Research 1 Communication (3 page double space of content + cover page + reference page= 5 pages) APA style

The Use of Kinesics in the Japanese and American Cultures

Student Name

Institution

Instructor

Date

Abstract

In this paper, the use of nonverbal communication will be discussed. The nonverbal communication that the paper will focus on is the use of kinesics in communicating. Kinesics is defined as the use of body movements, facial expressions, and gestures to communicate with another person or a group of people (quote). Various studies have been done before about the use of kinesics in society based on various cultures. This paper will focus on the use of kinesics between the Japanese and the American culture. Kinesic codes are integral in communication. Thus, it is essential to understand the different kinesic codes that are used in different cultures to reduce misunderstanding. Such misunderstanding may emerge especially among people in different cultures. This paper will focus on the identification of the kinesic codes that are used by the Japanese and the Americans. That aims at reducing the misunderstanding between the people from the two cultures when communicating using kinesics.

Non-verbal communication is defined as any behavior or characteristics that are intentionally or unintentionally used to convey a message or information without the use of verbal language. Non-verbal communication is significant in the communication process. It complements the verbal communication that is used by individuals. However, sign language is considered a verbal type of communication. Although non-verbal communication can occur in several mediums, the use of non-verbal communication in face-to-face conversations is the most common channel of using non-verbal communication in communicating with others (Bowman, 2020). The prominent non-verbal codes are kinesics and proxemics. In this paper, the use of kinesics in different cultures will be evaluated. That will bring forth the discussion of how different body language movements are used by people in different cultures.

Kinesics is a major nonverbal communication code. It entails the interpretation of the body movements such as gestures and facial expressions as nonverbal communication. Thus, it deals with the motion-based nonverbal cues in communication. It encompasses a wide variety of behaviors that are portrayed by human beings. Kinesic codes are significant when communicating. They enable two or more people to pass information without the use of verbal communication. However, people from different cultures may misunderstand the kinesics that is used thus leading to miscommunication. The focus of this assignment is the use of kinesics in American and Japanese cultures.

Kinesics is categorized into different categories namely; emblems, illustrations, affect displays, adaptors, and regulators. Emblems are the most common category of kinesics that is used when communicating among the Japanese and the Americans. They are nonverbal acts that have a direct verbal translation and they are displayed deliberately. One of the emblems that has a common meaning among the people in the Japanese and the American cultures is the circling motion with the index finger near the temple. The emblem means that a person that is being referred to is crazy. Another emblem that has a similar meaning for the Japanese and the Americans is pacing the index finger against the lips. The emblem means that the person who is being communicated to is being asked to stay quiet.(quote)

Some emblems that are used by the Japanese are similar to use used by the Americans but they have different meanings. The emblem that is used by the Americans to mean that a person is okay is interpreted by the Japanese as money. That may confuse when an American is communicating with a Japanese. For instance, when a Japanese wants to buy a commodity from an American, after the transaction the American may use the emblem to signify that everything is okay. However, the Japanese may translate the emblem as more money is needed to purchase the commodity (Debono, 2018). Another emblem that has different meanings among the Japanese and the Americans is waving a hand back and forth. The Americans can interpret the gesture as a goodbye. However, the Japanese use the emblem to signify “No, thank you.” (quote) Such differences in the meanings of similar emblems between the Japanese and the Americans may result in confusion as well as miscommunication.

Some differences are seen in the affect displays between the Japanese and the American culture. The Americans tend to show their emotions publicly. However, the Japanese more often hide their emotions and they do not display them publicly. For instance, when an American smiles, it may be interpreted that the American is happy, and is having feelings of enjoyment, pleasure, or it could also reflect nervousness or embarrassment. Although a smile may be used to show the emotions among the Japanese, it is also used to express shyness, discomfort, anger, grief, and surprise (Mustafa, 2018). Thus, the Japanese use a smile to hide their emotions.

One of the types of regulators that is used in conversations is eye contact. The Americans take the issue of eye contact seriously. In the American culture, eye contact is interpreted as attentiveness. Lack of eye contact is interpreted as a lack of attentiveness and it may b an indicator to end a conversation. On the other hand, in Japanese culture, the use of eye contact is rare. The lack of eye contact symbolizes attentiveness. That may result in confusion if a person from either of the cultures does not understand the meaning of the same kinesic in the other culture (quote).

In a nutshell, nonverbal communication is largely used. The nonverbal component that has been discussed in this case is kinesic. Kinesic is the use of body movement, gestures, and facial expressions to communicate. The differences and the similarities of the different categories of kinesics in the Japanese and the American culture have been identified.

References

Bowman, J. M. (2020). Nonverbal communication: An applied approach. Sage Publications.

Debono, G. (2018). An intercultural analysis of non-verbal communication in North American and Japanese business environments (Bachelor's thesis, University of Malta).

Mustafa, M. (2018). Japanese Non-verbal Communication by the Main Characters in the Novel of Totto-chan and the Light on Curtain of Sakura (An Analysis of Kinesics) (Doctoral dissertation, Universitas Islam Negeri Alauddin Makassar).