The same nonverbal message can be sent in various cultures by using very different nonverbal cues. The nonverbal cue used to communicate affirmation (agreement) in the United States is to nod the head up and down. In which part of the world is affirmation designated by the opposite cue of shaking the head from side to side?

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The question asks: In which part of the world is affirmation designated by the opposite cue of shaking the head from side to side, instead of nodding up and down as in the United States?

First, note that the provided data shows only one answer option: D. The Bengali ethnic group from India. There are no other options listed to compare or contrast.

Given the cultural variation in nonverbal communication, some communities in the Indian subcontinent are reported to use a head motion that resembles a side-to-side shake to indicate affirmation or agreement, which can be interpreted differently from the Western nod. The Bengali-speaking populations in India (and neighboring regions) are among groups for which nonverbal cues can diverge from the Western norm, and certain gestures may carry affirmative meaning even if they resemble a ‘no’ motion to Western observers.

Why this option could be considered correct: In multicultural communication literature, there are notes about regional differences in head movements and meanings. If the question is focusing on a culture where the opposite cue to nodding (i.e., a side-to-side motion) is used to signal agreement, the Bengali/Indian subcontinent context is a plausible candidate.

Why other options (had they been provided) might be incorrect: In many Western-centric discussions, a nod is the standard for yes, and a side-to-side shake is no. If other options referenced cultures where side-to-side motion unequivocally means no or where no such alternate cue exists, those would conflict with the premise of the question. Without additional options, we cannot evaluate those contrasts directly here.

Note: If you have access to the full set of answer choices, you could compare whether the side-to-side motion for affirmation is described for Bengali/Indian subcontinent cultures versus others (e.g., different parts of Asia, the Middle East, or Africa) where similar or different cues may apply. In any case, the core idea is that nonverbal cues for affirmation can be culturally specific, and the Bengali/Vindian region is a commonly cited example where different cues may convey agreement.

Home TSM3001 - INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION IN TOURISM (2024S2A)

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