Aboriginal Conversation: Silence

148 Words1 Pages
Silence is an important part of many Aboriginal conversations as it indicates a form of respect and the participants desire to think. This difference could have serious implication throughout the legal process as silence could easily be interpreted as ignorance, confusion or guilt of a crime or a testimony.

Further disadvantages suffered by Aboriginal people in legal questioning concerns cultural difference in the use of eye contact. Direct eye contact is frequently avoided in Aboriginal interactions as it is deemed threatening or rude. Inversely, the avoidance of eye contact is interpreted as rudeness or dishonestly in non-Aboriginal interaction in Australia. This cultural difference can be be detrimental during police and courtroom interviews.