Look for Nonverbal Communication
Whether you're talking to someone from your own culture or someone with a different cultural perspective, much of the message is relayed through nonverbal cues. When communicating across cultures, it's important not only to hear what the other person is saying but also to observe what that person's body language (facial expressions, hand gestures, eye contact, tone of voice) is saying.
Keep in mind, however, that like spoken language, nonverbal expressions such as eye contact and body position have different meanings in different cultures. A clenched fist, a slouched posture, an open hand, or a smile can tell us how to understand a communication only if we have a cultural context for defining the body language. ...
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