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Few researchers have contributed more to

intercultural understanding than Americananthropologist Edward Twitchell Hall. Best

known for his studies of personal space and

his definitions of high- and low-context cul-tures, Hall was instrumental in establishing

intercultural research as a field of its ownafter World War II.

In his book The Silent Language, the author

explores the cross-cultural context of com-munication. His basic

thesis is that while

much human commu-

nication is non-verbal,it always follows cul-

tural and contextual

patterns. Hall investi-gates concepts suchas 'spacial accent,'

analyzing culture-specific behaviors as-sociated with the in-

visible zone humans

carry around them-selves, and discusses cultural views of therole of time, which he also describes in terms

of an 'accent.' He identifies both as tools fortransmitting messages, illustrating his ideaswith several culture-specific examples and

practical observations. Since the major dif-

ference between verbal and non-verbalcommunication is that the latter is mostlysubconscious, Hall also looks at mechanisms

through which children learn these conceptsas a way for adults to familiarize themselveswith otherscultural context.

Since it was originally written in 1959, poten-

tial readers may conclude that The SilentLanguage isnt worth reading any longer. In-

deed, concepts that may have been consid-

ered revolutionary at the time the book waswritten, such as the observation that people

are bound by cultural rules and are not mas-ters of their fates, may seem self-evident

today. Nevertheless, none of the principlesHall identifies are any less relevant today

than they were back then. Given current

globalization trends, understanding theseprinciples may actually be more important

than ever.

What makes this book a bit frustrating to

read, though, is that the authors train of

thought can be difficult to follow. For in-stance, Hall introduces the idea that all cul-tural conventions can be classified as either

formal, informal, or technical, but the distinc-

tions appear confusing. While later chaptersrevisit and further discuss these classifica-

tions, they do little to add clarity to the un-

derlying concepts. Basic familiarity with Hallsother publications, such as his books Be-yond Culture and Hidden Dimension, mayat times be helpful.

These challenges notwithstanding, The Silent

Language gives important insights and canbe enlightening for the open-minded reader.

Lothar Katz is the founder of Leadership Crossroads. He has a wealth of experi-ence in achieving productive cooperation across cultures and driving businesssuccess on a global scale.

A seasoned former executive of a Fortune 500 company, he regularly interactedwith employees, customers, outsourcing partners, and third parties in more than25 countries around the world. These included many parts of Asia, e.g., China,India, and Japan. Originally from Germany, he has lived and worked both in theUnited States and in Europe.

Leadership CrossroadsTM 6122 Bryan Parkway, Dallas, TX 75206469-233-3538 fax 214-764-6655

This book review solely represents the opinions and conclusions of its author.It does not claim to be accurate, complete, or objective.

Leadershi CrossroadsTM, 2006

Edward T. Hall

THE SILENT LANGUAGE

info@leadershipcrossroads.com www.leadershipcrossroads.com