The Application of Body Language in Intercultural
Communication
Abstract：Like verbal language, body language is also a part of culture. Different culture shares different body languages except some world known ones. And in intercultural communication， the same body language may mean different things. This paper， on the basis of some examples， emphasizes the application of body languages in intercultural communication by comparing different body languages between different countries. The function of communication should not be neglected， it can obtain better communication effect. Conversely, communication errors will be caught. In cross-cultural communication， let's learn and understand the application of body language in different countries and regions.
Keywords： body language； intercultural communication；diversity
Introduction: Body language is also called physique language. It is a means to express and convey thoughts and feelings through humans’ facial expression, gesture builder, body stance and posture. It’s almost humans’ instinct to convey thoughts and feelings through humans’ posture. This is because that posture is simple, convenient, fast, and intuitionist. And it is used extremely widely in our daily life. And sometimes, it can express our information more masterly than voice and give opposite side more space to think. What’s more, body language can enhance and complement language performance, and make language information substantiated.
1. Body language’s features are a great amount of information, coherence, changeable, and credible. There are three reasons:
(1)Body language can make communication in multi aspects and multi levels.
Body language, such as, expression in one’s eyes, dress, gesture, posture, distance, volume, rhythm, can convey information at the same time. And these make opposite side get all kinds of information in multi aspects and different means at the same time.
(2)Only if communication both sides keep within range of vision and audition, their body language will constantly exchange information. Facial expression, gesture, posture and location constantly changing can convey coherence and changeable information through vision.
(3)As usual, body language is shown in unconscious situation. So body language just shows people’s actual psychology and less something fake. This makes communication more real and credible.
2. The essential and importance of learning body language in intercultural communication
Intercultural communication is also called cross-cultural communication. It means that interaction happen between different cultural background people. As a result of different nation in different substance, society, religion and other different environment, and their respective language environment leads to a different language habits, social culture, and many other environmental factors. So body language doesn’t stand for all the same meaning in different culture. Non-verbal communication is one of basic of intercultural communication, and body language is the importance of Non-verbal communication. In recent years, with the pace of reform and opening up to the outside world speeding up, especially since China join in the WTO, foreign affairs have become increasing frequently, intercultural communication between a lot of countries is more and more extensive, and there is an increasing number of people refer to intercultural communication through global Internet. If body language is used well in intercultural communication, it can obtain better communication effect. Conversely， communication errors will be caught. As a foreign language learner, we should not only pay attention to application of body language in
intercultural communication, but also know about some common body language in foreign countries in order to avoid misunderstanding. Then I will show meaning and application of different countries’ body language, such as, distance, eye contact, body touch, and facial expression.
3. The application of body language in intercultural communication (1) The distance
Anthropologist fined that in face-to-face situation, individuals will keep different distance unconsciously based on the intimate or disperse relationship. This distance change, which result from the intimate or disperse relationship between different individuals, is called interpersonal distance in psychology. The change of interpersonal distance, as individuals are communicating, is the emotional expression in body language.
There is an example to show different concept of the distance influenced by different culture. At an international conference, two professors, one Latin, and the other American, were talking. Throughout the conversation, the Latin kept advancing while the American kept retreating until the American had his back against a wall. The underlying reason for this situation lies on the concept of the different body distance each of them. The Latin did not feel comfortable unless he was very close to the American, and the American, on the contrary, did not feel relaxed unless the distance was greater. In this example, we can know that the distance of the both is the key. There are different opinions about that while people of different nations are talking, how long distance kept away from each other is appropriate. According to research, it is said that in the United States social or business talking, four major types of distances express in four different situations: intimate distance, personal distance, social distance, public distance. Talking close between the two sides is suit for the most intimate occasions, such as the relation of couple. The distance is from 0 to about 45 centimeters; The distance of conversation among friends, acquaintances or relatives is generally from 45 to 80 centimeters apart, which
is advisable; For people who work together or do business, both sides are apart from 1.30 meters to 3 meters; In public, generally for speakers in public and for teachers in classrooms, it is farther than 2 or 3 meters. And, of course, leaving too far away from others may be weird, but too close will make people feel uncomfortable, except some otherwise reasons, such as show love or encourage each other, but this is another thing. In English speaking countries, talk between general friends and acquaintances should avoid contacting with each other's any part of the body, ever if touch once may also cause adverse reactions. If one side accidentally touch each other, he or she will generally said: \"sorry \"; \" Oh, I 'm sorry \"; \"Excuse me'' and some other apologize words. The western culture pay much attention to democracy, individual right and privacy, while the eastern pay little attention to the concept of privacy. In lift and bus, strangers are crowded and touch each other. To this situation, the eastern can stand, while the western can’t stand.
(2)Eye contact
Eye contact is an important aspect of body language. In communication, the function of eye contact is enormous and intense, and eye contact always leaves the opposite side a deep impression. As the saying goes: ''Eyes are the windows of the soul'', without speaking, eyes as well can send so many messages to people: angry, sad, cheerful, sensual, expressive, worried and so on. The number of messages we can send is almost limitless. Different kind of sight reflects different mind, and make different effect. Eye is an efficient way to express inner world. The change of mood, emotion and attitude can be shown through individuals’ eyes.
Eye contact is mystical. Most studies, as well as our personal observations, show all the people that on different culture condition, eye contact will tell us who the source-encoder is and who the recipient is. In the United States and most western countries, when people make a communication, both hope other people look at themselves, instead of not seeing, otherwise they don't want to
have a dialogue or conversation. Especially in a public speech, looking at the audience and eye contact are what we should do. The speaker bows his head at speech or always flickers his eyes, which will lead to the audience feel that the speaker is coward and don't respect others. But sometimes it is not true. However, in China, Japan and Mexico, speakers and listeners don't have to look at the other person, because the direct eye contact is out of manners. In Japan, when people are talking, they look at each other's throat, instead of the eyes, which is right. Chinese will feel uncomfortable and uneasy, when individuals make a communication and stare at opposite side. At the same time, in our daily life, when we meet someone on the street, we can look at them straightly. Until leaving 8 feets can we move our sight. Before reaching, each one must suggest which side will you go, then we can successfully go our own way. However, Arabs, on the other hand, look directly into the eyes of their communication partners, and do so for long periods. They believe such contact shows interest in the other person and helps them assess the truthfulness of the other person's words. What’s more, English men hold that it’s a Gentleman bearing to stare at opposite side directly. We can see that in communication function, varied means of eye contact in different countries reflect different background and national cultural psychologies. We should observe and compare carefully, and improve communication and cooperation among different culture.
(3)Body touch
Body touch conveys a great number of information, and body touch expresses information most directly, such as, handshaking. Handshaking is a common etiquette in many counties when meeting others, especially on formal occasions. In China, people will shake hands when they meet each other and say goodbye. And when they hold the same opinion on a question throughout talking, they will express closer relationship through shaking hands. In German, German just shake hands once. As usual, when they enter house, they will
shake hands. In the United States, handshaking will be made very hard between men. In Korea, firstly Korean will put hands together and then shake hands when they meet. When you communicate with Christian, you should pay attention to the taboo that it seems to be ominous to shake hands with others when it is possible to make your hands crossed with others' among people That two people shake hands across a door or people who is striding threshold shake hands isn’t allowed by Russian. They think that what to do like that is unlucky.
There are many means to communicate through behavior. However, head behavior and gesture are obvious. Different culture gives gesture different function in communication. Gesture in different countries has different expression meaning. Chinese like touching children’s heads to express love. However, western women will feel uncomfortable to this behavior. In the United Stated, people say goodbye by waving one hand. But in South America, people won’t go when they see this gesture, on the contrary, they will come. In the United Stated, people make a circle by index finger and thumb, and keep another three straight. This gesture means “OK”. However, in France, this gesture means “nothing” and “zero”, in Japan, it means “Get it!”, in Korea and Burma, it stand for money, in Tunisia, this gesture means “fool”, in India, it means “right”, in Indonesia, is means “fail”. And in China, when we want to show “No” “I don’t know” “Nothing can be done”, we will wave head, wave hand. But it’s amazing that in Bulgaria, Greece, Yugoslavia, Turkey and Iran, waving head means “Yes”, in the United Stated and Britain, they will put head on one side, shrug shoulders, bend arms and naturally spread hand out.
(4) Facial expression.
Facial expression conveys feelings through facial muscle changing. Face can adequately and quickly display different feelings, such as, happy, sad, painful, horrific, angry, and so on. Facial expression is a mirror of inner work and emotion, and it can veritably and accurately reflect emotion and achieve
information exchange.
Facial expression usually is random and spontaneous. When Chinese meet guests, we will smile. But Flathead (American Indian tribe) meet guests by crying. In China, smacking lips means “How delicious is!”. However, in Britain, it means “Lack of taste”, and in most Mediterranean countries, this facial expression means a symbol of exaggeratively sadness and pain. American children stretch out their tongue, which means mock and revolt. In China, Chinese means shy.
Conclusion
Although the examples I gave are not complete, they can help to explain some differences of body language, also show the importance of knowing about another body language. In a sense, all the body language should be comprehended by putting into a specific situation. If the specific is ignored, there will be misunderstanding. As a foreign language learner, we should not only pay attention to application of body language in intercultural communication, but also know about some common body language in foreign countries in order to avoid misunderstanding and get better communication effect. Some habits are the same as Chinese, but some are different. Sometimes, we should do in Rome as Rome does. In a short, body language is a very important parts of Non - linguistic behavior，and is a important mean used to express people own thoughts and feelings. If we can grasp well the application of body language in intercultural communication, we will get a better communication effect. On the contrary, we ignore the difference of body language in intercultural communication, which will make the opposite side feel unhappy and embarrassed and influence communication. Therefore, in intercultural communication, we should learn and understand meaning and application of body language in different countries and regions to reduce communication conflict and improve communication quality.
Reference:
[1] 顾曰国.跨文化交际 [M] .北京：外语教学与研究出版社，1997. [2] 贾雨新.跨文化交际 [M] .上海：上海外语教育出版社，1997.
[3] 郑树堂，胡全生.新视野英语教程 读写教程第一册 [M] .北京：外教研社，2004. [4] 刘玄恩，刘永发 实用体态语 [M] 北京：华文出版社，1996
[5] 蔡丽萍. 从英汉谚语的比较看中英文化差异. 天津外国语学院学报, 2000 [6] 胡穗鄂. 文化与交际:新编实用英语教程[M].广州: 暨南大学出版社, 2005
因篇幅问题不能全部显示，请点此查看更多更全内容