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In the everyday, but unspoken give-and-take of human relationships, the "silent language" plays a vitally important role. Here, a leading American anthropologist has analyzed the many qays in which people "talk" to one another without the use of words. The pecking order in a chicken yard, the fierce competition in a school playground, every unwitting gesture and action--this is the vocabulary of the "silent language." According to Dr. Hall, the concepts of space and time are tools with which all human beings may transmit messages. Space, for example, is the outgrowth of an animal's instinctive defense of his lair and is reflected in human society by the office worker's jealous defense of his desk, or the guarded, walled patio of a Latin-American home. Similarly, the concept of time, varying from Western precision to Easter vagueness, is revealed by the businessman who pointedly keeps a client waiting, or the South Pacific islander who murders his neighbor for an injustice suffered twenty years ago. "THE SILENT LANGUAGE shows how cultural factors influence the individual behind his back, wihtout his knowledge." --Erich Fromm… (more)
A very dry read with a strong message. A message I wish I had learned back in high school.
Recently I found a quote that emphasizes a part of The Silent Language message. "We don't see things as they are. We see things as we are"
This book explains why languages can never be 100% translated. One has to grow up in the culture to understand the nuances of words and body language. ( )
This work is helpful in understanding communication. Hall points out the importance of non-verbal communication. Examples of crucial communication that takes place non-verbally would include gestures and motion. The idea can be extended to meaningful examples of movement communication including the performance arts such as theater and dance. Ordinary communication though is replete with examples of how crucial non-verbal communication plays a role in ordinary discourse. Understanding is more difficult on the phone, through IMs, and in email, to mention just a few every day examples of how critical non-verbal cues play a role in communication. This is an excellent book.
To my friends and colleagues from foreign cultures who taught me so much about my own culture.
First words
Introduction: Over twenty years have elapsed since The Silent Language first appeared.
Quotations
Last words
The Mogollon had different traditions and were also only sporadically in contact with the Anaszi. In this light, it would be hard to argue commonness of culture.
In the everyday, but unspoken give-and-take of human relationships, the "silent language" plays a vitally important role. Here, a leading American anthropologist has analyzed the many qays in which people "talk" to one another without the use of words. The pecking order in a chicken yard, the fierce competition in a school playground, every unwitting gesture and action--this is the vocabulary of the "silent language." According to Dr. Hall, the concepts of space and time are tools with which all human beings may transmit messages. Space, for example, is the outgrowth of an animal's instinctive defense of his lair and is reflected in human society by the office worker's jealous defense of his desk, or the guarded, walled patio of a Latin-American home. Similarly, the concept of time, varying from Western precision to Easter vagueness, is revealed by the businessman who pointedly keeps a client waiting, or the South Pacific islander who murders his neighbor for an injustice suffered twenty years ago. "THE SILENT LANGUAGE shows how cultural factors influence the individual behind his back, wihtout his knowledge." --Erich Fromm
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Edward T. Hall a montré, dans La Dimension cachée, que l'espace interpersonnel est une dimension de la culture. Le Langage silencieux conduit cette réflexion sur d'autres systèmes, et notamment le temps. Qu'est-ce qu'être en retard ? Qu'est-ce qu'attendre ? Le message exprimé là est différent selon qu'il vient d'un Européen, d'un Américain ou d'un Japonais. Ainsi le temps et la culture sont-ils communication, autant que la communication est culturelle. Communication qui cache plus de choses qu'à première vue elle n'en révèle. À travers des exemples aussi précis que cocasses, Edward T. Hall développe la théorie des systèmes de communication non verbaux.
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Recently I found a quote that emphasizes a part of The Silent Language message.
"We don't see things as they are. We see things as we are"
This book explains why languages can never be 100% translated. One has to grow up in the culture to understand the nuances of words and body language. (