A Contrastive Study of Body Language Between Chinese and Englishspeaking Peoples 英汉身势语的对比研究.doc

A Contrastive Study of Body Language Between Chinese and English-speaking PeoplesAbstract In human communication, people use body language to communicate, as well as verbal language. Body language is also called Kinesics. It belongs to the scope of nonverbal communication. Body language plays an important role in complementing, accenting, symbolizing or substituting utterance meaning. Body language, like verbal language, is also a part of culture. 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 peoples cross-cultural communication competence, reinforce the heart-to-heart understanding and in the end will benefit the communication between English and Chinese people. This paper mainly expounds the features and functions of body language in pragmatics, presents the meanings of body language in different cultures from the point of cultures, researches body languages cultural differences between English and Chinese, especially those in gesture, posture, facial expression, eye contact and physical distance, and discusses the importance of knowing cultural meanings. The research of English and Chinese body language in nonverbal communication is helpful for people to diminish or avoid misunderstandings caused by the cultural differences of body language.Key Words body language; English-speaking countries; China; contrast英汉身势语的对比研究摘 要 人们在进行交流的过程中，除了运用语言这种普遍的方式外，也经常运用身势语。身势语又称体态语，是人类交际中最常见的一种非语言交际手段。身势语对话语意义起着补充，强调，表情，象征或替代作用。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。各个民族有不同的非语言交际方式。了解英汉身势语的不同文化内涵，有助于英汉国家的人民之间更好地交流，提高跨文化交际能力，增进感情与心态的理解，做到“入乡随俗”，传情达意。本文重点论述了身势语的语用特征，功能，并从文化角度对身势语在不同的文化背景中的含义作了介绍，探讨了中国和英语国家在手势，姿态，面部表情，眼神与体距等方面的文化差异，论述了了解文化含义在非语言交际中的重要性。对跨文化交际中的英汉体态语进行探讨，有助于人们减少或避免在跨文化交际中因体态语的文化差异而引起的误解。关键词 身势语；英语国家；中国；对比1.IntroductionHuman 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 meanings. One expert estimated that verbal communication occupied about 30 percent of the whole communication behaviors. “American linguist Samovar affirms that in a face-to-face communication, only about 35 percent of messages are sent by verbal behaviors and others are sent by nonverbal behaviors.” 1 Verbal and nonverbal behaviors, which are both the important parts of human communication, can express feeling, interact ideas and send messages. They are the indispensable tools that can satisfy human communication.Body language is also called Kinesics, including eye contact, gestures, posture, facial expressions, and physical distance. As an important way of nonverbal communication, gestures are the silent and authentic language that can express peoples inner emotions. They are a part of a national culture. In order to understand a culture well and make the communication more effective, it is necessary to discuss the pragmatic features and functions of body language.2. Pragmatic features of body language.2.1EmblemsEmblems substitute for words. “Emblems are gestures that have a specific meaning that is same for both the sender and the receiver of a particular nonverbal message.” 2 For example, the nonverbal signs for “OK,” “Victory,” “come here,” “be quiet,” and “its cold.”2.2IllustratorsIllustrators help to complement or depict spoken words. “They make your communications more vivid and help to maintain your listeners attention. They also help to clarify and make more intense your verbal messages”3 “by punctuating and displaying the structure of our verbal messages, by emphasizing certain phrases, by signaling continued interaction, and by providing information in addition to the words that we use.” 42.3RegulatorsRegulators are body movements that aid in the actual flow of conversation. They monitor, maintain, control the speaking of another individual. Regulators tell others when peoples conversational turns will be yielded or maintained. At the same time, they also allow people to deny or request a speaking turn within conversations2.4Affect displaysAffect displays are the movements of the face that convey emotional meaning. “Affect displays may be unintentional (as when they give you away) or intentional (as when you want to show anger, love or surprise).” 52.5AdaptorsEkman and Friesen classify three types of adaptors based on their focus, direction, or target: self-adaptors, alter-directed adaptors, and object-adaptors.(i)Self-adaptorsSelf-adaptors are generally not directed at others but serve some personal need. They usually satisfy a physical need, especially to make people more comfortable, for example, biting lip when anxious, pushing hair out of eyes, scratching head to relieve an itch or moistening lips when they are dry. In general, the more nervous one feel, the more and clearer such behaviors are. (ii) Alter-directed adaptorsAlter-directed adaptors are body motions directed at others and they are learned from past experiences and from the manipulation of objects. “They include gestures used to protect oneself from others, such as putting the hands in front of the face; movements made to attack others, such as assuming a fighting position”6(iii) Object-adaptorsObject-adaptors are those that involve the use of an object, for example, chewing on a pencil or clicking a ballpoint pen. Most object-adaptors are unconscious. They would be elicited from verbal behaviors in certain context.3.Pragmatic functions of body languageBody language has its own unique pragmatic functions in human interaction. It falls into five types of functions: complement, substitution, emotional expression, accentuation and symbolization.3.1Complement Body language can be used to complete, describe, or accent verbal cues. Body language adds some information to the verbal message. For example, when talking about the big house one bought, he/she indicates how big it is with his/her hands.3.2SubstitutionUsing body language in place of verbal messages is known as substitution. Body language can replace verbal behaviors to convey certain meaning. People often nod their head to express “yes” without saying the word.3.3Emotional expressionThe most obvious function of body language is to express emotions. When people are communicating, they can express their feelings through various signs or behaviors. When they are conversing, they will make various facial expressions and gestures without self-consciousness, which often leak their affects or thoughts. 3.4Accentuation The accompanying body language very often can add force to the verbal messages. A forceful gesture, exaggerated facial expressions all give “accent” to the intended messages. Body language also can be used alone to express certain meaning.3.5SymbolizationSymbolizing gestures are usually common formalities. They are conventional ones. Since they are restrained by certain traditional culture and belong to some nation, they can only be used in some specific culture. Above are the pragmatic functions of body language. But they only have definite meanings in certain context.4.A comparative study of body language between Chinese and English-speakingcountriesBecause the cultures of different nations are rooted. Further, its not easy for people to absorb the signs which are contrary to their habits. So, they cant 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.Body language is an important part of nonverbal communication. If people dont 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” signwith 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 ministers gesture, as given, meant quite something else. Instead of “V” for “Victory”, it meant something dirty; it was an obscene ge sture. 7From 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 dont 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.4.1Contrastive study of gesturesGesture is the expressive movement of a part of body, especially the hand and the head. Although people are normally not aware of it, they use gestures when they are talking. If they want to understand gestures correctly, they must take the context or situation into consideration, otherwise gestures can be confusing indeed. For instance, a thumb in the air might mean a request for a ride on the highway or “ok” on the launch pad. To touch the nose can indicate “dishonesty” in conversation or “failure” in contexts such as a game of chess. As with verbal language, nonverbal codes are not universal. A lot of gestures vary from culture to culture. Here are some examples:4.1.1 The same gesture with different meanings in different culturesSince the cultures in different countries are different, the same gesture would have different meanings in different countries. Please look at the table1:Table1Gestures Meanings Chinese English-speaking countriesRaising forefinger and middle finger to form a “V” The figure of two VictoryMaking a circle with thumb and index finger while extending others The figure of zero or three OkHand raised to throat, fingers extended, palm down Suicide Im very full.Moving the index finger in a circle in front of the ear Think aboutThink of Thats crazy!He/she is crazy!Thumb up High praise, good A request for ride on the highwayIndex finger touches the temple or the forehead He/she is very foolish.There is something wrong with his/her mind. He/she is very clever/intelligent.Hand extended toward person, palm open and down, with all fingers crooked in a beckoning motion Come here GoodbyeHand extended toward person, closed hand, palm up, with forefinger only moving back and forth Offensive Come hereForefinger near lips with the sound “shhh” Disapproval, hissing Be silent/quietSnap Rude, uneducated Quick, brisk and sharpA speaker or performer clapping at the same time audience applauds Appreciation, mutual positive feeling Immodest, applauding oneselfTouching or pointing to tip of ones own nose with raised forefinger Its me.Im the one. Slightly funny4.1.2Different gestures with same meaningThough the same gesture would have different meanings in different countries, the different gestures would also have the same meaning. Please look at the table2:Table2Meanings Gestures Chinese English-speaking countriesBad Raising little finger Thumb down“ I dont 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 ones face several times quickly, similar to scratching, but with the forefinger straight Forefinger of each hand extended, palms down in front of ones body, one forefinger makes several brushing movements over the back of the other forefingerPunish oneself Giving oneself boxes on the face Giving oneself boxes on the earWelcome, congratulation Applauding and clapping hands Applauding and snapping ones fingers“Im very full” after a meal One or both hands open, lightly patting ones own stomach Hand raised to throat, fingers extended, palm downHigh praise, the best Thumb up Closed hand, forefinger up“No, dont do that” Moving the head from side to side Moving the index finger from side to side“Thats crazy!”“He/she is crazy!” Moving the index finger from side to side Moving the index finger in a circle in front of the ear4.1.3Gesture and meaning in one culture without equivalent in other culturesThere are also many gestures only existing in one culture without equivalent in other cultures.For example, the American “No, dont do that” gesture, moving the index finger from side to side with forefinger up and others closed is not used in China. To 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 phrasecross ones 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 “Its enough”. Touching or pointing to tip of ones own nose with raised forefinger means “Its me.” “Im 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.From above examples, people can come to a conclusion, that is, if they want to learn a language