Non-verbal communication (NVC) is a ceremonial act (Goffman 1956) derived from a ritual (Goffman 1956) of each society.
This paper (1) demonstrates how people communicate non-verbally in Japan and in Taiwan in order to follow the rituals of their society; and (2) reveals what the rituals are that give rise to NVC in the two cultures.
Data for this paper are drawn from field surveys on NVC, for which several steps were taken. The surveys were carried out both in Tokyo and Taipei in 1987.
Of particular interest is the finding that the difference in the fixedness between the two cultures is very striking. The degree of fixedness in NVC of the Japanese is considerably high, while that of the Taiwanese is much lower.
Consequently, the following is implied by this study. For a Japanese, the major concern in choosing an appropriate form in NVC is not dependent on the individual, but rather on the group to which one belongs. Thus ‘attaching more importance to the group rather than to the individual’ is Japanese ritual. On the other hand, for a Taiwanese, it is acceptable, to some extent, to make a free choice of behavior based on individual will. Thus ‘respecting the individual's own behavior’ is Taiwanese ritual.
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