Cultural diversity in nonverbal communication: comparing the meaning of Hungarian-Russian-American nonverbal signs

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Eotvos Lorand University, Doctoral School of Linguistics

CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION: COMPARING THE MEANING OF HUNGARIAN-RUSSIAN-AMERICAN NONVERBAL SIGNS

Toth Alexandra

Fourth-year doctoral student

Budapest

Summary

The aim of my research was to conduct a comparative analysis of nonverbal communication cues between Hungarian, Russian and American cultures, with a focus on the cultural specificities and overlaps of nonverbal cues used to express different emotions and states, such as aggressiveness, uncertainty and interest. The study involved an extensive literature review and a questionnaire survey with participants from different cultures to understand how these nonverbal signals are interpreted and perceived in different cultural contexts.

In the analysis, I paid particular attention to the different interpretations of body language, facial expressions, gestures and touch, and spatial relations cues. The results of the research have highlighted that although there are some common forms of nonverbal communication, there are also a number of significant cultural differences that fundamentally influence the encoding and decoding of messages.

For example, while in American culture direct eye contact and open posture can be signs of sincerity and confidence, in Hungarian and Russian cultures these signals can have different contexts and intensities. The meaning and acceptability of touch also varies; what is seen as a friendly gesture in one culture may suggest excessive closeness and inappropriateness in another.

The research also highlighted the intercultural communication difficulties and misunderstandings that can arise from different interpretations of nonverbal signals. This underlines the need to better understand and respect the communication customs and norms of different cultures in order to communicate effectively and efficiently.

At the end of my research, I have formulated recommendations for those involved in cross-cultural communication, whether in business, educational or personal contexts. I have stressed the importance of cultural sensitivity, avoiding prejudices and active listening, which can be key to successful and meaningful intercultural dialogues.

Keywords: Non-verbal communication, Cultural differences, Body language, Face play, Gestures, Emotional expression, Aggressiveness, Insecurity, Interest, Intercultural communication

The main text

Nonverbal communication is a fundamental element of human interaction that requires a more comprehensive understanding in the context of cross-cultural comparison. Its importance is particularly salient in a globalizing world where crosscultural interactions are commonplace and successful communication is key to international relations, business cooperation, and social interaction. My research aims to explore the nonverbal communication differences and identities between Hungarian, Russian and American cultures, as reflected in the use of body language, facial expressions, gestures and spacing.

This topic is particularly relevant because the interpretation of nonverbal communication is highly dependent on cultural context. Different interpretations can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts between people from different cultures, and a thorough understanding of them is therefore essential to facilitate effective and harmonious communication. My research contributes to the knowledge base in the field of nonverbal communication by demonstrating, through concrete examples, how cultural norms and values influence the use and interpretation of nonverbal cues.

The results not only provide a better understanding of cultural differences, but also offer practical guidance for those who want to communicate effectively with people from different cultures. The importance of such research is undeniable, as it promotes cross-cultural understanding, reduces communication barriers and contributes to a sense of global belonging. [1 ], [2]

The meaning of American signs

Before I begin my analysis of the meaning of nonverbal signals, it is important to note that I have not conducted separate research with American business people. Furthermore, I am not able to go into detail about which signs are most common in negotiations. However, the meaning of nonverbal behaviours is discussed in a wide range of literature, so there are numerous US sources available. Having reviewed many books and publications, I can say that the meaning of nonverbal signals is the same. Based on the literature, I have compiled a table summarizing the 114 U.S. nonverbal cues and their meanings that were examined in my research.

In order to compare the meanings of the nonverbal signs in the three cultures I studied, I used the most common meanings of the signs. I have used the following color codes in the respective tables for ease of reference:

Table 1

A comparison of cultural interpretations of symbols between Hungarian, Russian and American groups

The table in which I have summarised the responses of the two groups and the literature I have used looks as follows:

Table 2

Comparative analysis of non-verbal signs of emotions and states in Hungarian, Russian and American contexts

The meanings of common nonverbal signs in Hungarian and American culture In this subsection, and in the next two, where I compare the signs of Russian and Hungarian culture, and Russian and American culture, I will analyze only those signs that were the same in the two cultures and different in the third. There were fifteen signs with seven different displayed emotions (one emotion can have more than one sign associated with it) that were the same in all three nations - I will discuss these separately at the end of the chapter.

When comparing Hungarian and American cultures, I found the fewest number of signs in common, two in total, representing two emotions (an emotion can have more than one sign associated with it, so the two numbers may be different).

The two emotions were aggressiveness and calmness. Both groups interpreted a palm down with fingers spread as a sign of aggression. In the Hungarian group there was no other sign of aggression, in the American case this included staring stiffly. It should be noted that for the Russian group, the same nonverbal sign was aggression, which is very similar to aggression but more specifically defined, so I did not put the two emotions in the same category. The palm down with fingers spread can also be interpreted as a kind of territoriality, a sign of dominance as previously stated, similar to the way in the animal world when one party "puffs itself up" to appear larger and more threatening. That said, I do not include it among physiological signs such as constricted pupils or goose bumps, but rather consider it a universal sign, the exact meaning of which may vary slightly from culture to culture (see Russian report). In the American case, there was an additional sign of aggression (staring), the Hungarian group named this one sign.

The other sign, which was the same for the Hungarian and American groups, was the sign of calmness, which is the palm down. The same gesture could also be a sign of determination according to the American classification, and in the Russian group it was interpreted as a sign of confidence. So, we can say that the palm down (fingers together), i.e. the "steady hand", was a sign of a calm and confident negotiator in all three groups, but the specific meaning of the sign varied from nation to nation, or could mean several emotions at once (see American pattern).

In addition, fifteen signs were identical in all three groups. I do not present these now because I consider them to be universal signs for the groups studied, and so will discuss them in a later chapter.

On this basis, I had to conclude that the signs that have the same meaning in Hungarian and American culture appear in all three cultures studied at some level and have similar meanings. Thus, in effect, it can be said that the signs that are identical in American and Hungarian culture can be considered universal or nearuniversal signs because they appeared in the third group studied, with minimal differences in meaning. Thus, I did not find any signs and meanings that were specific to Hungarian and American cultures only, while not at all specific to Russian.

Meanings of common nonverbal signs in Russian and American culture

As in the previous case, there is little overlap between the common nonverbal cues of Russian and American culture and their meanings: in total, I found four common cues, three with the same meaning (in one case, two nonverbal cues had the same meaning).

In the category of insecurity, the covering of the abdomen and the arm on the table (when the elbows are tightly positioned) generally express a state of uncertainty and indecision. This may also be related to the fact that in both cultures insecurity is often associated with the enclosure of the body or the protection of certain parts of the body. Likewise, rubbing the nose, which is not the same as touching the nose, was a sign of insecurity - touching the nose was also seen as a sign of insecurity by Russians and Hungarians, so the two gestures are not equivalent. Touching the nose was not included in the American gestures. I should note that all three groups named three signs to express insecurity, which were identical in their cases (I will show these later), so there is more overlap between the gestures used to express insecurity in American and Russian culture than in American and Hungarian culture.

The other sign that the table shows is the same in American and Russian culture is listening as a sign of thinking. In the American culture, listening can even be interpreted as a sign of attentiveness, which in fact expresses a close state of mind, but it is striking that in the case of the Hungarian group, listening is a sign of incomprehension, so it has quite the opposite meaning than in the Russian or American cases. However, the delayed response (which is actually a short silence) is seen by all three groups as a sign of thinking. So here again we can speak of an overlap between American and Russian culture, with the addition that the Hungarians interpret the same silence in a very different way, which may give rise to misunderstandings.

The third common sign was the so-called sad mouth, which is considered a sign of sadness in Russian and American culture. It is also a necessary addition that the sad mouth had a different meaning for Hungarians: in this case it was a sign of dissatisfaction (Hungarians did not associate sadness with any sign).

These common nonverbal cues show that although Russian and American cultures differ significantly, there are common elements in their nonverbal communication that are unique to the two nations and different for Hungarians. And this identity can help us to understand each other and communicate effectively, especially when we add that a number of signs that can be considered universal for research purposes complement these overlaps.

Meanings of common nonverbal signs in Hungarian and Russian culture

Nonverbal communication is an integral part of human interaction, as our body language, facial expressions, gestures and vocalizations all convey important signals about our thoughts, feelings and states. A large body of research (Navarro, 2011) supports the view that nonverbal cues are a major part of the information flow in a conversation and that the consistency of verbal and nonverbal communication contributes to the credibility and comprehension of messages. Based on the study,

I found that there was a remarkably high overlap between nonverbal signs and their meanings in Hungarian and Russian culture: there were 59 common signs in total, with 19 identical meanings, the highest identical value. Unlike before, I will not present all nineteen meanings and fifty-nine signs, as this would distort the proportions of the thesis, but I will highlight and present the signs and meanings that I consider most important or worthy of observation.

Based on my observations and research, it can be stated that in Hungarian and Russian culture, adaptation often manifests itself in imitating the posture of the other person, suggesting that the individual is trying to fit in and harmonize with the other. This is consistent with theories about mirror neurons, which suggest that neurons in the human brain are activated when we observe the actions of others and tend to imitate them. This process helps to develop empathy and strengthen social relationships.

There are many overlaps between expressions of insecurity in Hungarian and Russian culture. Examples include pulling the earlobe, pulling the cloth, wrapping the ankle around the chair leg, rubbing the shoulder/clavicle, touching the nose, head scratching, rocking on the foot, hunching over and holding the church steeple. There are also common nonverbal cues for interest and disinterest, such as seeking eye contact, playing with hair, looking or staring.

Tension is characterized by shivering, attentiveness by nodding, and thinking by touching the face and stroking the beard or moustache. Expressions of nervousness, excitement and doubt are also common gestures. Expressions of confidence and openness are also similar in both cultures, such as hands on hips with thumbs backwards, straight backs, leaning back, interlaced fingers, hands behind backs and sitting with legs apart.

The expression of disrespect is clear and easily seen in both Hungarian and Russian culture. For example, the waving of shoes is an obvious gesture that suggests that the individual is not taking the current situation or the people present seriously. This behaviour often also expresses insensitivity in addition to a lack of respect. Interlacing the fingers behind the back and pointing the elbows upwards are also signs of disrespect, indicating that the person does not respect those around them. Similarly, licking teeth and chewing gum indicate a disregard for social etiquette and good manners.

Signs of impatience include hand rubbing, ankle shaking, toe tapping, turning the foot towards the door, and restless feet are common in both cultures. Hand rubbing usually indicates a desire to get on with things, while ankle shaking and finger drumming are common signs of impatience. And turning the foot towards the door often indicates that the person wants to leave the current situation.

The expression of closedness in both Hungarian and Russian cultures shows forms of body closure. Clasped ankles, folded arms and hugging oneself are all signs that the person is closed off and wants to protect oneself. These signs show that the person does not want to open up or let others in.

Signs of embarrassment include avoiding eye contact, squinting eyes and fidgeting with objects. Avoidance of eye contact usually indicates that the person is embarrassed or afraid, and wandering eyes indicate that the person is confused and does not know where to look. Fidgeting with objects is a common sign of confusion, as the person is often trying to do something to distract themselves from unpleasant feelings.

Based on the above, it can be said that there is much more overlap in the nonverbal signs and their interpretation in Russian and Hungarian culture than in the comparison of American-Hungarian or Russian-American culture. There may be a number of cultural or historical reasons for this, but it is beyond the scope of this study to explore them.

In conclusion, there are significant similarities in Russian and Hungarian nonverbal communication, as there is a greater overlap between Russian and Hungarian nonverbal signs and their meanings (59 identical signs with 19 identical meanings) than between signs (15) and their meanings (7), which are considered universal for the purposes of this research. These observations may contribute to a better understanding of cross-cultural relations and interpersonal communication, and to bridging cultural differences.

Meanings of nonverbal signs common to Hungarian, Russian, American cultures

In the three cultures I studied, I found a large number of nonverbal signs with the same meaning: in total, I found fifteen identical signs representing seven different emotions or mental states. As in the previous chapter, I will not present each of the fifteen signs, but I will go through the seven emotions or states of mind expressed by the same signs in ascending order of the number of identical signs:

In all three cultures, the sign of positivity was the smile, and no other sign was defined by any of the groups. This is clearly a universal sign in both American and European cultures, so the identity is obvious. What may differ is the extent and frequency of smiling, but this was not addressed in the research.

Also a common sign of impatience was the so-called restless leg. This can be seen as a physiological phenomenon in part, because it expresses that the person literally wants to leave the conversation, wants to move away from it.

All three groups interpreted the delayed response, which I mentioned earlier, as a sign of thinking. Here there was an overlap between signs that are unique to Russian-Hungarians or American-Russians, and signs that are unique to Russians or Americans.

To express nervousness, two signs were identified by the three groups studied that were identical across the board; one was the throbbing temples, which is a clearly physiological sign, and the other was the crackling of the fingers, which is also a universal and physiological sign, because the release of tension in the joints of the fingers is accompanied by a simultaneous release of tension in the nervous system.

There has been much talk of uncertainty and the signs that express it, and there is considerable overlap between the Hungarian and Russian groups, and between Russian and American culture. A total of three signs have been identified that are common to all three cultures (head scratching, chest raking, ankle wrapped around chair leg), none of which can be considered physiological signs, all of which are signs of self-soothing.

There were also three identical signs to express interest (head tilting slightly to one side, seeking or maintaining eye contact). These signs are all related to the head, and not infrequently they are used in combination. In addition to these, the Hungarians gave one sign (identical to one of the Russian signs), the Russians four and the Americans two.

Finally, the last emotion whose nonverbal expression was found to be communicated by identical signs in Hungarian, Russian and American cultures was that of aloofness, where a total of four identical signs were distinguished. What is relevant is that all three groups identified a total of four signs, so there was complete identity between the groups in this category. It should also be noted that for positivity, where one sign was identified.

Overall, my research has shown that the signs and gestures involved in nonverbal communication can overlap significantly across cultures. However, it should be borne in mind that these similarities by no means imply absolute universality, and cultural, personal or situational differences often alter the interpretation of nonverbal signals. When engaging in social interactions and community life, it is important to interpret and appreciate these differences and to be open and sensitive to the diversity and complexity of nonverbal signals in all cultures.

Presentation of signs that differ from culture to culture

There was a significant group of signs and meanings that each nation interpreted and used differently. In the case of Hungarians, I identified 36 signs with meanings unique to Hungarian culture, expressing 23 different emotions or meanings (one meaning could have more than one sign). Russians use almost the same number of signs, 35 unique to their culture, but with far fewer meanings, only 12, while the number is very high for Americans: 67 signs unique to their culture, with 27 different meanings. These figures alone suggest that the nonverbal communication of American culture differs significantly from that of Hungarian and Russian culture, especially if we add the tendency presented earlier that there is very little overlap in Hungarian-American and Russian-American culture, but there is a significant overlap in Hungarian-Russian culture.

It is noteworthy that Hungarians associated a sign with 37 out of 42 meanings, Americans with 31 and Russians with only 25, which is almost half of the total set of meanings. Since the three groups worked with almost the same number of signs, it can be concluded that the Hungarians distinguished more emotions and meanings and associated a different sign with each one, while the Russians did the opposite: they associated more nuanced signs with fewer meanings. The Americans were in the middle in this case. The conclusion is that the nature and strategies of Russian and Hungarian nonverbal communication are fundamentally different, but there is still a significant overlap in the interpretation of signs, with American nonverbal communication being somewhat closer to Russian than to Hungarian.

In what follows, I would like to highlight two signs whose culturally different meanings have caught my attention and have not yet been presented in any context in this chapter. First, I would like to introduce the gesture of rubbing the nose, which is a sign of contradiction in the case of Hungarians, but of uncertainty in the case of Americans and Russians: it may be noteworthy for the thesis because it is more dominant in the Hungarian context, whereas in the American and Russian contexts it is clearly a submissive gesture. The same applies to the covering of the belly, which in the Hungarian context is a sign of shutting off, but in the Russian-American context is also a sign of insecurity - although the dominant-submissive parallel does not apply here.

The use of filler sounds has different meanings in all three cultures: while in Hungarian it is a sign of uncertainty, in American it is a sign of thinking, and in Russian it is a sign of ignorance. The three meanings are similar and can appear at the same time, so misinterpreting them should not cause serious problems, but misinterpreting them can distort communication, which can put one or the other party at a considerable disadvantage or advantage from a business point of view.

In my research, I examined in detail the differences in nonverbal communication between Hungarian, Russian and American cultures, with a focus on body language, facial expressions, gestures and use of space. My analysis revealed that cultural contexts significantly influence the interpretation and use of these communication tools. I have found that cultural sensitivity and adaptation play an important role in effective and respectful intercultural communication, and that the development of nonverbal communication skills and an understanding of cultural differences are essential for strengthening global belonging and building harmonious relationships between people from different cultures.

References

1. Navarro, J. (2011). Beszedes testek. Nyitott Konyvmuhely.

2. Nelson, A. A., Grahe, J. E., and Ramseyer, F. (2016). Interacting in flow: an analysis of rapport-based behavior as optimal experience. SAGE Open 6:2158244016684173. doi: 10.1177/215824401 6684173

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