大学英语专业毕业优秀论文.doc

ContentsAbstract.1Key Words.1摘 要.1关键词.21. Introduction.22. Theoretical Framework of Body Language32.1. Concept of Body Language32.2. Classification and Functions of Body Language.42.3. Examples of Body Language.62.4. Necessities of Body Language in Intercultural Communication.83. The Differences of Body Language in Various Countries.103.1. Eye Contact.103.2. Smile.123.3. Body Distance.133.4. Touch.143.5. Gestures.164. The Similarities of Body Language and Their Reasons.194.1. The Similarities of Body Language.194.2. The Causes Resulting in the Similarities of Body Language .204.3. The Principles of Reducing Barriers in Communication.20Conclusion.21Bibliography. .21A Brief Study on Body LanguageAbstract: In the 21st century, as the economic and cultural exchanging of all countries becomes more and more frequent, there appear more obstacles caused by the differences of language and culture. In intercultural communication, one of the most useful ways to deal with the obstacles is to master the meaning of body language. However, even if we understand the meaning of some general body language, there are also some difficulties to master because even the same body language has great differences in different culture background and have different social functions. This article devotes to a comparison and contrast of body language in different cultures in terms of eye language, gestures, postures, facial expressions and touch. Using body languages wrongly makes you fail in interpersonal communications, which would cause conflict in international communication. So what are the differences of the same body language in different country? How to apply body language correctly? In this essay, after borrowing and studying the experience of the forefathers, the author analyzes the various usages and functions of body language in different culture background. It aims to illustrate the differences and similarities of body language and put forward the principles of reducing barriers in communication so as to achieve efficient communication and to avoid misunderstanding.Key Words: body language; intercultural communication; cultural difference摘 要：21世纪， 随着国际经济文化交流的加深，由于语言，文化的差异而产生的障碍随时都可能存在，在跨文化交际中，消除障碍的最有效的方法就是了解身势语的含义。然而即使我们对常用的身势语有所了解，我们仍然面临着一些困难，身势语含义千变万化，即使同一身势语在不同的文化背景都有不同的含义，行使着不同的社会功能。本文致力于从目光语，手势语，身体姿态，面部表情，体触语方面对不同文化的身势语进行对比。错误地用身势语不仅会使我们在跨文化交际中失败，而且会造成和外国朋友之间的冲突，所以怎样正确地使用身势语，怎样理解身势语的差异都非常重要，该篇论文中作者在借鉴前人成果的基础上分析了各种身势语在不同文化背景下的用法和功能。目的在于通过列举身势语的文化差异与共性，并提出交际中遵循的原则，从而促进有效交流,避免误解关键词：身势语;跨文化交际;文化差异1. IntroductionIn modern society, most countries in the world communicate with each other frequently, and at the same time, the people speaking different languages have different cultural background, way of living, faith of religion, personal values and so on, which take intervene to the communication of people coming from different country. When a Chinese meet an American friend, would kissing each other be offensive for the Chinese? If two young friends of the same sex walk with their arms around each others shoulders would English-speaking people regard this as being proper? Does nodding head mean yes and shaking means no in all cultures? Im afraid nobody can give a positive or negative answer about the above questions, because the same behavior in different culture has different meanings. Language is one of the gifts of human being. It lets us share our experiences, helps us learn from others, and allows us to communicate across time, But language is only one of the ways we communicate, Gestures and body language communicate as effectively as words, maybe even more effectively, we can use body language to gather information from our surroundings too. The more you understand body language and its affect on others, the better you will be in communicating with co-workers, bosses, clients, and others you encounter during the day. By making simple adjustments to your posture, facial expressions and mannerisms, you can improve the way others view you. In fact, in some respects our primary means of understanding each other are two things we have in common with the rest of the animal world: our eyes and our bodies. Without gestures, our world would be static and colorless “A psychologist proposed a formula: the total impact of message = 7% verbal 38% vocal 55% facial expressions and behavior.”(徐小丹.跨文化交际中的非言语交际.黑龙江社会科学，2004) It is clear without body language we cant finish our informational exchange. Body language, like verbal language can express emotions, exchange ideas and deliver information. So we must know the cultural differences of body language to achieve efficient communication.2. The Differences of Body Language in Various Countries2.1. Eye ContactAs saying goes “The eyes are the windows of the soul”. That is to say, we can read ones mind through his/her eyes. Eye language can express complicated feelings and it is an important way to judge the intimacy of communicators. People from English speaking countries have more eye contact when they are in conversation. According to American tradition, communicators must gaze at each other. “But there are many rules about eye language: Whether to look at the other communicator or not; when it is the time to look at them, how long we can look at; who we can look at and who we cant; they all imply different meanings in communication.” In Juliets Fasters book Body Language, there is a paragraph that can explain the problem. “Two strangers sit face to face in the dinning room in a train; they can introduce themselves to each other. When they are eating, they can talk anything else. They also can avoid eye contact and do not show interest in each other. A writer described this situation in an article “They look over the menu again and again, play with knives and look at their nails. It seems that they look at them for the first time. If their eyes meet, they will turn away immediately and look out of the window.” (1) Americans pay great attention to the time and the way of eye contact. In common conversation, they will look at each other about one minute and then they will look away. If two Americans gaze at each other, which indicate they are intimate. 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 in the eyes.” (2) If two Arabians are in conversation, they will look at each other warmly. Because they think eyes are the key of their existence. But in American eyes, they think this behavior is unsuitable or a homosexual behavior. The educated Englishmen believe direct eye contact with our communicators is gentlemanly. But Swede use eye language more often than Englishmen. And the French especially like to look attentively at the other communicators with admiration. Japanese often look at the other communicators neck when they are in conversation. They believe eye contact is impolite. And Chinese consider gazing people is an unfriendly behavior and it is a challenge. Some South American Indians used to look at different directions when they are talking. In the Middle East, it is considered extremely provocative for a woman to let a man catch her eyes, let alone, return his gaze. (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 other have more eye contact than people who dislike each other. In communication, looking down frequently can indicate submissiveness or embarrassment. Looking away constantly may express dissatisfaction. Females are likely to communicate with more 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 that different cultural background has a great influence on body language. And eye language also reflects different cultures and believes. So we need to observe and compare and contrast carefully so as to improve cultural exchange and to blend well.2.2. SmileSmiles are an important facial expression. They show interest, excitement, empathy, concern; they create an upbeat, positive environment. Smiles can, however, be overused. Often, men smile when they are pleased; women smile to please. You know which is the most powerful! To gain and increase respect, first establish your presence in a room, then smile. It is far more professional than to enter a room giggling or all smiles. Smile indicates pleasure, either that you are generally happy or are enjoying the other persons company or that you are amused by something in particular, such as a joke. A full smile engages the whole face, particularly including the eyes, which crease and twinkle. Smiling with lips only is often falsehood, where the person wants to convey pleasure or approval but is actually feeling something else. This false smile is known as the Duchene smile, after the scientists who first described it in 1862. False smiles also tend to last for longer. A genuine smile is often asymmetric and usually larger on the right side of the face. A false smile may be more symmetrical or larger on the left side of the face. Lowering the jaw to show a D-shaped mouth can be a false smile as it is easy to do. It may also be a deliberate signal of amusement and an invitation to laugh. Smiling without opening the mouth, and particularly with lips firmly pressed together, may indicate embarrassment about unsightly teeth. It may also be a suppression of words (I can see the funny side, but Im not going to comment.).A half-smile, on one side of the face, may indicate cynicism, sarcasm or uncertainty (Sorry, I dont buy that idea.).Smiling is also a sign of submission as the person effectively says “I am nice and not a threat”. Smiling in some cultures indicates a question or that you want the other person to speak.When people talk about smile it means friendliness and happiness in most situations, but a tribe of Saudi Arabia thinks smile is the expression of unfriendly. If a boy wants to fall in love with a girl there, dont smile; a smile can blow him off. In China and English-speaking country, smiles stand for friendliness and happiness. However, in some special occasions, especially when people feel embarrassed, Chinese the Western people can disgust peoples smile. One story can tell us the different cognition about smiles between Chinese and English-speaking countries. A Chinese couple held a party in their home and invited a foreign friend, but the foreign friends broke up a glass with a heavy hand, so he felt very sorry and embarrass, but the Chinese people broke out laughter voice, which made the foreign fiends flush and feel more embarrassed, Who thought they were laughed at, but actually the Chinese people just means that “take it easy”. In China, smiles have many kinds of different meanings, such as “appreciation”, “acceptance”, “disapproval”, “it doesnt matter” and so on.2.3. Body DistancePsychologists discover any person needs personal space, yet skins are not the boundary of personal space, bubbles encircle their personal spaces and other people cant break in at will.Lets talk about the Culture Difference about Body Distance. Arab and Spanish try to stand close to show friendliness. In their culture standing closely is the manner of the people when they converge. They stand close as possible as they can as if they want to smell the smells of the partner; Englishman wants to keep their personal space when they talk with the others, so pay attention not to taking up the partners space; Chinese people conform with the principle of non-touching culture during the conversation. They keep a moderate distance when talking with others. There is a very interesting picture when Englishmen talk with Arab. The Arab, showing amicable to Englishman, will walk close to the Englishman, but the latter continues moving back. The Arab moves forward to be closer again, but the Englishman keeps moving backward. By the end of the conversation, the two people may be quite a distance from the place where they were originally standing!We have just talk about the personal space above. Everyone needs specific personal space, but it seem that the relationship of parents and children between China and American have great differences. Natural affection is most divine in Chinese peoples eyes, and children are more important than any thing else, so Chinese parents are always busy for children all life. They are worried about childrens eating, clothing, sleeping and try any way to pave rode for childrens future; they hope their children stay with them and obey with all the arrangement of them. Completely contrary to Chinese parents, western mother would rather children earn their own life independently, they dont interfere with childrens private affairs including marriage.With the further deepening of culture exchange and corporation of the world, the opportunities of corporation with foreign people are keeping increasing. We will learn to be on the others shoes to think about things. The important things to keep in mind is that most English-speaking people do not like people to be too close when doing communication, however, being too far apart, of course, may be impolite, being too close makes people uneasy, we should learn and distinguish how to use body distance according to different situation in intercultural communication.2.4. TouchUsually, physical contact can only happen in two cases: intimate distance and personal distance,people can only embrace, kiss, fondle and cuddle in the case of intimate distance, and can only touch, hold hands, gazes at each others facial behavior closely in the case of personal distance. Mentioned above, Arab prefer narrow body distance during conversation, so no matter at home or in public, they like staying together in a crowded room, even some people think touching nose is also a best manners to express ones affections according to their own custom. Although American often takes kissing each other as a manner of greeting, however, they will be quite repugnant about the above-mentioned two kinds of conventions. In their eyes, intimate distance can be only proper for the closest person. They will try to avoid body touch with common friends and acquaintances even in crowed elevator. If some one touch others slightly or not intentionally they will say, “I am sorry” quickly, or who will be thought of shamelessly. That phenomenon is obvious because America have a strong sense of personal space. (1) 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 other friends shoulder. As for hand shaking, people in North America shake hands when they greet with each other. As children, they have learnt to hold other peoples hands tightly. East Asian people often shake hands slightly; because they think tight hand shaking means challenge. Nowadays, hand shaking has become a custom to show hospitality and friendliness in many countries. But the way of hand shaking is a little different. For example, (2) The French will shake hands with his host when they come into and leave the hosts house. But Germans only shake hands only with their host when they come into the house. Some Africans will make a sound by fingers after hand-shaking to show freedom. And Chinese shake hands for a short time and loose and then they stand away from each other. But Chinese shake hands tightly and keep closer to express politeness and respect. (3) In English speaking countries, people used to hug or kiss each other in public between males and females, which is unacceptable and only exists between lovers and couples in private in China. 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 unconsciously, people will say “Sorry”, “Very Sorry”, “Excuse me” in a hurry to express apology. Or they will be abused. In western countries, people particularly mind their private space, which often represents peoples privacy and intimacy. But Chinese pay less attention to their private space. It is crowded in China because of a large population. So Chinese have got used to it and they often show their understanding and tolerance. Though Japanese also pay less attention to private space, they have strict rules in body touching. Arabians like body touching. Whether at home or in public, they like to be together and often hug together when they meet. Even they often touch each others nose and smell each other, which will frighten Englishmen and American. In English speaking countries, like America and Britain, females often hug males and kiss their faces to say goodbye. And in East Asian countries and western countries, males seldom hug but often shake hands to show welcome. Japanese often show welcome by bowing. In the