why western people use body language more than asian people?

Question

im asian, for me western people use their hands more widely, so i want to know for them is it important to use hands when you talk?

Answer 1

i didn't know they did. I will watch this question and learn. Thanks.

PS 25 minutes gone and I still think the clown gets the points.

Answer 2

If we accept as true that Western People use more Body Language than Asian People (that covers soooo much ground; Are southeast asian people anything like Koreans or Mongolians? Are Americans anything like Russians or Finnlanders?), I would have to say it is the difference between high context and low context communications. These are not value judgements, but labels used by communication experts. A popular cultural framework was proposed by Edward Hall, in which he stated that all cultures can be situated in relation to one another through the styles in which they communicate. In some cultures, such as those of Scandinavians, Germans, and the Swiss, communication occurs predominantly through explicit statements in text and speech, and they are thus categorized as Low-Context cultures. These direct statements can be punctuated by gestures without implying anything beyond emphasizing the direct statement. In other cultures, such as the Japanese and Chinese, messages include other communicative cues such as excessive politeness to imply the opposite and the use of silences. Essentially, High-Context communication involves implying a message through that which is not uttered. This includes the situation, behavior, and para-verbal cues as integral parts of the communicated message.
Here arm gestures, when used alter the nature of message. Thus the body language would be used on a much more conscious (and therefore, perhaps, less noticable) level.

Answer 3

I think the Asian languages are more emotional from what i have seen than western language for a start. If parents have used body language than children will too its just a cultural thing much like anything else .. expressing through action rather than words/

Answer 4

This is an ambiguous question. So let's refine this question: the usage of body language in social settings versus formal settings (such as business meetings or negotiations)

In formal settings, body language is one way to determine or show the level of comfort in the issues being discussed; the behavior is not different across the hemispheres.

In social settings, it is likely that body language is more accentuated with Americans and Europeans(call it westerners) versus Asians. It is culture, westerners are more assertive and aggressive. They tend to be more 'touchy' and often times disregard the notion of 'space'. There is nothing wrong with this.

Answer 5

I don't think the generalization of this question is accurate. I haven't yet read a research which claims western people use body language more than asian people. The terms 'west' and 'east' are too vast.

Answer 6

Do you actually think this is true? Having worked in multicultural work places throughout my adult life, I have not seen any evidence to support this thesis. On the contrary, body language is used by all cultures, but one must be very careful in the interpretation. What may be very positive in one culture, nay be very negative in another. Being a westerner, I think we are probably more out of touch with body language than we think.

Answer 7

I think this is just a personal matter that you think is wide spread. I think it would be the opposite considering Asia's astuteness with martial arts and so on. Kata, Yoga, and even meditation examine and display body language, maybe not in conversation but when engaged in these forms of excercise movements fomr these will inevitably rub off in every day life.

Answer 8

I can't give you a technical answer, but my best guess is culteral differances. the British are very proper, and have tea and crumpets. Us Americans are loud crude and obnoxiouse.
Don't you asians love us? We give you reasons to laugh.

To the answer below me,
I have. did you not notice the question is a generality, and so is my answer. Not ALL americans are crude and obnoxiouse, and not ALL americans talk with body language. So get off my nuts,will ya?

Answer 9

How can you see body language when the body is covered from head to foot with clothing that makes it impossible to to see movement.

Answer 10

It is merely the variance in the display rule for the communication. This was established years ago in studies using Japanese and " white " American students.