What does it mean that nonverbal communication is ambiguous? Explain with an example form the text.

When something is ambiguous, it means it can have multiple meanings. When there is an ambiguous triangle, there is more than one possible solution to its sides and angles. Like language, nonverbal communication is very ambiguous. Nonverbal communication is very much different across cultures. A hand gesture in The United States of America could mean something much different in a place like Europe or Asia, even though it is the same gesture. In some cultures, it is rude to not look in to people’s eyes when you are speaking to them, where as in other cultures, it is expected that you do not look at them directly in the eyes. Non-verbal cues can even be features or appearances of people. An example of this was in the 1960’s, when long hair length was a symbol of rebellion, non-conformity and antiwar sentiments.  Frank Zappa, a famous rock legend appeared on a television show hosted by Joe Pine, who had a wooden leg. Pine said to Zappa, “I guess your long hair makes you a girl”. In response, Zappa shot back, “I guess your wooden leg makes you a table”. This shows how non verbal’s have more than a single meaning. For him to react to his hair in such a way, it is on the same level as him responding back that his leg makes him a chair. As the book says, “Hair length has no meaning apart from those who observe it anymore than a wooden leg has an inherent meaning”.