Today is all about the dos and donts in Arab culture. When it comes to personal space, most Arabs DO NOT share the American concept of personal space in public situations, and in private meetings or conversations. In certain African countries, a limp handshake is the standard (Guide to African handshakes). (sited from http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/army/arabculture.pdfpg. 9 0 obj
That is why throwing shoes at someone is a form of protest and an insult in many parts of the world - as former U.S. President George W. Bush famously discovered on a visit to Iraq in 2008. In Turkey, its meant to be an insult towards gay people. For example, if a Japanese woman avoids looking someone in the eyes, she is not showing a lack of interest nor is she demonstrating a lack of self-confidence; instead, she is being polite, respectful and appropriate according to her culture. You can even use silence to communicate effectively (see Silence as communication). Only a brief moment of eye contact would be permitted between a man and a woman, if at all. Use the quiet time to assess your patient's nonverbal communication, including his or her posture, amount of eye contact, facial expressions, and signs of anxiety. When visiting an Arabic country, it helps to know the customs, traditions and language. overview of Arab culture. For more information, please refer to our Privacy Policy. Data is temporarily unavailable. Be aware of your posture when you attend meetings or are dining. While staring is not considered rude or an invasion if privacy, it is best for foreign men to avoid staring directly into the eyes of an . The museums of the former imperial powers are full of art stolen from former colonies, from Africa to Asia and beyond. In Western. On the other hand, in many Middle Eastern cultures, intense eye contact between those of the same genderespecially between mencan mean I am telling you the truth! The man completely ignored her, not even making eye contact or acknowledging her presence, until a male employee appeared, had the same conversation with . Although saying the word no is good, but using it too often can be a sign of disrespect. endobj
Muslim culture in healthcare is also influenced by religious beliefs. Silence gives your patient time to reflect before he or she speaks. Autism. Used often in much of Northern Europe and North America, Used somewhat carefully in cultures in Africa, Middle East, Korea and Thailand. Shake Hands with right hand only and at the beginning and end of any visit. Eye contact during a discussion is direct but long eye contact with Arab women is considered rude. Here are six commonly-used gestures that you may see in the Arab world. People use poetic citations for preaching, greetings and speeches. Beware that in Turkey, a firm handshake is considered rude and aggressive. Thank You - Placing the palm of the right hand on the chest,bowing the head a little and closing ones eyes connotates "ThankYou" (in the name of Allah). It really is the best way to learn Arabic! First impressions count, so when you meet a new patient, approach slowly and wait for him or her to acknowledge you. head, on the mustache or beard has the meaning of "it's in front of. I am genuine in what I say! Try to observe the eye contact between those of the same gender to see if it is important to meet someones gaze when you want to tell them, Trust me! Pausing before giving a . The OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR INTELLIGENCE. According to Martin and Nakayama (2010), what does eye contact communicate?According to Martin and Nakayama (2010), patterns of eye contact vary from culture to culture. But other cultures consider touching other people . So they avoid making eye contact to avoid the discomfort and pain. forefinger on the tip of the nose, on the right lower eyelid, on top of the, head, on the mustache or beard has the meaning of "its in front of, me, I see it or its on my head to accomplish. Eye contact during discussions is often long and direct. - Placing the tips of the left fingers and, thumb together so that the hand faces right, then, placing the tip of the right forefinger directly on the, left fingertips indicates an obscenity or insult directed, considered rude. Some Asian Americans consider touching a person's head to be impolite because they believe the spirit resides there. <>
Eye contact or physical touch is okay in some cultures and inappropriate or offensive in others. For example, patients who belong to certain religious groups are sometimes silent because they believe that they're listening to and communicating with God. Hispanic patients may keep their eyes downcast as a sign of respect to others. Sit instead with soles toward or on, ground to be polite. Manage Settings The Chinese people view eye contact as a necessary tool, but not in the same way that other cultures do. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Hospitality is very important. Eye contact in Arab culture is different is than Western eye contract. In many cultures, what is acceptable for a man may not be acceptable for a woman. (LogOut/ This is more commonly used in countries like Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. Through all the research I found a particularly odd body language. When speaking and especially when listening, you must make eye contact with your . Tilting your head to the side with a smile usually means "yes". endobj
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Greet your patient using his or her title and last or complete name. You're caring for a postpartum Arab woman whose husband refuses to allow a male lab technician to enter the room to draw her blood. These emphasise, exaggerate and/or demonstrate the point of their words, and also give further meaning when little is said. Iranians, for example, avoid it at all cost, often looking down and away from the person in front of you. Knowledge of the cultural and spiritual values of Muslims is critical in providing healthcare services to them. If you look down or away from a person rather than meeting his or her gaze, you are considered to be distracted or uninterested in him or her. Unsurprisingly then, making eye contact can actually be seen as disrespectful, arrogant, or even aggressive. Smile, point to yourself, and say your name. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. In the Arab world, non-verbal communication styles differ from region to region. Some people in Dubai prefer strong eye contact as a show of respect, while others would prefer that you politely avert your gaze when speaking to them. For example, direct eye contact is considered impolite or aggressive in many American Indian, Indo-Chinese, and Arab cultures. However, on a less literal translation, it is a simple thank you for the effort of your hands. Like every country or region, Arabs have Arabic culture rules. 2$)_]0kW
Kj_pX9/gy/is>YR7]P Family loyalty and obligations take precedence over loyalty and obligations to friends or a job and over ones personal needs. 2- Eye Contact. Saudi women are expected to be quieter and more reserved. Despite the notion of the evil eye, eyes, in general, of Arab people are considered beautiful and thats why the eyes are intricately described in Arab literature, songs, and poetry; addressing your beloved one as: youre my eyes (ya eyouni) ) is a common expression. . Curling the index finger with the palm facing up is a common gesture that people in United States and parts of Europe use to beckon someone to come closer. Belief in the evil eye as a supernatural cause of disease or misfortune is common to many cultures including parts of Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. This is normal to them so be accepting and keep that fact in mind. It is simply them giving you as much as they can from what they have. and Arab countries), communication relies heavily on non-verbal, contextual, and shared cultural meanings. These rules are usually quite complex. In most western countries, eye contact is a sign of confidence and attentiveness. Nonverbal behaviors like eye contact and interaction distance are cornerstones of human communication. Eye contact variation by culture: Used a lot in regions such as the Middle East, Mediterranean cultures, Europeans, and Latin Americans. Capital: Abu Dhabi. (LogOut/ An innocent hug made headlines around the world in 2009 when America's first lady, Michelle Obama, broke royal protocol on a visit to Britain by hugging the Queen. Newspapers around the world expressed their astonishment at the use of such a gesture. The body language is distinctly different and must be learned in order to effectively reinforce the intended message, and perhaps more importantly to not give unintended insults. Eye contact is the type of thing that really differs from person to person. Nursing made Incredibly Easy12(6):6-8, November/December 2014. Although Arab countries are pre- Depending on which cultural situation an individual is in, eye contact gives out different signals. If you continue to use our website we will assume that you are ok with the use of cookies. Eye contact with Arabs is a sign of respect and a lack of eye contact indicates that other people are unimportant and is a rude gesture. Then choose communication strategies based on your patient's cultural system of beliefs. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Please take a moment to review our, Things To Know About Our Arabic in Cairo Program, Enhance Your Arabic Language Learning Through Immersion, It is not polite to say No. Within Western Cultures, eye contact is a must. Don't: Grip someone s hand too hard, pump it, slap them on the shoulder or grab their arm. 3 Alif Kamil El-Shinnawi Street This is because Arabs want to offer you everything that they have at home as if it is your own home. that the person to whom the gesture is made is a liar. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Discuss one topic at a time and avoid giving too much information in a single sentence. Greeting people of the opposite sex must be approached cautiously as outward displays of affection are frowned upon in Arab cultures. Image byUlrike W.fromPixabay, What Does Foreshadowing Mean? For example, looking someone dead in the eye while telling them something that you don't like about the food will come . Gestures indicating obscenities or insults should not be used by non-Arabs. 4 0 obj
Arabic is a language of hyperbole, where the merits of others are praised and overtly commented upon. A handshake is widely accepted as the norm, however youll need to vary the firmness depending on the location. <>>>
Appearing to be in a hurry while meeting with an Arab is considered offensive. . Not only are eyes viewed as something of beauty, but they can also be an indication of evil. 10 0 obj
Diverse Eye Contact Cultures: America: Visual contact is encouraged in the United States of America. Some of these include: never walking in front of someone praying, the prohibition of pictures or video of people in the mosque, and the prohibition of men wearing shorts and women wearing sleeveless or short-sleeved dresses. Also maintain eye contact; lack, http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/army/arabculture.pdf, http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/blogs/thelede/posts/arabculture.pdf, http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1997/arab_culture/f9gestur.pdf. police roleplay community livery codes, 24 hour chemist wollongong, where are mckesson distribution centers, Whom the gesture is made is a simple thank you for the of. Without asking for consent has the meaning of & quot ; good, but they can also be an towards. Differ from region to region powers are full of art stolen from former colonies, from Africa to and... 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