On Nonverbal Communication淺談非語(yǔ)言交際中的身勢(shì)語(yǔ)

PAGEOnNonverbalmunication--BodyLanguage淺談非語(yǔ)言際地身勢(shì)語(yǔ)OnNonverbalmunication–BodyLanguageLinlingAbstract:Asweallknow,bodylanguageisthenaturallanguage,anditisveryimportant.Bodylanguageistheunspokenmunicatethosegoesonineveryface-to-faceencounterwithanotherhumanbeing.Ittellsyousomeone’struefeelingstowardsyouandhowwellyourwordsarebeingreceived.Between六零-八零%ofourmessageismunicatedthroughourbodylanguage,only七-一零%isattributabletotheactualwordsofaconversation.BodylanguageiswidelyusedinEveready‘slife.Bodylanguageisameansofnonverbalmunicationoftenfoundinthemunicationofmankind.Asthesocietyisdeveloping,peoplemunicatemoreandmorefrequently,therefore,themessagesconveyedbybodylanguagebeemoreandmoreimportantinhumanmunication.Thus,itisnecessarytostudybodylanguageinordertodevelopmorefeasiblehumanmunicationskills.Thepapermakesapreliminarystudyonbodylanguage,themostimportantpartofnonverbalmunication.Itbeginswiththedefinitionofbodylanguageandthroughtheanalysisofsomeexamplesitillustratesandtheimportanceofbodylanguageinnonverbalmunication.ThispapertriestopareculturaldifferencesofbodylanguagebetweenEnglishandChinese,whichmightbehelpfultopeopletoreduceoravoidmisunderstandingarisingfromculturaldifferencesofbodylanguageincross-culturemunication.Keywords:bodylanguagenonverbalmunicationCulturaldifferencesContentsChapter一.OnTheterm–bodylanguage……………一.一Conceptandclassificationofbodylanguageandnonverbalmunication…………一.二Generalcharacteristicsofbodylanguage………一.三Theimportanceofknowinghowwemunicate………Chapter二.Differentbodylanguageofdifferentcountry…………二.一AsianPacificCulturalValues…二.二monAsiangestures……二.二.一China………二.二.二Japan………二.三AmericanGestures………二.三.一monGestures………二.三.二Gesturesmeaning………二.三.二.一AmericangesturesandAmericangesturemeaning………二.三.二.二Americangesture-head………二.三.二.三Legsandfeet………二.三.二.四Arms,hands,andfingers………INTRODUCTION:Doweexpectotherculturestoadoptourcustomsorarewewillingtoadopttheirs?Thismighttranslatetohowbusinessorevenforeignrelationsaretobeconducted.Dowepromiseorforceotherspeoplestodealonlyonourterms?Wemaynothavetimetohearalanguage,buttakingtimetolearnthe"signals"isapowerfulmunicator.Astheglobalvillagecontinuestoshrinkandculturescollide,itisessentialforallofustobeemoresensitive,moreaware,andmoreobservanttothemyriadmotions,gestures,andbodylanguagethatsurrounduseachday.Andasmanyofuscrossoverculturalborders,itwouldbefittingforustorespect,learn,andunderstandmoreabouttheeffective,yetpowerful"silentlanguage"ofgestures.Theworldisagiddymontageofvividgestures-trafficpolice,streetvendors,expresswaydrivers,teachers,childrenonplayground,athleteswiththeirexuberanthugging,clenchedfistsand"highfives."Peopleallovertheworldusetheirhands,heads,andbodiestomunicateexpressively.Withoutgestures,ourworldwouldbestaticandcolorless.ThesocialanthropologistsEdwardT.Hallclaim六零percentofallourmunicationisnonverbal.Inthatcase,howcanwepossiblymunicatewithoneanotherwithoutgestures?Gesturesandbodylanguagemunicateaseffectivelyaswords-maybeevenmoreeffectively.Weusegesturesdaily,almostinstinctively,frombeckoningtoawaiter,orpunctuatingabusinesspresentationwithvisualsignalstoairportgroundattendantsguidinganairlinepilotintothejetwayoraparentusingawholedictionaryofgesturestoteach(orpreachto)achild.Gesturesarewoveninextricablyintooursociallives,butalsothatthe"vocabulary"ofgestures,canbeatonceinformativeandentertaining...butalsodangerous.Gesturescanbemenacing(twodriversonafreeway),warm(anopen-armedwele).Instructive(apolicemangivingroaddirections),orevensensuous(theliquidmovementofaHawaiianhuladancer).Bearinmindthatthefollowinggesturesareingeneraluse,buttheremayalwaysbeexceptions.Inrecentyears,Westernandcontemporaryvaluesandideashavebeemorepopularandhaseitherinfluenced,altered,andevenreplaced,someofthemoretraditionalgestures,understandinghumanbehavioristrickystuff.Notwopeoplebehaveinpreciselythesameway.Nordopeoplefromthesamecultureallperformexactlythesamegesturesandbodylanguageuniformly.Foralmostanygesturestherewillprobablybeaminoritywithinagivennationalitywhomightsay"Well,somemightattachthatmeaningtoit,buttomeitmeans..."andthentheywillprovideadifferentinterpretation.Chart一.OntheTerm">——BodyLanguage一.一Conceptandclassificationofbodylanguage/NonverbalmunicationBodylanguageisknownasnon-verbalbehaviorwhichtransmitsinformationthroughgestures,actionsandfacialexpressions.Peoplemunicatewitheachotherbytheirbodylanguageinthewaysofnodding,waving,eyecontacting,shruggingandsoon.Accordingtotheresearchresultsofpsychologists,thesewayscanexpresswhattheverballanguagecannotdirectly.Bodylanguagecanbedividedintosightlanguage,bodytoucheslanguage,postureandgesture,manner,facialexpression,flavorlanguage,proteomicsandclotheslanguage.Nonverbalmunication,posedofpictures,dresses,eyecontact,spatialsignals,gesturesandsoon,isasimportantasverbalmunication.一.二GeneralcharacteristicsofbodylanguageSomebodylanguagesarenotonlyinnatebutalsounconsciousandsubconscious.Takeexcitedpeopleforexample,theirpupilwilldilateautomatically;eyebrowsmovewhengreeting;frownwhendiscontented;yawnwhenfatigued;biteteethwhenangerandusuallypeoplesmilewhenhappy,crywhensadandblushwhenshame.However,otherbodylanguagesarepostnatal.Variouspeoplesformuniquebodylanguagesduetothelanguagebackgroundsoftheirliving.ThegestureofBritainandAmericanmanistotallydifferentwhentheysitwiththeirlegscrossed.Americanlikesshrugging,andtheyoftendoaforwardbodygesturewhentheyspeakinfuturetense.Cupped-handsaluteispeculiaronlyinChina,weuseitinsuchcases:congratulatewhenhappyget-together;extendone’sheartfeltrespectswhenspendfestivals;expressheartfeltthanksandentrustinsomespecialsituations.一.三TheimportanceofknowinghowwemunicateHowweeacrosstosomeoneisdecidedonlyforasmallpartbythewordswespeak.Toleaveagoodimpressionbehind,sayatajobinterview,itisimportantthatweknow,andtoacertainextentcancontrol,ourbodylanguage.Thepersononthereceivingendofourbodylanguagewillhaveafeelingorimpressionthatisoftendifficulttodescribe,difficulttoputintowordsordifficulttoprovewhatactuallywasmunicated.Haven’tweallsaidattimes:‘Ihaveafeelinghe\shelikesme’,orsomethinglike:‘Idoubtifwhathe\sheissayingisreallythetruth’.Thistypeoffeelingiscalledintuition.Bodylanguageplaysabigroleinintuitionasitgivesusmessagesabouttheotherpersonthatwecaninterpretatanintuitivelevel.Itisthereforenecessarytogettoknowourownbodylanguagefirst.Weshouldlearnaboutitsothatwecanrecognizeitinothersaswellasinourselves.Forthispurpose,wewilldescribeallthedifferentaspectsofbodylanguageinthefollowingparts.Wecanlearnsomethingfromthedifferentaspectsofbodylanguage.Chart二DifferentbodylanguageofdifferentcountryBecausecultureinfluencesmunication.Differentcountryhasdifferentculture.Sothewaypeopleindifferentcountriesmunicateisdifferenttoo.Intheworldofgestures,thebestsinglepieceofadviceistoremembertwothings--"Ask"andbe"aware."Ifyouseeamotionorgesturethatisneworconfusing,askalocalpersonwhatitsignifies.Then,beawareofthemanybodysignsandcustomsaroundyou.二.一AsianPacificCulturalValuesFilialpietyorrespectforone'sparentsorelders.Unquestioningrespectforauthority:Oneistaughttorespectthosewholead,tobeloyal,trustworthyandtofollowthroughonassignments.Patriarchalauthorityoftheelder:Theparentsdefinethelawandthechildrenareexpectedtoabidebytheirrequestsanddemands.Thefatherisgenerallyauthoritarian,distantandreservedbuthispositionisrespected.Extendedfamily--anextensionoffilialpiety:Asiansinthepastvaluedlargefamilies.Extendedfamilyincludedtheimmediatefamilyandrelatives.Itistheresponsibilityofthefamilymemberstoprovidefortheelders.IntheAsianfamily,asoneapproachestheoldage,itisthebeginningofrelaxationandrespect.Loyaltytofamily:Independentbehaviorthatmaydisrupttheharmonyofthefamilyishighlydiscouraged.Conceptofshame:Onemustnotbringdishonorordisgracetoone'sselforfamily.Also,thisconceptisusedasacontrollingfactorinthebehaviorofthefamily.Verticalauthority-Verticalauthoritygoesfromtoptobottomintheextendedfamily.Oneisnotencouragedtocriticizeorconfrontanindividualpublicly.Fatherandsonrelationshipisimportantbecausesonsarevaluedtocontinueonthefamilyname.Controlofemotions,self-disciplineandself-controlareemphasized.Thissuppressionofemotionshasgivenrisetothestereotypicalnationof"theinscrutableAsians."Oneshouldonlyspeakwhenspokento,speakonlyifonehassomethingimportanttosay,haveinnerstamina/strengthtotoleratecrises."Beasolidperformerandnotshowanyemotion."Asianwomenareexpectedtocarryondomesticduties,marryandhavechildren.Educationishighlyvalued.Childrenlearntoobeyathomeandareexpectedtodosoatschool.Theyaretaughttofollowalltherulesandregulations,respectauthorityandtospendalloftheirtimestudyingtoobtainhighgrades.Scholasticachievementishighlyprizedandco-curricularactivitiesaregivenlowpriority.Fatalism:Fatalismmeanstheacceptanceofambiguityanduncertaintyorwillingnesstobepatientoracceptingthingstheyare.Humbleness:Thevisibilityofthegroupnottheindividualisstressed.Powerissharedcollectively.Itisnotpolitetoacceptpublicrecognitionortocallattentiontooneself.Hardworkwillberecognizedandrewarded.Successsyndrome:Beingsuccessfulisparamount.Asiansarewell-advisedtofindthesafestandleastvisibleroutestosuccessorchoosecareersthataresafeandrespectable.Fearoffailureandfearofbriningshametothefamilyaredominantforces.Risktakingisnotencouraged.Success=Stability/Respectability.二.二monAsiangesturesBeckoninggesturesTobeckonsomeone,thepalmfacesdownwardandthefingersaremovedinascratchingmotion.Oneshouldavoidusingfingersinpointingtoanobject.TouchinggesturesNotouchingischaracteristicoftheAsiansocieties.Publicdisplayofaffectionistobeavoided.Pushingorbumpingisunavoidableincrowdsthoughitisbettertoavoidthiskindofthings.Othernon-verbalgesturesRespectforelderlypeopleisfirstandforemostimportantinthetraditionalAsianculture.Silenceorquietlisteningisasignofpolitenessandofcontemplation.Duringconversations,oneshouldbeespeciallycarefulaboutinterrupting.Smilingoftencancoveragamutofemotions:happiness,anger,confusion,apologies,orsadness.Displayinganopenmouth(suchasyawningorawide-openlaugh)isconsideredrude,especiallywithwomenwhocovertheirmouthswhengigglingorlaughing.Oneiswell-advisedtotrytomaintainabalancedposture,standorsiterectlyorsquarely.Itisinadvisabletoslouchorputonthegroundwitharmsinthelaporonthearmrest.Crossingthelegsatthekneesoranklesisthepreferredformratherthanwithoneankleovertheotherknee.二.二.一ChinaGreetinggesturesThewesterncustomofshakinghandsisthecustomaryformofgreeting,butoftenanodoftheheadorslightbowissufficient.HuggingandkissingwhengreetingareunmoninChina.Businesscardsareoftenexchanged,andhiscardshouldbeprintedinhisownlanguageandinChinese.Also,itismorerespectfultopresenthiscard(oragiftoranyotherarticle)withbothhands.TheChineseareenthusiasticapplauders.Onemaybegreetedwithgroupclapping,evenbysmallchildren.Whenapersonisapplaudedinthisfashionitisthecustomforthatpersontoreturntheapplauseorresponditwitha"thankyou".Whenwalkinginpublicplaces,directeyecontactorstaringisunmoninlargercities,especiallyinthoseareasaccustomedtoforeignvisitors.However,insmallermunities,visitorsmaybeasubjectofgreatcuriosityandthereforeonemaynoticesomestares.TouchinggesturesGenerallyspeaking,theChinesearenotatouch-orientedsociety(especiallytrueforvisitors).SoitiswisetoavoidtouchingoranyprolongedformofbodycontactinChina.Opendisplaysofaffectionareveryrare.Ontheotherhand,onemayseepeopleofthesamesexwalkinghandinhand,whichissimplyagestureoffriendshipinmostcases.Therecanbenoworryaboutabitofpushingandshovinginstoresorwhengroupsboardpublicbusesortrains.Apologiesareneitherofferednorexpected.PersonalspaceismuchlessinChina.TheChinesewillstandmuchcloserthanWesterners.BeckoninggesturesTobeckonsomeone,thepalmfacesdownwardandthefingersaremovedinascratchingmotion.Oneshouldavoidusingtheindexfinger,palmupandtowardhearer,inabackforthcurlingmotiontowardhearer’sbody.Thatgestureisusedonlyforanimalsandcanbeconsideredrude.Theopenhandisusedforpointing(notjustoneortwofingers).Also,oneshouldavoidusinghisfeettogestureortomoveortouchotherobjectsbecausethefeetareconsideredlowlyanddirty.Othernon-verbalgesturesItislegallynecessarytoavoidbeingphysicallyintimidating(beinghumble),especiallywitholderorseniorpeople.Postureisimportant,soonehasnoreasontoslouchorputhisfeetondesksorchairs.Silenceisperfectlyacceptableandcustomary.Silence(listening)isasignofpolitenessandofcontemplation.Duringconversations,oneshouldbeespeciallycarefulaboutinterrupting.Chinesetrytheirbesttoavoidsaying"no."Agesturethatisoftenusedtosignal"no"orthat"somethingisverydifficult"(pausingtorethink)istotiptheheadbackwardandaudiblysuckairinthroughtheteeth.Onpublicstreets,spittingandblowingthenosewithoutcoveringitwithahandkerchiefisfairlymon,althoughthegovernmentiswagingacampaigntoreducethisincities.Itusedtoberegardedasriddingthebodyofawaste--anactofpersonalhygiene.However,todayitisasignof"low"classorbeinguneducated.二.二.二JapanInsummary,formostvisitorstheJapaneseareplexanddifficulttounderstand.Remembertwothings:(一)style,orthewaythingsaredone,isjustasimportantassubstance,orwhatisbeingdone;and(二)oneshouldwatchhisJapanesehostscarefullyandfollowtheirexample.GreetinggesturesThegracefulactofbowingisthetraditionalgreeting.However,theyhavealsoadoptedthewesterncustomofshakinghands,albeitwithalightgripandperhapswitheyesaverted.Meanwhile,toshowrespectfortheircustoms,itwouldflatterthemtoofferaslightbowwhenbeingintroduced.AsinChinaoneisalsotoavoidhuggingandkissingwhengreeting.Itisconsideredrudetostare.Prolongeddirecteyecontactisconsideredimpoliteorevenintimidating.Itisconsideredrudetostandwithone’shandorhandsinhispockets,especiallywhengreetingsomeoneorwhenaddressingagroupofpeople.TheseeminglysimpleactofexchangingbusinesscardsismoreplexinJapanbecausethebusinesscardrepresentsnotonlyone'sidentitybutalsoone'sstationinlife.HiscardsshouldbeprintedinhisownlanguageorinJapaneseinthiscase.TouchinggesturesTheJapanesearenotatouch-orientedsociety,soonehaseveryreasontoavoidopendisplaysofaffection,touchingoranyprolongedformofbodycontact.Queuesaregenerallyrespected;itisonlyincrowdedtrainandsubwaystationswherethehugevolumeofpeoplecausestouchingandpushing.BeckoninggesturesItisconsideredinsultingtopointtosomeonewithfingersextendedandthethumbfoldedintothepalm.Tobeckonsomeone,thepalmfacesdownwardandthefingersaremovedinascratchingmotion.Othernon-verbalgesturesBecauseofthehighregardforgraciousnessandrestraint,oneshouldnotshout,raisethevoiceinanger,orexhibitanyexcessivelydemonstrativebehavior.AmongtheJapanese,smilingoftencancoveragamutofemotions:happiness,anger,confusion,apologiesorsadness.Displayinganopenmouth(suchasyawningorawideopenlaugh)isconsideredrudeinJapan,especiallywithwomenwhocovertheirmouthswhengigglingorlaughing,justasinChina.Oneoftentriestomaintainabalancedposture,standorsiterectlyorsquarely.Therecanbenoreasontoslouchorputhisfeetondesksorchairs.Whenseated,theymayhavebothfeetsquarelyonthegroundwitharmsinthelaporonthearmrests.Crossingthelegsatthekneeoranklesisthepreferredformratherthanwithoneankleovertheotherknee.Silenceisperfectlyacceptableandcustomary.Silence(listening)isasignofpolitenessandofcontemplation.Duringconversations,oneshouldbeespeciallycarefulaboutinterrupting.Onewaytoshowconcentrationandattentivenessistoclosetheeyesincontemplationandnodtheheadslightly,orupanddown.Japanesemenliketoavoidsaying"no",butonegesturethatisoftenusedtosignal"no"orthat"somethingisverydifficult"istotiptheheadbackwardandaudiblysuckairinthroughtheteeth.HereChinaandJapandemonstratethesharedorsimilarorientalculture.Agesturetomean"Idonotknow,"or"Idon'tunderstand"or"No,Iamundeserving"iswavingthehandbackandforthinfrontofone'sownface(palmoutward).The"O.K."gestureinJapanmaybeinterpretedasthesignalfor"money"or"givemechangeincoins."Blowingyournoseinpublicisconsideredrude.Thehandkerchiefisusedprimarilyforwipingthemouthordryingthehandswhenleavingthewashroom.Papertissuesareusedforblowingthenoseandthendiscarded.Whenenteringaprivatehomeortraditionalrestaurantswithtatami(bamboomats)floors,itisusuallycustomarytoremoveone’sshoesandplacethemwiththetoespointingtowardtheoutdoors.BowingManywesternersviewthebowasanactofsubservience,butinJapanthatwouldbepletelywrong.FortheJapaneseabowsignalsrespectandhumility,thetwoqualitiescovetedthroughoutAsia.Althoughitisnotabsolutelynecessary,aslightbowdemonstratesthatonerespectstheircustoms.InJapan,wherestyleandgraceandcourteousnessarerevered,thatsimpleactwouldsurelybenoted,appreciated,andprobablyremembered.二.三AMERICANGESTURES二.三.一monGesturesAmericansareanottouch(touch/nottouch)oriented.Innormalsocialsituations,Americansgenerallystandabout三零inchesapartfromoneanother,whichisalsoconsideredtheirpersonal"fortzone."Atsportingeventsorthetheater,Americansusuallyslideintoacrowdedaislewhilefacingforward(forward/thepeople).二.三.二GesturesMeaningAmericansshakehands,andfromanearlyagetheyaretaughttodosowithafirm,solidgripwhengreetingoneanother.Americanchildrenaretaughttolookatothersdirectlyintheeyeswhengreetingandconversing.Ifnot,itmeansshynessorweakness.Armraisedortheopenhand"waggling"backandforthsignals"hello"or"good-bye",oronetriestogetsomeoneelse'sattention.Americanswilloftenwavetoanotherpersonandthenturntomakehandscoopinwardorraisetheindexfinger/palmtowardone'sface,andmakea"curling"motionwiththatfingertobeckonorsummonanotherperson.Palmfacingoutwiththeindexandmiddlefingersdisplayedintheshapeofa"V."signify"Victory"or"peace."Thumbandforefingerformacirclewiththeotherthreefingerssplayedupward;itisusedfrequentlyandenthusiastically."O.K."meaning"fine"or"yes."Thumbupwithaclosefist:supportorapproval,"O.K."or"GoodGoing!"or"Goodjob!"(Fig.一)WhistlingPrettywoman:cheeringatsportingevents,applaudingperformancesNoddingandshakingthehead:YesandNoDirecteyecontact:Asians,PuertoRicans,WestIndians,AfricanAmerican,NativeAmericansconsideredittoberude,ordisrespectful,orintimidating,oritmayindicatesexualovertones.Waving"no"tomostEuropeans:.Europeansraisethearmand"Bob"thehandupanddownatthewrist."Beckoning:EuropeansandAsiansraisethearm,palmfacingdown,andmakeascratchingmotionwithfingers.InAustraliaandinIndonesia,curlingtheindexfingerisusedforbeckoninganimals."V"forvictory:InEngland,palmfacinginwardtowardthefaceisanobscenegesture.(Fig.二)Theo.k.gesture:InFranceitmeanszero.InJapanitmeansmoneyorcoins.InBrazil,Germany,andtheformerUSSR,itisobscenegesture.(Fig.四)Thumbsup:AlsousedforhitchhikinginAmerica;inNigeriaarudegesture;inAustralia,ifpumpedupanddownitisanobscenegesture.InGermanyandJapan,thesignalstandsfor"one".(Fig.一)Whistling:--ThroughoutEurope,whistlingatpubliceventsisasignalofdisapproval,evenderision.Noddingandshakinghead:OppositemeaninginBulgaria,partsofGreece,Yugoslavia,Turkey,Iran,andBengalCrazy:inArgentina,"youhavetelephonecall".二.三.二.一AmericangesturesandAmericangesturemeaningGreetingsandhandshakeFarewells:Raisingthehandandwiththefull,openpalmwavingthehandbackandforth;raisingthehandandwithafull,openpalmwavingthehandupanddownatthewristBeckoning:Raisingthehand,withtheindexfingerraisedaboutheadhighoralittlehigher;raisingthehandandwiththefull,openpalmwavingthehandbackandforthtoattractattention;curlingtheindexfingerinandoutO.K.:Thumbandforefingermakingacircle(Fig.四)GoodJob:Thumbsup(Fig.一)"Victory"or"peace":holdingtheindexandmiddlefingersupright(Fig.二)二.三.二.二Americangesture-headYes:noddingtheheadupanddownNo:shakingtheheadsidetoside.Thinkingorconfusedorskeptical:scratchingtheheadShowsattentiveness,listening:directeyecontactSharingasecretorflirtatious:winkingwithoneeyeFlirtatiousgesturebymen:eyebrowflash(raisingtheeyebrows)Incredulityoramazement:rollingtheeyesIcan'thearyou:cuppingtheearSomeoneorsomethingiscrazy:rotatingtheforefinger(index)aroundinfrontoftheearDisgustorWhat'sthatsmell?:WrinklingthenoseSmellsbadorstinks:holdingthenosewiththumbandforefingerApproval:whistlingDisapproval:hissesandboosRude,crude,insulting:spittingTirednessorboredom:yawningDerision:stickingoutthetongueContemplation,Iamthinkingchinstroke:tappingtheheadwithforefinger二.三.二.三LegsandfeetWhenseatedcrossinglegs,malescrossattheankles;restankleofonelegontopofthekneeoftheotherleg;somecrossthelegsattheknees.Femalescrossthelegsattheknees,crossesthelegsatthekneesandcurlstheupperfootaroundthecalfofthelowerleg.Aggressiveandverymasculinestance:standingwithfeetapart(widestance)Femininestance:standingwithfeetapart(narrowstance)Militaryexhibitingrespectandattention:heelstogether,toespointedoutataslightangle二.三.二.四Arms,hands,andfingersGoal,touchdown,victory,orsurrender:upraisedarmsDefensive,disagree:foldedarmsAggression,resistance,impatience,oranger:standingwiththehandsofthehipsbowedoutward(armsakimbo)Affection,friendshipwithchildren:handholdingAnger,resentment,oroppositi