Introduction to Non verbal communication
Let’s now consider the distance between interlocutors. Here, the term proxemics, developed by Edward Hall, is of huge use. He introduced the idea that each person has his or her own personal space in which they feel comfortable and put a specific amount of distance between themselves and other people. The distance depends on the level of intimacy, but is also culture-specific. Take a look at the diagram below:
The intimate space just right in the center is the closest distance people take between each other, most often in private and intimate situations. Every time you see people hugging, kissing or whispering to each other’s ears, all of that takes place within a distance of up to 45 cm. The personal space is between 45 cm to 1.2 m and reserved for friends and family members. Shaking hands takes place in the personal space. The social space is between 1.2-3.6m and most business relations happen in this zone, or simply conversations with strangers. The public space is more than 3.6m and probably you function in this zone during your lectures when a teacher delivers a lecture.
The cultures of the Middle East or Mediterranean regions often coexist maintaining close distance to each other, whereas the cultures of North America, Scandinavia or Germany prefer a rather bigger distance while talking.
So, if, on the one hand, some elements of non-verbal communication are shared by people all over the world to the same extent, while other need the cultural background to interpret them properly, the question is how to read all those signals properly?