silence in communication

1、 Yang lin The Sounds of Silence The use of silence varies from culture to culture Contents Yang hui The use of silence varies from culture to culture Case “Will you marry me ?” In England, if a woman keep silence it would be interpreted as uncertainty; In Japanese, silence would be interpreted as ac

2、ceptance. In Igbo of Niagara , it would be considered a denial if the woman were to continue to stand there, and an acceptance if she ran away. Different cultures have different views of silence WesternersViews Most Westerners (American, German, French, Southern European and Arab executive ) believe

3、 that talkingisanimportantactivity and actually enjoy talking. Since talk is preferred in interpersonal encounters ,silence is often given negative interpretation. Feeling of hostility, disdain,disinterested, or anger are often attributed to silent participants in communication. disdein n. 蔑视蔑视 vt.

4、鄙弃鄙弃 EasternersViews In the Eastern tradition ,the view of silence is much different from the Western view . Easterners do not feel uncomfortable with the absence of noise or talk and are not compelled to fill every pause when they are around other people . In fact ,there is a belief in many Eastern

5、 traditions that wordscancontaminatean experience and that inner peace and wisdom come only through silence . kntmi,neit vt. 污染污染 n. 受到污染的受到污染的 EasternersViews For many Asian people ,silence is often used as a means of avoiding conflict. A typical practice among many Asian people is to refuse to spe

6、ak any further in conversation if they cannot personally accept the speakers attitude, opinion, or way of thinking about particular issues or subjects. EasternersViews One Buddhist tenet is that words are deceptive and silent intuition is a truer way to confront the world; mind to mind communi- -cat

7、ion through words is less reliable than heart to heart communication through an intuitive grasp of things. ti:net, -nit, te- n. 原则；信条；教义原则；信条；教义 “what is real is, and when it is spoken it becomes unreal” . “what is real is, and when it is spoken it becomes unreal”. 事实就是，当你说出来的 时候它就变得不真实了。 佛曰不可曰佛曰不可曰

8、/不可名状不可名状 Differentcountrieshavedifferentviewsofsilence Eastern country Japan Indian China The Chinese philosopher Confucius hold the view of silence is that: Believe not others tales / Others will lead thee far astray Silence is a friend who will never betray . Believe not others tales / Others wil

9、l lead thee far astray Silence is a friend who will never betray . Eastern country China Indian Japan The Japanese view of silence is also reflected in the following proverbs : It is the duck that squawks that get shot. Numerous words show scanty wares. A flower does not speak. The mouth is to eat w

10、ith not to speak with. It is the duck that squawks that get shot. Numerous words show scanty wares. A flower does not speak. The mouth is to eat with not to speak with. Eastern country China Japan Indian Silence can also play a dominant role in Indian culture. The Hindu believes that self-realizatio

11、n, salvation, truth, wisdom, peace, and bliss are all achieved in a state of mediation and introspection when the individual is communicating with himself or herself in silence . slve()n n. 拯救；救助拯救；救助 ntr()spek()n n. 内省；反省内省；反省 United States Others Native American Many Native Americans believe that

12、silence, not speaking , is a sigh of a remarkable person .Their famous leader Chief Joseph is quoted as saying: “It does not require many words to speak the truth.” It has been noted that for Native Americans “one derives from silence the cornerstone of character, the virtues of self-control, courag

13、e, patience on a monument, and dignity ”. Native Americans use silence as a gesture of respect to persons of authority, age ,wisdom. It does not require many words to speak the truth “one derives from silence the cornerstone of character, the virtues of self-control, courage, patience on a monument,

14、 and dignity United States Ohers Native American As an American composer once declared, “There is no such thing as empty space or empty time. There is always something to say, something to hear . ” “无论身在何方总能听到声音无论身在何方总能听到声音, 忽略时称其为噪音忽略时称其为噪音,倾听时却倾听时却 又使人迷醉。又使人迷醉。” 约翰约翰凯奇凯奇 “There is no such thing as empty space or empty time. There is always something to say, something to hear . ” United States Native American Others Some co-cultures