ABSTRACT
Nonverbal communication refers to the process of sending and receiving messages without words, either spoken or written. Verbal and nonverbal messages are highly intertwined, and the overall meaning of communicative interactions is usually based on both types of cues. Much nonverbal behaviour is learned through social experience. Individuals are socialized from their early stages of life, learning and sharing touch, smile, eye contact, gestures, and tones of voice with significant others. Unlike learning language for verbal communication through formal training in reading, writing, and speaking, as is customary today, people learn nonverbal communication behaviour in formal way, and use it in a less precise manner. Learning culture-specific nonverbal behaviour can facilitate relationship building in intercultural situations. This chapter presents Leo's story in which bowing is a common nonverbal behaviour for greeting among Japanese. Non-Japanese people who expect to meet with someone from Japan can prepare themselves to bow and use it intentionally to show gratitude and effort toward a relationship.
