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课件网) Unit 3 Touching in Intercultural Communication In many international settings, the handshake has become an accepted touch. But the type of handshake varies widely. Germans and Americans prefer a firm handshake, which is seen as a symbol of strength and character. The French generally have a much softer handshake. They may feel uncomfortable with the grip of a German, and a German may wonder about the limp handshake of a French person. Middle Easterners and men from many Latin cultures may put the free hand on the forearm of the person with whom they are shaking hands. As a result, the distance to the other person diminishes. The Japanese, who are used to bowing, may shake hands but keep the arm firmly extended to maintain a greater distance. In addition, they may bow slightly and thereby combine the Japanese and Western greeting rituals. German men traditionally also bow when shaking someone’s hand. The German bow, however, differs significantly from the Japanese bow. The handshake with the bow illustrates that greeting rituals in many cases combine different types of nonverbal communication. As was mentioned above, the German and Japanese bows differ. The Japanese bow from the hip with a straight back. Men keep their arms at their sides with the hands extended at the sides of the upper legs. Japanese women when bowing put their hands on the front of their thighs. During the bowing the neck remains straight. In German bowing, by comparison, the hips remain straight; the bow comes out of a lowering of the head. The German bow is called a Diener. This means it is a bow to and a recognition of authority. The word Diener means “servant,” and so with the bow the German says “at your service.” Older Germans may still do a Diener, but most people today just give a slight nod of the head. The bow does not fit with notions of democracy and equality. Former Chancellor Helmut Kohl was criticized by a number of people and magazines because he did a Diener when greeting former President Bush. The gesture was seen by many Germans as unacceptably servile. In Argentina, when women meet work associates or friends, they stretch forward so that their right cheek is touching the other person’s right cheek and perhaps kiss the air below the other person’s right ear. Women do this when meeting men or women; men do this only when meeting women. Not to perform this greeting ritual is to appear cold, unfriendly, and even angry. In Lebanon typically men kiss the right cheek, the left cheek, and perhaps the right cheek again of other men. In Estonia, however, cheek kissing is not approved of. Estonians expect a firm handshake upon meeting and again when taking leave of someone. In Germany shaking hands is an accepted and expected greeting ritual; however, Germans seldom embrace. Hugging, even among family members, is rare than it is in France and in Latin cultures. The handshake establishes touch, but ... ...
