The use of the Wai in Thailand is a

The use of the Wai in Thailand is a complex nonverbal behavior that varies based upon the relative status of the participants and the situation that triggers the behavior. Sometimes the Wai is performed so that it accompanies a verbal greeting. Sometimes it is a nonverbal act with no verbal accompaniment. The specifics of where the hands are positioned and how far the person bows depend upon the relative status of the individuals. As Tonkin and Kongsiri (2005) noted,“The Wai is always initiated by the person whose status, by reason of age or rank, is inferior to the person to whom respects are being paid” (p. 28). All of this takes place in the context of “Hai Kiad,” the honor concept that is the “motivating value which almost every Thai seeks in work and society” (Andrews & Siengthai, 2009, p. 69). Thus the precise placement of the hands and the extent of the bow vary depending upon the relative status of the two individuals. As Jones (2003) described it, “The greater the difference in rank, the lower the head is inclined and the higher the Wai should be” (p. 35).

Interpreting the Wai within this status structure can be complicated – so complicated that “Thais don’t expect foreigners to understand these rules, but it is polite to return a Wai to a friend, co-worker and definitely to a VIP” (Williams, 2007, p. 187). While the nature of intercultural differences may inhibit full understanding, this study worked under the assumption that a more complete understanding of the Wai from a communication perspective can be obtained by obtaining information from natives of the culture.

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The use of the Wai in Thailand is a complex nonverbal behavior that varies based upon the relative status of the participants and the situation that triggers the behavior. Sometimes the Wai is performed so that it accompanies a verbal greeting. Sometimes it is a nonverbal act with no verbal accompaniment. The specifics of where the hands are positioned and how far the person bows depend upon the relative status of the individuals. As Tonkin and Kongsiri (2005) noted, "The Wai is always initiated by the person whose status, by reason of age or rank, is inferior to the person to whom respects are being paid" (p. 28). All of this takes place in the context of "Hai Kiad," the honor concept that is the "motivating value which almost every Thai seeks in work and society" (Andrews & Siengthai, 2009, p. 69). Thus the precise placement of the hands and the extent of the bow vary depending upon the relative status of the two individuals. As Jones (2003) described it, "The greater the difference in rank, the Lower the head is inclined and the Higher the Wai should be" (P. 35). Interpreting the Wai Within this Status structure Can be complicated - so complicated that. "Thais do not expect foreigners to understand these rules, but it is polite to return a Wai to a friend, co-worker and definitely to a VIP" (Williams, 2007, p. 187). While the nature of intercultural differences may inhibit full understanding, this study worked under the assumption that a more complete understanding of the Wai from a communication perspective can be obtained by obtaining information from natives of the culture.