CROSS-CULTURAL NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION DYNAMICS: DECODING THE SUBTLE LANGUAGE OF CULTURE

Abstract

This article examines the intricate interplay between cultural variations in nonverbal communication and the portrayal of cross-cultural interactions in three seminal works of fiction: "Interpreter of Maladies" (1999) by Jhumpa Lahiri; "The Joy Luck Club" (1989) by Amy Tan; and "Purple Hibiscus" (2003) by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Through the lens of the Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT) proposed by Howard Giles, this research delves into how characters within these novels negotiate their cultural identities and interpersonal relationships through the subtle nuances of nonverbal communication. Drawing from CAT's principles of convergence, divergence, and over-accommodation, the analysis unveils the characters' dynamic strategies for adapting their nonverbal behaviour in response to diverse cultural contexts. By employing CAT, this study illuminates the complex dance of accommodation and negotiation within nonverbal communication, offering fresh insights into the subtleties of cultural interaction as depicted in these literary works. It invites further exploration of the intersection between fiction, cultural studies, and communication theory.