Non-verbal communications in Korea and the Korean Language

Non-verbal communications in Korea and the Korean Language

1. What are some of the non-verbal communications in Korea and the Korean Language? 2. How does non-verbal communication relate to honorifics in Korean? In what way does it support it?

What are some of the non-verbal communications in Korea and the Korean Language?

The topic for the research paper is “Non-Verbal Communications in Korea.” Make sure to answer these 5 main questions in addition to give a general factor/research & summary of the topic.

Firstly, what are some of the non-verbal communications in Korea and the Korean Language?

Secondly, how does non-verbal communication relate to honorifics in Korean? In what way does it support it?

Thirdly, In what ways does non-verbal communication play a role in Korean culture?

Further, how does non-verbal communication differ across cultures? How are they similar/different from Korean non-verbal communication?

Finally, what are the differences in nonverbal communication between the two genders?

More details;

Verbal

Indirect Communication: The South Korean communication pattern is generally indirect and quite verbose. They tend to rely less on words and are attentive to a speaker’s posture, expression and tone of voice to draw meaning. Speech can be ambiguous as they often understate their point. The purpose of this is to maintain harmony throughout the conversation and prevent a loss of face on either end of the exchange. The best way of navigating this rhetoric to find the underlying meaning is to check for clarification several times through open-ended questions.

Refusals: A South Korean’s preoccupation with saving face and politeness means that they will seldom give a flat ‘no’ or negative response, even when they don’t agree with you. Therefore, focus on hints of hesitation, listening to what they say, but also paying careful attention to what they subtly imply.

Speech Style: While they may be indirect in their communication style, South Koreans generally speak quite firmly and use less gestures and facial expressions. This can make them come across as stern. Expect them to give serious replies and retorts. They also tend to ask questions in order to discern their status in comparison to the person they are talking to. These can catch people off guard (for example: “How much do you earn?” or “How old are you?”).

Silence: Silence is an important and purposeful tool used in Asian communication. Pausing before giving a response indicates that someone has applied appropriate thought and consideration to the question. It reflects politeness and respect.

Laughter: Laughter is sometimes used in awkward situations. A Korean may laugh when they feel uncomfortable and not necessarily because what was said was genuinely funny.