Correct Response: D. The meaning of common nonverbal communication practices can vary across cultures. For example, avoiding eye contact has a negative meaning in most Western cultures but is considered a sign of respect in some Asian cultures. Another example is that various cultures may assign different meanings to the same hand gesture. Just as nonverbal communication can be interpreted differently, demonstrations of courtesy and graciousness differ across cultures (A). Although nonverbal expressions may be used by speakers of different languages to enable limited communication, they are not sufficient to overcome language barriers (B). And while nearby cultures often learn each other's language, proximity (C) by itself is also not sufficient to overcome communication barriers. Rather, there must be an interest in learning each other's language and becoming familiar with each other's cultural practices.
