NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION IN LIBYA

Nonverbal communication is a communication that occurs without words which is

continuous. It is a body language and environmental context involved in any
communication. It is not what is said in words but how it is said and expressed

1. GREETINGS
Arabic is the national language of Libya and, although the government officially discourages the
use of other languages,
English is the most popular second language and is regularly taught in school.
In greeting, a Libyan says As-salamu àlaykum, which means "Peace be with you." The response
is Wa àlaykum Assalam ,
which means "And peace be with you as well.
With a smile or a facial expression of honor.

2. FOLKLORE
Libya has many legends based on the exploits of Muslim leaders. These leaders often come from
religious backgrounds and are considered well-learned. They are called marabouts, or holy men,
and are believed to have Baraka, or divine grace. This allows them to perform miracles.
5• RELIGION
The overwhelming majority of Libyans are Muslim. Most Libyans belong to the Sunni school of
Islam, which was brought by the original conquering Arabs.

6 • MAJOR OCCASIONS
Libya commemorates secular holidays and Muslim religious holidays. One major Muslim
holiday is Eid ul-Fitr, which comes at the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. During
Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating or drinking during daylight hours. They do this in order
to reflect on God and on the plight of the unfortunate who do not have enough food. At the end
of the month, Muslims celebrate for three days.
The other major Muslim holiday is Eid al-Adha, which commemorates the willingness of
Abraham to obey God's command in all things, even when Abraham was told to sacrifice his
son.
Other Islamic holidays, celebrated to a lesser degree, are the Islamic New Year, the Prophet
Muhammad's birthday, and the Tenth of Muharram. This holiday commemorates Moses leading
the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery. The Prophet Muhammad instructed all Muslims to fast on
this day.
Secular holidays include Independence Day (December 24), and a holiday commemorating the
United States withdrawal from Wheeling Air Force base (Evacuation Day) in Libya on June 11,
1970. Army Day is August 9, and Proclamation Day is November 21.

8 • SOCIAL PRACTICES
Islam is central to Libyan life. This is easily seen in their social practices. Daily life revolves
around the five daily prayers Muslims are required to recite. Many Libyan men attend the
mosque regularly in keeping with the five prayer times. Libyan women usually pray at home.

9. HOSPITALITY
A Libyan always greets guests with a cup of coffee or tea. Desert tradition requires that a guest
be offered food. Hospitality is part of the Libyan code of honor.
Since alcohol is forbidden by Islam, Libya has no bars or nightclubs. There are many sidewalk
cafes, however. Here men drink coffee or tea and socialize. In the evenings, most Libyans can be
found at home.

10. PRIVACY
Most Libyans treasure their privacy. This has been particularly true since political opposition to
the government became a punishable offense. Libyans avoid making any public comments that
can be interpreted as political criticism.

9 • LIVING CONDITIONS
The typical Libyan family lives in an apartment. Those who can afford them hang Persian
carpets on the walls as decoration. It is common to have at least one sofa and a few embroidered
floor cushions for seating.

10 • FAMILY LIFE
Libyans live with their extended families in tightly knit communities. At the death of the father,
each son establishes his own household and repeats the cycle. Marriages are conducted by
negotiation between the families of the bride and groom. Men and women are generally not
allowed to mix socially. Women are more likely to be secretaries than engineers. However, by
the mid-1980s women had broken into several professional fields, most notably in the health-
care arena.

11 • CLOTHING
Most women continue to cover their hair in keeping with Islamic tradition. The traditional attire
for men is a long, white gown worn over a shirt and pants. Some men wear a black or white
Muslim hat on their heads. Traditional women also wear long gowns and hair coverings. Most
women's gowns cover both the head and body. In rural areas, traditional dress is very common.

12 • FOOD
Before every meal, A Libyan recites the Muslim expression Bismillah, or "In the name of God."

After finishing the meal, the Muslim then says Al-hamdu lillah, which means "Thank God."

Couscous is a very popular food. Couscous is semolina (a type of wheat flour) sprinkled with oil
and water and rolled into tiny grains. The grains are steamed and then are ready for use in a
favorite recipe. It can be mixed with a number of sauces and then combined with a variety of
meats and/or vegetables. Couscous is also combined with honey and milk and served for
breakfast. The main meat eaten by Libyans is lamb.

Recipe
Most Libyan meals are eaten with kasrah, a flat, round, nonyeasted bread. Kasrah is often eaten
with dips, such as babaghanuj, a dip made of mashed, roasted eggplant mixed with lemon, tahini
(sesame seed paste), and a pinch of salt.
Dates from palm trees are used in many forms by Libyans. The fruit can be eaten fresh or
squeezed to make juice or date honey. Dried dates can be ground into
Date flour, and date pits can be roasted and ground to make date coffee.

Coffee and mint tea is popular drinks, served throughout the day. Alcoholic beverages and pork
are forbidden by Islamic law.

13 • EDUCATION
Libya now uses a Western-style education system that includes six years of primary school, three
years of preparatory school, and three years of secondary school. Schooling is required for both
boys and girls until the age of fifteen. After completion of secondary school, Libyans may attend
either vocational schools or universities. Today, about 90 percent of Libyans are literate.

14 • HAPPINESS
Traditional Libyan folk dance is a very popular. Music and dance troupes often perform together
at festivals. Line dancing is also popular, with dancers linking arms while swaying, hopping, and
gliding across the stage. Singers are often accompanied by musicians who play violins,
tambourines, the ùd (a windpipe made of cane), the tablah (a hand-beaten drum), and the lyre.

16 • SPORTS
Libyan sporting events tend to be very strenuous and spirited. Popular sports are camel and horse
racing and football (what Americans call soccer). Camel racing and horse racing have been
popular events for thousands of years. Competitions are held on racetracks in rural areas.
Football is both a spectator sport and a participation sport. Libya has a national football team that
competes in regional matches with other Arab and African teams. Other popular sports are
basketball and track and field events

18 • CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS
Libyan art, in keeping with Islamic beliefs, does not contain realistic depictions of people or
animals. Instead, artists paint designs that are complex, geometric, and abstract. Libyan artisans
use intricate lines and geometric shapes in their carpets, embroidered goods, jewelry, leather
goods, tiles, and pottery. Islamic words and passages from the “QURAN” (the sacred text of
Islam) are often etched in elaborate calligraphy. Libyan architecture has the same restrictions
against portraying human or animal figures, and lifelike statues and adornments are not found on
buildings.