ABSTRACT
In this chapter, cultures are discussed from the perspective of “no linguistic carrier” – nonverbal communications. Using semiotic signifiers beyond the semantic symbolism characterizes the meta-communication levels that pervade most conversations in online/offline, interpersonal/public discourse environments. Nonlinguistic communication is more spontaneous and hence less programed as compared to verbal utterances and can thus be regarded as a more bona fide message encoder. All cultures operate in their own sensory realms and have their own screening procedures when it comes to filtering the incoming sensory information; hence, one can experience intercultural communication apprehension when entering the world of dissimilar affective and analogic communication patterns forfeiting one's native system of social rituals. The chapter discusses 12 nonverbal codes such as haptics, spatial intelligence, communication rhythms, kinesics, countenance, paralinguistic vocalizations, occulesics, smile behaviors, office proxemics, chronemics, chromatics, and olfactory norms as mute messengers of meanings.
