Non verbal communication

Every countries have their own symbols that symbolize a lot of meanings including improper meaning and one country differs with one another. Non-verbal communication is always type of
communication that tend to give unintended meaning or become the main reason for miscommunication. In Malaysia, Muslim women and Muslim men will not shake hand with each other and sometime men will slightly bow to women as the symbol of respect. In addition, when Malaysian shake hands, they will not grasp it. They also shake hands using both hands and then they bring their hand to their chest as the symbol of “I greet you from my heart”.

There is something interesting about what Hanna has shared with us. It is about the greetings. The Filipinos usually shake hands when they meet formally. Some Muslims prefer to put their right hand at the chest as a symbol of respect instead of shaking hands.

According to Hanna, she was quite surprised at first when she saw how the Muslim families greet  each other during the early days she started living here. In Malaysia, the young one will kiss the hands of the elders which is similar to the Christians culture in the Philippines. In her country, the elder will be kissed one either on the cheek or on the forehead.