浅谈非语言交际中的身势语
时间:2022-08-23 04:42:00
导语:浅谈非语言交际中的身势语一文来源于网友上传,不代表本站观点,若需要原创文章可咨询客服老师,欢迎参考。
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.
Bibliography
[1]Fast,Julius.1971.BodyLanguage.PocketBooks,N.Y.
[2]LiuYongfa,LiuXuan’en.1997.ThePracticalBodyLanguage.HuaWenPress.
[3]Robinett,BettyW.1978.TeachingEnglishtospeakersofotherLanguage:SubstanceandTechnique.McGraw-hill,N.Y.
[4]SamovarL.A.1981.UnderstandingInterculturalCommunication.WadsworthPublishingCompany.
[5]ShenMinxian.1999.TheUseoftheBodyLanguageinElementarySchool.ShanghaiEducationVol.12.
[6]SternH.H.1983.FundamentalConceptsofLanguageTeaching.London:Oxforduniversitypress.
[7]毕继万《跨文化非语言交际》,1999,外语教学与研究出版。
[8]邓炎昌《语言与文化》,1989,外语教学与研究出版社。
[9]赵艳萍《文化与交际》,1999,中国人民大学出版社。