Where do we stand

New Directions

1. Summary of “Where Do We Stand?”
-Dammar Singh Saud
Lecturer, Darchula Multiple Campus
This essay “Where Do We Stand?” was written by an
American writer Lisa Davis. She focuses on cultural
differences in the use of personal space - one type of
nonverbal communication- and on the problems arising
from these differences. According to Davis, we can learn
the nonverbal habits of different cultures through enough
trainings and couching for minimizing and avoiding
intercultural problems.
The use of body language such as personal and social
space (proximsics), touching (haptics), smelling (olfatics),
body movements (kinesics), facial expressions, eye
contact, handshake, kissing, bowing, smiling, style of
greetings etc. in communication is called nonverbal
communication. It is necessary to learn the other cultures’
ways of doing nonverbal communication especially the
ways of using personal space while communicating each
other for making intercultural communication successful
and meaningful because the spatial language is different
from culture to culture, group to group and even between
the sexes. Geographical, cultural and social factors,

2. including variations in values, assumptions, perceptions,
beliefs and behaviors are the major causes of global
differences in nonverbal communication which creates
misunderstanding and conflict in intercultural
communication.
There are many similarities between verbal and
nonverbal communication. Both verbal and nonverbal
language is “a subtle code” but we use and interpret easily
and automatically from early childhood. Both have
systematic vocabulary, grammar and social functions
which are used to communicate ideas and feelings. Both
are subject to misinterpretation because both differ from
culture to culture, group to group and even between the
sexes. Both can be learned with enough coaching and
training to adjust in new culture.
Generally, the people of world can be grouped in the
two side of cultural continuum of personal space: high
contact and non-contact. The people who like to
communicate by using less personal space or standing
near each other are called high contact people. They often
get much of their information through their senses of
smell and touch which require a close distance. Arabian,
Mediterranean, South American, Middle Easterner,

3. Russian etc. are high contact people. On the other hand,
the people who use more personal space or maintain more
distance to communicate each other are known as non-
contact people. They often rely on visual information
which requires more distance. Japanese, Estonians,
Americans, Northern Europeans etc. are non-contact
people. Spatially speaking, the women look at each other
more and stand a bit closer than do the men no matter
whether the society belongs to high contact or non-contact
side of cultural continuum.
In conclusion, spatial styles are real and unique
which are different from culture to culture, group to group
and even between the sexes that lead to misunderstanding
and conflicts in intercultural communication. However,
enough practice and training we can learn the nonverbal
patterns of different cultures to minimize and avoid
intercultural problems.



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4. She says the main cause of non-verbal conflict is the
tendency for people to interrelate the non-verbal pattern
of other culture in terms of the pattern within their own
culture. These ethnocentric viewings of reality often result
in misinterpretation negative value judgment and feeling
of discomfort.
 We have unconsciously learned the vocabulary of
personal space since our childhood. We have already
decided how far or how close to keep people from us.
 People in the Middle East like to talk being very
close. But if Americans stay away from them, they
will lose the opportunity of getting business contracts
from Saudi Arabians.
 How much space is necessary between the two
persons is different in different cultures. For example,
Japanese touch one another in the crowded
underground trains, but in the office they do not
shake their hands because touching is supposed to be
uncivilized in their culture. They do not look at
others directly, but they look down.
 The study of personal space started in the early
1950s, in Mediterranean and South American
societies, people would talk keeping themselves at
the distance of one foot. They would look at the eyes,
touch and smile while talking.

5.  But in Northern European cultures, people would not
look at the eyes for a long time. They would stand at
the distance of two and half feet.
 In normal conversation, an American stands at the
distance of 18 inches. But to make the relations
better, he/she can go closer.
 Even within one country, there is difference in
concept of personal space. Some are non-contact
people while others are high-contract people.
 In the country like America, there is always the fear
that people will misunderstand each other. Americans
naturally follow spatial behavior.
 Spatial difference among cultures is caused by how
the people of that particular culture perceive the
thing.
 Conversational distance shows the distance of
greeting. Americans shake hands and talk standing at
the same distance. Arabs kiss on the cheeks and talk
remaining close to each other. Japanese bow head,
remaining at the distance to two feet and make
conversation to each other.
 People being so close and maintaining distance while
making conversation as per their culture is taken as
the major cause of the non-verbal conflicts.

6. Main Points:
1) American use more direct eye contact than do
Japanese (Para 6)
2) South American converse at a closet distant and
establish more direct eye contact than do another
European. (Para 7)
3) Men tend to converse at a greater distance than do
women. (Para 8 and 9)
4) Women established more eyes contact than do men.
(Para 9)
5) Russians are a higher contact, a people whereas
establishes are a non-contact group. (para10)
6) Caucasians should view a student avoidance of eye
contact as sign of deception whereas Asian teachers see
such avoidance as sign of foreign. (Para 11)
7) An American who is used to standing on the corner of
elevator and avoiding eyes contact with other people will
feel that something is wearing if someone stand by a few
inches away.(Para 17)
8) South Arabian men often hold hand while walking but
American men don’t.