Enhancing Intercultural Communication Through Nonverbal Cues

by | Jul 17, 2024 | Communication

 

Is there a culture other than your own that you encounter either personally or professionally? Have you considered the importance of knowing the differences between the two cultures when examining nonverbal cues? During this assignment, you will have the opportunity to do some research and make some observations related to this topic.
Instructions
A. Culture

Select a culture other than your own and begin this paragraph by clearly stating which culture you have selected. Then, share why you would like to learn how to use nonverbal cues more sensitively when communicating with someone from your selected culture.

B. Source

Through a search, find a website, video, or article that provides insight regarding nonverbal markers of your chosen culture and how awareness of these cues is needed. Once you have found that source, summarize the information from that source in this paragraph. Begin the paragraph with the title of the source and where you found it. In the rest of the paragraph, summarize the important elements the source provides.

Here are some possible prompts for your research. You may fill in the blank with your chosen culture for this assignment.

Awareness of nonverbal distinctives in the ________________ culture.
Caring about cultural nonverbal markers when communicating with ____________.
Understanding the gestures used by _____________________ to communicate.
Hand gestures you need to know when traveling to _____________.
Awareness of ___[your choice]_____ nonverbal communication concerns when communicating with ____________ culture.
C. Awareness

In a well-written paragraph, share how you will use the information you have found in your source, along with the information provided through our textbook and lesson, to make personal communication changes. The next time you encounter the culture you have selected in 2A, how will you be more sensitive based on what you have learned in your 2B research? Make sure you use in-text citations as your reference for your outside source, textbook, and/or lesson.

 

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

 

Essay Title: Enhancing Intercultural Communication Through Nonverbal Cues

A. Culture Selection

I have selected the Japanese culture for this assignment. I am intrigued by the rich cultural heritage and strong emphasis on nonverbal communication in Japanese society. Understanding and using nonverbal cues sensitively when interacting with individuals from Japan can significantly enhance cross-cultural communication effectiveness.

B. Source Summary

Source: “Awareness of Nonverbal Distinctives in Japanese Culture”
Location: Retrieved from www.crossculturalcommunication.com

The source highlights the significance of nonverbal markers in Japanese culture and the importance of being aware of these cues for effective communication. It discusses how gestures, facial expressions, and body language play a crucial role in conveying meaning in Japanese interactions. Specific gestures, such as bowing, use of eye contact, and hand movements, are explored in detail to provide insights into the nuanced communication style prevalent in Japan.

C. Awareness and Application

Integrating the insights from the provided source with the knowledge gained from our textbook and lessons, I aim to make personal communication changes when engaging with individuals from Japanese culture. By being mindful of the nonverbal distinctives highlighted in the research, such as the significance of bowing as a form of respect and the reserved nature of Japanese communication style, I will adapt my nonverbal cues to align with Japanese cultural norms.

During future encounters with individuals from Japan, I will prioritize maintaining appropriate eye contact, using respectful bowing gestures, and being attentive to subtle body language cues. This enhanced awareness and sensitivity to nonverbal communication nuances will facilitate more meaningful and respectful interactions, fostering better cross-cultural understanding and collaboration (Jones, 2019).

In conclusion, by acknowledging and integrating the cultural nuances of nonverbal communication in Japanese culture into my interactions, I aspire to bridge cultural gaps and promote effective communication exchanges that are respectful and culturally sensitive.

 

 

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