Nonverbal Communication A Universal Language English Language Essay

Nonverbal Communication A Universal Language English Language Essay Nonverbal communication is the way we talk, without talking, and whether it is realized or not, every human being in the world speaks this language. Non-verbal communication is an accent to the verbal part of language, and can be done in various ways. Although every person in the world expresses him/herself with nonverbal communication, it does not mean every person in the world speaks the same language. This paper will focus on several aspects of nonverbal communication that can be found throughout the world, and comparing those looks, gestures, body positioning and appearances with those typically found in North American. Appearance As previously mentioned, nonverbal communication is typically thought of as how an individual may look at others or gesture with their body, but generally speaking, the first form of non-verbal communication being projected, and subsequently translated, is that of an individuals overall appearance. Deciphering an individuals wardrobe is typically based upon previous experiences with individuals who have been dressed in a similar fashion. For example, while walking through a mall, one encounters a tall, lanky, high school teenage boy. His hair is black and brushed across his eyes. His complexion is pale, he is wearing very dark, baggy clothes in addition to dark eyeliner and heavy, metal face jewelry. Based upon someones previous experiences with this type of individual, they may immediately translate his appearance to mean, keep away from me; I dont want to talk with anyone and I am not your friend. However, another individual may have had different experiences with individuals dressed in this manner, and may be deciphering the non-verbal communication as, Im confused à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ I dont know where I am going à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ I need help. A persons previous experiences, may either cause an individual to avoid the teenager by either ducking into a random store or walk past quickly, while directing their to the floor, or contrariwise, look at the boy and smile, offering silent encouragement. It is unknown at this point whether or not this is an individual to be avoided or someone to be helped. Therefore, past experiences can have an impact on how one may perceive others, simply based upon how they are dressed. Understanding the different opinions that can arise from such a simple example as the boy in the mall, one might ask, Should we judge a book by its cover? The young man may actually have modified his appearance because he felt it made him look more attractive. He may have watched the Twilight movie series and felt this to be the way he should dress in order to attract the opposite sex. If this is the case, then we can expect to find similar appearance-altering practices in other cultures. Appearance-Altering Cultures As with the young man in the mall, there are many examples of appearance-altering behaviors in other cultures that may seem unusual or even bizarre to those in the United States (U.S.). Like the U.S., the appearance alterations performed within other cultures may be perceived as beautiful and possibly an indication of social status. A good example is that of foot binding in China, also known as Lotus Feet. Foot binding has been done for thousands of years in China, thought to be a means of keeping women from abandoning husbands and family. Binding begins with a baby girl, conforming her foot muscles and bones to be able to fit in very tiny shoes. Though the feet may appear small and delicate, the womans ability to walk is greatly inhibited and leads to medical complications later in life. This practice is still done in some parts of China today, and is thought to depict wealth and a delicate demeanor. Other examples of beauty include the Mangbettu women of Africa who have their heads very tightly wrapped during childhood, thereby elongating the skull; the Mayans who would strap boards on each side of childrens heads so that their skulls would be flattened; and finally, the Burmese women, whom put one-inch thick rings around their necks to make them longer. Based upon preconceived notions, cultural norms and possibly ignorance, it can be easy for individuals to misunderstand the non-verbal communication of appearance. It may not always be easy for people to remember that what may be foreign to those in the U.S. is another cultures normal. Gestures Almost everyone knows the story of President George H. W. Bush in Australia, in which he intended to make what is known as the peace sign in the U.S., toward people gathered to protest his visit. Unfortunately, he made the gesture the wrong way causing great furor in the Australian tabloids. Now this case was a simple mistake, but none-the-less a mistake. Gestures are not something to be taken lightly; the wrong signal at the wrong time, directed toward individuals of a different culture, could get you into some big trouble in a handful of countries. Gestures are the accent to verbal communication. Due to the fact that one wrong gesture could hurt you, I will give various examples of gestures from different cultures. I will describe their action and then their meaning compared to North American translation. In Ethiopia there are two gestures for silence. A woman will put one finger to her mouth when directing silence to a child, but will put four fingers to her mouth when directing silence to an adult. Four fingers are used towards adults because one finger is disrespectful. Another one-finger act is that of tapping the forefinger to the side of the nose. In some cultures, it signals secrecy or confidentiality. But in the United Kingdom, Holland, and Austria, if the tap is on the front of the nose it quite frankly means, Mind your own business. The OK gesture, it means okay right? In America and England, yes, but, in Japan it means money. In Latin American and France it is an insult, most commonly known as flipping the bird. In Australia it means Zero, and in Germany it may mean either a job well done or, an offensive insult, depending on which region you visit. In Turkey, if someone directs the OK sign at you, they are referring to you as a homosexual! The next gesture is one that is relatively familiar, the V for victory sign. In the U.S., the victory symbol was expressed by raising the index and middle finger in the form of V and bending the third and fourth finger to touch the tip of the thumb. This symbol was popularized by Richard Nixon in America. The V sign is considered rude in Italy and if you are showing the outside of your hand, then it is a form insult, which is established in Great Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand (Sengupta 2010). To beckon someone, is to signal them to come towards you. In America the beckoning signal is the palm up with all of the fingers together except the index finger. You then begin to make a curling motion with your index finger towards you. In China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and in the Philippines, that particular motion is used only for animals. In these countries, the beckoning signal is placing your palm downward and curls the fingers in a scratching motion towards your body. The crossed-finger gesture, (good luck in America) has several other meanings. In Turkey when the crossed fingers are directed to an individual it is the breaking of a friendship. In other cultures it is used to seal/swear an oath to someone. Each of these gestures we recognize and fully understand the gain, and consequences of their actions. But what we have learned is that little, to none of our gestures meant the same in any other cultures. Conclusion Nonverbal communication can be a tricky language to decipher. It is expressed in the way a person appears (dresses) and various body gestures. How this nonverbal communication is interpreted is generally based upon an individuals past experiences and cultural norms. Therefore, it is good advice for anyone seeking to make their livelihood as a communicator in a global marketplace, that they not only understand the nonverbal communication nuances of their own culture, but to educate themselves in the nonverbal forms of communication of other cultures.

Angel :: essays research papers

TO MY BEST FRIEND Without you, high school would not have been the same. Over the years we have shared so much and built a relationship that is precious and lasting With you I can laugh, I can cry, I can say what’s on my mind or just be silent. With you it’s easy to be me. I remember disagreements....saying things we didnt’ really mean. I also remember that only minutes later we were laughing so hard we cried. Sometimes when life seems difficult...I remember our friendship full of laughter and love. Then I am able to lift my spirits and smile like I know you want me to. The memories we share remind me of how lucky I am to have a best friend like you. People we meet see a little of you in me and a little of me in you. I look at you and my eyes look back, I speak and I hear your voice. We are more than merely acquaintances....it’s as if we are cut from the same fabric. We have a common thread that won’t be broken--by people, or years, or distance. We are never at a loss for words. We can talk for hours about nothing at all or communicate the deepest hurt with a single word. With you, speech is effortless and laughter is contagious. You bring love and light, kindness and caring, cheer and support into my life. We do not always see eye to eye....sometimes we take different roads. Our relationship is not always perfect, but when we have a problem it’s surmountable. Sometimes we are the mirror image of each other and other times we couldn’t be more opposite. But because of you I know myself better. I know that if I pick up the phone you’ll be there. If I need help, you’ll give it to me twofold. If I start to go down the wrong path, you’ll lead me the right way. There’s no end to what you do for me and I want you to kow I’ll do the same for you. Thank you for listening without judging and for giving advice without pushing. Thank you for helping me gain confidence in myself to stand alone--and for letting me know you’ll always be there. The greatest part about being best friends is sharing ourselves. Having our own interests, but always communicating. Striving to meet our own goals, but never losing sight of one another. Living our own lives, but always remaining connected. You and I have so many memories...you share my history. You remember where I’ve been, respect who I’ve become and encourage me

Death of a Salesman Essay

‘Death of a Salesman’ tells us a lot about the ideology of the author, Arthur Miller. His main character Willy is a normal man who feels he is a failure because he doesn’t average ‘a hundred and seventy dollars a week’ which causes him to become suicidal. Miller is trying to tell the audience that ambitions and dreams can take over our lives and destroy them in the process. Biff says ‘I don’t know what I’m supposed to want’ as if there was one dream to fulfil otherwise you have failed. The pressure surrounding dreams is far too great and sometimes we have to come to terms with the fact they cannot be accomplished. Arthur Miller is also exploring the fact that success doesn’t only involve career, money and popularity. Happy has his ‘own apartment, a car and plenty of women’ but comes to realise that he still not satisfied. He tells Biff that ‘I’m lonely. ‘ Money may make you financially successful but it does not secure your happiness. Willy is only preoccupied with living up to his idol, Dave Singleman. Dave Singleman is a salesman who ‘drummed merchandise in thirty-one states’ and could just ‘pick up his phone and call the buyers, and without ever leaving his room, at the age of eighty-four, he made his living. ‘ This is Willy’s ultimate fantasy, to make his name known and to be able to work from home. Hundreds of salesman and buyers were at Dave Singleman’s funeral, Willy believes that this greatest sign of popularity and honour. Arthur Miller creates one of the most heart-wrenching scenes in the Requiem when no one shows up at Willy’s funeral other than his family and neighbour. Not only does ‘Death of a Salesman’ inform the audience about Arthur Miller’s opinions on success, failure and dreams, it tells them what he thinks of his own country. This play is set in America, Miller’s home country, in the 1940s. It is a vigorous attack on American values. He disapproves of the belief that money and public esteem are signs of excellence. Willy Loman is a victim of this system. This becomes evident when he does not believe that Bernard will not be successful because he is not ‘well-liked. ‘ The American Dream is the concept that through hard work and dedication, anyone can be successful. Through Willy’s character, Arthur Miller shows us that he disagrees with this belief. The theme of The American Dream runs through the entire play, Willy is a firm believer in it. At first, this concept seems to be inspirational and advantageous but it is the very thing that kills Willy. This play shows the audience that The American Dream encourages superficial prejudice against those who do not achieve it. This causes pressure and insecurity for those who are not ‘rich’ and ‘well-liked. ‘ It examines the cost of blind faith in the American Dream. Despite being written over fifty years ago, this play is still important and relevant today. The play is a tragedy and many people can empathize with Willy’s character. Willy is not superhuman, he is just a man. Moreover, The American Dream is still very much alive today. People flood over from all over the world to come to America to search for fame and fortune, only a few ever achieve it. In conclusion, Arthur Miller allows the audience to see the inside of Willy’s by Time-switches and expressing his ideology and beliefs on success, failure, dreams and America. ‘Death of a Salesman’ addresses the painful conflicts within one family, but it also tackles larger issues regarding American national values. A half century after it was written, this play remains a powerful drama. It is even more relevant today in a world where materialism is such a major problem. There is a part of everyone in the character Willy Loman. Written by Emily Kho – 1 – Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Arthur Miller section.

Stephen Kings All That You Love Will Be Carried Away

Stephen Kings All That You Love Will Be Carried Away Free Online Research Papers Stephen King’s â€Å"All That You Love Will Be Carried Away† is about a frozen food salesman Alfie Zimmer, who has to decide to either change his life and write a book or end his life by his own hand. He wants to write about his collection of sayings he has written down during his traveling. King’s ending of the story is obscure, and I want to prove that Alfie has too much to live for and that he is too committed to his notebook to end his own life. Alfie Zimmer makes money for his family by selling gourmet foods from the trunk of his car. However he is intrigued by the graffiti that litters the walls of rest stops and truck stops that he has encountered on his monotonous sales route. Alfie feels that writing a book about the sayings would be too hard of a change in his life and decides to commit suicide instead. Alfie chooses Room 190 at the Motel 6 in Lincoln, Nebraska to end his life. When he enters the room and sits on the bed â€Å"he reached for the telephone then remembered his notebook† (83). Alfie is intrigued by the old spiral notebook; it was more than a hobby now â€Å"(he) had been carrying this notebook, for almost seven years†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (83), it now was his work, his life. Alfie eats, drinks, and lives for the graffiti on the walls. He even analyzes it to make sure it is fit for his book, â€Å"â€Å"Poopie Doopie you so loopy (Papillion Neb)† Something about the â€Å"-ie –ie† and then, boom you got â€Å"y†Ã¢â‚¬  (84). Alfie thinks about the English Classes he wants to take to learn about the rules of writing. Although Alfie has decided to end his life that day, he says â€Å"Time to record today’s finds† (84) because it is his routine and his fun in life. As Alfie flips to an open page he thinks â€Å"Now two in one day. Two on the last day. Like some sort of omen† (84) it’s like he is searching for an excuse or answer not to take his life. Alfie also thinks of his family and calls them twice to remind them about errands and appointments tells them, he loves them for the first time in five years, hangs up the phone and inserts the fully loaded gun into his mouth. He pauses to think of his own graffiti about his death, â€Å"Here I sit, about to cool it, my plan to eat a fuckin’ bool it’. He grinned around the barrel. That was terrible. He never would have written that down in his book† (86). I also believe he knows that suicide is not written in his book of life. Alfie knows that by writing the book, it would change his life, he may be reje cted or accepted and he is not sure it is worth it. Alfie â€Å"had thought of writing a book, just a little one† (85) he just felt that society would not get the humor that he did out of the poetry. While sitting on the bed writing his daily finds â€Å"he put the pen back in his pocket wondering why he or anyone would continue anything this close to ending everything† (84). He cannot control his intrigue with the notebook, he compares it to â€Å"just†¦well†¦breathing he said, and smiled.† (84). When Alfie had called his family and recorded his notebook entries, he thought he was ready to do the â€Å"end† deed but then â€Å"he frowned and put the gun down. The book was open to the last four entries† (86) the notebook once again stopped him from shooting his brains out. He thought of what the police would think. Finding a dead man with a notebook of crazy sayings â€Å"he was not crazy, and the things he had written here over the years weren’t crazy, either† (86). So Alfie thinks of ways to destroy or hide the notebook He decides to flush it down the toilet, but makes the excuse that it would clog the toilet but he also thinks â€Å"besides, the notebook had been with him so long†¦He hated the idea of flushing it away† (87). He keeps thinking of the notebook, he is very compulsive about his findings â€Å"he loved the stuff in the notebook† (87). Alfie realizes that without him â€Å"the notebook might be a real embarrassment once he was dead† (87) and he just can’t come to destroy the notebook. Alfie still feels the need to commit suicide but â€Å"there was no need to destroy it (notebook) after all† (89). So he goes out into the blustery January day and throw the notebook into the farmer’s field â€Å"Alfie drew the book back to throw it, then lowered his arm. He hated to let it go, that was the truth of it† (89). He was not ready for the future, but with his book in hand, he felt alive. With notebook in hand he made himself a deal, â€Å"if the spark lights of the farmhouse reappeared at anytime during the count, he would try to write the book† (89). Alfie once more intrigued by his collections, he thinks about the book, what it should contain, the des criptions, noises, and smells of the rest stop restrooms and truck stops. Alfie had already thought of a title for the book, he was just scared that the book would be rejected by society and he would be laughed at. As â€Å"Alfie stood there counting inside his head waiting to see if the wind would drop† (89) however I believe that Alfies own spark lights came on because he realized the book is his life, his life that would be filled with fun and enjoyment. I also think he knows he can’t kill â€Å"Alfie the Salesman† because it would kill â€Å"Alfie the Writer† and â€Å"Alfie the Dad†. The notebook is Alfie’s life if he cannot destroy the notebook, he cannot destroy himself. Research Papers on Stephen King’s â€Å"All That You Love Will Be Carried Away"Book Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)Trailblazing by Eric AndersonEffects of Television Violence on Children19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraCapital PunishmentMind Travel

Robert E. Lee essays

Robert E. Lee essays Throughout history, there have been people whose names and faces have become synonymous with the time periods in which they lived. For example, Julius Caesar is synonymous with the late Roman Republic and George Washington is synonymous with the American Revolution. Just like these two men, the name Robert E. Lee has become synonymous with the American Civil War. Not only did Lee rise to become the most important and recognizable person in the Southern Confederacy, but his honor and virtuous acts during and after the war made him a hero to modern-day Americans. Even though he fought for what many consider the morally erroneous side of the war, the virtues of his character have made him a figure in American history that should be honored and remembered. Robert Edward Lee was born at Stratford Westmoreland County, Virginia, on January 19, 1807. Lee was the fourth of five children (the third son) of Ann Hill Carter Lee and Henry (Light-Horse Harry) Lee. Two children of Henry Lees first marriage also lived with the family (Thomas 916). Henry Lee had been a hero during the Revolutionary War and served as the governor of Virginia and a member of Congress. By the time Robert was born, his fathers fortune and estates were in shambles. Henry Lee was never very good at managing his estates and in 1809, was forced into prison due to the severity of his debts. Three years later, freed from jail, he was involved in a political brawl in Baltimore where he was beaten and disfigured for life. In an attempt to flee from debtors and reconsolidate his money, Henry Lee fled to Barbados. He died in 1818, never having seen his family again. Robert E. Lees older half-brother Henry Lee Jr., further dishonored the family in 1820 when it was dis covered that he had seduced and impregnated his wifes nine-teen year old sister. Despite the mistakes his father and brother made, Lee managed to grow learning t...

The movie rating system should be revised Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The movie rating system should be revised - Essay Example However, the rating system is not viewed as an effective and substantial body and has been criticized for a variety of reasons. The first criticism against the motion picture rating system has been presented by film critic Ebert who claims the rating system to place more importance on the minute details of the movie rather than the movie itself. This argument stands against the system's choice of picking on intricate details of the movie like the number of times a profane word is used or the number of scenes containing violence. This allows the rating system to escape from the throes of presenting the true message of the movie. For instance, a movie with sex and violence could be discussing the consequences these activities could teach to the audience. Adult ratings should be limited to those movies which show an immense degree of sex and violence. This would help in the removal of NC-17 which allows a greater number to access a variety of movies. Ratings of movies like Passion of the Christ should not have ratings that limit individuals under 17 from watching a movie (Ebert 2004). This is because the rating system creates a loss in the true message of the movie in its quest to censor the content. Another idea that stands up against movie rating systems is the belief that filmmakers are forced to change movies because the content affects the personal sensibilities of the members of the censorship board. Farber, a film critic talks of how filmmakers were threatened with an X rating to make them remove content which offended the board members (1972). This is seen as biased behavior on the part of the rating systems board because of their inability to provide a decision based solely on the judgment of creating a rating that will be friendly to the audience. Instead, the board is apt on creating ratings that will inadvertently be influenced by their personal beliefs and opinions. Another idea that talks of the flaws in the rating system is the lack of public opinion that is involved. There is a call by both conservative and liberal parties to make the rating system's methods and techniques more public thus allowing a degree of public scrutiny into their decisions. However, this idea seems a little impossible because it is impossible to pin point exact standards set up by the rating system. Movies today touch a variety of topics and issues. It is impossible to set up every method up for the public because it might not apply to each movie. Thus, setting up a public forum would be problematic because every individual's ideas vary and this could be chaotic and unhelpful. The rating system is criticized for its inability to present an equal treatment to the independent studios. This criticism lies on the belief that independent studios are not meted out with the same ratings as those given to major studios. Thus, independent studios are given a harsher rating system which is a great setback in the creation of new and diverse films. An instance of this is evident in the rating given to the movie Saints and Soldiers. The movie was created by an independent studio and created a limited amount of sex, profanity and violence. Yet, a single scene where a character is killed made the movie get a PG-13 rating (Deseret News). This is an obvious sign of bias against independent studios which can be of great harm to the creativity and emergence of unique ideas in the motion picture industry. Thus

Technology Evaluation and Recommendation Research Paper - 1

Technology Evaluation and Recommendation - Research Paper Example At the same time as dealing with these challenges, business organizations always struggle with how to defend their intellectual property by minimizing the costs and harm to brand that can result from unintended exposure of employee and customer data (Penton Media, Inc., 2012). Additionally, data and information security has come on top on the list of the main issues that are being faced by information systems executives nowadays. In this scenario, there are numerous aspects and factors that cause serious issues to data and information security. Some of the important aspects that can create serious security issues can include illegal access to a computer or network, or storage room, destruction due to fire, flood, earthquake and hurricane. At the present, a large number of researches are being carried out to determine the ways and suggest solutions to make organizational data information more secure. In fact, it is essential to deal with these issues as they can cause customersâ€℠¢ dissatisfaction or even whole business failure (Loch & Carr, 1992; Penton Media, Inc., 2012; Shulman, 2006). This report presents an analysis of the potential threats to the data and also suggests solutions for them. One of the major security issues that can cause a serious challenge for data security is excessive privilege abuse. When database or application users are provided access to databases with privileges that go beyond the needs of their working job purpose, in this scenario, these privileges can be used for carrying out illegal tasks. In addition, a given data user ends up with extreme privileges for the simple cause that database administrators do not have the time to describe as well as update rough access privilege control method for every user (Shulman, 2006). This problem can be resolved by using various techniques. One of the basic techniques is a username and password based access. Though, it is easy to use but in many cases users forget their passwords and these passwords are accessed by illegal users. Another solution to deal with this problem is the implementation of effective security measures against the excessive privileges that is established through the query-level access control. In this scenario, the query-level access control mechanism will limit database rights to minimum necessary SQL processes (UPDATE, SELECT, etc.) and data. In addition, the granularity of database access control has to expand beyond the table to specific rows of columns in a table (Shulman, 2006). Another major threat is backup data exposure. This is another most important data security problem that is based on the backup database storage media that is completely unprotected from attack. As an effect, a number of high profile and data related security breaches can happen and any person can illegally access the database backup tapes and hard disks (Ponemon, 2007). Though, username and passwords based technique can be used to deal with this issue but it is not as much effective (as discussed above). In order to deal with this issue all data backups have to be encrypted. At the present, there are numerous encryption techniques available. Some of the well-known techniques that can be used for this purpose include public key cryptography and hashing. These techniques are very effective in protecting the data (Ponemon, 2007). T