（徐州经贸高等职业学校，江苏 徐州 221004）
摘 要: All human communication activities are accomplished by means of verbal communication and nonverbal communication, of which nonverbal communication plays a more important role.
关键词: Cultural Differences；verbal communication；nonverbal communication
中图分类号：G633 文献标识码：A 文章编号：
Ⅰ.Introduction
1.A Brief Introduction to This Research
If we want to communicate with foreigners successfully, we are not only learning phonetics, grammar and vocabulary of this foreign language, but also manage the nonverbal communication. More than half of the messages are conveyed through the signals of nonverbal communication in intercultural communication. Body language is an important part of nonverbal communication. Body language consists of eye –contact, gesture, posture, touch and other aspects.
“Nonverbal communication means to communicate without words. It can be used in single or associated with words.”(YangPing, 1994, P.43). In most cases cultural differences make the obstacles and misunderstandings in cross cultural communication. When people communicate with different cultures we often measure other cultures with the racial value and standard in our country. If we want to smooth the conflict and misunderstanding in intercultural communication, we’d better learn the history and culture of other countries.
2.Comparisons from Four Aspects
Body language is the essential part in nonverbal communication. It includes: eye-contact, facial expressions, posture, gesture, touch, distance and so on. The paper focuses on gesture, eye-contact, touch and distance. When we talk, gesture and eye-contact often occur with our verbal communication. The understandings on touch and distance between Chinese and Americans are completely different. So these four aspects can best exemplify the cultural differences.
Ⅱ.The Comparative Discussion of the Research
1.The Background of This Subject
“Human communication has two kinds of manners, the one is verbal communication and another one is nonverbal communication. The two aspects ensured human beings can communicate with each other.”(HuWenzhong,1999,P.92). In modern society, with the development of science and technology, people all over the world communicate with each other frequently. Every country has their own cultures, so when communication happens in different cultures, people always keep their own customs, and measure other cultures with their own value and standard. If we want to eliminate the embarrassing situations happening in cross-cultural communication, we not only learn the knowledge of the language, but also learn the nonverbal communication.
2.Theoretical Grounds
In western countries, the research of nonverbal communication started from twentieth century. At the beginning of this century, some psychologists, sociologists and humanists were interested in this subject. They researched a series of outcomes. In particular, American culture-humanist E.Hall wrote the book The Silent Language, which is considered the beginning of this subject. In this research field, the representative of the subject in western countries is E.T. Hall. He indicated that “nonverbal communication is the important part of intercultural communication. Most of the people don’t realize this silent language, though they exert then everyday. ” (Larry A.Samovar/Richard E,Porter,2004,P.170). From this content we draw the conclusion that knowing the nonverbal communication of different cultures is very important.
(1)Gesture
Gesture refers to varied types of movements finished by hands and arms. We can know the real psychology state of people through gestures. When people talk they often company with gestures, although they are normally not aware of it. The same gesture has different meanings in different cultures. For instance, in China , when a person wants to call somebody to come here, he or she stretches the arm and palm down, fingers more or less together and move towards his or her body. But in America
, the person use one hand, stretch the arm and palm up, fingers more or less together and move towards his or her body. Another example, when Chinese make a blessing for health, happiness and safe, we often put the palms together. But when Americans make a position to the God for bless they use their right hand make the sign of the cross on the hand, chest, and left shoulder then right shoulder.
(2)Eye-Contact
In Chinese traditional culture, too much eye-contact means impolite and rude to others. Looking at the person who was talked which is regarded as an impolite behavior. People often avoid direct eye-contact. When Chinese people chat with others, they do not like always looking at the eyes of another. The long time looking is regarded as rudely. In Chinese culture, when people communicate, they do not always look at another’s eyes directly. This situation especially exists in young people and old people, superior and inferior. If we respect the person we will avoid direct eye-contact. This shows that the characters of Chinese people were conservative, quiet, calm, bearable and dependent. All of these attribute to China
five-thousand-year traditional culture. American people suppose that lacking in eye-contact means dishonest, horror, indifferent and mind-absent. American culture requires people look at the eyes directly for each other in a conversation and regard this behavior as the standard of honesty. When Americans conserve with people, they like to look at the eyes of another which is considered the manner of confidence and politeness. Whereas, looking at other places or a little eye-contact which is considered as impolite behavior or uninterested in the talk. As the American idiom saying: “Never trusts a person who dose not look you in your eyes”. Americans believe in individualism, equal opportunity, competition and wealth. The eye is the window of one’s heart which is full of rich expressions. Eye –contact like the other elements in body language also has cultural differences. The different countries have their own manners and customs. Bearing the differences in mind, the use of proper eye-contact can eliminate the misunderstandings of intercultural communication between Chinese and Americans.
(3)Touch
Like words and actions, touch can also express your mind. Touching different parts of one’s body have different meanings. The same action has different meanings in different cultures. In China
, when we meet each other to exchange greetings, or say goodbye, we usually shake hands. But in America, when family members or intimate friends greet or say goodbye to each other they often kiss and embrace. And in public space, embrace and cheeks touch are a common propriety. But in China, people affected by traditional culture consider that kiss or embrace can only happen between sweethearts or couples.
(4)Distance
Different cultures have different attitudes toward distance. People of different cultures have different views about the proper distance. In China
, when in a queue line, such as buying ticket or paying for the bill in supermarket, people don’t care about the crowded space and don’t feel uncomfortable; they always stand one by one with little space. By contrast, Americans will keep a certain space with the people around them under these conditions.
Ⅲ.Conclusion
There are still a large number of cultural differences between the two countries. The extent that we referred to in this paper is limited. From the above, we can come to the conclusion that managing a certain language is not only to manage listening, speaking, reading, writing and translating and other fundamental abilities, but also to manage the culture of nonverbal action of this certain language. Body language is not only consisted by these four parts. What I talk about in this thesis is just a few parts in this research area. Due to the differences in culture, nonverbal behavior may vary from place to place. Nonverbal communication like word, can express clearly in the specific context. But when display separately, it can only express the common meaning. So, we should understand the nonverbal behavior in the specific context and compare with other symbols to make a judgment. And then, we can communicate effectively.
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