Episode 13: Non-verbal manners
- UBC
- Nov 13, 2018
- 3 min read
Synopsis
Si-mok's team is disbanded and he is offered a promotion. However, accepting this promotion will mean Si-mok is complying to the higher authority's order to stop investigating authoritarians. Si-mok asks his boss for ten more days so he may solve the case. He says that after that period, he will gladly face the consequences of not accepting his "promotion".
Meanwhile, Lee Yeon-bom decides to publicly apologize for trying to import foreign cranes and deceiving the others "by mistake".
While Si-mok is investigating, he is informed that a young woman's body is found where Ga-young used to live. Si-mok goes to the Villa, only to discover shocking news.
Discussion
Nonverbal behavior is presumed to perform: "(1) the sending of emotional states; (2) the conveying of interpersonal attitudes, particularly intimacy and status; and (3) the management of conversation." (LaFrance 1978, 71)
In Asia, non-verbal actions are regarded to be extremely important. Bowing in particular, is used for various situations in Korea. As In episode 13 of Strangers, we can see two kinds of the functions LaFrance claims that nonverbal behavior is supposed to have.
In this situation, Si-mok is telling his team coworkers that they did a good job on the investigation. He says that it is thanks to everyone that they were even able to get this far. After saying this, Si-mok lightly bows to everyone to express his gratitude. This scene can be interpreted as a mixture of expressing an emotional state, along with interpersonal attitudes; social status, to be more exact. While Si-mok is trying to show that he is grateful to his team, he is also considering the fact that this is a formal workplace. Thus, he decides to bow in order to show a formal politeness to his coworkers.
Not only is the 90 degree bow used when you are greeting or congratulating someone, it is also used to express a sincere apology to someone.
In the scene where Lee Yeon-bom publicly apologizes for suspected corruption, he bows in a 90 degree angle towards the crowd. After saying his apologies, he bows deeply, in an even bigger angle than Si-mok did. This is his way of showing sincere guilt and sending a "sincere" apology to those who are mad at him and his company. Yeon-bom is bowing in order to show he is sincerely sorry to everyone he let down. Again, this scene shows bowing as not only an action of conveying emotions, but also formality, as he is making a public apology.
As we discussed in class, Korea is a country that thinks highly of manners and politeness. Like what Wonny said in his blog post for episode 10 & 11, there is even a certain etiquette for eye contact, where one must not directly look at the other person's eye because it is considered rude. I believe Korea demands non-verbal manners as well as verbal etiquette because they regard "sincerity" as extremely important. In order to show this sincerity of their emotions, one must accommodate non-verbal actions along with their words. I believe this is why in episode 13-although in different contexts-both Si-mok and Yeon-bom bow their heads when making an announcement. They both want to show how genuine their words should mean.
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Questions
1. Why do you think Korea regards non-verbal manners (gestures to be specific) as so important?
2. Does bowing as means of apologizing seem more genuine than verbally expressing it? Why or why not?
3. Do you think this custom of 'bowing' to apologize should continue, or discontinue?
Bibliography
LaFrance, Marianne, and Clara Mayo. "Cultural Aspects of Nonverbal Communication."
International Journal of Intercultural Relations 2, no.1 (1978): 71-89.
Strangers. Directed by Ahn Gil-ho. 2017; Seoul: Dragon Studio, 2017. Drama, TVN.
Hey everyone,
Really appreciate this back-and-forth! Interesting reflections.
One thing I suppose we could pick at is this question of sincerity - Shannon and Kirin are asserting that “if you mean it, it’s okay if you don’t bow” - but does bowing (90-degree or otherwise) necessarily mean that you mean it, or would it be more or less obligatory for your social status and face for you to apologize in such a way? How do you know if one “means it”? If deference, in verbal or non-verbal communication, is a kind of social lubricant, then I think the authenticity of the communicator’s feelings becomes a bit more ambiguous.
1) Why do you think Korea regards non-verbal manners (gestures to be specific) as so important?
Personally, I feel like not only Korea but most of the Asian countries regard non-verbal manners as so important. This is because non-verbal manner is a more implicit way of showing you emotions towards the person or the situation and it could be easily interpreted by others. Moreover, some say that actions speak louder than words sometimes, I feel like by showing the emotion physically can be seen as a sincerer move, compared to only just using words to convince people.
2) Does bowing as means of apologizing seem more genuine than verbally expressing it? Why or why not?
Bowing is move for a…
@Joyce
I can't be sure about it, but from my personal view, I definitely think people of higher social status use less non-verbal actions when they are talking with someone of lower status. For example, bowing to one is a clear sign of respect in the Korean culture. It is generally only used to people who are of equal or higher status than you. In addition, I'm pretty sure the lower you bow, the more respect or sincere you are, so people who bow down to a 90˚ angle are showing so much respect in the Korean culture. Most people with a high social status are not required to bow to anyone which is why it was such a big…
@Daniel: Thanks for the insight on question one! I agree with your statement, and I'm intrigued by the fact that non-verbal actions are intertwined with social status. Having said that, do you think people of higher social status use less non-verbal actions when they are talking with someone of lower status?
@Wonny: I don't see it as a problem, but I don't see it as a necessity either. I don't really see a lot of western figures bowing when they are apologizing, so I wonder why Korea (or Asian countries in general) would always emphasize on "the bowing" gesture. I personally think it's better to look at people straight in the eye when you are apologizing. What about you? would…
1. Although these manners are important, I think it is important to note that superiors are not actively looking for the correct gestures. It is slightly different from bowing, but drink pouring can be used as an example. Most people won't care when a younger person pours them a drink with two hands, but them pouring with one hand will catch their immediate attention.
2. I think the answer to this heavily depends, but generally speaking I would say so. Bowing your head that far down shows that you’re humble and willing to put aside any pride, to appear apologetic that is. Daniel and Kirin seem to agree as well.
3. I don’t see why bowing as an apology should…