Verbal and Nonverbal Communnication Across Gender and Cultures
Verbal and nonverbal communication between cultures and genders
The way an individual communicates can be verbal or nonverbal. When communicating between genders or across cultures it is important one understands the different ways one interprets or uses language to avoid misunderstandings. Both types of communication differ greatly between genders and across cultures. One needs to learn how to accept and respect diversity to break down barriers to communicate effectively.
Verbal communication is how one uses words or language; it can be face- to- face, by telephone, or text. Nonverbal communication refers to messages other than words that generate meaning, and requires face- to- face communication. Types of nonverbal communication are personal appearance, facial expression, and eye contact, vocal expression (the way you “say” a word), and physical expression (Engleberg & Wynn, p. 163, 2011). It is important that verbal communication and nonverbal communication correspond. For example, when an individual asks someone if he or she wants to go somewhere, and the other person responds with a verbal “yes but rolls their eyes. Depending on an individual’s gender or culture a patient may state verbally that he or she is not in pain; but their facial expression may indicate otherwise. The goal of effective communication is to connect with the people around us.
Starting from childhood boys and girls learn different approaches to language and communication (Tannen,1990). Men tend to talk to make a point and women talk to make a point, to relieve stress, or deal with an issue. Men nod their head and mean yes, when a woman nods her head it could mean she agrees, is listening, is empathizing, or just encouraging one to continue speaking (Goman, 2010). If that is not confusing enough, if a woman is stating a problem remember we do not want a man to fix it, we just want a man to listen and nod his head to acknowledge that he is listening. According to Tannen, (2010) who
The way an individual communicates can be verbal or nonverbal. When communicating between genders or across cultures it is important one understands the different ways one interprets or uses language to avoid misunderstandings. Both types of communication differ greatly between genders and across cultures. One needs to learn how to accept and respect diversity to break down barriers to communicate effectively.
Verbal communication is how one uses words or language; it can be face- to- face, by telephone, or text. Nonverbal communication refers to messages other than words that generate meaning, and requires face- to- face communication. Types of nonverbal communication are personal appearance, facial expression, and eye contact, vocal expression (the way you “say” a word), and physical expression (Engleberg & Wynn, p. 163, 2011). It is important that verbal communication and nonverbal communication correspond. For example, when an individual asks someone if he or she wants to go somewhere, and the other person responds with a verbal “yes but rolls their eyes. Depending on an individual’s gender or culture a patient may state verbally that he or she is not in pain; but their facial expression may indicate otherwise. The goal of effective communication is to connect with the people around us.
Starting from childhood boys and girls learn different approaches to language and communication (Tannen,1990). Men tend to talk to make a point and women talk to make a point, to relieve stress, or deal with an issue. Men nod their head and mean yes, when a woman nods her head it could mean she agrees, is listening, is empathizing, or just encouraging one to continue speaking (Goman, 2010). If that is not confusing enough, if a woman is stating a problem remember we do not want a man to fix it, we just want a man to listen and nod his head to acknowledge that he is listening. According to Tannen, (2010) who