UNIVERSITY OF BUSINESS &

TECHNOLOGY
HUMAN COMMUNICATION
Chapter 6: Non Verbal Messages

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Hussein Alamoudi
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In Partial Fulfillment with the Requirements

Of Bachelor Degree in Business Administration

CHAPTER: 6

NON VERBAL MESSAGES

INTRODUCTION:
Nonverbal communication involves those nonverbal stimuli in a communication setting
that are generated by both the source [speaker] and his or her use of the environment
and that have potential message value for the source or receiver [listener]. Basically it
is sending and receiving messages in a variety of ways without the use of verbal codes
(words). It is both intentional and unintentional. Most speakers / listeners are not
conscious of this. It includes but is not limited to: touch, glance, eye contact (gaze),
volume, vocal nuance, proximity, gestures, facial expression, pause (silence),
intonation, dress, posture, smell, word choice and syntax and sounds (paralanguage).
ANALYSIS BETWEEN SAUDI & NON SAUDI TOUCH CULTURE:
Saudi Arabia is a high context culture, which coincides with the collectivist
characteristics of the country. The Kingdoms use of high context communication
means that the current environment and body language are depended upon more to
convey information than actual spoken words. Ones opinion is not only verbally
expressed, but rather indirectly implied through eye contact, vocal tone, facial
expressions, and other nonverbal cues. In such an environment, even silence is
frequently used to communicate ideas and feelings. Arabic is not necessarily acquired
to understand some communications in Saudi Arabia. It has been said that To tie an
Arabs hands while he is speaking is tantamount to tying his tongue. If we simply
observes Saudis when they talk among themselves or to others, a Saudi will many
times use non-verbal communications unconsciously through various hand gestures.
Saudis may use with their hands but I will say that I have consistently seen Saudis use
certain gestures.
1. To illustrate be patient a Saudi will gesture with his or her thumb, fore finger
and middle finger closed together and in the direction of the person directed to
wait or be patient.
2. Another non-verbal mannerism of many Saudi men is to stroke their chin when
asking a favor and wishing to express please.
3. The gesture of placing the right hand or its forefinger on the tip of the nose, on
the right lower eyelid, on top of the head, on the mustache or beard has the

meaning of its in front of me, I see it or its on my head to accomplish. Another

meaning is its my obligation.
4. Right hand out, palm down, with fingers brought toward oneself repeatedly in a
clawing motion, is the sign for calling someone to come.
5. Placing the palm of the right hand on the chest immediately after shaking hands
with another man shows respect or thanks. A very slight bow of the head may
also be added.
6. Touching the tips of the right fingertips to the forehead while bowing the head
slightly, or kissing the back of a dignitarys hand also connotes Respect.
7. Grasping the chin with the thumb side of the right fist is a sign of wisdom or
maturity. By holding the fingers in a pear shaped configuration with the tips
pointing up at about waist level and moving the hand slightly up and down
signals wait a little bit or be careful. This gesture can be observed
extensively when driving in the crowded streets of the Arab cities.
8. Hitting the side of ones face with the palm of one hand, head slightly tilted, and
eyes wide open, is meant as an expression of surprise.
9. Flicking the right thumbnail on front teeth can be translated to mean I have no
money or I have only a little.

Biting the right forefinger, which has been

placed sideways in the mouth, may be a threat or an expression of regret. In

Western culture the OK sign is a positive gesture. However in the Arab world, if
the gesture is shaken at another person it symbolizes the sign of the evil eye. An
Arab may use the sign in conjunction with verbal curses.
10.
Hitting the right fist into the open palm of the left hand indicates obscenity
or contempt.
11.
Placing the tips of the left fingers and thumb together so that the hand
faces right, then placing the tip of the right forefinger directly on the left
fingertips indicates an obscenity or insult directed at ones birth or parentage.
Specifically You have five fathers.
12.
Placing the palm of the right hand on the chest, bowing the head a little
and closing ones eyes connotates Thank You (in the name of Allah).
13.
Touching noses together three times when greeting is a Bedouin gesture of
friendship and respect.
14.
Two men kissing each other quickly on the lips when greeting is an
expression of friendship.
15.
A quick snap of the head upwards with an accompanying click of the
tongue connotates: No, perhaps, or What you say is false.
16.
By joining the tips of the right thumb, forefinger, and middle finger and
then moving the configuration rapidly in front of the body, an Arab will add

emphasis to his speech. Patting another persons shoulder with the right hand is
a conciliatory gesture. Before serving coffee, a bit of it may be poured onto the
ground. This is a Bedouin gesture of sacrifice.
17.
During the Hajj (pilgrimage), people may kiss only on the shoulders as a
gesture of friendship and greeting.
18.
Flipping the hand near the mouth and simultaneously making a clicking
sound with the tongue and teeth is used to indicate that a person is not to worry.
19.
By holding the right hand in front of the face with the back facing forward
and then flipping the hand so that the palm is up, the Arab will indicate that the
person asked for is not present.
20.
If an Arab rubs his earlobe with the tips of his right forefinger and thumb,
he may be asking, Do you want me to answer the question for you?
21.
Placing a half closed hand in front of the stomach, and then turning it
slightly connotes that the person to whom the gesture is made is a liar.
22.
By first touching the tip of the right forefinger on the tongue and then
placing it on the tip of the nose, an Arab gives a sign for a person to hurry.
23.
Pointing your finger or a pencil at anyone while speaking, or beckon anyone
with your finger. It is considered a threat, and only animals are treated in this
manner.
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SAUDI & NON SAUDIS:
General Appearance and Dress : All cultures are concerned for how they look and make judgments based
on looks and dress. Americans, for instance, appear almost obsessed with dress and personal attractiveness.
Consider differing cultural standards on what is attractive in dress and on what constitutes modesty. Note
ways dress is used as a sign of status?
Body Movement : We send information on attitude toward person (facing or leaning towards another),
emotional statue (tapping fingers, jiggling coins), and desire to control the environment (moving towards or
away from a person). More than 700,000 possible motions we can make so impossible to categorize them
all! But just need to be aware the body movement and position is a key ingredient in sending messages.
Posture : Consider the following actions and note cultural differences:

Bowing (not done, criticized, or affected in US; shows rank in Japan)

Slouching (rude in most Northern European areas)

Hands in pocket (disrespectful in Turkey)

Sitting with legs crossed (offensive in Ghana, Turkey)

Showing soles of feet. (Offensive in Thailand, Saudi Arabia)

Even in US, there is a gender difference on acceptable posture?

Gestures: Impossible to catalog them all.

But need to recognize: 1) incredible

possibility and variety and 2) that an acceptable in ones own culture may be offensive
in another. In addition, amount of gesturing varies from culture to culture. Some
cultures are animated; other restrained.

Restrained cultures often feel animated

cultures lack manners and overall restraint. Animated cultures often feel restrained
cultures lack emotion or interest.
Even simple things like using hands to point and count differ.
Pointing : US with index finger; Germany with little finger; Japanese with entire hand
(in fact most Asians consider pointing with index finger to be rude)
Counting: Thumb = 1 in Germany, 5 in Japan, middle finger for 1 in Indonesia.
Facial Expressions: While some say that facial expressions are identical, meaning
attached to them differs. Majority opinion is that these do have similar meanings
world-wide with respect to smiling, crying, or showing anger, sorrow, or disgust.
However, the intensity varies from culture to culture.

Many Asian cultures suppress facial expression as much as possible.

Many Mediterranean (Latino / Arabic) cultures exaggerate grief or sadness while

most American men hide grief or sorrow.

Some see animated expressions as a sign of a lack of control.

Too much smiling is viewed in as a sign of shallowness.

Women smile more than men.

Eye Contact and Gaze : In USA, eye contact indicates: degree of attention or interest,
influences attitude change or persuasion, regulates interaction, communicates
emotion, defines power and status, and has a central role in managing impressions of
others.
Western cultures see direct eye to eye contact as positive (advise children to look a
person in the eyes). But within USA, African-Americans use more eye contact when
talking and less when listening with reverse true for Arabic cultures make prolonged
eye-contact. believe it shows interest and helps them understand truthfulness of the
other person. (A person who doesnt reciprocate is seen as untrustworthy)
Japan, Africa, Latin American, Caribbean avoid eye contact to show respect.
Touch : Question: Why do we touch, where do we touch, and what meanings do we
assign when someone else touches us?
Touch is culturally determined! But each culture has a clear concept of what parts of

the body one may not touch. Basic message of touch is to affect or control protect,
support, disapprove (i.e. hug, kiss, hit, kick).
USA handshake is common (even for strangers), hugs, kisses for those of opposite
gender or of family (usually) on an increasingly more intimate basis. Note differences
between African-Americans and Anglos in USA.

Most African Americans touch on

greeting but are annoyed if touched on the head (good boy, good girl overtones).
Arabs: typically dont touch with the left hand. To do so is a social insult. Left hand is
for toilet functions. Islamic cultures generally dont approve of any touching between
genders (even handshakes). But consider such touching (including hand holding, hugs)
between same-sex to be appropriate.
Paralanguage: vocal characterizers (laugh, cry, yell, moan, whine, belch, yawn).
These send different messages in different cultures (Japan giggling indicates
embarrassment; India belch indicates satisfaction) vocal qualifiers (volume, pitch,
rhythm, tempo, and tone). Loudness indicates strength in Arabic cultures and softness
indicates weakness.
REFERENCES:
http://dpuadweb.depauw.edu/
$1~mkfinney/teaching/Com227/culturalPortfolios/Saudi_Arabia/Communication.ht
m
www.google.com.sa
http://americanbedu.com/2010/09/21/saudi-arabia-saudis-and-non-verbalcommunications/
http://www.andrews.edu/~tidwell/bsad560/NonVerbal.html