ABSTRACT
The way we use space clearly communicates meaning. Different meanings are communicated in many different ways throughout the world. The beliefs, the values, and the meaning of a culture are communicated by the way people handle space. German culture, for example, has long emphasized orderliness and clearly defined lines of authority. The need for privacy is strong and is manifested in the impulse to define and defend well-marked territories. Hence, Germans object to individuals who literally “get out of line” or those who disregard signs such as “Keep Out” and “Authorized Personnel Only” that are intended to stipulate the approved use of space (Hall, 1969).
