Non-Verbal Communication in Spain

Now that I have gone over the business attire in Spain I am going to now discuss the non-verbal communication style of people in Spain. The language and culture in Spain varies a lot from that in America. Certain gestures that we Americans find normal can be taken offensively if you were to do those same things in Spain.

Greeting and Touching

When Spanish speakers meet they almost always touch. Family members and young friends shake hands at every meeting. Close friends will hug and if one friend is a female then they will give little kisses on the cheeks. Spanish unlike Americans constantly are touching each other.

Hand Gestures

Spanish people talk over each other constantly, using their hands to get their points across. Some gestures are similar to the English-language but with different meanings. When you make a circle with the index finger and your thumb it means “money”. The thumbs up signal has many meanings in Spain none of them meaning “Good” or “OK” and some of the meanings are insulting. The English gesture “come here” to people in Spain this gesture signals romantic or sexual interest. To signal “come here” in Spain they turn the palm down and move all the fingers together to signal this gesture. When Spanish people wag their index finger while pointing up this gesture simply means no.

Facial Expressions

In Spain your stance and facial expressions will speak stronger then your actual spoken words.

Smiles and Eye Contact

Spanish people smile more and avoid making frequent eye contact. Too much eye contact in Spain is considered cold and threatening.

Speaking Distance

In a Spanish culture a comfortable speaking distance is 6 to 18 inches from face to face. This comfortable speaking distance is much closer in a Spanish culture then it is in an American culture.

Throwing Things is Not Acceptable

In English-speaking cultures, it is common to toss small objects such as keys to each other. In Spanish-speaking cultures however, throwing small objects to one another is considered rude.

 

 

Works Cited

Stanic, Claudia. "Nonverbal Communication Rules in Spanish Cultures | EHow." EHow. Demand Media, 14 Aug. 2010. Web. 28 May 2013. <http://www.ehow.com/list_6863857_nonverbal-communication-rules-spanish-cultures.html>.

Pick, Jo. "List of Nonverbal Communications for the Spanish Speaking | EHow." EHow. Demand Media, 07 Aug. 2010. Web. 28 May 2013. <http://www.ehow.com/list_6827387_list-nonverbal-communications-spanish-speaking.html>.