are, but your
text does not receive a response. At 2:35, your friend walks in and acts like nothing is wrong. How
would you respond? How would your response differ if you knew they came from a polychronic
culture?
Conclusions
1. How can differences in chronemics impact our interactions?
2. How could the above issue have been resolved, even between people of differing time
orientations?