The Role of Verbal and Nonverbal Communication in Building Intercultural Understanding among University Students

Abstract

Intercultural communication requires students to interpret messages conveyed through both verbal and nonverbal forms in interactions across cultural boundaries. This study aims to explore how university students perceive and utilize verbal and nonverbal cues when engaging with peers from different cultural backgrounds. A qualitative descriptive approach was employed, with data collected through semi-structured interviews involving ten students who had prior intercultural interaction experiences. The findings indicate that verbal communication primarily delivers explicit meanings, while nonverbal communication—such as gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, and interpersonal distance—plays a crucial role in expressing emotional nuance and relational meaning. Cultural differences in interpreting nonverbal cues were frequently identified as sources of misunderstanding and communication barriers. The study emphasizes the importance of developing intercultural communicative competence, particularly students’ awareness and adaptability in interpreting multimodal messages. The findings suggest that higher education should integrate intercultural communication training to foster effective, empathetic, and inclusive cross-cultural interactions among students.