The article Sound of Silence by Edward and Mildred Hall discusses how people from different cultures tend to communicate without words. The article highlights various non-verbal communication and how these non-verbal communications vary from culture to culture. Edward and Mildred assert that there is more to human communication than using language. Additionally, they state that for human beings to become globally savvy, they need to learn to hear the silent message and read the invisible words in nonverbal communication whenever they encounter. This paper discusses three concepts relating to the article; human communication, nonverbal communication, and language.
Human Communication
Human communication relates to the study of how people communicate. Edward and Mildred state that the first thing that comes into their mind when they hear of human communication is a language for most people. Communication refers to how individuals convey information by exchanging messages, thoughts, or information through written words, visuals signals, or even behaviors. Communication among people is an essential part of socialization. It helps people interact with one another by sharing information, ideas, and even opinions. Instructions, rules, and regulations in society are passed through communication. Things like conversation distances and seating arrangements are used to send different messages to different cultures.
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Human communication, irrespective of it being either verbal or nonverbal, involves three significant steps. First, the idea exists in the mind of the sender in the form of thoughts. The second step is encoding the image, information, or concept by sending the message to the receiver, whether in words or other symbols. The last step is decoding the information and interpreting it for understanding.
Nonverbal communication
Nonverbal communication refers to the process of conveying meaning in the form of non-words or written messages. Edward and Mildred define non-verbal communication as passing information without using words (Hall & Hall, 2014). Nonverbal communication includes gestures, body language, facial expressions, touch, posture, and eye contact. Nonverbal communication also involves the use of material items like clothing and hairstyle. According to Hall & Hall (2014), 40 years ago, people from different cultures worldwide communicated without words. The dressing is a means of communicating that relies upon materials other than the body. The type of clothing an individual wears convents nonverbal clues about his/her personality, financial status, and background. In the article, Edward and Mildred say that mastering the realm of nonverbal communication can be difficult because some cultures value non-verbal communication than language (Hall & Hall, 2014). For instance, In the United States, spoken communication is given greater importance than gestures. On the contrary, in Eastern cultures such as the Japanese, they consider nonverbal communication the major conveyor of the message. In this case, people from the American culture are likely to underestimate the importance of nonverbal cues in a cross-cultural setting.
Non-verbal communication is different from person to person and from culture to culture. Cultural backgrounds define non-verbal communication, as many forms of non-verbal communication, like signs and signals, are usually learned behaviors. The difference in the meaning of nonverbal communication may lead to miscommunication during intercultural communication. Cultural differences in nonverbal communication can cause people to offend others while not meaning to. Generally, there are six universal expressions; sadness, anger, happiness, disgust, fear, and surprise. The extent to which people show their feelings might differ. In some cultures, it is allowed to openly express, and in other people is not allowed.
Language
In a social context, language means communication and creating and maintaining social relationships among speakers of a given language. Languages differ with cultures, hence the case of language-barrier, when human beings are incapable of communicating due to language differences. According to Edward and Mildred, language is an essential part of human communication (Hall & Hall, 2014). The language that people use to communicate differs depending on their society and environment. For instance, in America, people are likely to talk English because it is the national language, and it is the language they grew up hearing from the family. This may be different from other countries like Germany, where English is not the primary language.
Languages are symbolic systems through which people communicate and transmit culture. There is a system of symbols used for written communication in some languages, while in others, they purely rely on the spoken and nonverbal actions. Language is continuously evolving in societies to create new ideas. For instance, there is immense use of words such as email, texting, and blogging in the modern age of technology, which would have been considered irrelevant in past years. Language is constantly shaping human reality. Usually, the reality is culturally determined, and any interpretation of this reality in life is based on language. Each language has words and expressions that are specific to it. In the United States, number thirteen is associated with bad luck. However, in Japan, the unlucky number is four, and it is pronounced similarly to the Japanese word for death.
Conclusion
Human communication is an essential part of human life. It helps individuals to share information, ideas, and opinions. Often, people consider human communication as the use of language, which entails using words to communicate. However, as Edward and Mildred Hall asserts, communication can also be facilitated through non-verbal means. People can pass information through their facial expressions, their mode of dressing, and other things like making eye contact. Nonverbal communication complements the understanding of verbal communication. It helps in understanding people even when they are silent.
References
Hall, E.T. & Hall, M.R. (2014). Conforming to internalized culture – The Sounds of Silence. https://mymission.lamission.edu/userdata/etherism/docs/Sounds%20of%20Silence (1).pdf
