Proximics

A third factor that determines the change of distance is the nature of the interaction: Is it an intellectual, a business, or personal interaction ? This is the question we would like to consider now.

2-3-1-Intellectual Interaction

An intellectual interaction mainly involves a formal distance. The relationship between the, interacting individuals may be either a power relationship or an intimate relationship.

For instance, these interacting individuals in the present case are both students, or both teachers.

Most of these informants claim to be formal in an intellectual interaction because the nature of such interaction does not allow the use of a casual or an intimate distance: a student informant says that it will be inappropriate to deal with an intellectual topic and use an intimate distance, he adds that though his interlocutor may be of an equal status, he shifts to a formal distance when the topic of conversation is intellectual.

Four pupil informants confirm that when they talk to

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Social Status of Individuals – Moroccan culture

Proximics: Evidence from Moroccan culture

Part Two

2-2-Social Status of Individuals

Another equally important factor that affects distance and causes its variation is the social status of the interacting individuals: the fact that an individual , has a certain rank entitles him to be treated in a special way by his subordinates, his equals, and his superiors for choice of our verbal and non verbal channels of communication depends on the relation ship we have with our interlocutor in this regard Hudson says” mast particularly the power and solidarity manifested in that relation ship” (p: 24).

2-2-1. A Superior

A superior interlocutor is one with a higher social status than his addresses. A teacher is superior to his students or pupils, he can in turn be inferior to headmaster or a dean in an interaction. The relationship superior speaker has with his  inferior interlocutor is a relationship: The inferior interacting person is superior to watch for his verbal as well as his non verbal behaviour when interacting with his superior. He should show formality by keeping a formal distance from his superior

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Factors in Distance Variation – Moroccan culture

Proximics: Evidence from Moroccan culture

Part Two: 2- Factors in Distance Variation

The distance one takes from his interlocutor in interaction may vary according to factors relating to the interacting individual, the nature of his sex, his social status whether he is subordinate, equal, or superior to his interlocutor; and finally to the nature of the interaction itself that is: whether it is intellectual, business or personal. The degree of variation shows how the interacting person conceives of distance, for his behaviour will be regarded improper if he fails to maintain the appropriate space to the situation.

2-1-Sex of Individuals

The informants responses reveal that sex has a great influence on the spacing pattern in the Moroccan culture.

In public interaction, most of the informants favour with drawing to a less close distance when the interlocutor is from the opposite sex. For instance, when the interlocutor is a female, the male speaker controls his verbal as well as his non-verbal behaviour, the distance he takes is not too intimate, nor does he excessively use touch; otherwise his behaviour will be disapproved of  by society because it is too intimate. Both student and pupil informants affirm that distance does change according to the nature of the interlocutor’s sex. A male student informant

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Intimate Distance, Definition of The Inimate Distance

Part 1 – Types of Distances in Interaction

1-1-Intimate Distance

Before given an explanation to this point, we can start by asking this question : Is intimacy restricted to courting couples, or does it extend to other relationships ?

This is the question that would be considered in terms of Moroccan culture.

Out of 24 male and female high school teacher informants, 18 say that intimacy means friendship. The 6 others relate it only to marital relationship. In this context Hall (1966) says the following “love making wrestling” (p. 116). Friends and relatives can stand one foot distance from each other in their interaction.

One male student from English department informants Said that in general his behaviour tends it be warm and relaxed when interacting with his intimate friends: Not only does he stand close to his friend but also touches him. Two other female student informants mention that they walk hand in hand in the street and that they can lean on each others shoulders while talking. However, it must be pointed out that this behaviour is not considered inappropriate

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Types of Distances in Interaction – Proximics

Proximics: Evidence from Moroccan culture

Part 1

1-Types of Distances in Interaction

Speech does not constitute the only channel through which human communication in face-to-face interaction is carried out. The non-verbal medium like the verbal medium plays an important role in the daily interaction of the human beings.

As Wilfred d’souza says:

In a normal two person conversation the verbal band (…) carries less than 35% of the social meaning of the situation –more than 65% is transmitted via non-verbal bands. These non-verbal bands relate to how people more, gesture and handle special relationship (Quoted in Hodge 1981; 43).

There are many aspects of non-verbal behaviour through which different messages are communicated in interaction ; these aspects include the way people orient their bodies in conversation, the way they use gestures and eye gestures and eye contact in this regard, Hudson (1980) says that “the distance one person stands

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