Introduction
The world is fluid by nature, and, therefore, people are in constant need to adapt to new conditions. Many processes are accelerated, and new tasks require a large amount of theoretical knowledge and practical experience. Today, the leading global trends are globalization and digitalization. It means more cross-cultural contacts both online and in real life. Understanding several verbal communication types is no longer enough to establish friendly, romantic, or business relationships. One needs to have the skills of non-verbal communication as well. The work aims to explore the basics and nuances of patterns of non-verbal communication.
Sociocultural Differences in Non-Verbal Communication Patterns
A multicultural society means both cultural diversity and a variety of interpretations of types of non-verbal communication. Cultural differences in gestures are one of the critical things that should be paid attention to during the act of multicultural communication (Menzies, 2018). For example, nods can have opposite meanings in two cultures. Proxemics is also interpreted differently in different cultures (Menzies, 2018). People from populous countries or cities require much less personal space than people from countries or towns with small populations. (Menzies, 2018). There are non-contact cultures where touching the skin can be considered an insult and contact cultures where touching is not a big deal (Menzies, 2018). In some cultures, it is okay to stare; in others, it is a sign of disrespect or ridicule (Menzies, 2018). Moreover, there are some cultural norms according to which a person should behave with restraint. In contrast, others encourage the expression of emotions. These nuances are important for societies that are or want to become multicultural.
Common, Inborn and Culturally Transmittable Non-Verbal Communication Patterns
Human is a biological organism with one of the most highly complex structures. The ability to communicate exists in many species, but people developed one of the most complicated communication systems and relationships models. People convey information mostly verbally and use non-verbal patterns to make the process as effective as possible. Some of the non-verbal communication patterns are innate and developed as part of native culture (Zohra, 2017). Others are culturally transmitted ones, which means that they came from another culture and were integrated into the native one or are used for international communication.
Common Patterns of Non-Verbal Communication
There are common types of non-verbal communication that are found in the culture of relationships of all societies. Experts divide them into six classes, some of which are categories. According to Zohra (2017), “kinesics are a non-verbal behavior related to body motion such as gestures and facial expressions” (p. 5). Gestures are a type of non-verbal communication in which people move parts of their bodies to convey information (Zohra, 2017). In most cultures, the hands and head are the most involved body parts. Another pattern is facial expressions; people use their facial muscles to convey a message (Zohra, 2017). Proxemics refers to people’s personal space and how they use it to highlight certain behaviors, social and health statuses (Zohra, 2017). Human non-verbal communication through touch and reaction to this is called haptics (Zohra, 2017). There is also meta-communication when a person conveys information through indirect cues (Zohra, 2017). Paralanguage is when an individual manipulates third-party speech qualities such as loudness to communicate effectively (Zohra, 2017). It is also necessary to mention eye contact and interjections, which refer to common non-verbal communication patterns.
The Differences between Inborn and Culturally Transmitted Communication Patterns
It is no secret that the 21st-century world is a globalized one. People travel and migrate from one point of the world to another, searching for new sensations or a new home. Many communities are gradually globalizing and becoming more and more multicultural. Nowadays, it is a matter of self and mutual respect to identify and know the difference between inborn and culturally transmitted non-verbal communication patterns. Inborn patterns of non-verbal input are based on a person’s background, consisting of their native language, early upbringing and education, and cultural environment.
Culturally transmitted non-verbal communication types are ones from another culture. It is a matter of knowledge and perception; a person must acknowledge and know the language and culture of a bearer of another culture with whom they communicate to use culturally transmitted non-verbal communication patterns properly (Zohra, 2017). The difference is “that although nonverbal communication is universal, non-verbal cues are not and non-verbal communication itself is culture-bound and that’s why we have to know the target culture before our own” (Zohra, 2017, p. 16). One can say that with each passing day, more and more non-verbal communication types are becoming culturally transmitted.
Current and Potential Effect of Digitalization on the Nature of Human Relationships
It is safe to say that humanity has experienced another wave of digitalization over the past fifteen years that have covered a much larger number of areas of human life than the previous one. It can be said that humanity is still experiencing it. It is because digital, online, and mobile technologies have become more accessible. According to the United Nations (UN) (n.d.), “digital technologies have advanced more rapidly than any innovation in our history – reaching around 50 per cent of the developing world’s population in only two decades and transforming societies” (para. 1). They also note that “throughout history, technological revolutions have changed the labor force: creating new forms and patterns of work, making others obsolete, and leading to wider societal changes” (United Nations, n.d., para. 5). However, the latest wave of digitalization affected not only the economy and related social aspects but also the personal life of people and the nature of human communication and relationships. It is necessary to analyze how this phenomenon is changing people’s lives in order to foresee the future consequences of digitalization for these two components of social interaction.
Current Implications of Digitalization
The most striking example of the interaction of digital technologies and principles of human communication, or, simply put, digitized human relations, is social media. Social media currently have both positive and negative effects on the nature of human communication. Social media has made community mobilization more effective and geographically independent (Walden University, n.d.). They also made it possible for families, relatives, friends, and couples to stay in touch longer, and their relationships less dependent on a geographical factors (Walden University, n.d.). One of the adverse effects of social media on interpersonal relationships is how people perceive dating nowadays. Dating today is more of a marketplace conceptually than a process of searching for the right one (Fetters & Tiffany, 2020). Such a state of affairs has created an imbalance between men and women on dating apps where men outnumber women several times (Fetters & Tiffany, 2020). The disproportion leads to the development of depression, hostility, and feelings of loneliness in men.
Possible Impact of Digitalization
Digitization will undoubtedly have long-lasting implications for the way people communicate and build relationships with one another. One possible impact is that people start dating primarily online. Sociologists note that “now, 33% of couples have met online, and that’s expected to rise by 70% by 2040” (Walden University, n.d., para. 4). Another possible consequence is the destruction of communication links and the emergence of many echo chambers due to the radicalization of society through social media (United Nations, n.d.). However, the exact opposite is also possible with social media. After all, it is a fusion of digital technologies and human relations principles that depend on many variables, one of which is an unpredictable human factor. The improved community mobilization over the past ten years is proof of it.
Conclusion
This work explores the fundamental aspects of non-verbal communication patterns. These include their sociocultural differences in the context of a multicultural society, existing common patterns, and the difference between innate and culturally transmitted ones. Moreover, it analyzed how digitalization has changed the world and what other possible outcomes one should expect in the future. It was found that phenomena such as globalization, digitalization, and non-verbal communication are closely related phenomena. Knowledge of them is necessary in the modern world and will be highly in demand in the future. It is also worth noting that knowledge of non-verbal communication patterns improves foreign languages, cultures, and history. It is safe to say that non-verbal communication is one of the keys to a prosperous multicultural society.
References
Fetters, A., & Tiffany, K. (2020). The ‘dating market’ is getting worse. The Atlantic.
Menzies, F. (2018). You’re cramping my style: Cultural differences in nonverbal communication. Include-Empower.Com.
United Nations. (n.d.). The impact of digital technologies. United Nations.
Walden University. (n.d.). How is digital technology changing our interactions with each other? Walden University.
Zohra, T. (2017). Non-verbal communication and cultural differences [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University of Mostaganem.