Question

Giving business cards with the left hand in Malaysia; showing soles of shoes to a host in Saudi Arabia, and winking one eye in India are all considered impolite interpersonal communication due to the fact that:

a. in Middle Eastern countries it is customary to take off shoes at the door
b. it is difficult to notice when one winks eyes since there are many people in India
c. people pick up nonverbal cues and understand intuitively without being told
d. these actions distract people from hearing at meetings
people are not aware of Western ways of doing business

Answer 1

Behaviors like giving business cards with the left hand in Malaysia, showing soles of shoes in Saudi Arabia, and winking in India are seen as impolite due to culturally specific nonverbal communication cues. These actions violate local folkways, which are the traditional behaviors expected in day-to-day interactions within different cultural contexts.

Step-by-step explanation:

Giving business cards with the left hand in Malaysia, showing soles of shoes to a host in Saudi Arabia, and winking one eye in India are all considered impolite interpersonal communication primarily because people pick up nonverbal cues and understand intuitively without being told. These behaviors are examples of folkways, which are norms without moral underpinnings but direct appropriate behavior in the day-to-day practices and expressions of a culture. A folkway in one culture could be extremely rude in another due to different cultural contexts, and understanding these nuances is crucial for effective cross-cultural communication.

Nonverbal communication, such as hand gestures, body positioning, and facial expressions, can vary significantly across cultures. Eye contact, body language, and even positioning in personal space play a role in how messages are interpreted. As nonverbal communication is symbolic and largely learned through one's culture, it is important to be mindful of cultural differences to avoid misunderstandings in international settings.