Language and Nonverbal Communication

Abstract Chapter 5 explores the ways culture shapes how we communicate through our verbal language, gestures, and eye gaze. It discusses language, language components, how we acquire language, communicative styles, contexts for learning communicative styles, and culture-specific and cross-cultural studies. It addresses language development; second language learning; language socialization; contemporary positions on the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis; language, culture, and cognition; sociolinguistics; dialects; code-mixing and code-switching; and the interconnectedness of language and cultural identity. Finally, it discusses nonverbal behavior, social media and nonverbal communication, eye gaze, and examples of language translation miscommunications in marketing. This chapter includes a case study, Culture Across Disciplines box, chapter summary, key terms, a What Do Other Disciplines Do? section, thought-provoking questions, and class and experiential activities.