Body Language on Nonverbal Communication英语专业毕业论文.doc

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1、Body Language on Nonverbal CommunicationThesis statement:Studying the Definition、Functions and types of body language and expressing the body language have different meanings in chinese and west countries.Outline:. Introduction. Definition and Functions of Nonverbal CommunicationA. DefinitionB. Func

2、tions. Types of body languageA. Eye communicationsB. GesturesC. Postures D. Facial Expressions E. Touchphysical contact. Conclusion: we can improve our communicative abilities what we should do is to remember how people from different cultures act and to keep an understanding and tolerant attitude t

3、owards the differences. When we make a clear understanding on body language, can we use body language of English speaking countries to make an efficient communication and avoid misunderstanding.Body Language on Nonverbal Communication【Abstract】 People communciation in many different ways. One of the

4、 most important ways, of course, is through language. But nonverbal communciaton is also very significant way for mans exchange of ideas and information. Especially, the body language. In our truly life, we often use the body language to help us to finish with other people communciation. So,for expl

5、oring into the body language will be very useful and necessary. This paper will be complete tell about the body language have been used in life, and take some impact on people real life. At the same time, further study between the West and chinese have the cultural differences, accordingly cultural

6、changes brings body language changes. so as to achieve efficient communication and to avoid misunderstanding.【Key Words】 Nonverbal Communication; Body Language; Exploring; cultural differences【摘要】 人们可以通过不通的方式进行彼此之间的交流。当然，最重要的一种方式就是通过语言。但是，对于人们的思想、信息的交换来说，非语言交际也是一种非常重要的方式。特别值得一说的就是身势语。在我们现实生活中，我们经常使用

7、身势语帮助我们完成与别人的交流。因此，对于身势语的调查研究将会是非常有用和必要的。这篇论文将会完整的讲述关于身势语在生活中的运用，且对人们实际生活的影响。同时，也进一步研究了由于中西方文化差异的不同，相应改变下的身势语变化。从而促进有效交流，避免误解。【关键词】 非语言交际；身势语；调查研究; 文化差异1. IntroductionLanguage is communication between people of the important tools. But People can communicate with each other through not only verbal c

8、ommunication. Many times nonverbal communication plays an essential role in human communication. Body language is an important part of nonverbal communication. It is a silent language, like our verbal language. Sometimes people use body movements to express thoughts and feelings, accordingly body la

9、nguage also a part of our culture and connected with culture. Consequently, In order to make successful exchange in cross-cultural communication, we should know the body language from different cultures. And we should realize that body language, also has many similarities all over the world. For exa

10、mple: firstly, different people have different ideas about the proper distance between people conversing; the appropriateness of physical contact varies with different cultures; secondly, smiles and laughter usually convey friendliness, approval, satisfaction, pleasure, joy and merriment, and, this

11、is generally true in China as well as the English-speaking countries, however, there are situations when some Chinese will laugh that will cause negative reactions by westerners and so on. So in order to communicate effectively in a foreign language, we should know also the gestures, body movements,

12、 mannerisms and etc. that accompany a particular language. So we must know the cultural differences of body language to achieve efficient communication.2. Definition and Functions of Nonverbal Communication2.1. Definition “Nonverbal communication is a process in which communicators use the natural f

13、eatures of their bodies to deliver information and express specific meaning instinctively to the other communicator.”1 The study of nonverbal communication covers three major parts: Proxernics, Kinesics or Body Language, and Paralanguage.Be worth mentioning,Kinesics is also called body language, whi

14、ch studies the meanings of the movement of all parts of body and it includes many nonverbal behavior such as eye communications, gestures, postures, facial expressions, physical contact and so on. 2.2. Functions “Nonverbal communication, like verbal communication is also a part of culture .The func-

15、 tion of nonverbal communication in the whole communication cant be overlooked.” 2 In communicative activities, nonverbal communication also plays a great role.So we should pay attention to the functions of nonverbal communication. Some authorities think that the functions of nonverbal communication

16、 covers six sides: Repetition. Contradicting. Substituting. Complementing. Emphasis. Regulating. 3. Types of body languageWe have discussed the importance of nonverbal communication. And we also know body language reflects a certain cultural background. On the one hand, in a certain tradition, body

17、language is determined by its customs and traditions. On the other hand, the meanings of body language in a certain culture are developing and changing. we intend to make a comparison and contrast of the similarities and differences on body language in order to avoid misunderstanding and make effici

18、ent communication. Through find out information and books, I know that body language contains eye language, gestures, postures, facial expressions, manners and behaviors and touch and so on. And as the most important part of nonverbal communication, body language has notable cultural features. For e

19、xample,one baby can cry when it is born. It can suck its fingers when it is hungry; And our eyebrows will move rapidly when we greet or we will frown when we are unsatisfied. 3.1. Eye communicationsWe often heard this word“The eyes are the window of the soul”. As meaning, we can read ones mind throu

20、gh his/her eyes. Eye language can express complex feelings. For example, when we see occident movies, we can find clearly that dramatis personae often use eye to communicate each other. We know that People from English speaking countries have more eye contact when they are in conversation. According

21、 to American tradition, communicators must gaze at each other. For instance, In North America, the children there have learned to look at the other communicator directly. If they dont, they are regarded lack of enthusiasm or confidence. They believe the saying “Never trust a person who cant look you

22、 in the eyes.”3 Another example, Americans have a trip to a village and the local people stare at them. They are annoyed and think the local people are rude. In fact, it is normal in the village. They are just curious. “American social psychologist Michael Argyle found out: People who like each othe

23、r have more eye-contact than people who dislike each other.”4 In communication, we need understand that sometimes eyesight express what means. Specifically speaking, looking down can indicate embarrassment. Looking away constantly may express dissatisfaction. Females are likely to communicate with m

24、ore eye contact, especially among females. But too long eye contact will cause embarrassment. Most people feel uneasy and uncomfortable under the strong staring. When people always stare at us, we will feel we are threatened or suspect their sincerity. From what is mentioned above we can conclude th

25、at eye language also reflects different cultures and believes. So we need to compare and contrast carefully with eye Language.3.2. Gestures “Gesture means we communicate and express by the movement and manners of our hands and fingers.”5 In our daily life, every one makes gestures, but many gestures

26、 have distinct regional and cultural features. For example, “In western culture, people stretch out ones fore finger and swing it left and right, which signals to warn somebody not to do something. The phrase “cross ones fingers” means blessing somebodys good luck. “6Different countries have differe

27、nt cultures and to express the same gestureshave different meanings. In America, people hold their thumbs and fore fingers into a circle and stretch up the other fingers, which means “OK” ; In China, holding up ones thumb means good, and raising ones litter finger means bad. It is clear to see the s

28、ame gesture with different meanings in different cultures, and people from different cultures will express same meaning by different gestures. So it is necessary for us to know the cultural difference to avoid misunderstanding.3.3. Postures “Posture is a matter of how people sit, walk, stand and mov

29、e.”7And this action hold differernt functions of body language. In China, According tradition, people who are sitting means who have higher station. For example, in ancient times, monarch sits and officer stands; in home, father sits and son stands; in company,leader sits and employee stands and so

30、on. So the younger and lawer should give the old and high a seat to show respect. But in America and Britain, people who are in charge of others have tendency to stand. They will make use of the height of space to indicate the high status. This postures have different meaning because of different cu

31、ltures. In interpersonal communication, good manners show great respect to the other people. For example, having an interview for job-hunting, we should behave well. “And we can conclude something from peoples posture. When we listen to people, we believe they are more energetic, confident and compe

32、tent if they stand erect. On the other hand, when we see a person slouching over a lectern or standing lazily, we make a negative interpretation. We say the person is not very interested in what they are discussing.”83.4. Facial Expressions “The face has been called an organ of emotion because we co

33、nstantly read facial expressions to understand what others are feeling. The face provides vital clues to our own feelings and those of the people around us. Of all the nonverbal channels, the face is the most important broadcaster of emotions.”9And in many cultures, smiles are signs of happiness or

34、friendliness, like America and China. For example, When we have guests at home, we will smile to show welcome.another example, we stamped others feet on the bus because of a sudden brake; we will smile to the person. It means to say “Sorry”, “Very Sorry”. Sometimes, the smile on the face of waiters

35、or waitress means they welcome us. But sometimes, western people will feel disgusted about Chineses smile. For instance, A foreigner broke a dish in a restaurant and felt embarrassed. But Chinese who were on the spot smiled at him, which made him angrier. In fact, this smile means “Never mind”. Anot

36、her facial expression is stretching out ones tongue. When Chinese realize that their behavior is feel embarrassed, they often stretch out their tongues and shrink their necks at the same time, especially girls and children. But Americans never do it. They think it is rude.3.5. Touchphysical contactT

37、ouch refers to the way people exchange information by touching ones body. The most common touch behavior is hands shaking and hugs. In China, people greet with each other with head nodding, smile, hand shaking and so on. Even good friends just hold hands for a short time or hammer softly on the othe

38、r friends shoulder. But In English speaking countries, people used to hug or kiss each other in public between males and females. Sometimes in America, common friends and acquaintances will avoid body touch. Even in the elevator, body touch is not allowed. Touching the other people slightly or uncon

39、sciously, people will say “Sorry”, “Very Sorry”, “Excuse me” in a hurry to express apology. Because in western countries, people particularly mind their private space. But Chinese pay less attention to their private space. It is crowded in China because of a large population. So Chinese have got use

40、d to it and they often show their understanding and tolerance. Consequently, we should pay attention to physical contact in different countries people, so as to aviod misunderstanding.5. ConclusionWe have discussed the differences and similarities on body language in communication above. Being a par

41、t of the means of nonverbal communication, body language can help us solve a lot of problems we meet. The study of body language makes us understand others very well and behave in proper ways without making too many mistakes. It is difficult to master body language because of its complexity, but we

42、can improve our communicative abilities what we should do is to remember how people from different cultures act and to keep an understanding and tolerant attitude towards the differences. Only when we make a clear understanding on body language, can we use body language of English speaking countries

43、 to make an efficient communication and avoid misunderstanding.Bibliography1喻硕丰.浅谈身势语在跨文化交际中的作用.沈阳教育学院学报，2005，7（1）2李树刚.非语言交际在英语课堂教学中的运用及其文化差异.琼州大学学报，2004（3）3黄红霞.身势语中的文化差异.武汉交通科技大学学报，2000，13（2）4张建青.浅谈身势语.山东师范大学外国语学院学报（基础英语教育），2004，6（2）5范杏丽.不同文化背景下的非语言交际对比.华中理工大学学报，2000，14（2）6Joseph Deveto. Body Language. College English, 2004(5)7Li Li-na, Li Hua and Yao Shanglian. The Meanings and Application of Body Language. Journal of Xichang Agricultural College, 2003(2)8 同【7】9 同【7】