COMPARISON OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

IN SASAKNESE (LOMBOK), VIETNAMESE, AND WESTERN

SAPUTRA, ARI

Dosen di FKIP Universitas Gunung Rinjani

Selong, Lombok Timur

Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT
Non-verbal behavior is still becoming an interesting thing to observe about. It has
special meaning of each expression which has unique side of it. This article focuses
on comparison of some non-verbal behaviors in Sasaknese, Vietnamese, and
Western. Before coming to the topic, in introduction this paper explains about
definition of cross cultural communication and intercultural communication and how
do both differ each other. Both are essential in developing communication especially
nonverbal communication. The nonverbal behavior will create misunderstanding and
different interpretation among different cultures and places. It is the problems in
cross cultural communication where the nonverbal communication among countries
are different views each others. Therefore through this paper, I want to say that
understanding cross cultural differences in behavior is a perquisite for understanding
communication.

Keywords : Non-verbal communication, culture

ABSTRAK
Perilaku nonverbal masih menjadi hal yang menarik untuk diperhatikan. Ini memiliki
arti khusus dari setiap ekspresi yang memiliki sisi uniknya. Artikel ini berfokus pada
perbandingan beberapa perilaku non-verbal dalam bahasa Sasak, Vietnam, dan
Barat. Sebelum membahas topik ini, dalam pendahuluan makalah ini menjelaskan
tentang definisi komunikasi lintas budaya dan komunikasi antarbudaya dan
bagaimana keduanya berbeda satu sama lain. Keduanya sangat penting dalam
mengembangkan komunikasi terutama komunikasi nonverbal. Perilaku nonverbal
akan menciptakan kesalahpahaman dan perbedaan interpretasi antar budaya dan
tempat yang berbeda. Ini adalah masalah dalam komunikasi lintas budaya dimana
komunikasi nonverbal antar negara saling berbeda satu sama lain. Oleh karena itu
melalui tulisan ini, saya ingin mengatakan bahwa memahami perbedaan lintas
budaya dalam perilaku adalah suatu hal yang indah untuk memahami komunikasi.

Kata kunci: Komunikasi non verbal, budaya

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INTRODUCTION feeling of uneasiness and apprehension

Communication is a human’s need. about what might happen in the
It is delivered and received information intercultural communication encounter.
between two or more person. It is the way So the communication should be
to help people in having relationship with emphasized on understanding the verbal
other. Communication in general means and nonverbal communication pattern
a source of information, which people get among the different cultures because the
from the message is that sent from others communication will work well if the
by using media like words, symbols or person or a community transmits stimulus
other media communication. On the other whether verbal and non-verbal to other
hands, according to communication in individuals directly. Here the
delivery, it is consist of communication communication between people of
verbal and communication non-verbal. different cultural background called as
Verbal communication is a direct cross cultural communication. The term
communication by using words, but non- of cross cultural implies interaction with
verbal communication is an indirect persons of different cultural, ethnic, racial,
communication which use symbols in gender, sexual orientation, religious, and
gesture. Both need to comprehend in class backgrounds. The cross cultural
contact with the others in order to avoid communication is defined by Gotland
misunderstandings which may cause University cited in http://www.ehow.com
hurt, anger or confusion because as “a process of exchanging, negotiating,
sometimes in daily interaction the people and mediating one's cultural differences
might be find a problem if they do not through language, non-verbal gestures,
understand what their opposite talked and space relationships. It seeks to
about. It makes us important to understand how people from different
understand the pattern of language and countries and cultures behave,
also the variety of culture from the people communicate and perceive the world
who are used the language. The different around them. From the definition we can
groups may have different values, see that culture and communication are
different ways of communication, different related each other where the culture as a
customs, conventions and assumptions. way of thinking while communication
The individual and the culture are a takes place between people within the
set of relationship where the individual same culture or across culture. In the
determines its culture and the other it is cross cultural communication problems
determined by its culture. Encounter may exist in term of each participants
between people of different culture may interpret the other’s speech based
background in communication will make on his/her own culture.
disturbances. Gudykunst explains what The terms of cross cultural
happens when we communicate with communication and intercultural
people of different cultural backgrounds. communication are frequently used
The theory suggests that when interchangeably although both can be
interlocutors of different cultural treated synonymously because it is linked
backgrounds clash in face-to-face to language use. Moran (2007) defines
interactions, they are confronted with that the intercultural communication is as
uncertainty and anxiety (affective). The the presence of at least two individuals
uncertainty describes our inability to who are culturally different from each
explain actions and reactions of the other on such important attributes as their
“strangers” we communicate with. value orientations, preferred
Anxiety, on the other hand, portrays our communication codes, role expectations,

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and perceived rules of social relationship. what is acceptable in one culture may be
Both definitions of cross cultural unacceptable in another. When people
communication and intercultural are immersed in an environment where
communication above seem facial expressions such as eye contact
interchangeable but they have different and body gestures are alien to their own
things where in Unie’s article (2011) experience, they may suffer from
explains that the differences between disorientation and frustration. Therefore,
them; in cross cultural communication, it is significant to learn the body language
there is some reaching across of different cultures as Norton media
boundaries while in intercultural (2009) posts that throughout the day you
communication there is comprehensive witness many behaviors, but few people
mutually, reciprocity, and equally. Here put their observations to us. As what I
the intercultural communication deals want to discuss about here is the
with the interaction between at least two comparison of non-verbal behavior within
people who are different in significant three places, these are Sasaknese
ways culturally. (Lombok), Vietnamese, and Western.
Intercultural communication is a
necessary part of human communication. Discussion
One of the topics or problems are Nonverbal communication or
included in intercultural communication is gestures include movement of
nonverbal communication. Non-verbal the hands, face, or other parts of
behavior includes many features – touch, the body. One gesture may be common
glance, eye contact, smell, clothing, in a certain country and have a clear
masks, vocal features and body interpretation, but it may be meaningless
movement. Sometimes each country or in another culture or even have an
even religion has its own different way in opposite meaning. If we don’t understand
performing something through nonverbal the non-verbal communication from
communication. The cultural differences different culture, it is possible that we can
have significant impact on our make a mistake to know the other person
intercultural communication. They are the means. According to the explanation, this
source of misunderstanding and paper tries to discuss the non-verbal
misinterpretation. The different views in communication in Lombok, Vietnam, and
interpreting the nonverbal communication western. This paper explains about the
caused by the people do it based on their compare and contrast the non-verbal
culture. Different pond different fish, it communication in Lombok with other
means that the verbal communication, cultures.
the people of one place must be different The first gesture
from other places. The interpretation of is cross fingers. A hand
nonverbal communication can cause gesture in which the
conflicts, especially because of middle finger of either
differences in displaying emotions. Many hand is crossed over the
ways of nonverbal communication are the top of the index finger of
same across the world like sadness, the same hand. Many
surprise, fear or anger, but that is not the western cultures make
problem in communication. The point of this gesture when wishing for good luck.
conflict is which expressions are The gesture commonly used to beg God
acceptable to show and by whom. for protection, as well as to wish for good
The intercultural communication can luck. The gesture is referred to by the
be difficult in some countries because common expression "keeping one's

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fingers crossed" or just "fingers crossed" idiom of Keep your fingers crossed
and has also been historically used in means to hope the things will happen in
order to allow believers to recognize one the way that you want them to. The
another during times of persecution. A saying originally derives from the
hand with the index and middle fingers superstition that bad luck may be avoided
crossed is even the logo for the UK’s by making the sign of the cross.
National Lottery. In other word, the In Lombok, the people avoid to
gesture is also referred to by the common cross finger in daily interaction with the
expression "fingers crossed", meaning to others because that is an obscene
hope for a good outcome for someone or gesture, especially when done while
something. looking at or addressing another person.
The act of crossing finger is said to The crossed fingers are said to resemble
bring luck. The one person makes the female genitals. The same rule goes to
wish, the other empathizes and Viatnamese. Therefore, in both regions to
supports. In Great Britain which is written cross fingers is something that people
by Jamie on claim as taboo, rude and disrespectful
http://www.funkyenglish.com/profiles/blog gesture that refers to part of the female
s/british-culture-crossed-fingers stated anatomy.
some people cross their finger when they Still relate with
buy a lottery ticket or gamble. Other finger, the
people cross their people their fingers Sasaknese will act
when they take exam or have important thumbs up or
interview. This superstition originated sometimes use their
from the Christian religion. Christian used five fingers to ask
to cross their fingers to ask for protection people to sit. It
from God and to pray for blessings. means they respect
Before Christianity was legalized, making to the others. The Sasaknese also use
the sign of the cross to another person their thumb up to point something
was also used as a sign between two because if they point it with the left hand,
Christians to identify each other. When the people will angry to accept that. But in
they would be asked whether they’re western people, they use thumb as the
Christians or not, they would say no but symbol of liking something. In the United
had their fingers crossed behind their States, American Sign Language users
back as if signing that Jesus would use this hand shape to indicate the
forgive them for lying. number ten (10) when wiggled modestly
Still in western views, Francis left and right. When held stationary and
Grose in http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ thrust toward another person the
Crossed_fingers recommend to keep meaning is "yourself". When lifted up by
one's fingers crossed until one sees a the other palm, the meaning is "help". In
dog to avoid the bad luck attracted by vietnamese, the gesture means ok or
walking under a ladder. Another is that appraising a good job for someone.
during the time of Hundred Years' War The third is shaking hands. People
which lasted from 1337 to 1457 between in Lombok have different nonverbal
France and England, the rival armies communication in touch, like shaking
wanted all the luck they could muster. hand and kissing hand. In Lombok,
The archer preparing to make a shot shaking hand as a regard of the people to
would have crossed his fingers and then whom they meet and kissing hand to
said a prayer before pulling the command the old people like parent and
bowstring. On Cambridge dictionary, the teacher. However, for western people

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shaking hand is a Eckman,“Eye contact (also called mutual

symbol of agreement gaze) is another major channel of
for something nonverbal communication. The duration
business and kissing of eye contact is its most meaningful
hand as the symbol of aspect.) Gaze comprises the actions of
loving someone (man looking while talking and listening. The
touch to woman). In length of a gaze, the frequency of
vietnam culture, the glances, patterns of fixation,
gesture means friendly greeting between pupil dilation, and blink rate are all
men (but not the elderly); not customary important cues in nonverbal
between women or between a man and a communication. “Liking generally
woman; acceptable between a increases as mutual gazing
Vietnamese woman and non-Vietnamese increases.” Along with the detection of
man. disinterest, deceit can also be observed
The four is eye contact. Eye-contact in a person. Hogan states “when
is the primary notion to where a message someone is being deceptive their eyes
of attention is tend to blink a lot more. Eyes act as
being conveyed leading indicator of truth or
in engagement deception,” Eye aversion is the avoidance
with Nonverbal of eye contact. Eye contact and facial
communication. expressions provide important social and
Eye contact is emotional information. Overall, as Pease
when two people states, “Give the amount of eye contact
look at each that makes everyone feel comfortable.
other's eyes at Unless looking at others is a cultural no-
the same time; it no, lookers gain more credibility than
can indicate non-lookers”.
interest, attention, and involvement. In many Western cultures, a person
Studies have found that people use their who does not maintain good eye contact
eyes to indicate their interest and not just is regarded as slightly suspect. Those
with the frequently recognized actions of who avoid eye contact are unconsciously
winking and movements of the eyebrows, considered unfriendly, insecure,
but it can indicate social behavior. Men untrustworthy, inattentive, and
and women have different ways of eye impersonal. However, in Lombok eye-
contact. Men stare at the women they are contact has no special meaning. People
interested in for at least a half an hour, do not particularly pay a lot of attention in
whereas women tend to always keep how long someone looks into other
their eyes roaming around the room to person’s eyes or how they look into
see who is there. Disinterest is highly other’s eyes like what American do.
noticeable when showing little eye- Though there are some people,
contact in a social setting. Pupils dilate teenagers specifically, claim that if
when they are interested in the other someone cannot look into someone
person. People, sometimes, even, else’s eyes that means he/she has some
without consciously doing so, probe each sort of romantic feeling towards that
other's eyes and faces for positive or particular person. Another thing that
negative mood signs. Generally might be applied and believed in the
speaking, the longer the eye contact society is that once one cannot look at
between two people the greater her/ his opponent’s eyes, he might be
the intimacy is felt inside. According to accused lying.

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A very distinctive situation happen status is a sign of disrespect. Or in other

in Vietnam, Shapiro (2002) says direct word, someone who is younger and lower
eye contact with parents, teachers, or in status is not expected to pat the
authority means a challenge and should senior’s back.
be avoided (note: providers are The last
considered authority figures). Direct eye gesture is the
contact with someone of the opposite sex crossing of the
can be interpreted as deep passion and arms. This is when
should be discouraged, especially in you fold your arms
public settings. over your
A Vietnamese student who sits abdomen,
quietly and listens attentively to the generally hiding
teacher wants to express respect to his your hands under
teacher. This behavior has often been your upper arms. Some people hide just
misinterpreted by the American teacher one hand, others simply cross their arms
as passivity and non-responsiveness. It is and touch their biceps muscles with their
also out of respect that the Vietnamese fingers or their palms.
student avoids eye contact with the In the US, when people talking to
teacher when speaking or being spoken someone with their arms crossed
to. By American standards, a person American tend to think they are mad at
acting in this way would appear them or are trying to cover something up.
suspicious, unreliable, or mischievous. In Therefore, we also can conclude that, this
Vietnamese culture, however, looking into is a self-comforting posture used mostly
somebody's eyes, especially when this unconsciously to alleviate nervous
person is of a higher status (in age or in tension. In special situations this position
social or family hierarchy) or of a different might also suggest self-importance or
gender, usually means a challenge or an disagreement. The signs are clear:
expression of deep passion. The proper straight back, raised elbows pointing out
respectful behavior is to avoid eye plus a general self-sufficient attitude. For
contact in talking who is not an equal or example: women often cross their arms in
the same sex. front of men they don’t like and in not so
The next easy to handle situations – that’s pretty
gesture is patting simple to read. Men rarely cross their
person’s back. In arms in a self-preservation pose. They do
America and cross their arms to show (mostly
most western involuntary) self-confidence and
country patting arrogance.
someone’s back However, the act of crossing your
pretty much arms also has a different meaning in
symbolizes Vietnam. Instead of something that is
praise, congratulations and done when someone is upset, here
encouragement, so does in Lombok. It is crossing your arms is considered a sign
fairly normal to be patted or patting one’s of respect. This is quite different from
back. It is a sign of salutation, or even the what we see in Lombok, when someone
feelings of love. To be very honest, it is is talking with her/his arms crossed it
warming at the heart to see such view. symbolizes disrespectful and rudeness
However, again a quite contrast condition towards whom we talk to. The cross-
happens in Vietnam, patting a person's armed pose gives the impression that you
back, especially those senior in age or

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are a bossy person, who loves to boss Damisch, Lysann Damisch., Stoberock,
people around and arrogant. Barbara., and Mussweiler, Thomas
Mussweiler. 2010.
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