Kaija-Liisa Kivimäki
Mindful intercultural non-verbal communication
The main topic and the focus of the current project, Prominence, is intercultural communication. Technological advances in the digital era have formed and defined intercultural communication as we know it today. Nevertheless we still need to understand the complexity and the intertwining verbal and non-verbal behaviors that are required in successful interpersonal communication. To complete the reading about non-verbal communication, our Prominence learning environment provides an online study module called ‘mindful intercultural non-verbal communication’ as well as some slide based material that will support the learning process on the given topic. The concept of non-verbal communication includes all elements involved in communication, except the verbal language itself. Successful interpersonal communication is a combination of verbal and non-verbal features. Non-verbal communication serves several functions and may complete and complement verbal communication or even replace it in certain occasions. Several academics have studied the topic to define the interrelationship between verbal and non-verbal communication. One of the most well-known theories is the 55/38/7 formula that was developed by Mehrabian & Wiener as well as Mehrabian & Ferris, both as early as in 1967. The figure below illustrates the division and proportions of different elements in communication. Although several other academics have formed theories with minor differences in the proportions, there is general agreement about the fact that non-verbal communication features possess a larger proportion in communication as a whole when compared to verbal features. (Mehrabian & Wiener, 1967, & Mehrabian & Ferris, 1967).
Figure 1 Contributions of Message Elements