英语本科毕业论文非言语交际文化.doc

本科毕业论文 非言语交际文化学生姓名： 学生学号： 200320103137 院（系）： 外国语学院 年级专业： 2003级英语本科5班 指导教师： 二七年五月Cultures in Non-verbal CommunicationHuang DanUnder the Supervisor ofHe XuedeSchool of Foreign Languages and CulturesPanzhihua UniversityMay 2007ContentsAbstract.IKey Words.I摘要. II关键词IIIntroduction.1I. The Necessity of Studing Body Language.2II. The Importance of Body Language.2III. The Types and Application of the Body Language.3A. Types of Body Language. 31. Distance Communication.32. Physical Contact.43. Eye Contact.54. Smile and Laughter.85. Gestures.9B. Application of the Body Language.91. Greetings.92. Signs of Affection 113. Physical Contact.12.A Comparative Study of Chinese and American Body Language.13Conclusion.15Acknowledgements.16Bibliography.17AbstractPeople usually rely on languages to communicate, to express their thought or to transmit the information. But there exists another means to convey the information during humans communication, thats non-verbal communication, which is an ancient and convenient form. It is necessary to employ non-verbal communication to express vividly during information transmission and thought and feeling exchanging. People usually use different parts of the body to convey the message and exchange their ideas. This is so called non-verbal communication, which includes gestures, posture, facial expression, distance between speakers, clothes of communicators and so on. Body language differs from culture to culture, therefore body language in different countries means differently. So it is necessary to understand the relationship between non-verbal communication and culture clearly in the cross-cultural communication. In this paper, the writer analyzes certain types of body language, such as distance communications occurs, physical contact, eye contact, smile and laughter and so on; and then explore application of body language, such as greetings, signs of affection, physical contact and so forth; finally the writer makes a comparative study between Chinese and American body language.Key Wordscross-culture; non-verbal communication; body language; culture differences摘要人类进行交流，表达思想，传递信息，主要依靠语言手段，但是，人类传递信息还有一种更有古老和更方便的形式，即非语言交流手段。人们在传递信息，交流思想感情时，如仅使用文字或言语，有时不够生动形象，因而这时就需要非语言交际。人们利用身体各部分来传递信息，交流思想。它包括手势，姿态，面部表情，交谈者之间的距离，谈话者选择衣着打扮的方法所传递的信息等等。肢体语言是随文化的改变而改变，因而不同国家的身势语所表达的意思不一定都相同，所以，在跨文化交际中，要清楚地认识非语言交际与文化之间的关系。在本文中，作者分析，某些类型的肢体语言，例如交流距离的出现， 身体接触， 眼神接触，微笑和大笑等等； 然后探索运用肢体语言，如问候，表达感情， 身体接触等等； 最后作者就中，美两国的肢体语言的异同进行比较研究. 关键词跨文化； 非语言交际； 肢体语言； 文化差异IntroductionWith the rapid development of modern science and economy, globalization has become a major trend in the world today. Everyones necessity depends on the entire world. People from different cultures have urgent needs to exchange and communicate with one another, and mutual understanding and communication from different cultures and regions help to open self, to open society and to realize the peoples need. Hence cross-cultural communication will become a very common social activity. However, generally speaking, differences cultures bring great difficulties to mutual understanding and smoking the calumet together among the people from different cultures, and sometimes they will result in unnecessary losses. Therefore, people from different cultures usually feel strange although they are standing shoulder by shoulder. That is what we call the cross-cultural communication barriers. These barriers of course include the barriers in language. A same time we know sign language code system is only part of the culture, and non-verbal behavior (Samovar, 1981) plays an important role in cross-cultural communication. Non-verbal communication is most likely caused some misunderstanding and conflict. So during cross-culture commission about non-verbal behavior in cross-culture commission are paid more and more attention to. In fact, when people communicate with others, it is not only by means of language, but also by non-verbal behavior.（Bi, 1999）. The Necessity of Studying Body LanguageLanguage as a communicative tool is not only the carrier of culture, but also an integral part of culture. The language reflects the prism of different nations, different culture, lifestyle, ideas, religious rituals, values and thinking habits. Each language (including body language and vice language) bears a "cultural mission", followed by sticky layer culture. Communication is the main means of human contacts. But the non-verbal communication is often closely linked with the former set to make the communicative function. Body language is an expression of one's inner world of silence and an authentic language, but non-verbal means is of the most eye-catching. The Important of Body LanguageBody language in communication plays an irreplaceable role in humans communications. Psychology study found: In the face-to-face communication between two people, more than 50% of the exchange of information is achieved through a silent body language. Body Language is an international one, and different countries in the case of language barrier can use body language to communicate. It has been found that people with a daily average of speech, only 10% of the time of the contacts communication with verbal language. With people of their time are engaged in a subtle body language to communicate. Sometimes, the body language is enough to express all the information, but rather redundant language. As long as people feel that they are in the scope of one another, body language channels of communication exist. The so-called body language means, includes those from the room, eyes, physical contact, posture moves, facial expressions, as well as the non-verbal signals to the body. As different culture has been deeply ingrained in their habits and accepts the opposite signal. Therefore, we should not overlook the impact of cultural binding on body language and the environment given differences in the different meanings. In our conversation, the communication means is not limited to words, although we are not aware of this point. Our facial expressions, gestures, movements in other parts of the body, can convey the message to the people around. Lending a hand with a smile is to show the welcome, frowning expresses dissatisfaction, nodding is agreement, and waving means goodbye. When listening to speech or report, the body relies on to the back of a chair; one yawn said ad nauseam, is not interested. It is generally accepted that these actions indicated above sense, at least the Chinese and Americans are like this. These actions are part of the means of communication. Body language is a part of our culture. However, in a different culture, the significance of body language is not exactly the same. All ethnic groups have different ways of the non-discourse. Therefore, the effective use of English Communication, in some language must be understood by the speakers of gestures, movements, expressed the meaning of such behavior. . The Types and Application of the Body LanguageA .Types of Body Language1. Distance Communications Watch an Arab and an Englishman in conversation. The Arab, showing friendliness in the manner of his people, will stand close to the Englishman. The latter will move back, watching to the Englishman. The Arab will then move forward to be closer; the Englishman will keep moving backward. By the end of the conversation, the two may be quite a distance from the conversation; the two may be quite a distance from the place where they were originally standing!Here, distance between the two is the key factor. Different people have different ideas about the proper distance between people conversing. According to studies, it seems there are four main distances in American social and business relations: intimate, personal, social, and public. Intimate distance ranges from direct physical contact to a distance of about 45 centimeters; this is for peoples most private relations and activities, between man and wife, for example. Personal distance is about 4580 centimeters and is most common when friends, acquaintances and relatives converse. Social distance may be anywhere from about 1.30 meters to 3 meters; people who work together, or people doing business, as well as most of those in conversation at social gatherings tend to keep a distance is farther than any of the above and is generally for speakers in public and for teachers in classrooms. The important thing to keep in mind is that most English-speaking people do not like people to be too close. Being too far apart, of course, may be awkward, but being too close makes people uncomfortable, unless there is a reason, such as showing affection or encouraging intimacy. But that is another matter.2. Physical Contact The appropriateness of physical contact varies with different cultures. Figures from a study offer interesting insight into this matter. Pairs of individuals sitting and chatting in college shops in different places were observed for at last one hour each. The number of times that either one touched the other in that one hour was recorded, as follows: London, 0; Gainesville, Florida, 2; Paris, 10; San Juan, Puerto Rico, 180. These figures speak for themselves. (Li, 2004)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, Im sorry, Excuse me.”In China, a common complaint of western mothers is that Chinese often fondle their babies and very small children. Such behaviorwhether touching, patting, hugging or kissingcan be quite embarrassing and awkward for the mothers. 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.Going beyond the milder forms of touching, we shall take up the matter of hugging and embracing in public. This practice is fairly common among women in many countries. And in most of the more industrialized countries, it occurs frequently between husband and wife and close members of the family when meeting after a period of absence. Hugging and embracing among men, however, is a different matter. Among Arabs, Russians, French, and in several of the east European and Mediterranean countries, a warm hug and a kiss on the cheeks are a standard way of welcome. The same is true with some Latin Americans. In East Asia and in the English-speaking countries, though, the practice is seldom seen. A simple handshake is the custom. The story is told of what happened not long ago when the Japanese prime minister at the time, Mr. Fukuda, went to the U.S. on a state visit. When he stepped out of his car in front of the white house, he was greeted by the American president whit a “bear hug”. The prime minister was flabbergasted; others of the Japanese delegation were amazed; many Americans were surprisedit was so unusual and so unexpected. If the president had bowed low in Japanese fashion, it would have been less a surprise than to be greeted in a way so uncommon in either country!The matter of physical contact between members of the same sex in English-speaking countries is a delicate one. Once past childhood, the holding of hands, or walking with an arm around anothers shoulder is not considered proper. The implication is homosexuality, and homosexuality generally arouses strong social disapproval in these countries.3. Eye ContactEye contact is an important aspect of body language. One could draw up quite a list of “rules” about eye contact: to look or not to look; when to look and how long to look; who and who not to look at. These passages from the book Body Language are amusing as well as informative: “Tow strangers seated across from each other in a railway dining car have the option of introducing themselves and facing a meal of inconsequential and perhaps boring talk, or ignoring each other and desperately trying to avoid each others glance. A writer, describing such a situation in an essay, wrote, they re-read the menu, they fool with the cutlery, they inspect their own fingernails as if seeing them for the first time. Comes the inevitable moment when glances meet, but they meet only to shoot instantly away and out the window for an intent view of the passing scene. ” (Julius, 1971)He points out that with people who are unfamiliar:“We must void staring at them, and yet we must also avoid ignoring them We look at them long enough to make it quite clear that we see them, and then we immediately look away.There are different formulas for the exchange of glances depending on where the meeting takes place. If you pass someone in the street you may eye the oncoming person till you are about eight feet apart, then you must look away as you pass. Before the eight-foot distance is reached, each will signal in which direction he will pass. This is done with a brief look in that direction. Each will veer slightly, and the passing is done smoothly.” (Julius, 1971)In conversations with people who know each other, however, 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 conversation, a person shows that he is listening by looking at the other persons eyes or face. If the other