Jane was sent by her Chicago-based company to a business convention in Tokyo, Japan. While at lunch, she and several other Americans in attendance sat together at lunch. As they laughed and enjoyed themselves, Jane noticed that many people glanced at them uncomfortably and whispered to each other. When Jane asked the young waitress what was wrong, the girl avoided eye contact with her, shook her head without saying a word, and quickly walked back to the kitchen. Based on what you know about nonverbal communication, give at least three explanations for the misunderstandings between the people in this scenario.
Answer
Answer:
The Americans’ loud laughter may have conflicted with local expectations about appropriate behavior in public. Nonverbal norms such as acceptable volume and public displays of emotion can differ across cultures. The waitress’s avoidance of eye contact may have been a culturally respectful behavior rather than rudeness. Her head shake could also have a different meaning or intention than the Americans assumed, and a language barrier may have made it harder to clarify the misunderstanding.