英语教学非语言交际中身势语

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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手势，动作，举止等所表示的意思。而有些权威人士认为两者相互依存。在大多数情况下这是对的。在某些情况下，人体动作与所说的话不一致，口头说的与身势语表达的意思不一样。这时要借助其他信息或从整个情况中猜测说话人的意思，从某种意义上说，一切身势语都要放在一定的情景下去理解；忽视了整个情景就会发生误解。而通过中美身势语对比研究表明，两者有相似的地方，也有差异的地方，说明了解另一种语言中身势语的重要性。可见，真正掌握两种语言的人在换用另一种语言说话时也要换用另一种身势语。这样才能达到更好的交际效果。

关键词:非语言交际身势语不同文化不同方式

BodyLanguageonNonverbalCommunication

Abstract

“Bodylanguage”,likeourverballanguage,isalsoapartofourculture.Butnotallbodylanguagemeansthesamethingindifferentcultures.Differentpeoplehavedifferentwaysofmakingnonverbalcommunication.Forexample:differentpeoplehavedifferentideasabouttheproperdistancebetweenpeopleconversing;theappropriatenessofphysicalcontactvarieswithdifferentcultures;onecoulddrawupquitealistof“rules”abouteyecontact:tolookornottolook;whentolookandhowlongtolook;whoandwhonottolookat;smilesandlaughterusuallyconveyfriendliness,approval,satisfaction,pleasure,joyandmerriment,and,thisisgenerallytrueinChinaaswellastheEnglish-speakingcountries,however,therearesituationswhensomeChinesewilllaughthatwillcausenegativereactionsbywesterners;gesturescanbeparticularlytroublesome,foraslightdifferenceinmakingthegestureitselfcanmeansomethingquitedifferentfromthatintended,and,awronginterpretationofagesturecanarousequiteunexpectedreactionsandsoon.Soinordertocommunicateeffectivelyinaforeignlanguage,oneshouldknowalsothegestures,bodymovements,mannerismsandetc.thataccompanyaparticularlanguage.Someauthoritiesfeelthatthetwoaredependentoneachother.Thisiscertainlytrueinmostsituations.Butitisalsotruethatincertainsituationsbodyactioncontradictswhatisbeingsaid,justasthespokenwordsmaymeansomethingquitedifferentfromwhatbodylanguagecommunicates.Whenthisoccurs,onemusttrytogetfurtherinformation,orguessthemeaningfromthecontextofthesituation.Inasense,allbodylanguageshouldbeinterpretedwithinagivencontext;toignoretheoverallsituationcouldbemisleading.AcomparativestudyofChineseandAmericanbodylanguageshowsanumberofsimilaritiesanddiversitiesofbodylanguage.Itshowstheimportanceofknowingthespecificgesturesthatgowithalanguage.Observationshowsthatatrulybilingualpersonswitcheshisbodylanguageatthesametimeheswitcheslanguages.Thismakescommunicationeasierandbetter.Keywords:nonverbalcommunicationbodylanguagedifferentculturedifferentways

Contents

1.Introduction……1

2.Thenecessityandimportanceoflearningbodylanguageonnonverbalcommunication……2

3.Theconcretetypesandapplicationofthebodylanguage……3

3.1Typesofbodylanguage……3

3.1.1Distancebetweenpeopleconversing……3

3.1.2Physicalcontact……3

3.1.3Eyecontact……4

3.1.4Smilesandlaughter……6

3.1.5Gestures……6

3.2Applicationofthebodylanguage……6

3.2.1Greetings……6

3.2.2Signsofaffection……8

3.2.3Physicalcontactinlife……8

3.3AcomparativestudyofChineseandAmericanbodylanguage……9

4.Conclusion……12

1.Introduction

WhenaChineseconverseswithaCanadianorAmericanfriendoftheoppositesex,woulditbeindecenttobelookingattheotherperson?

Iftwoyoungfriendsofthesamesexwalkwiththeirarmsaroundeachother’sshouldersorholdhands,wouldthisberegardedbyEnglish-speakingpeopleasproper?

Doesnoddingtheheadmean“yes”,andshakingtheheadmean“no”inallcultures?

Therearenotquestionsaboutlanguage,butaboutbodylanguage,aboutnonverbalcommunication.

Nonverbalcommunication,composedofpictures,dresses,eyecontact,spatialsignals,gesturesandsoon,isasimportantasverbalcommunication.

Peoplecommunicateinmanydifferentways.Oneofthemostimportantways,ofcourse,isthroughlanguage.Moreover,whenlanguageiswrittenitcanbecompletelyisolatedfromthecontextinwhichitoccurs;itcanbetreatedasifitwereanindependentandself-containedprocess.

Likeallanimals,peoplecommunicatebytheiractionsaswellasbythenoisestheymake.Itisasortofbiologicalanomalyofman—somethinglikethegiraffe’sneck,orthepelican’sbeak—thatourvocalnoiseshavesoforoutgrowninimportanceandfrequencyallourothermethodsofsignalingtooneanother.Languageisobviouslyessentialforhumanbeings,butitisnotthewholestoryofhumancommunication.Notbyalongshot.

Thestudyofnonverbalcommunicationshouldbecomplementarytothestudyoflanguage.Theunderstandingofoneshouldbehelpfulinthefurtherunderstandingoftheother.Someauthoritiesfeelthatthetwoaredependentoneachother.Thisiscertainlytrueinmostsituations.Butitisalsotruethatincertainsituationbodyactioncontradictswhatisbeingsaid,justasthespokenwordsmaymeansomethingquitedifferentfromwhatnonverbalcommunicationcommunicates.Whenthisoccurs,onemusttrytogetfurtherinformation,orguessthemeaningfromthecontextofthesituation.Inacase,allnonverbalcommunicationshouldbeinterpretedwithinagivencontext;toignoretheoverallsituationcouldbemisleading.

2.Thenecessityandimportanceoflearningbodylanguageonnonverbalcommunication

Althoughwemaynotrealizeit,whenweconversewithotherswecommunicatebymuchmorethanwords.Byourexpressions,gesturesandotherbodymovementswesendmessagestothesearoundusasmileandanoutstretchedhandshowwelcome.Aformisasignofdispleasure.Noddingone’sheadmeansagreement—“Yes”.Wavinganoutstretchedhandwithopenpalmisthegesturefor“goodbye”.Leaningbackinone’sseatandyawningatatalkorlectureshowslackofinterest,boredom.Thesegestureshavecometobeacceptedingeneralashavingthemeaningsmentioned,atlasttoChineseandAmericans.Therearepartsofthewayinwhichwecommunicate.This“bodylanguage”,likeourverballanguage,isalsoapartofourculture.Butnotallbodylanguagemeansthesamethingindifferentcultures.Differentpeoplehavedifferentwaysofmakingnonverbalcommunication.Theanswerstothequestionsatthebeginningofthischapterareall“no”.Evennoddingtheheadmayhaveadifferentmeaning.ToNepalese,SriLankans,someIndiansandsomeEskimositmeansnot“yes”,but“no”.Soinordertocommunicateeffectivelyinaforeignlanguage,oneshouldknowalsothegestures,bodymovements,mannerismsandetc.thataccompanyaparticularlanguage.

Bodylanguageisanimportantmediathroughwhichpeoplecommunicatewitheachother.Itreferstothepatternsoffacialexpressionsandgesturesthatpeopleusetoexpresstheirfeelingsincommunication.Thespecialistonbodylanguageresearch—Fen.Lafle.Angles,oncesaid:"Onceitwaslost,ababycouldnthavegrownintoanormalperson".Itsalsotruetothejuveniles.Inschooleducation,bodylanguageplaysapositiveroleincultivatingthestudentscharacters.

3.Theconcretetypesandapplicationofthebodylanguage

3.1Typesofbodylanguage

3.1.1Distancebetweenpeopleconversing

WatchanArabandanEnglishmaninconversation.TheArab,showingfriendlinessinthemannerofhispeople,willstandclosetotheEnglishman.Thelatterwillmoveback,watchingtotheEnglishman.TheArabwillthenmoveforwardtobecloser;theEnglishmanwillkeepmovingbackward.Bytheendoftheconversation,thetwomaybequiteadistancefromtheconversation;thetwomaybequiteadistancefromtheplacewheretheywereoriginallystanding!

Here,distancebetweenthetwoisthekeyfactor.Differentpeoplehavedifferentideasabouttheproperdistancebetweenpeopleconversing.Accordingtostudies,itseemstherearefourmaindistancesinAmericansocialandbusinessrelations:intimate,personal,social,andpublic.Intimatedistancerangesfromdirectphysicalcontacttoadistanceofabout45centimeters;thisisforpeople’smostprivaterelationsandactivities,betweenmanandwife,forexample.Personaldistanceisabout45—80centimetersandismostcommonwhenfriends,acquaintancesandrelativesconverse.Socialdistancemaybeanywherefromabout1.30metersto3meters;peoplewhoworktogether,orpeopledoingbusiness,aswellasmostofthoseinconversationatsocialgatheringstendtokeepadistanceisfartherthananyoftheaboveandisgenerallyforspeakersinpublicandforteachersinclassrooms.

TheimportantthingtokeepinmindisthatmostEnglish-speakingpeopledonotlikepeopletobetooclose.Beingtoofarapart,ofcourse,maybeawkward,butbeingtooclosemakespeopleuncomfortable,unlessthereisareason,suchasshowingaffectionorencouragingintimacy.Butthatisanothermatter.

3.1.2Physicalcontact

Theappropriatenessofphysicalcontactvarieswithdifferentcultures.Figuresfromastudyofferinterestinginsightintothismatter.Pairsofindividualssittingandchattingincollegeshopsindifferentplaceswereobservedforatlastonehoureach.Thenumberoftimesthateitheronetouchedtheotherinthatonehourwasrecorded,asfollows:London,0;Gainesville,Florida,2;Pairs,10;SanJuan,PuertoRico,180.Thesefiguresspeakforthemselves.(Robinett,1978)InEnglish-speakingcountries,physicalcontactisgenerallyavoidedinconversationamongordinaryfriendsoracquaintances.Merelytouchingsomeonemaycauseanunpleasantreaction.Ifonetouchesanotherpersonaccidentally,he/sheusuallyuttersanapologysuchas“Sorry,Oh,I’msorry,Excuseme.”

InChina,acommoncomplaintofwesternmothersisthatChineseoftenfondletheirbabiesandverysmallchildren.Suchbehavior—whethertouching,patting,huggingorkissing—canbequiteembarrassingandawkwardforthemothers.Theyknowthatnoharmismeant,andthatsuchgesturesaremerelysignsoffriendlinessoraffection,thereforetheycannotopenlyshowtheirdispleasure.Ontheotherhand,suchactionsintheirownculturewouldbeconsideredrude,intrusiveandoffensiveandcouldarouseastrongdislikeandevenrepugnance.Sothemothersoftenstandbyandwatchinawkwardsilence,withmixedemotions,evenwhenthefondlingisbyChinesefriendsoracquaintances.

Goingbeyondthemilderformsoftouching,weshalltakeupthematterofhuggingandembracinginpublic.Thispracticeisfairlycommonamongwomeninmanycountries.Andinmostofthemoreindustrializedcountries,itoccursfrequentlybetweenhusbandandwifeandclosemembersofthefamilywhenmeetingafteraperiodofabsence.Huggingandembracingamongmen,however,isadifferentmatter.AmongArabs,Russians,French,andinseveraloftheeastEuropeanandMediterraneancountries,awarmhugandakissonthecheeksareastandardwayofwelcome.ThesameistruewithsomeLatinAmericans.InEastAsiaandintheEnglish-speakingcountries,though,thepracticeisseldomseen.Asimplehandshakeisthecustom.ThestoryistoldofwhathappenednotlongagowhentheJapaneseprimeministeratthetime,Mr.Fukuda,wenttotheU.S.onastatevisit.Whenhesteppedoutofhiscarinfrontofthewhitehouse,hewasgreetedbytheAmericanpresidentwhita“bearhug”.Theprimeministerwasflabbergasted;othersoftheJapanesedelegationwereamazed;manyAmericansweresurprised—itwassounusualandsounexpected.IfthepresidenthadbowedlowinJapanesefashion,itwouldhavebeenlessasurprisethantobegreetedinawaysouncommonineithercountry!

ThematterofphysicalcontactbetweenmembersofthesamesexinEnglish-speakingcountriesisadelicateone.Oncepastchildhood,theholdingofhands,orwalkingwithanarmaroundanother’sshoulderisnotconsideredproper.Theimplicationishomosexuality,andhomosexualitygenerallyarousesstrongsocialdisapprovalinthesecountries.

3.1.3Eyecontact

Eyecontactisanimportantaspectofbodylanguage.Onecoulddrawupquitealistof“rules”abouteyecontact:tolookornottolook;whentolookandhowlongtolook;whoandwhonottolookat.ThesepassagesfromthebookBodyLanguage(Fast,1971)areamusingaswellasinformative:

“Towstrangersseatedacrossfromeachotherinarailwaydiningcarhavetheoptionofintroducingthemselvesandfacingamealofinconsequentialandperhapsboringtalk,orignoringeachotheranddesperatelytryingtoavoideachother’sglance.Awriter,describingsuchasituationinanessay,wrote,‘theyre-readthemenu,theyfoolwiththecutlery,estheinevitablemomentwhenglancesmeet,buttheymeetonlytoshootinstantlyawayandoutthewindowforanintentviewofthepassingscene.’”Hepointsoutthatwithpeoplewhoareunfamiliar:

“Wemustvoidstaringatthem,andyetwemustalsoavoidignoringthem…Welookatthemlongenoughtomakeitquiteclearthatweseethem,andthenweimmediatelylookaway.

Therearedifferentformulasfortheexchangeofglancesdependingonwherethemeetingtakesplace.Ifyoupasssomeoneinthestreetyoumayeyetheoncomingpersontillyouareabouteightfeetapart,thenyoumustlookawayasyoupass.Beforetheeight-footdistanceisreached,eachwillsignalinwhichdirectionhewillpass.Thisisdonewithabrieflookinthatdirection.Eachwillveerslightly,andthepassingisdonesmoothly.”

Inconversationswithpeoplewhoknoweachother,however,Americancustomdemandsthatthereshouldbeeyecontact.Thisappliestoboththespeakerandthelistener.Foreitheronenottolookattheotherpersoncouldimplyanumberofthings,amongwhicharefear,contempt,uneasiness,guilt,indifference,eveninpublicspeakingthereshouldbeplentyofeyecontact.Foraspeakerto“burryhisnoseinhismanuscript”,toreadaspeechinsteadoflookingatandtalkingtohidaudience,assomeChinesespeakersareinthehabitofdoing,wouldberegardedasinconsiderateanddisrespectful.

Inconversation,apersonshowsthatheislisteningbylookingattheotherperson’seyesorface.Iftheotherpersonisspeakingatsomelength,thelistenerwilloccasionallymakesoundslike“Hmm”,“Ummm”,ornodhisheadtoindicatehisattention.Ifheagreeswiththespeaker,hemaynodorsmile.Ifhedisagreesorhassomereservations,hemayslanthisheadtooneside,raiseaneyebrow,haveaquizzicallook.

StaringatpeopleorholdingaglancetoolongisconsideredimproperinEnglish-speakingcountries.Evenwhenthelookmaybeoneofappreciation—asofbeauty—itmaymakepeopleuneasyandembarrassed.ManyAmericanstravelingabroadfindthestaresofthelocalpeopleirritating.Theybecomeextremelyself-consciousandoftenendupquiteindignantaboutthe“rudeness”ofthepeoplethere,notrealizingthatthepracticemaybequitecommoninthecountryandmaybenothingmorethancuriosity.ManyEnglish-speakingpeopleinchinahaveheardtocomplainaboutthis.

“Thelanguageoftheeyes”—oneofthemostcommonandancientwaysofexchangingfeelingsbetweenboysandgirls,menandwomen—isespeciallyelaborateintheUnitedStates.Muchstudyhasbeenmadeofthis:howpeopleoftheoppositesexshowinterestorindifference,encouragementordiscouragement,approvalordisapproval,affectionoraversion.However,therearemanydifferencesevenwithintheUnitedStates.Menusetheireyesindifferentwaysthanwomen;therearedifferencesofage,classorsocialstatusandgeographicalregion;therearedifferencesofethnicbackground.

ThestoryistoldofateenagePuertoRicangirlinaNewYorkhighschoolwhowastakenwithanumberofothergirlstotheprincipalforsuspectedsmoking.Althoughtherewasnoproofofanywrongdoingandalthoughshehadagoodrecord,theprincipaldecidedshewasguiltyandsuspendedher.“Therewassomethingslyandsuspiciousabouther,”hesaidinhisreport.“Shejustwouldn’tmeetmyeye.Shewouldn’tlookatme.”Whenshewasquestionedbytheprincipalitwastruethatshekeptstaringatthefloorandrefusedtomeethiseye.AndinEnglishthereisasaying“Don’ttrustanyonewhowon’tlookatyouintheeye.”

ItsohappenedthatoneoftheteachershadaLatinAmericanbackgroundandknewaboutPuertoRicanculture.Aftertalkingwiththegirl’sparents,hewenttotheprincipalandexplainedthataccordingtoPuertoRicanculture,agoodgirl“doesnotmeettheeyesofanadult.”Suchbehavior,heexplained,“isasignofrespectandobedience.”

Fortunately,theprincipalacceptedtheexplanation,admittedhismistakeandthematterwassettledproperly.Thisdifferenceininterpretingasimpleeyegesturewasalessoninculturaldiversitythathewouldnoteasilyforget.

Rulesabouteye-languagearenumerousandcomplex.Whathasbeenmentionedgivesagoodideaofthis;weshallnotgofurtherintodetail.

3.1.4Smilesandlaughter

Smilesandlaughterusuallyconveyfriendliness,approval,satisfaction,pleasure,joyandmerriment.ThisisgenerallytrueinChinaaswellastheEnglish-speakingcountries.However,therearesituationswhensomeChinesewilllaughthatwillcausenegativereactionsbywesterners.Toillustrate,hereisanexcerptfromaletterbyanAmericantoaChinesefriendonnonverbalgesturesthatoftencausecross-culturalmisunderstanding:

“…OneisthedifferentmeaningoflaughterinChinaandAmerican.WhenanAmericanisparkinghisbicycle,forexample,andthebicycleaccidentallyfallsover,hefeelsembarrassedathisawkwardness,andisquiteangeredandhumiliatedwhenChineseonlookerslaugh.Ihaveseenthesamethinghappeninthediningroom,whenaforeignerdropsaplatequitebyaccidentandfeelsbadlyandChineseonlookerslaugh,compoundinghisdiscomfortandcausingangerandbadfeeling.”

Suchlaughter,ofcourse,isnotatthepersonorhismisfortune—whetherhebeaforeigneroraChinese.Itcanconveyanumberoffeelings:don’ttakeitsoseriously;laughitoff,it’snothing;suchthingscanhappentoanyofus,etc.However,forpeopleunawareofthisattitude,thereactiontosuchlaughterisusuallyquiteunpleasantandoftengeneratesillfeelingtowardsthoselaughing.

3.1.5Gestures

Gesturescanbeparticularlytroublesome,foraslightdifferenceinmakingthegestureitselfcanmeansomethingquitedifferentfromthatintended.Awronginterpretationofagesturecanarousequiteunexpectedreactions.

Awell-knowncaseisagesturemadebyWinstonChurchill,thedoughtyprimeministerwholedBritainthroughtheSecondWorldWar.Asheappearedbeforealargecrowd,hewasgreetedwithcheersandapplause.TheoccasionwasamomentousoneandChurchillflashedthe“Vforvictory”sign—withtheforefingerandmiddlefingerraisedtoforma“V”.Whetherbymistakeorignorance,insteadoffacingthepalmofhishandtothefront,hemadethe“V”withthebackofhishandtowardstheaudience.Someinthecrowdapplauded;somegasped;somebrokeoutinlaughter.Theprimeminister’sgesture,asgiven,meantquitesomethingelse.Insteadof“Vforvictory”,itmeantsomethingdirty;itwasanobscenegesture!

Whenshewasquestionedbytheprincipalitwastruethatshekeptstaringatthefloorandrefusedtomeethiseye.AndinEnglishthereisasaying“Don’ttrustanyonewhowon’tlookatyouintheeye.”

ItsohappenedthatoneoftheteachershadaLatinAmericanbackgroundandknewaboutPuertoRicanculture.Aftertalkingwiththegirl’sparents,hewenttotheprincipalandexplainedthataccordingtoPuertoRicanculture,agoodgirl“doesnotmeettheeyesofanadult.”Suchbehavior,heexplained,“isasignofrespectandobedience.”

Fortunately,theprincipalacceptedtheexplanation,admittedhismistakeandthematterwassettledproperly.Thisdifferenceininterpretingasimpleeyegesturewasalessoninculturaldiversitythathewouldnoteasilyforget.

Rulesabouteye-languagearenumerousandcomplex.Whathasbeenmentionedgivesagoodideaofthis;weshallnotgofurtherintodetail.

3.1.4Smilesandlaughter

Smilesandlaughterusuallyconveyfriendliness,approval,satisfaction,pleasure,joyandmerriment.ThisisgenerallytrueinChinaaswellastheEnglish-speakingcountries.However,therearesituationswhensomeChinesewilllaughthatwillcausenegativereactionsbywesterners.Toillustrate,hereisanexcerptfromaletterbyanAmericantoaChinesefriendonnonverbalgesturesthatoftencausecross-culturalmisunderstanding:

“…OneisthedifferentmeaningoflaughterinChinaandAmerican.WhenanAmericanisparkinghisbicycle,forexample,andthebicycleaccidentallyfallsover,hefeelsembarrassedathisawkwardness,andisquiteangeredandhumiliatedwhenChineseonlookerslaugh.Ihaveseenthesamethinghappeninthediningroom,whenaforeignerdropsaplatequitebyaccidentandfeelsbadlyandChineseonlookerslaugh,compoundinghisdiscomfortandcausingangerandbadfeeling.”

Suchlaughter,ofcourse,isnotatthepersonorhismisfortune—whetherhebeaforeigneroraChinese.Itcanconveyanumberoffeelings:don’ttakeitsoseriously;laughitoff,it’snothing;suchthingscanhappentoanyofus,etc.However,forpeopleunawareofthisattitude,thereactiontosuchlaughterisusuallyquiteunpleasantandoftengeneratesillfeelingtowardsthoselaughing.

3.1.5Gestures

Gesturescanbeparticularlytroublesome,foraslightdifferenceinmakingthegestureitselfcanmeansomethingquitedifferentfromthatintended.Awronginterpretationofagesturecanarousequiteunexpectedreactions.

Awell-knowncaseisagesturemadebyWinstonChurchill,thedoughtyprimeministerwholedBritainthroughtheSecondWorldWar.Asheappearedbeforealargecrowd,hewasgreetedwithcheersandapplause.TheoccasionwasamomentousoneandChurchillflashedthe“Vforvictory”sign—withtheforefingerandmiddlefingerraisedtoforma“V”.Whetherbymistakeorignorance,insteadoffacingthepalmofhishandtothefront,hemadethe“V”withthebackofhishandtowardstheaudience.Someinthecrowdapplauded;somegasped;somebrokeoutinlaughter.Theprimeminister’sgesture,asgiven,meantquitesomethingelse.Insteadof“Vforvictory”,itmeantsomethingdirty;itwasanobscenegesture

WhilebodycontactisgenerallytabooinmostAsiancountries,elsewhere,bodycontactisexpected;shyingawayfromcontactgivesoffnegativesignals.

◆Whengreeting,peoplefromIndian,SriLanka,Bangladesh,andThailandholdtheirhandstogetherinfrontoftheirchinsinaprayerlikepositionandnodtheirheads.

◆Whengreeting,mostLatinosexpectbodycontact.Huggingandkissingonthecheckareacceptableforboththesamesexandtheoppositesex.Theabrazoiscommonplace—friendsembraceandsimultaneouslypateachotherontheback.

◆Whengreeting,mostmiddleeasterners,especiallyMuslims,avoidbodycontactwiththeoppositesex,butmenmayembraceandkissoneanther.Womenmaydothesame.Whenshakinghands,menshouldavoidpullingtheirhandsawaytooquickly.

◆WhengreetingmostAmericans,expectsomabodycontract.Womenkissonceoneachcheekandhug;menshakehands.Menmayalsohugandkisswomenonthecheekiftheyareclosefriends.

◆WhengreetingorthodoxJews,avoidbodycontactwiththeoppositesex.

3.2.2Signsofaffection

ShereeBykofsky,anAmericanwriter,isthrilledwhenacruiseshiplinepurchasescopiesofherhewromantictravelguide,thebestplacetokissinandaroundNewYorkCity.Thecruiselineplanstogivethebooksasdinnerfavorsduringtheirspecialvalentine’scruise.

TheyinviteShereeonboardtogreetthepassengersandautographtheircopies.TheAmericansandEuropeansdelightinmeetingtheauthorandhavinghersigntheirbooks.However,whenShereevisitsthetablesoftheJapanesepassengers,mostofthemrefusetoacknowledgeher.

Japanesepeopledonotapproveofpublicbodycontactand,thus,havedevelopedacomplexsystemofbowingtoexpressrelationships.Touchingamemberoftheoppositesexisparticularlyrepugnanttotheirsensitivities;consequently,kissinginpublicisconsideredadisgracefulact.

TheJapanesesnubbedShereebecausethetitleofherbooksuggestedbehaviorthatdidnotconformtotheirstandardsofrespect.Theywouldnotacknowledgeherbecause,intheireyes,shepromotedvulgarity.

AsiansfromcountriesotherthanJapanareequallydisapprovingwhentheyseeAmericanmenandwomenortwomentowalkinpublicholdinghands.However,whentheypracticethissignoffriendshipinthestates,theyarefrequentlymistakenforhomosexuals.Thisshocksthem.

Same-sexhandholdingorwalkingarm-in-armalsooccursamongLatinos,French,Spanish,Italians,Greeks,andmiddleeasterners.

◆MostJapanesepeoplestronglydisapproveofpublicexpressionofaffectionbymalesandfemalesthroughkissingoranyotherformofbodycontact.

◆Same-sexhandholdingbetweenAsians,middle-easterners,Latinos,orthosefromMediterraneancountriesisasignoffriendship.Walkingwitharmsoneachother’sshouldersorwithhandsorarmslinkedalsoequateswithcamaraderie.

3.2.3Physicalcontact

WhenDorothyreceivesaweddinginvitationtoattendherJapaneseneighbor’swedding,sheisthrilled.ShehasalwaysadmiredtheYamashitafamily.Sheisveryfondoflance,theabout-to-be-marriedson,andfeelsextremelyclosetoGrace,hismother.Dorothyfeelshonoredtobeincludedinthefamilyfestivities.

Afterthebeautifulchurchceremony,Dorothystandsinlinetogreetthebridalparty.However,whenDorothy,averyaffectionateperson,stepsforwardtoembracethemotherofthegroom,Gracestepsbackward.

Dorothyfeelsrejected.

Evenatsuchajoyousoccasionasawedding,Japanesecustomsaboutphysicalcontactinpublicarenotrelaxed,evenwhentakingplacebetweenthesamesex.Truly,moreformalityisdemonstratedinsuchsituations.Considertheextremereservedisplayedatthe1993royalweddingofcrownprinceNaruhitotoMassakoOwada.Thephysicalactsoftheroyalcoupleconsistedonlyofsippingsacredsakeandmakingbows—notouching,nohugging,nokissingbetweenthecouple,certainlynonebytheweddingguests.

InDorothy’ssituation,eventhoughshefeltveryclosetoGrace,shewouldhavebeenmoresociallycorrecthadshebowedherheadslightlyandthenofferedonlyverbalfelicitations.Insituationslikethese,itisbesttoobservethemannerinwhichotherweddingguestscongratulatefamilymembersandthenfollowtheirexample.

3.3AcomparativestudyofChineseandAmericanbodylanguage

AcomparativestudyofChineseandAmericanbodylanguageshowsanumberofsimilarities;forexample:mendon’thugorembracewhenmeeting;ahandshakeisthemostcommongesturethatgoeswithagreeting;wavingahandtosay“goodbye”isthesame;afrownshowsdispleasure,andthewrinklingofone’snoseisasignofdislike,disgustordisapproval;noddingmeans“yes”,andshakingone’sheadmeans“no”;poutinghasthesamemeaning—displeasure,badhumor,resentment;apatonthebackofamanorboyindicatesapproval,praise,encouragement;grittingone’steethmayexpressanger,fury,ordetermination.

Thechartsonthefollowingpagesprovideexamplesofsomeofthedifference:

DifferentBodyLanguage,SameMeaning

MeaningBodyLanguageinChinaBodyLanguageinU.S.

“Comehere”(beckoningsomeonetocome)handextendedtowardperson,openpalm,palmdown,withallfingerscrookedinabeckoningmotionhandextendedtowardperson,closedhand,palmup,withforefingeronlymovingbackandforth(inchinathissamegesturewouldbeconsideredoffensivebymany)

“Shameonyou!”(semi-jokinggesture)forefingerofonehandextended,tiptouchesone’sownfaceseveraltimesquickly;similartoscratching,butwiththeforefingerstraight(usuallywiththeremark“shameonyou!”)forefingerofeachhandextended,palmsdowninfrontofone’sbody;oneforefingermakesseveralbrushingmovementsoverthebackoftheotherforefinger

‘I’mveryfull”(afterameal)oneorbothhandsopen,lightlypattingone’sownstomachhandraisedtothroat,fingersextended,palmdown(oftenwiththeremark“I’mfulluptohere.”)

SameBodyLanguageinTowCultures

butwithDifferentMeaning

MeaninginChinaBodyLanguageMeaninginU.S.

anger,irritation,frustration,remorsestampingone’sfootimpatience

thankyou;mutualpositivefeelingsspeakerorperformerclappingatsametimeaudienceapplaudsapplaudingoneself;improper,immodest

Curiosity,sometimessurprisestaring,gapingconsideredimpolite;makespeopleembarrassed,self-conscious

disapproval,hissing“shah”callingforsilence

seldomused;occasionallyadultsmaypatheadofchildrentoshowaffection;pattingtheheadofateenageroradultwouldcausedispleasureandcanbeinsultingpatonheadgivingcomfort,consolationorencouragement;alsoshowsaffection

BodyLanguageandMeaninginOneCulture;

NoEquivalentinOtherCulture

BodyLanguageMeaninginU.S.

chewingone’sfingernailsemotionalstress,worried,doesn’tknowwhattodo

thumbingone’snose(onethumbontipofownnose,fingerscurledandmovingtogether)defiance,contempt

waggingone’sfinger(forefingerofonehandraised,otherfingersclasped,theraisedforefingeriswaggedfromsidetoside)warningnottodosomething;indicatingthatwhattheotherpersonisdoingiswrong

thumbdown(armcrookedinfrontofbody,closedfist,thumbextendeddown,oneorseveraldownwardmovements)rejectionofaproposal,idea,person;nonverbalwayofsayingastrong“no”

winking(quickclosingofoneeye,generallywithasmileandslightnod)mayshowseveralfeelings;understanding,approval,encouragement,tryingtogetacrossamessage,solidarity

touchingorpointingtotipofone’sownnosewithraisedforefinger“It’sme”“I’mtheone”(towesterners,thegesturewouldseemslightlyfunny)

usinganopenhandtocoverone’smouthwhilespeaking(generallyusedbyolderpeople)toshowconfidentialityandsecrecy;sometimesnomeaning

usingbothhands(whenonewouldbeenough)inofferingsomethingtoavisitororanotherpersonrespect

(whenone’steacupisbeingrefilledbythehostorhostess)puttingoneorbothhandsupright,palmopen,besidethecup“Thankyou”

upraisedforefingerofeachhandcomingtogetherinfrontofthebodyuntilthetwotouchboyandgirlinlove;agoodmatch

Theexamplesinthechartsarebynomeanscomplete,butareenoughtoillustratethediversityofbodylanguageandtoshowtheimportanceofknowingthespecificgesturesthatgowithalanguage.

4.Conclusion

Thestudyofbodylanguageshouldbecomplementarytothestudyoflanguage.Theunderstandingofoneshouldbehelpfulinthefurtherunderstandingoftheother.Someauthoritiesfeelthatthetwoaredependentoneachother.Thisiscertainlytrueinmostsituations.Butitisalsotruethatincertainsituationsbodyactioncontradictswhatisbeingsaid,justasthespokenwordsmaymeansomethingquitedifferentfromwhatbodylanguagecommunicates.Whenthisoccurs,onemusttrytogetfurtherinformation,orguessthemeaningfromthecontextofthesituation.Inasense,allbodylanguageshouldbeinterpretedwithinagivencontext;toignoretheoverallsituationcouldbemisleading.

Awordofgeneraladvice:whenonecommunicatesinacertainlanguage,itisgenerallyadvisabletousethenonverbalbehaviorthatgoeswiththatparticularlanguage.Observationshowsthatatrulybilingualpersonswitcheshisbodylanguageatthesametimeheswitcheslanguages.Thismakescommunicationeasierandbetter。

Acknowledgement

TheauthorsgratefullyacknowledgeXuMingwu,Profforhisassistanceinthisstudy.

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