中西方肢体语言的比较研究

毕业设计（论文）题目：中西方肢体语言的比较研究Title: A Comparative Study of Body Language in China and

Western Countries

2009年5月20 日

Acknowledgements

First of all, my appreciation goes to my affectionate parents, and the rest of my family. Throughout the development of this paper, they have been there and always giving me continuous support, encouragement and understanding. Their love and support encourage me to make progress all the time.

I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to all other teachers who gave me lectures during the past three academic years. I have benefited so much not only from their courses and lectures but also from their constant encouragement.My sincere thanks should go to my students and friends around, for their constant encouragement and support throughout the course of the research.

Finally, I must show my gratitude to my supervisor Ms. Lu Li, whose helpful suggestions have contributed greatly to the completion of this thesis. I owe her special thanks for providing me precious advice and suggestion that this papers appears in the present form.

Abstract

Body language is an important part of nonverbal communication and it is connected with culture. In order to make successful cross-cultural communication, we should know the body language from the perspective of cultures. Body language, like verbal communication and culture, has many similarities all over the world. However, body language from different cultures also has many differences because of different regions, races and cultural customs. And it is restricted by its culture and has different cultural connotations. That is to say, the same body language has different meanings in different cultures and has different social functions. This article devotes to a comparison and contrast of body language in different cultures in terms of eye language, gestures, postures, facial expressions and touch. It aims to illustrate the differences and similarities of body language and put forward the principles of reducing barriers in communication so as to achieve efficient communication and to avoid misunderstanding.

Key words: Body Language in China and west countries; Cultural connotations; cross-cultural communication

摘要

肢体语言是非言语沟通的重要部分并与文化紧密相连。为了能成功的进行跨文化交流，我们应该明白肢体语言在不同文化中的意义。就像语言和文化一样，肢体语言也有一些是全球通用的。然而在不同地区，种族和文化习俗中肢体语言的意义也不一样。也就是说，同一个肢体动作在不同的文化和社会背景下会有不同的意思。本文致力于比较眼睛、手势、姿势、面部表情和接触等不同的肢体语言在不同文化中的意义，目的是解释其产生的原因，加深人们对两种不同文化的理解，促进中西文化的交流，避免跨文化交际中的误会。

关键词：中西方肢体语言；文化根源；跨文化交际

Contents Introduction (1)

I.T h e c o n c e p t o f b o d y l a n g u a g e (2)

1.1C l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f b o d y l a n g u a g e (2)

1.2 Eye contact (3)

1.3 Smile and laughter (3)

II. Some gestures which have difference connotations in China a n d w e s t e r n countries (4)

III. Some gestures which have the same meaning in China and Western countries (4)

IV. Some gestures which have no equivalents in other c u l t u r e s (5)

V.C u l t u r a l r o o t s f o r t h e d i f f e r e n c e o f g e s t u r e s (5)

5.1 Different customs (5)

5.2 Different religion beliefs (6)

5.3 Different history (6)

VI. Body language in practice (7)

V I I.T h e c o n s eq u e n c e s o f w r o n g i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f g e s t u r e s (7)

Conclusion

Introduction

Human communication consists of verbal communication and nonverbal communication. Nonverbal communication plays a very important role in the whole communication. Some experts say more than 60 percent of communication comes from nonverbal behaviors, such as facial expression, posture and so on. These nonverbal behaviors always have many meaning.

Body language is an important part of nonverbal communication, and thus article intends to present its meaning and talk it briefly so that we can improve our communication skills and abilities by understanding it well. Body language is known as non-verbal behavior which transmits information through gestures, actions and facial expressions. But in different cultures body language means the different things. Different people have different ways of making nonverbal communication. Understanding the different cultural implication of English and Chinese body language can promote people’s cross-cultural communication competence, reinforce the heart-to-heart understanding and in the end will benefit the communication between English and Chinese people.

People can communicate with each other through not only verbal communication but also nonverbal communication. Moreover, the latter plays an essential role in human communication. Nonverbal communication is connected with cultures and it is the result of cultures. But many people pay great attention to the acceptance and correctness of the verbal communication and overlook the influence and cultural difference of nonverbal communication. Then the misunderstanding and cultural crash often occur in the cross-cultural communication. So in the process of communication, it is not a complete communication while ignoring the cultural differences of nonverbal communication.

I. The concept of body language

“Nonverbal communication is a process in which communi cators use the natural features of their bodies to deliver information and express specific meaning instinctively to the other communicator.”[4:90]

People communicate with each other by their body language in the ways of nodding, waving, eye contacting, shrugging and so on. As we know, in a certain tradition, body language is determined by its customs and traditions. .On the other hand, the meanings of body language in a certain culture are developing and changing. We intend to make a comparison and contrast of the similarities and differences on body language in order to avoid misunderstanding and make efficient communication.

In general sense, the study of body language began in 1950s. And 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 contents, and had a great influence on the other fields. And Doctor R.L.Bird Whitell is the reprehensive of study of body language. His research indicated: eyebrows could change for 23 positions and people could make 250,000 different facial expressions.And psychologist David Aberconbie also pointed out: ‘we speak with verbal organs but we talk with our body.’

A famous anthropologist E.T.Hall pointed out “Silent language expresses more information than verbal language. Because it contains much information.”According to some researchers abroad, in people’s daily life, nonverbal communication takes part over 65% in all of information exchange. And body language is an important part of nonverbal communication. Many experts have shown the importance of body language in the cross-cultural communication. “A psychologist proposed a formula: the total impact of message = 7% verbal + 38% vocal +55% facial expressions and b ehavior.” [6:89] Usually body language occurs unconsciously. Yet the body language we used extent the quality of our communication. And it is important to note that

body language has different meanings in different cultures. How we can interpret body language depends on the situation, the culture, the relationship we have with the person. In other words, there is no one signal that has the same meaning all over the world. As well as that, various body language signs can complement each other to make a particular meaning crystal clear or strengthen the meaning of what we communicate.

1.1 Classification of body language

Body language contains eye language, gestures, postures, facial expressions, manners and behaviors and touch and so on.

Gesture, as another important part of body language, means we communicate and express by the movement and manners of our hands and fingers. In our daily life, every one makes gestures, but many gestures have distinct regional and cultural features. “Gesture means we comm unicate and express by the movement and manners of our hands and fingers.”[7:123] Facial expression is the most expressive part of the body. It’s capable of conveying emotions. Different cultures have many different or same facial expressions. Laughing means happiness and crying indicates sadness.

Eye contact, English dramatist “Shakespeare said, ‘There is language in her eye, her cheek, her lip.’ The Chinese saying goes, ‘The eye is the window of the soul.’” From these two sentences, people can see that eye contact is quite important in their interaction.

“Posture is a matter of how people sit, walk, stand and move.” Posture refers to the general way people carry their body, especially the back, shoulders and head while standing, lying, etc. It offers insig ht into a culture’s deep structure and often reflects a person’s attitude toward people he/she is with.[8:58]

1.2 Eye contact

Eye contact is an important aspect of body language; it is not quite the same in China and English-speaking countries. In conversations with people who know each other, American custom demands that there should be eye contact. This applies to both the speaker and the listener. For either one not to look at the other person could imply a number of things, among which are fear, contempt, uneasiness, guilt, indifference, even in public speaking there should be plenty of eye contact. For a speaker to “burry his nose in his manuscript”, to read a speech instead of looking at and talking to hid audience, as some Chinese speakers are in the habit of doing, would be regarded as inconsiderate and disrespectful.

In Juliets Faster’s book “Body Language”, there is a paragraph which can explain the problem. “Two strangers sit face to face in the dinning room in a train; they can introduce themselves to each other. When they are eating, they can talk anything else. They also can avoid eye contact and do not show interest in each other. A writer described this situation in an article “They look over the menu again and again, play with knives and look at their nails. It seems that they look at them for the first time. If their eyes meet, they will turn away immediately and look out of the window.”[1]P94

In English there is an old saying “Don’t trust anyone who won’t look at you in the eye.” Rules about eye-language are numerous and complex, we should distinguish the difference between China and Western countries.

1.3 Smiles and laughter

Smiles and laughter usually convey friendliness, approval, satisfaction, pleasure, joy and merriment. This is generally true in China as well as the English-speaking countries. However, there are situations when some Chinese will laugh that will cause negative reactions by westerners. T o illustrate, here is an excerpt from a letter by an American to a Chinese friend on nonverbal

gestures that often cause cross-cultural misunderstanding:

“…One is the different meaning of laughter in China and American. When an American is parking his bicycle, for example, and the bicycle accidentally falls over, he feels embarrassed at his awkwardness, and is quite angered and humiliated when Chinese onlookers laugh. I have seen the same thing happen in the dining room, when a foreigner drops a plate quite by accident and feels badly and Chinese onlookers laugh, compounding his discomfort and causing anger and bad feeling.”[3:158]

Such laughter, of course, is not at the person or his misfortune—whether he be a foreigner or a Chinese. It can convey a number of feelings: don’t take it so seriously; laugh it off, it’s nothing; such t hings can happen to any of us, etc. However, for people unaware of this attitude, the reaction to such laughter is usually quite unpleasant and often generates ill feeling towards those laughing.

II.Some gestures which have difference connotations in China and western countries

Since the cultures in different countries are different, the same gesture would have different meanings in different countries.

Americans like to shrug when they have no idea about something. But Chinese don’t do the same thing. Stretching out one’s tongue means contempt in America, but in China it means surprise or indicates dislike sometime. Another example, Americans often touch their temples to express somebody’s cleverness. But this action means there is something wrong with one’s mind or one is stupid to Chinese.

In China, people greet with each other with head nodding, smile, hand shaking and so on. Even good friends just hold hands for a short time or hammer softly on the other friend’s shoulder. As for hand shaking, people in

North America shake hands when they greet with each other.

Chinese are often surprised to see Americans lay their hands on their necks when they are full. Because it is a suicide action to Chinese, what used to express full by patting their stomachs. For instance, a thumb in the air might mean a request for a ride on the highway or “ok” on the launch pad. However in China, it means something very good. Raising forefinger and middle finger to form a “V” indicate victory in English-speaking countries, but in China it means two in most of time.

III. Some gestures which have the same meaning in China and Western countries

There are also some body language have the same meaning in both China and Western countries. Making a circle with thumb and index finger while extending others is to say It's OK. When you lift your forefinger near your lips with the sound ''shhh'' that shows you want somebody to be silent. Here are some examples,

"I don’t know" Shaking the head or waving the hand Shrugging the shoulders “Come here” Hand extended toward person, palm open and down, with all fingers crooked in a beckoning motion Hand extended toward person, closed hand, palm up, with forefinger only moving back and forth

“Shame on you!” (semi-joking gesture) Forefinger of one hand extended, tip touches one’s face several times quickly, similar to scratching, but with the forefinger straight Forefinger of each hand extended, palms down in front of one’s body, one forefinger makes seve ral brushing movements over the back of the other forefinger

Punish oneself Giving oneself boxes on the face Giving oneself boxes on the ear

Welcome, congratulation Applauding and clapping hands Applauding and snapping one’s fingers

“I’m very full” after a meal One or both hands open, lightly patting one’s own stomach Hand raised to throat, fingers extended, palm down

High praise, the best Thumb up Closed hand, forefinger up

“No, don’t do that” Moving the head from side to side Moving the index finger from side to side

“That’s crazy!”“He/she is crazy!” Moving the index finger from side to side Moving the index finger in a circle in front of the ear.

IV. Some gestures which have no equivalents in other cultures

There are also many gestures only existing in one culture without equivalent in other cultures.

For example, the American “No, don’t do that” gesture, moving the index finger from side to side with forefinger up and others closed is not used in China. T o express doubt, helplessness or baffle, people who live in English-speaking countries often shrug their shoulders. However, this gesture is seldom used in China. In English culture, the gesture, thumb against the tip of the nose, other four fingers wave from side to side together, indicates challenge and defiance; putting middle finger on the back of forefinger indicates “bless success”, which has a relevant phrase—cross one’s fingers. And people are very familiar with another phrase, that is “thumb a ride” (standing on the side of the rode, closing hand with thumb up) which means a request for ride. Now, as the Western media cultures such as Western films penetrate into China, such kinds of gestures have been used by more and more Chinese young people. There are also many gestures only existing in China. In Chinese culture, to express respect, people must take something that can be hold with one hand to their guests or others with two hands. And when others pour tea or wine for them, they must hold the cup with both hands to express “Thank you” or tap the tabletop with forefinger to indicate

“It’s enough”. T ouching or pointing to tip of one’s own nose with raised forefinger means “It’s me.” “I’m the one.” Upraised forefinger of each hand coming together in front of the body until the two touches, means a good match. These gestures are unique to China.

V. Cultural roots for the difference of body language The reasons of causing the difference of body language are various, I’ll briefly recommend three kinds of cultural roots: different customs, different religion beliefs and different history.

5.1 Different customs

Traditional customs is also a reason of different body language in different countries, For example, Chinese traditional customs believes that people who are seated are more authoritative: emperors sit, while liege subjects stood; fathers sit, whereas sons stand; superiors sit, while inferiors stand and so on. So, to show respect, juniors often let seniors sit on their own seats. However, the situation in America is opposite to that in China. In America, “tallness usually equates with dominance. Standing up tall can help you appear more authoritative, whereas a slumped posture or slouched shoulders create an appearance of submissive or passive demeanor.”

The traditional customs and the affects toward certain thing are not the same, facial expressions would be different. For example, when Chinese are praised by others, they would take on negative facial expression, indicating “I don’t believe.” “I can’t accept.” When English are praised, they would say, “Thank you!” with a smile. Chinese would consider this attitude as immodesty and pride. All of these are determined by the traditional customs.

5.2 Different religion beliefs

Different beliefs are the causes of the differences of body language. And every culture has its distinctive belief system. Just like most Chinese people

believe in Buddhism and a majority of Americans are Nazarene. A normal action in this culture will be abnormal in another one. People from eastern world advocate humble, tolerance, mutual-support and responsibility for the group. But western people admire independence, self-respect, free development, and requiring individual space and so on.

5.3 Different History

History is also a reason for causing the difference of body language. Traditionally, Chinese teachers, rated as Confucian scholars, are the souls of belief, knowledge and authority. Their image of power certainly ought not to be damaged by the unserious posture. That is why some Chinese students often complain that their American teacher is so informal in class that he never seems to care about students’ reaction, which also indicates that they could not accept the fact that their English teachers who are native Chinese behave or more exaggerating as foreign teachers. On the contrary, sitting on the edge of desk to give a lecture or even putting his feet on chairs in class is welcomed in many English countries. Consequently, in American eyes, Chinese teachers appear to be timid and sluggish or too boring in classroom.[2:79]

VI. Body language in practice

First, We must know the importance of leaning body language on nonverbal communication before we use it. Body language is an important media through which people communicate with each other. It refers to the patterns of facial expressions and gestures that people use to express their feelings in communication. The specialist on body language research—Fen. Lafle. Angles, once said: "Once it was lost, a baby couldn’t have grown into a normal person". It’s also true to the juveniles. In school education, body language plays a positive role in cultivating the students’ characters.

Although we may not realize it, when we converse with others we

communicate by much more than words. By our expressions, gestures and other body movements we send messages to these around us a smile and an outstretched hand show welcome. A form is a sign of displeasure. Nodding one’s head means agreement—“Yes”. Waving an outstretched hand wi th open palm is the gesture for “goodbye”. Leaning back in one’s seat and yawning at a talk or lecture shows lack of interest, boredom. These gestures have come to be accepted in general as having the meanings mentioned, at last to Chinese and Americans. There are parts of the way in which we communicate. This “body language”, like our verbal language, is also a part of our culture.

In English-speaking countries, physical contact is generally avoided in conversation among ordinary friends or acquaintances. Merely touching someone may cause an unpleasant reaction. If one touches another person accidentally, he/she usually utters an apology such as “Sorry, Oh, I’m sorry, Excuse me.”

In China, a common complaint of western mothers is that Chinese often fondle their babies and very small children. Such behavior—whether touching, patting, hugging or kissing—can be quite embarrassing and awkward for the mothers to their grown-up children. They know that no harm is meant, and that such gestures are merely signs of friendliness or affection, therefore they cannot openly show their displeasure. On the other hand, such actions in their own culture would be considered rude, intrusive and offensive and could arouse a strong dislike and even repugnance. So the mothers often stand by and watch in awkward silence, with mixed emotions, even when the fondling is by Chinese friends or acquaintances.

VII. The consequences of wrong interpretation of gestures Body language is an important part of nonverbal communication. If people don’t understand its cultural connotation, they will not interact properly. Sometimes they will make themselves or others embarrassed.

A well-known case is a gesture made by Winston Churchill, the doughty

prime minister who led Britain through the Second World War. As he appeared before a large crowd, he was greeted with cheers and applause. The occasion was a momentous one and Churchill flashed the “V” for “Victory” sign—with the forefinger and middle finger raised to form a “V”, whether by mistake or ignorance, instead of facing the palm of his hand to the front, he made the “V” with the back of his hand towards the audience. Some in the crowd applauded; some gasped; some broke out in laughter. The prime minister’s gesture, as g iven, meant quite something else. Instead of “V” for “Victory”, it meant something dirty; it was an obscene gesture. [10:149]

From this example, people can see that body language plays an important role in communication. Since body language can express certain meaning and it is conventional, it can become the effective way of interaction. People who live in the same culture believe that some gesture indicates some meaning. However, different countries have different cultures, so the comprehension of body language will not be the same in different countries. If people don’t realize this, it will affect their communication and cause misunderstanding. In English study, the comparative study of body language between Chinese and English-speaking countries is very important for them to master and understand the diversity of cross-cultural communication.

Conclusion

Body language varies from culture to culture. So, the aim of studying and researching nonverbal communication is to help foreign language learners and communicators exclude the interference of cultural differences. So people should focus on cultural differences and cultural clashes.

In cross-cultural communication, people must realize the relationship between nonverbal communication and cultures. And body language is the silent and authentic language that can express one’s inner emotions. It is the most distinctive kind of interaction in nonverbal communication. So body

language is dependent on cultures.

Moreover, body language has international character. People who live in different countries and speak different languages can communicate through body language. Sometimes body language can be used alone, but sometimes it must be used together with verbal language. If one can’t use body language prop erly, he can’t achieve communicative purpose well. And he will make another one unhappy or make himself embarrassed. Nevertheless, if one can use body language aptly, he can achieve communicative purpose well. So it’s very important for foreign language learners to know the sense of body language, to learn the cultures of English-speaking countries, and to eliminate native cultural interference, to diminish cultural clash. Body language is an important media in human interaction.

The study of body language should be complementary to the study of language. The understanding of one should be helpful in the further understanding of the other. Some authorities feel that the two are dependent on each other. This is certainly true in most situations. But it is also true that in certain situations body action contradicts what is being said, just as the spoken words may mean something quite different from what body language communicates. When this occurs, one must try to get further information, or guess the meaning from the context of the situation. In a sense, all body language should be interpreted within a given context; to ignore the overall situation could be misleading. Because the cultures of different nations are rooted. Further, it’s not easy for people to absorb the signs which are contrary to their habits. So, they can’t ignore the influence exerted on body language by cultures and they must pay attention to the different meanings of body language in different cultures and contexts.

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