Along with various countries such as Japan, Philippines is known as the country who has a high context culture. Context is the concept of how we are able to express or deliver our thoughts and more importantly, how we use our very own language. We also utilized here the situation, the relationship to the person we are talking, and the cultural background instead of just focusing on the words in order to get and understand what he or she is trying to imply according to Hall and Hall.

One of the reasons why we Filipinos have such high context culture is our frequent use of non-verbal communications. Do you agree so? I guess you do. Basically, non-verbal communication is a type of communication where we don't use words to express our thoughts and emotions. Rather, we exercise here the use of proxemics, color, paralanguage, kinesics, and haptics.

Proxemics

It can also be referred to as space or distance. Space helps us easily identify the relationship between two or group of people who are having a conversation. This may be intimate for lovers or couples whose space is very close that may involve holding of hands, kissing, or hugging publicly or privately. We also have this personal space for our friends and family which would involve like those with intimacy such as hugging but it would really make a difference. Lastly, is the distance we use socially like with our workmates and schoolmates.

Sometimes, we use space to let people know that we don't like to talk to them or we want to be alone.

Color

Color is a huge boon to maintain peace and order most especially in public places. One of its example is the colors of our traffic lights where green light tells us to go, red light for stop, and orange light telling us to prepare because green then will follow. With this, accidents became lesser making the roads for everyone safer.

Paralanguage

Paralanguage is the tone of our voice. You've been using this right? This can be seen when shouting, whispering, or even silence to let people know that we are already angry, annoyed, calm, or what. This helps us for those people we are talking know what we already feel without telling them directly.

Kinesics

Kinesics refer to our body language. We use here facial expressions, eye contact, posture, and movements. Micro expressions such as raising our eyebrows, furrowing of forehead, and the direction of our eyes means a lot in expressing our thoughts and emotions. When the direction of our eyes is on the left while talking, it tells that you are worried on the things you've seen, heard, and feel while if the eyes look on the right, it means that you are trying to lie and start making things up.

Haptics

Haptics is how you touch people. Like proxemics, relationship matters here as well as the cultural background of the person you are having a conversation with. It is also a way of showing trust especially in business world as people shake hands.

These are forms of non-verbal communication that help us Filipinos to express our thoughts and emotions in a more different and humble way. Traditionally, we aren't frank. We used these then to avoid making people feel uncomfortable or hurt with the words we can thankfully produce in such unique way. Non-verbal communications differ from countries that's why it is important to be aware those of the foreign ones in order to maintain peace and harmony.

All of these crucial informations were based from my learnings in our Purposive Communication subject. I hope this have helped you know such simple yet meaningful things we do in our daily life.

Thanks. Owe you big time!

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