Influence of culture, language, and sex on conversational distance.

Abstract

Proxemic theory emphasizes cultural uses of interpersonal distance to regulate intimacy via sensory exposure. However, research has confounded cultural dif- ferences in conversationa l distance with sex, language, and topic. This study assessed interpersonal distance between seated conversants from each of three cultures varying in purported contact norms. Thirty-five Japanese, 31 Venezuelan foreign students (assigned to speak either their native language or English), and 39 Americans had a 5-minute conversation on a common topic with a same-sex, same-nationality confederate. Three hypotheses were tested: (a) When speaking their native languages, Japanese will sit farther apart than Venezuelans, with Americans at an intermediate distance; (b) females will sit closer than males; and (c) foreign subjects, when speaking English, will more closely approximate American conversational distance than when speaking their native languages. The hypotheses were generally confirmed. According to proxemic theory (Hall, 1966), interpersonal distance helps to reg- ulate intimacy by controlling sensory expo- sure. The possibility of visual, tactile, audi- tory, and olfactory stimulation is enhanced at closer distances. Differences in distancing within dyads are likely to be affected by a variety of sources of preferences for inti- macy, including individual history of social deprivation and reinforcement, acquain-