Developing a taxonomy of cultural/cross-cultural body language

I’m cross posting this query from an international management list server that I belong too. I strongly suspect that this would have intrigued Marshal McLuhan—Walter Derzko.

Romie F. Littrell from New Zealand asks:

"I am a member of another group that is attempting development of a taxonomy of cultural/cross-cultural body language and/or dimensions of body language. Of interest is, when you enter a new societal culture, where and how do you look for clues and queues to gain knowledge and understanding of that culture's body language?

As a start, considering semasiology and indexicality, seeking a useful number of dimensions when discussing body language, the human body moves in at least 4 dimensions,
1-Three in space,
2-the fourth being time.

However,
3-If you wish to consider the “personal space bubble” of body language, then this is a fifth dimension, distance from another person or other people.
4- Considering distance, one could add a sixth dimension, the relationship one has with the other(s).

A seventh dimension? public and private environments, where we would normally include the immediate local environment as defining appropriate body language, e.g, in a restaurant, driving/riding in a vehicle, in a meeting; we need to know appropriate body language in the environment to notice inappropriate body language (however, we could be watching just another confused foreigner). Those who are experienced at misdirection using body language, poker players, politicians, and courtroom lawyers, for example, still tend to have leaks due to the complexity of the systems; what are likely leaks?

This has been a peripheral area of interest for me, but I think from recent reading identifying a taxonomy of cross-cultural body language is feasible.

When responses trickle off, I'll summarise and broadcast."
 

Romie F. Littrell, BA, MBA,PhD, FIAIR, An fánaí fiáin
AUT Business School N.Z., romie.littrell@aut.ac.nz
http://www.romielittrellpubs.homestead.com/
http://www.crossculturalcentre.homestead.com/
Facilitator, Leadership & Management in Sub-Sahara Africa Conferences
Contents copyright Romie F. Littrell

 

Walter Derzko

Author of the soon-to-be-released book: Hard Times Golden Opportunities..about opportunity recognition in a recession/ depression.

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