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1、AbstractBody language is an important part of nonverbal communication. It is a very usual phenomenon in our daily life. Body language plays an assistant role in communication, especially when communicate with foreigners. But in different countries, body languages have different significances and exp
2、ressions except some world known ones. This paper，on the basis of some examples，comparing the body languages in the Western countries and China. It aims to illustrate the differences body language in different cultures and put forward the principles of reducing barriers in communication so as to ach
3、ieve efficient communication and to avoid misunderstanding.Then promote peoples cross-cultural communication competence, reinforce the heart-to-heart understanding and in the end will benefit the communication between Weatern people and Chinese people.Key Words: body language; Western countries and
4、China；comparison; difference; cross-cultural communication摘要体态语是非语言交际的重要组成部分，在我们生活中是很常见的现象。在交际中，体态语扮演了辅助性的角色，特别是和外国人交流时。然而，不同的国家，体态语有着不同的意义和表达方式，除了一些国际上通用的体态语之外。本篇论文通过举例对比了西中方体态语的不同，目的在于说明体态语在不同文化中的差异，进一步消除跨文化交际中的障碍，达到良好的交流效果，避免出现误差。从而提高人们的跨文化交流能力。加强心灵间的沟通，推动西中方合作交流。关键词：体态语；西中方；对比；差异；跨文化交际Contens1.
5、Introduction11.1 The Background of the Study.11.2 The Reason of the Study .22. Literature Review.32.1 The Definition of Body Language.32.2 The Value of Body Language.33. The Differences of Body Language between Western Countries and China43.1 Eye Contact.43.2 Greet.63.3 Grief.73.4 Smile.73.5 Touch.9
6、4.Conclusion.10Reference.12ii1. Introduction1.1 The Background of the StudyHuman communication consists of verbal communication and nonverbal communication. When people speak of the communication, firstly they will think of the language which is the verbal communication. Language is an important too
7、l, but it is not the only communicating means. In fact, in addition to language, there is a more abundant content of the means of communication that is non-verbal communication.“Nonverbal communication is a process in which communicators use the natural features of their bodies to deliver informatio
8、n and express specific meaning instinctively to other communicators” (Guan Yanxiang, 2004:13). Nonverbal communication plays a very important role in humans whole communication. A famous anthropologist pointed out that silent language expresses more information than verbal language because it contai
9、ns much information. According to some researchers abroad, in peoples daily life, nonverbal communication takes part over 65% in all of information exchange. For example, when people tell someone how to get to the nearest hospital, they not only tell someone the direction but also pointing to the di
10、rection with hands. For instance, people greet each other with a smile. Smile functions as a supplement to the pleasure of meeting people. So it is obvious if people ignore the nonverbal communication, they will not get a complete communication.Nonverbal communication includes many aspects. And body
11、 language is the most important part of it. “In general sense, the study of body language began in 1950s. In during 1970s, the study of body language entered a fully developing period. From the late of 1970s to the early period of 1980s, body language contained more content, and had a great influenc
12、e on the other fields” (Net, 1). When people see a friend, they smile; when people say goodbye, they wave hands; when people think, they frown. All of these actions belong to body language. Body language from different cultures has many differences because of different regions, races and cultural cu
13、stoms. The comparative study of body language between Western countries and China is very important for people to master and understand the diversity of cross-cultural communication. 1.2 The Reason of the Study In different cultures, body language has different meanings and different expressions. A
14、normal action in Chinese culture will be abnormal in Western culture. A positive behavior in China will be negative in Western countries. People from China advocate modesty, tolerance, mutual-support and responsibility for the group. But Western people admire independence, self-respect, free develop
15、ment, and requiring individual space and so on. If people dont understand its cultural connotation, they will not interact properly. Sometimes they will make themselves or others embarrassed in cross-cultural communication. As the global village continues to shrink and cultures blending, countries h
16、ave more and more communications with each other. In order to meet the international communication tendency, now it is very important to know the different meanings of body language in different cultures, especially the difference of body language between Western countries and China.This paper inten
17、ds to make a comparative study of the differences on body language between Western Countries and China in order to avoid misunderstanding and make efficient communication in cross-cultural communication.2. Literature review2.1 The Definitions of Body LanguageThe body language has been defined by man
18、y researchers. In Oxford Advanced learners English-Chinese dictionary its definition is:“the process of communicating what you are feeling or thinking by the way you place or move your body rather than by words” (Oxford Advanced Learners English-Chinese Dictionary, 1997:175). Zhao Tao presented anot
19、her famous definition of body language. He pointed out that body language is a term for communication using body movements or gestures instead of, or in addition to, sounds, verbal language or other communication. It forms part of the category of paralanguage, which describes all forms of human comm
20、unication that are not verbal language. This includes the subtlest of movements that many people are not aware of, including winking and slight movement of the eyebrows. In addition, body language can also incorporate the use of facial expressions (Zhao Tao: 2000). But the most famous among these de
21、finitions was presented by Ray L.Birdwhistell, who wrote introduction to Kinesics. He indicated that body language means nonverbal communication by means of facial expression, eye behavior, gesture, posture, and so on. Body language expresses emotions, feelings, and attitudes, sometimes even contrad
22、icting the messages conveyed by spoken language (Ray L. B.:1975). 2.2The Value of Body LanguageAccording to the cultural differences, people should respect, understand and learn the effective and powerful “silent language”, body language. Because body language reflects the characteristics of a natio
23、n: it not only includes the nations historical and cultural background, but also contains the attitude for life of the nation; it is a concrete manifestation of peoples lifestyle and way of thinking. So it is essential for everybody to become more sensitive to motions, gestures, and body languages s
24、urrounding each day. Therefore, it is necessary and important to have an understanding of the uses and functions of body language in communication. As a main part of nonverbal communication, body language plays a complementary role in helping people transfer information to improve their communicatio
25、n. People can find that body language is used in many scopes and many situations, just like intercommunication, teaching, and speech and so on. Usually, body language accompany with language and as an assistant tool. When people communicate with persons from other cultures, body language sometimes h
26、elp them make the communication easy and effective. To a large extent, emotions and ideas are not only based on language to convey, but also depend on body language. 3. The Differences of Body Language between Western Countries and China3.1 Eye ContactPeople can express emotions by eyes, and eye con
27、tact is regarded as the most effective way to express emotions. Eye contact is also called “eye language”. It is a silent language which is to express emotions and delivers information from eyes miens and varieties. Eye language is the most vivid, complex in all facial expressions. As a saying goes
28、“Eye is the window to the soul”. That is to say, people can read ones mind through his or her eyes. Generally speaking, people from Western countries have more and longer eye contact when they are in conversation than Chinese. They see eye contact as a sign of honesty. And lack of eye contact or shi
29、fty eyes is a sign of untruthfulness, contempt, fear, indifference, guilt or absence of mind. “The educated Englishmen believe that direct eye contact with communicators is gentlemanly” (Gao Yihong, 2000:24). According to American tradition, communicators should gaze at each other. Americans pay gre
30、at attention to the time and the way of eye contact. They think direct eye contact is an indication of confidence and politeness, and shifty or lack of eye contact implies impoliteness. In common conversation, they will look at each other about one minute and then they will look away. When a speaker
31、 has finished taking a turn, Western people looks directly at the listener to signal completion. In China, people also use eye contact to greet or salute. But it just lasts for several seconds. People in China do not like communicators to stare at them in conversation because they may feel shy and n
32、ervous. Chinese consider gazing at people is an unfriendly behavior and it is a challenge. Most people feel uneasy and uncomfortable under the strong staring. When people stare at them, Chinese will feel their sincerity are threatened or suspected. However, in Chinese culture, people who are engaged
33、 in interpersonal communication will not look directly into others eyes, especially when the youths talk to the old or the subordinate talks to his superior. They lower their head and nod in order to show their modesty and respect. But it is very interesting that in early 1980s when China started it
34、s reform and open-up policy, people often looked at strange foreigners for a long time. This is due to the fact that Chinese people had little chance of meeting foreigners in the past (Yun Guibin,2007). Actually, its a taboo of communication. In the offices, trains, libraries or home, the situations
35、 in Western countries and China are the same, people like using eye language to exchange information and greeting with friends. But in the streets, waiting rooms or buses, the situations are different. In these places, Chinese prefer to stare at strangers, or stare at anybody randomly. It is always
36、make others uncomfortable and abashed. But Western people dont like gaze at strangers in these places. Between opposite sex, Western female like to stare at a boy when she is talking with him. The male also stare at a girl in the conversation. They think it is respectful and friendly between each ot
37、her. But in China, if someone gazed at a male or a female for a long time, he or she will feel uncomfortable and angry. Indeed, he or she will think you are impolite and rude, especially when you stare at a married women, her husband may become angry and hate you. 3.2 Greeting In Western culture, wh
38、en female and male meet, they dont say “Hello” simply. They will hug each other in public between males and females, if they are familiar with each other, they may kiss each otherschecks. Usually, Western female and male kiss left check and right check once to express welcome. In Belgium and Holland
39、, people usually kiss three times. In France, people usually kiss twice. Even though, the well known conservative British people are also kiss for once. From these, people can see that almost western people like to greet by kissing.In China, people greet with each other with nodding, smile, hand sha
40、king and so on, hugging and kissing are uncommon. Good friends just shake hands for a short time or pat softly on the other friends shoulder. In Western countries, females often hug males and kiss their faces to say hello, which is unacceptable and only exists between lovers and couples private in C
41、hina. If a boy kisses a girl when meeting her, she will be angry, because he offends her. So, if people want to show their enthusiasm to a foreign friend, they should consider weather it is an offence or intimacy. Otherwise, it may cause misunderstanding.3.3 Grief In Western countries, people cant c
42、ry when they attend the funeral. No matter how sad he is, he must bear his tear. According to their socials rules, crying in the public of many people is humiliating and inelegant. Even though they are very sad, they have to keep silence and mourn for the deceased. You can see his sadness from him f
43、acial expression but never listen his crying (Geng Erling, 1988).But when one family member passes away, Chinese people will cry sadly. Moreover, all of their relations, friends and visitors should cry for the deceased. Crying more sadly and longer means people is filial and grieved. If someone does
44、nt cry, people will regard this person is an iron-hearted and conscienceless man. His repute will be destroyed In addition, in accordance with pain, there is a difference between Western countries and China. When Western people feel extremely painful, they usually keep silence. They usually lower th
45、eir heads, and cover their faces. Sometimes they bend, cross ten fingers and hold their heads. Sometimes they hit wall or bite mouth to express their pains. American patient has less complaint and emotional change about pain. Except this pain is so serious that they cant bear anymore, they also may
46、be violent, but it only happens when they stay on their own. When Chinese people feel extremely painful, they may cry. For example, if a Chinese man receive an operation in hospital, he may groan or scream when he feel painful. 3.4 SmileSmile and laughter are the common characteristics of human expr
47、essions. They usually convey friendliness, satisfaction, pleasure and merriment. “It is easy to find that others may return a smile to the person who is smiling at them but stop talking with the person who is pulling a long face” (Liu Wei: 2006:128). When someone talks with another person, it is generally good to smile at him all the time, especially when he is giving an interesting speech. The meaning of smile is also different from cultu