1) Communication is defines as communication which involves two way interacting in setting of sending (speaker ) that included relevant message which value to the receiver (listener).
Nonverbal communication is the mostly important view of the communication process which the messages send out composed without speech and words. Nonverbal signal is more reliable when the nonverbal symbols delivered out accompanied by speech than the verbal communication. Nonverbal is in use in attitudes, tone of voice, emotion, express and feelings. For instance, we can tell the person by looking into his or her expressions such as sad, happy, frustration and others.
Verbal communication can be replaced by the nonverbal language because of the effectiveness and efficiency. Beside that's there is a lot more meaningful and effective way that can achieve certain thing in using nonverbal language such as wink, wave and smile where the message is clearly understood by the receiver and the sender when they interacting.
It is also involve in both communication such as intentional and unintentional. For example, when some employee has done a good job, we gave them a pat on the shoulder or when feeling displeasure the manager will remain silence or blank expression.
The basic identify different in nonverbal communication practice by us in our country which multiracial society ( Malay, Chinese and Indian) includes daily activities such as meeting, socializing and etc.
Body language is the biggest ranges that cause by our facial expression include eye contact, gesture, postures, gaze and body movement.
For instance,
Malay, when they passed the elderly they will bend their body and joined they hand in front of their face to greet to show respect.
Chinese, will normally by greeting such as to call the elderly likes 'Popo' as grandmother, 'Gung Gung' as grandfather and other as follow the hierarchy in the family.
Eyes contact, is will show the emotions which intensity of the person. There is sincerity and confidence that is essential in some cultures. It shows the boredom, happy and all kinds of other feelings from the eyes.
For instance,
Malay, Chinese and Indian in Malaysia cultural will using eye contact when interact with other so that the communication is by taking turn and making expression such as acknowledge them in sight.
For Japanese they will normally look downward as for man will on the side and lady will place their hand in front. If they looked direct eye contact meaning disrespect.
Facial expression is will show differently in different cultures. Nevertheless, there is some basic expression that will understand by use internationally.
For instance,
In Malaysia cultural it is less facial expression and meaning is often more unequivocal and less direct as compare to Western cultures.
As Malay value the harmony, tolerance and courtesy.
Gesture is to express feelings or ideas and mostly is understood worldwide. There also many gestures that misunderstood when communicating differently in by other culture. The movement of finger, the head or chin maybe overlooked sometimes of these gestures in some cultures.
For instance,
In Malaysia is common that never point to person using the index finger and is consider rude. The younger generation such as children, will teach them by using motion point to something with loose doubled fist with thumb.
For Western, when their using the index finger to point towards a person it is normal. If they want to call the person come over, the will hand out with palm down with the repeated clawing motion.
Vocal characteristics,
Is refers to paralanguage of nonverbal symbols together in verbal message. As the person speak it show the tone, volume and pitch about the person. The speed of the voice, rhythm and pitch that come out from the listener understand whether the speaker is confident, nervous or prepared. The changing of the tone of voice can stress different words and create different impressions.
For example,
In Malaysia the spoken of English the slang or jargon is different towards Western such as Australia, United Kingdom and others. Sometimes if is necessary to repeat our words to avoid communication breakdown.
Malaysia normally will add in some words such as 'lah', 'lor', 'lu' and etc.) in the end of the sentences, eg. ' I think should ok for you 'lah'. Right?'
General appearance and dressing, is mostly all the concerned of all the culture on how the look and inevitably judgment based on the looks and dressing. People can improve our look such as proper clothing, grooming and suitable accessories.
For instance, for the Malay they can have different color of the hair scarf or 'tudung' and they can put brooch as well to their hair scarf to make it more fashionable. For Chinese, main color for them is red especially Chinese New Year, and for the Indian is 'Sari' mainly their dress code in special event such as 'Deepavali' or 'Thaipusam'.
Touching is authoritatively or determine by the cultural.
For instance, generally in Malay's they use to use both hand to greets each other between Malay. From the touch, they can be comforting, nurturing, warm, disinterested, cold, threatening and others.
Is clear ruled that each culture has the have the concept of which part that may or may not be touch.
The sense of touch may be warmth, need to beware sometimes might lead to misinterpreted.
Time and space, is consider the show of respect or authority by the person.
Time;
To some people when they wanted to show their authority, they will make others to wait.
Some people will be punctual to show their respect.
In a meeting or discussion, people who have higher status they will make decisions such as to ask for over time and space when they determine so.
Space;
Is the known as 'conform zone' or physical distance of each person.
We will step behind or further away to some people that we fear or stranger, hence we will stand closer to the people that we like.
It is subjective distance from culture to culture.
In some area to represent the status of the person is mostly seen in office which refer to the space of the person with high status is occupying spacious well-located room with the top management people.
For instance,
The Chinese in Malaysia is expected punctual. For the Malays and Indian is more relax attitude and it is expected punctual and to arrive on time.
The differences examples is related to nonverbal communication is carefully observe and from this tips to help to develop relationship fluency to work more efficiently and effectively in the nonverbal communication. Each of the differences (body language, vocal characteristics, personal appearance, touching and time & space), can be influences the communication flow and the conflict in responsible, misinterpretation or miscommunication.
2) Communication is a cultural, it's the way we may learn to speak and learn and to send nonverbal signal as each day might be different and we communicate different way. It's involved the personality, context, and so as mood interacts in different kinds of cultural influences.
The challenge that we will face out of the three difficulties differing nonverbal practices when communicate with the cultural groups is as following,
Language, is the bigger differences or barriers in the cross-cultural communication and English is widely use or spoken. Besides there is also large portion of countries that don't understand or speak English and they will need translator to communicate in using written message or verbal. In using the nonverbal skills need to be very sensitive to deal with other people does not speak the same language skills.
Language is also describes in what we say and sometimes may present some misunderstand for the receiver who is not familiar with our jargon, expression and buzz-word. If is necessary speak slowly or repeat the sentence. Use simple words that can be easy understand to the receiver.
A lots of peoples start to learn different languages such as Japanese, Mandarin, Korean, Tamil and others, due to the wide business opportunity across borders.
For instance, as China having the largest manufacturing in the world and is attract others organizations to setting up company or branches and dealing with Chinese companies. Is have made people of non-Chinese have the urge to learn Mandarin that's will helps them to their career.
Cultures differences, as the international communication is the differences among cultural that refusal to accept. The cultures and values of how to dealing with peoples is important to be learn.
When in discussing religious and political issues of the people that we are meeting, we need to be avoided the sensitive topics or cultural issue when we are not familiar with and to adopt an open mind.
Nonverbal signal might be different from one another nationality and the wrong nonverbal signals might be sending wrong message to the sender or receiver.
In Western society is normal and perfectly polite when in use of the gesturing with finger for someone but in Malaysia is consider impolite in Malaysian society such as using the index finger to pointing.
For instance, especially in Malaysia, mostly some restaurant they will a sign like 'No Pork' or 'Halal' so that Malay races can dine in the restaurant as same to other races. When we want to invite them for a lunch or dinner, is good that we do some survey of the 'Halal' restaurant before we go for dining in.
If communicating with other nationalities for first time, remember to do some research on the nonverbal symbols that we are not familiar with.
The external and internal factors,
The external barriers from the sender and receivers is beyond the control is known as external barriers. Nevertheless, physical distraction such as unexpected or unavoidable from the external barriers is better for the both parties (sender and receiver) that to adapt and prepared to the situation to these barriers and to have contingency plan.
For instance, for some of the Malays men they will not doing handshaking with the ladies which is different races because is due to their Islamic religious rule. Meanwhile, for other races like Chinese and Indian should understand their religious rule instead of hand shaking they can smile back or nod the head as a manners.
The internal barrier that arises is towards from the sender or receiver which results from the beliefs and personality in the communication process. The preconceived impression issue is the barriers that created by the sender perception which different to the receiver. If the person is outspoken, therefore it may say something which harmless that may cause hurting the sensitive receiver. Barriers which will show when the lack of understanding other's cultural may occur. It can be analyze the audience properly by open minded.
For example, it's necessary for the to speak same language so that other different races ( Malay, Chinese and Indian) won't felt left out or they might thought other things such as saying something that offend to them.
To avoid these differences of nonverbal communication is to improve the communication skills and be prepared to encounter some of these barriers.
"To adopt an audience-centered approach" ( WOU CSK:CD )
In the communication process, is important to conducting an analysis of the audience and is often that will be caught by unawares when start to communicate at the time we meet a person. We only need to spend minutes to get to know the person better and track the person carefully with common sense to dealing with the person.
For instance, need to do some survey of the groups of audience like races, age, interest and motivation of what they interest to know of the discussion or meeting event.
"To create and open communication climate'' ( WOU CSK:CD )
Is open-minded to accept feedback and receptive the opinions, it is encourages for those who gives for their creativity and they will not fell inhibited.
For example, now days in the celebration of the races, Malays did adopt Chinese custom likes give red packets which contain money to the children and elderly. The Malays will use green packets and the Chinese is in red color.
"To adapting to and minimizing external barriers" ( WOU CSK:CD )
The interruption of external barriers will affect the communication.
For example, in Chinese belief the custom in full black color from the top to the bottom is only for the special occasion like funeral and death. If during the Chinese New Year it is mostly unwelcome from the relatives or elderly.
3) Malaysia is a multiracial society country with different races like Malays, Chinese and India. It was formed with racial unity and interaction of vibrant and diverse society. In Malaysia, it is actively sharing a lot of other cultural richness.
For instance, in Malaysia each states, there always a mosques, temples and Indian mosques at everywhere we go. It is freely for us to learn and visit these places to learn the cultural of different the religious.
From this learning of cultural people we will learn to respect, understand and valued other people. We need to understand and recognize the differences of cultural to avoid communication barriers.
Language
In Malaysia, the main language is 'Bahasa Malaysia' or Malays language and second language is English that widely spoken. Besides other races like Chinese and Indian, they can still send their children to learn the mother language and others like Malays, Mandarin and Tamil.
For instance, because of the multiracial society, in Malaysia the Chinese not only can speak Malay but also can speak their own dialect such as Cantonese, Hokkien, Khek, Teochiew and others.
Due to the different races in Malaysia, we need to be adaptable so if other people that speaks different language and we try our best to communicate the same language. If possible the use of slang, acronyms or jargon should be avoided.
We should be aware of the personal contact like not to tap or hugs. Some people might be sensitive to it. While interaction minds on the use of humor, we need to understand better before we make assumption.
Culture different
- Different cultures will have different ideas about the proper way to respect and value to live harmonious.
E.g. Especially when we invited by the Malays, to their wedding, they'll giving the guests some of their homemade handcraft such as the 'bunga telur' as appreciated of the attending to the event.
- Always have an open mind to learn and be sensitive of others cultural to accept or adapt to it. We need to be prepared for the language barriers that and with the open mind to get them past.
For example, if the different races want to marry Malay, therefore he/she will need to be converted into 'Muslim'. For there, they will need to learn the ruled and the religious such as to rename to Malay names and Malay married ceremony.
The appearances and grooms from different cultures are different and we need to adapt to it and respect it.
For example, the Indian, they will wear 'sari' for special occasion and for normal day they can wear jeans or shirt which their way to reflect their peers and surrounding.
Besides the Malay being an Islamic is strictly need to be dressed decent in any public area or especially for those who worship in the mosque.
Malaysia multiracial society all the different races live in harmonious and respect each other cultures and religious way of life in the. Each of the ethnic community have is unique and welcome other such as tourist and neighbors and to celebrate together to avoid the cultural barriers and the understanding in foster. In the tolerance of Malaysia's progress, the positive celebration of traditional have shown a millennia until now.
