NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION IN THE PROCESS OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Communication is a fundamental concept and phenomenon that has been essential for human existence, and not only, since time immemorial. Communication is a relationship, and life is based on these relationships. The entire culture of humanity may be considered as one great communication, the centre of which is a human being. A personality is formed through communication; it means nothing in isolation. A person is valued specifically by the scope of their influence and authority, that is, by the sort of power that each of us possesses to a greater or lesser degree and establishes it through relationships. The purpose of the paper is to show that although communication primarily involves verbal communication, non-verbal communication also plays an equally important role in this process, especially in interactions between people with different cultural experiences. The signs and means of non-verbal communication are different, or the same sign is perceived differently in different cultures, that is why it becomes a source of a number of misunderstandings and problems. In order to avoid this, it is necessary to study and research these differences across different cultures. Intercultural misunderstandings are the source of a number of problems. If we do not understand cultural diversity, do not master the skills to interact effectively with people who are completely different from us, or do not have the desire to do so, our world will significantly worsen.