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1、The Meaning of Body Language in Different Culture身势语在不同文化下的含义By Supervised by Professor English Department The Meaning of Body Language in Different Culture身势语在不同文化下的含义OutlineIntroduction1. A comparison of body language in different cultures.1.1 Space domination.1.2 Eye contact.1.3 Body contact:1.3.
2、1 Holding hands. 1.3.2 Hug and kiss.1.3.3 Other touches.1.4 Gestures.1.5 The facial expression. 2. The necessity and importance of learning body language .ConclusionThe Meaning of Body Language in Different Culture身势语在不同文化下的含义Abstract“Body language”, like our verbal language, is a part of culture. B
3、ut not all body language means the same thing in different cultures. Different people have different ways of making nonverbal communication. For example: different people have different ideas about the proper distance between people who is conversing; and the appropriateness of physical contact vari
4、es with different cultures. One could draw up quite a list of “rules” about eye contact: to look or not to look; when to look and how long to look; who and who not to look at. Smile and laughter usually convey friendliness, approval, satisfaction, pleasure, joy and merriment, and, this is generally
5、true in China as well as in other English-speaking countries. However, there are situations when a smile of Chinese people will rise a negative reaction of the westerners. Gestures can also be particularly troublesome, for a slight difference in making the gesture can mean something quite different
6、from that intended, besides, a wrong interpretation of a gesture can arouse quite unexpected reactions and so on. Therefore in order to communicate effectively in a foreign language, one should also know space domination, eye contact, body contact, gestures, the facial expression and etc. that accom
7、pany a particular language. In a sense, all body language should be interpreted in a given culture, and to ignore the overall situation could be misleading. A comparison of body language of Chinese and English speaking Country shows a number of diversities of body language. It shows the importance o
8、f studying the specific gestures that go with a language. Key words: nonverbal communication body language meaning different culture The Meaning of Body Language in Different Culture身势语在不同文化下的含义摘要“身势语”同语言一样，都是文化的一部分。在不同文化中，身势语的意义并不完全相同。各民族有不同的非语言交际方式。例如：不同的民族在谈话时，对双方保持多大距离才合适有不同的看法。谈话双方身体接触的次数多少因文化不
9、同而各异；在目光接触这一方面也有许多规定：看不看对方，什么时候看，看多久，什么人可以看，什么人不可以看。在某些场合下，在中国和其他在讲英语的国家无论微笑还是大笑，通常表示友好赞同满意高兴愉快，但是在某些场合，中国人的笑会引起西方人的反感。打手势时动作稍有不同，就会与原来的意图有所区别，对某种手势理解错了，也会引起意外的反应等等。因此，要用外语进行有效的交际，在说某种语言时就得了解说话人的空间支配、目光接触、身体接触、手势、面部表情等所表示的意思。从某种意义上说，一切身势语都要放在一定的文化中理解；忽视这点就会发生误解。而通过对不同文化下身势语不同含义的对比研究显示了身势语得多样性,表明了了解另
10、一种语言中身势语的重要性.关键词:非语言交际 身势语 含义 不同文化 The Meaning of Body Language in Different Culture身势语在不同文化下的含义Introduction : Everybody knows that words can carry messages. People communicate with words. Books, magazines, TV，radio and films all help us to communicate with others. They all help us to know what is g
11、oing on in the world and what other people are thinking about. Do you think you can communicate without words? A smile on your face shows you are happy or friendly. Tears in your eyes tell others that you are sad. When you put up your hand in class, the teacher knows you want to say something or ask
12、 a question. You shake your head, and people know you are saying “No”. You nod and people know you are saying “Yes”. There are a lot of other things which can also carry messages. What we call that is “body language”. Like verbal language, “Body language”, expresses the silent and real feeling in on
13、es inner world. Is also a part of culture. It concludes space domination, eye contact, body contact, gesture action and the facial expression. It plays an important role in the nonverbal communication. With the popularization of intercultural communication, the nonverbal communication also becomes m
14、ore and more important. Therefore, we should pay more attention to “body language”. On the other hand, not all body language means the same meaning in different culture, and all body language should be interpreted in a given culture, otherwise the overall situation could be misleading. Therefore, a
15、comparison of the different meaning of body language in different culture is necessary.1. A comparison of body language in different cultures.1.1 Space domination.Peoples control and application of space as a way of communication is called “Proxernics”. Animals, birds, fish all has “safe distance”.
16、Human beings, like those animals, also have the felling of the sphere of influence. As to this phenomenon, Hoer Doctor has posed 4 kinds of limitation. (1). Intimate distance (0-45cm). It is suitable for relation between couple or lover. (2). Personal distance (45-120cm). It is limited to the commun
17、ication of friends, acquaintances or relations. (3). Social distance (120-360cm). It is used in the occasion of tackling public affair. (4). Public distance (360-750cm). It is suitable for non-formal party. From the 4 kinds of limitation, mankind protect each other according to the intimate degree o
18、f relation.Different nation and different culture constitute different space. Many English speakers dont like that their counter-parties get too close to them when they are talking. They want to keep certain distance from the talker. On the contrary, when a Spaniard and an Arabian are talking, they
19、could keep close and near distance. And, when an American and a Japanese are talking, the former may step back but the latter may step forwards. In the car or the other vehicles, the Chinese can tolerate the stranger who keeps no distance with them, but the western people can not do so. That is beca
20、use the western people pursue more freedom and more broad space.Studies have shown that individual that do not respect others space are less popular and often rejected by others. So we should know the space of people in different culture, or we may make mistakes during the intercultural communicatio
21、n.1.2 Eye contact.The modern Spanish philosopher Aotaga said “the speakers eyes can tell you their inner world”. Man and woman exchange their love by eyes. From “The whole soul is hidden in his eyes” to “Dont say, your eyes have already told me what you want to say”, we can see the important functio
22、n of eye contact in communication.Eye contact is an essential part of any communication. Without it people are unlikely to relate to the message in a meaningful way. Not many people realize how important eye contact is, or how sensitive people are to it. Eye contact should be a positive form of body
23、 language communication, but if it is not used correctly it can easily become negative.The doctor Faster said, once his friend and he came downstairs in the elevator, his friend looked up and down at a beautiful girl, when the door of elevator opened, the girl acrossed out of the elevator and return
24、ed to roar to his friend: “Didnt you see a woman? You are an old lady-killer!” His friend asked Doctor. Faster “whats wrong did I do?” awkwardly. In fact, his fault was too greedy to see staring at people, which means touching the body of others. It obeys the most important ruler of nonverbal contac
25、ting. In English speaking country, it is improper to staring at the others or too long. It is even inappropriate to see people with the appreciative sight that the other side looks beautiful, which will make people to get angry too. A lot of foreigners take a trip to other countries, and sometimes t
26、hey feel very angry and awkward because the locals are staring at them, thinking that the people are impolite, and hardly realizing that it is an ordinary affair to see others because of curiosity in this country. A lot of foreigners who speak English in China have revealed discontented mood to this
27、 problem. A good friend of the authors is a young woman from U.S.A., and she decides to come back home because people often stare at her. She likes teaching in Beijing very much, having deep emotions to China and Chinese people, but she really can not stand by the impolite scene that she is often su
28、rrounded and watched everywhere. In fact, her stature is very tall and big, and is apt to cause the passerbys curiosity. But this can not be taken as the reason to impolitely surround and watch foreigners. She is reluctant to part with us when leaving China, but she has still come back home ahead of
29、 time. What a strong disgust caused by being seen and surrounded! Avoiding shifting eyes and head quickly during conversation when someone asks you a question. Do not look down or look to the side. Look directly at the person with a sense of confidence but not overbearingly threatening in nature.In
30、different countries, the eye contact has different meanings. For example, two Arabs will look at each other enthusiastically when they talk with each other. Because they think eyes are the key of existence of life. But if two men stare at each other for a long time, they may be thought as gays. The
31、gentle English will look at your eyes, and the French like the appreciated contact with eyes. The eyes show that although I dont know you, I appreciate you heart from heart. So French man is gazing at woman in public is the public cultural criterion. The Japanese will look at your neck when they tal
32、k with you. They dont look at your eyes, for they think look at the others eyes is not polite. While when you stare at the Chinese, they will feel that you are on evil or it is an obvious challenge.1.3 Body contact.Like language and gesture, body contact can also send the message.The anthropologist
33、divides the culture into two parts: the touch culture and non-touch culture. From children to adults, different cultures teach us different ways of touch.1.3.1 Holding hands.Today, in many countries, holding hands has become a common amenity of showing affection and politeness. But different country
34、 has different habits. The French hold hands with honesty when they come into and leave the house, but the German only hold hands when they come into the house. Some Africans will make the silvery noise after they hold hands to show liking. In the west, the politician will use their right hand to ho
35、ld the others right hand and put their left hand on their back of hand. They attempt to let the accepter feel their enthusiasm and honest, so it was called “holding hands of politician”. In Pakistan, men cant hold the womans hands actively. The concepts of holding hands are different for different c
36、ulture. In the intercourse of human beings, the messages sent by eyes are subtle, the signs sent out by holding hands are direct.1.3.2 Hug and kiss.In many developed countries in the west, its common to see ladies hug together when they meet. In Arab and French, two men will hug and kiss faces. The
37、Arab will even smell the smell of others. To them, the fragrance will make people fresh. But in the east Asia and English speaking countries, man is just holding hands to show welcome, hug and kiss is rarely seen.1.3.3 Other touches.For the worship of religion, the Buddhist thinks it is holy when th
38、e Buddhist touch their head. But in Thailand you cant touch others head, for touching head is thought as evil. Meanwhile, the Buddhist of Thailand are taboo of being touched by women. They believe that they would fail in work if they were touched by women. The Chinese will touch the head of child if
39、 they like him. While in American, the mother will feel disgusted if you touch her babys head. Although she knows you have no bad meaning, it is also the expression of impoliteness. In Moqusin countries, people regard the knowledge of touch as one part of their whole culture. They think touching oth
40、ers by left hand is an insult. Because left hand are used when they go to toilet .Touching can be friendly or it can be aggressive. The way a person stands reflects their level of confidence and comfort level.1.4 Gestures.There are different meanings of gestures in different countries. The gestures
41、have different function of communication under different cultural background. So the use of gesture is a very tough thing. While playing the gesture, slightly different movements will obey the original intention to some extent; to wrongly understand a certain gesture will cause the unexpected respon
42、se too. In World War II, the prime minister, Winston Churchill warring in Britain had done a gesture, which caused the sensation at that time. He attended one grand and important meeting, and when he appeared, the masses are hailing to applaud to him. Churchill had made a V gesture to express victor
43、y (victory) - using the forefinger and middle finger to make a V gesture. While making this gesture, the palm should be facing toward the audience. Maybe Churchill did not know or falls for the moment, and he made the back of the hand to face toward the audience. Among the masses, someone applauded
44、and made catcalls, someone was in a daze, and someone could not to bear laugh, because the gesture made by the prime minister is an obscene movement, but not the victory movement. Another example is connected with Nicki tower Hertz, the leader of U.S.S.R. from late 1950s to early 1960s. During the p
45、eriod he visiting U.S.A., his speech and bearing cause some disputes . One of the controversial gestures was that he held both hands tight, lifted it beyond the top of the head, and rocked in the sky. His meaning was obviously to express the greeting and friendship. However, the person and televiewe
46、r present did not appreciate this. Americans are very familiar with this movement -This is the posture that a boxer expresses the victory after defeating the rival. Before this, hertz had said that the capitalism of U.S.A. would be buried. A lot of Americans thought that this kind of gesture shows h
47、e has seemed to already win the victory and feel jaunty, so there is no wonder that a lot of people feel bad toward this gesture.In china, raising thumb means “good, great”, and raising the smallest finger means “bad”. In America, people put thumb up when they want to take car, they put thumb down t
48、o show “bad”. While Japanese use spreading their smallest finger express “lover”. In America, waving hands means goodbye, but in South Africa, people will run toward you if you wave your hands to them. The “OK” means money in America, and hate indeed in Japan, however it means comparing with cling o
49、nes teeth in Arab. Spin your fingure near head, in china, it means think over, but means “you are crazy” in America and Brazil. The Russian put fingers on the throat to express they are full, and the Japanese use this gesture to show “be fired by boss”. Its polite to close your mouth when you are eatin