Non-verbal communication causes cultural misconceptions
Adam Croce
Issue date: 2/28/03 Section: Campus
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In a presentation on Wednesday, William Cruz showed how differences in non-verbal communication between Latin Americans and European Americans cause cultural misconceptions.
Cruz, a Native American of the Puerto Rican Taino tribe and founder of the Society of Hispanic Engineers at Rutgers University, spoke to a full crowd in the Hardge Forum on how understanding these differences can lead to fewer racial stereotypes.
The way Latinos and Anglo-Americans non-verbally communicate is different in many ways, Cruz said, "and this can cause discomfort in multicultural communications."
Because 10 percent of the United States population is of Hispanic origin, Cruz stressed the importance of understanding cultural differences. "This creates a subculture with its own cultural identity that has distinct variations of non-verbal communication," Cruz said.
"Spoken language is, at most, 35 percent of communication," Cruz said, "which is why understanding differences in non-verbal communication is so important."
Non-verbal communication can reveal a person's identity or emotions, enhance a person's conversation style and be an attraction indicator Cruz said.
"A very specific study shows that European Americans generally speak at a distance of 18 to 30 inches, whereas Latin Americans and Southern Europeans generally communicate at a distance of 8 to 18 inches," Cruz said. "The misconception occurs at an unconscious level that Latinos appear too pushy or overly sexual and that Anglos appear cold, uninterested and prejudiced."
Body movements are another difference in non-verbal communication between Latin Americans and European Americans.
"Latinos will smile in many situations where an Anglo will not," Cruz said. "Friendly touching is common in Latino culture, however it is not accepted in Northern European culture to touch another person while talking with them besides a hand shake."
