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Talking About Japan In English
 4 Japanese Body Language  |
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 Albert Mehrabian, Ph.D. |
Mehrabian's Communication Study
A study by Albert Mehrabian on how people decide whether they like one another identified the following formula: Total Liking = 7% Verbal Liking + 38% Vocal Liking + 55% Facial Liking |
How insignificant our spoken words can be, compared to our use of body language, when making new friends!
Which do you believe, words, tone, or body language? According to Mehrabian, people will look at body language first and voice tone second for evidence of untruth in words. Mehrabian's study has been criticized, but the key fact remains. Our body language is very important.
Words are only a part of communication.
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‘Good-bye’  No  "Something smells" Kusai  Oni goblin  Promise  |
‘Come here’ Chotto...oide  Illustrations are from JAPANESE BODY LANGUAGE; Non-Verbal Communication in the Classroom by Robert L. Seltman ©1991 How is Japanese body language different from other cultures? Peace/Victory Sign  How do you express "Excuse me" "Sorry" "I'd like to talk to you" "Please be quiet" "Go away" "Come here" "I love you" etc. In body language?  How is this different in other cultures?  Indicating numbers |
‘Excuse me’
Sumimasen  Writing Kanji Chinese Characters  Laying it on Thick  Clashing Swords
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Jan-Ken
Choosing  |
"Pa!" Coo-Coo!, Crazy!  Which cultures use their body more than Japan? "Let's go eat."  |
Father Figure  Tengu Long-nosed goblin  Money
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Let's go for a drink/
We went drinking  |
What does Japanese body language
say about Japanese values? Sushi  Can you speak the body language of other cultures? |
"Something smells" Kusai-zo  "That's difficult to believe"  |
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To steal
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Pregnancy  |
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"Me?" "Boku?" or "Watashi?"  |
How can we learn how other cultures
talk with their bodies?  Listening with eyes closed, dozing |
"Whoops! How Embarrassing! I made a mistake" Pratfall.  |
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The "Baka!" "You Fool!" head slap  Bimbo Usuri poor people's shaking  Unconscious bowing  Obstinate Folded Arms   O shape = O.K., present, good, score, etc. X shape = No good, absent, bad, no score, etc. |
BANZAI! (HOORAY!)  A detail explanation of all these Japanese body language illustrations can be found in the original thesis text on-line here: Non-Verbal Communication in the Classroom  Hands in your pants pockets  Receiving and giving  Sitting with legs spread  |
Woman
 Rajio taiso Radio Exercises  How close is too close?  Ojigi Bowing from the waist  Sitting on desks, Standing on chairs  |
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 Copyright 1995-2005, Mark Schumacher |
MUDRA - HAND GESTURES
Has the subtle hand gestures of classical Japanese religious art influenced the grace and style of contemporary Japanese body language?  http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/mudra-japan.shtml |
" In Buddhist sculpture and painting throughout Asia, the Buddha (Nyorai, Tathagata) are generally depicted with a characteristic hand gesture, or mudra. ... They are also used routinely by current-day Japanese monks in their spiritual exercises and worship." |
