Taking a look at the South African culture – non-verbal
- Physical Contact: South Africans are generally comfortable with physical affection and like to express warmth through actions such as hugging and patting each other on the back. A lack of physical contact can be interpreted as aloofness, unfriendliness, or a lack of trust.
- Hands: Some ethnic groups may find it impolite to make gestures with the left hand. Black South Africans generally favour the right hand. White South Africans are generally comfortable with using both left and right hands. Putting your hands in your pockets can be misinterpreted as
disrespectful.
- Expression and Body Language: Black South Africans are very animated and communicate heavily through their facial expressions when speaking. White South Africans generally make less use of hand gestures in conversation.
- Eye Contact: South Africans tend to maintain steady eye contact throughout the duration of a conversation. However, older South Africans may avert their eyes to show respect to authority.
- Personal Space: Black South Africans often sit and stand close to each other. Therefore, some may stand at proximities that a Westerner may consider to be uncomfortably close. It is likely they have not been made aware of the discomfort some people may feel with this.
- Gestures: Making a ‘V’ with the index finger and middle finger in the shape of the peace sign is very rude if your palm is facing towards yourself. Youth in South Africa sometime use the sign known to the West as the ‘shaka’ or ‘hang loose’ sign (thumb and little finger extended and other fingers against the palm, rocked side to side) to express ‘hello’ or ‘good-bye’.
- Pointing: It considered rude to use your index finger to point at someone.
