NO WORDS IN AFGHAN WORLD. CASE STUDY OF AFGHANS' NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION

The knowledge and application of certain skills related to nonverbal communication have become very important for the military environment nowadays, especially due to the increasing number of troops deployed in unfamiliar cultural environments such as the Afghan theater of operations. Therefore, knowing how to interact with the local, prideful and conservative population can be an indisputable advantage. The paper approaches certain aspects of nonverbal behavior as a way of transmitting messages or attitudes within the Afghan culture. After defining specific subdivisions and concepts of the nonverbal communication (such as proxemics, kinesics, oculesics, haptics, vocalics, olfactics, chronemics etc) the paper also includes a case study, relevant for any combatant or civilian that may further be deployed to the untamed Afghanistan.