This Language Only Has One Word

Channels of non-verbal communication are many; kinesics, haptics, proxemics, and others mentioned earlier in the literature review have been identified and studied extensively by researchers across cultures. However, one important channel which is that of horn honking seems to be neglected or overlooked. With the increase of the number of people travelling for work, study or tourism, an understanding of the horn honking communication is very important because an “ignorance of this cultural nuance can lead to unwarranted stress, prangs, fights and injury when driving abroad” In many countries, horn honking is not just “rarely” used to communicate road-related messages. On the contrary, it is used more frequently to express a variety of meanings; some of which may have a rather more cultural aspect to them.