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Showing posts with label Cultural Differences in Body Language.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cultural Differences in Body Language.. Show all posts

A Traveler's Guide To Body Language Around The Globe

I did the interview for this piece on cultural differences in body language months ago. I have to try and find the print version! I have a door on this. My greatest challenge and fun as a speaker is doing my two day public speaking class with only one or two members of the class who speak English! I had one class with miners from five different countries, my small groups were speaking German, French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. Everyone tells you that humor does not translate but my goodness whenever I do these programs we laugh all day long!


Body Language And Charisma, Patti Wood (pattiwood.net) says, “In the West, the sense of self is external rather than internal, which means the body is perceived as extending into the space around it.” In Asia and more crowded cultures, the sense of self is internal, “so they might be around a tea truck and there might be five people on top of each other; to internal-thinking cultures, this crowding is absolutely normal and seen as friendly.” These fundamental differences are crucial to be aware of to avoid breaking rules and to ensure your own personal comfort.
There’s also auditory space. During a trip to Paris, Wood, an American, was forewarned that it’s a faux pas to gab in a train cabin. Upon boarding, she was noticed by a fellow American who wanted to bond. “This person is talking to me and I’m trying to find a way to kindly shut them down – and sure enough, everyone on the train was staring at us, probably thinking, ‘Those incredible, rude Americans.’”.... More at the link below




Patti Wood, MA - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.