Page 194 - Communication across Cultures

Communication across Cultures

pitch, or rhythm of speech can differ across cultures.
Overall, paralanguage adds depth and nuance to verbal communication, shaping the
way messages are received and interpreted by others.

6.5.2 Silence

Many people connect communicating with doing something verbally, nonverbally,
or both. Communication means action such as encoding a message, decoding a mes-
sage, sending a message, and sending feedback. At first glance silence does not indicate
action, yet communication through silence plays an important role in all cultures. The
importance of silence as a communication tool and the interpretation of silence vary
from culture to culture, but all cultures use silence at times to get a point across.
Differences in the uses of silence can be best examined by looking at a high-context
and low-context culture.
1) Silence in Low-Context Culture
In a low-context culture, where communication relies more on explicit and direct
communication, the use of silence can vary. Here are a few ways people in low-context
cultures might use silence:
Pause for thought: Silence can be used as a momentary pause during a conversa-
tion to gather thoughts or consider a response. It allows individuals to carefully choose
their words and express their ideas more precisely.
Disagreement or disapproval: In some cases, silence can be used to express dis-
agreement or disapproval, particularly when verbalizing it may be considered impolite
or confrontational. By remaining silent, people in low-context cultures may communi-
cate their dissent without causing direct conflict.
Listening attentively: Silence can be used to demonstrate active listening and re-
spect for the speaker. By refraining from interrupting or speaking over others, people in
low-context cultures show that they value and acknowledge the speaker’s perspective.
Awkwardness or discomfort: In certain situations, silence may arise due to awk-
wardness or discomfort. It can occur when individuals are uncertain about what to say
or how to proceed. Silence in these cases may be an indication of unease or a lack of
familiarity with the situation.
Privacy or personal boundaries: Silence can also be used to convey a desire for
personal space or privacy. People in low-context cultures may remain silent when they
find certain topics too sensitive or intrusive, indicating their need for boundaries.
Phrases such as “Speaking is silver; silence is gold” seem to contradict the view of

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