跨文化交际上课内容unit6

1、Unit Six Culture and Nonverbal CommunicationI. Warm UpPlease read the story on page 190, then discuss the following questions:1. What is nonverbal communication?2. Is it possible to communicate without nonverbal means? Why or why not?3. What functions does our nonverbal behavior serve in communicati

2、on?II. Nonverbal Communication?Read the article “An Overview概况 of Nonverbal Communication” (p191-199). What is nonverbal communication inclusive of包括 according to it?The article illustrates several different kinds of nonverbal behaviors in five parts: paralanguage副语言 (voice & intonation声调 p191-192),

3、 kinesics 动作学(gesture p192-193, facial expression smiles and laugh p1996-197), oculesics 眼神学(eye contact p194-196), haptics触觉学 (handshaking & kissing p198-199).&Supplement: What is Nonverbal Communication?Nonverbal communication is the process by which nonverbal behaviors are used, either singly or

4、in combination with verbal behaviors, in the exchange and interpretation of messages within a given situation or context. (L. A. Malandro, 1983)Narrowly speaking, nonverbal communication refers to intentional 故意use of nonspoken symbol to communicate a specific message. Broadly speaking, the term can

5、 be defined to refer to elements of 一部分the environment that communicate by virtue of由于 peoples use of be defined to refer to elements of the environment that communicate by virtue of peoples use of them. (i) Classifications of nonverbal communication by Knapp in 19721. kinesics or body language: ges

6、tures, posture, touch and feeling (handshaking), artifacts, olfaction嗅觉, etc.2. oculesics or eye movements:3. facial expressions:4. proxemics: intimate space (0.5m), personal space (0.5-1.25m), social space (1.25-3.5m), and public space (over 3.5m). (Wrightsman etl. 1988:284)5. paralanguage: sound,

7、pitch, tempo of speech, turn-taking, silence.(ii) Its features:1. Its communication in which words or speech sounds are not used.2. It conveys meaning.3. It involves such non-verbal dimensions规模 as facial expressions, touch, time, gestures, smile, eye behaviors, smell, intonation声调, etc.4. Its a dis

8、cipline studying non-verbal behavior in communication.5. Its first of all used to convey messages to and receive messages from others.6. Its a process of communication by means of non-verbal behaviors.7. It may convey messages alone or in combination with verbal behaviors.8. It occurs in a given con

9、text or situation and is interpreted in relation to that situation or context.(e.g. blush: nervous or shy; biting ones nails)(iii) Its significanceNonverbal behavior is a significant area of communication study for at least three reasons.w Nonverbal behavior accounts for占比重 much of the meaning we ge

10、t from conversations.w Nonverbal behavior spontaneously自发地 reflects the subconsciousness潜意识. They are relatively free of distortions扭曲失真 and deception.w We cannot avoid communicating through nonverbal signals.Besides, nonverbal behavior is significant because nonverbal communication can be open to m

11、any interpretations.(iv) Its functions (p 218-221):1. Repeating: People use nonverbal communication to repeat, clarify, and emphasize their point of view. For example, nod as saying yes. (The gestures and words have a similar meaning and reinforce 加强one another.)2. Complementing: Nonverbal communica

12、tion cues提示 can add to or complement a verbal message. For example, scratch抓 head, pat轻拍 one on the shoulder while saying to him/her. (modify verbal communication by loudness and tone of voice).3. Substituting取代: Nonverbal messages may substitute verbal ones in certain settings. There are situations

13、 in which words cannot be used. In a very noisy street, for example, police officer might use hand gestures to replace spoken messages. (gestures replace verbal communication)4. Regulating: Nonverbal behaviors can help control verbal interactions 语言互动by regulating them, such as turn-taking 话轮转换signa

14、ls (hand raised) in conversations, nod ones head in agreement to indicate the speaker to continue talking.5. Contradicting: Certain nonverbal behaviors can contradict spoken words. E.g. Saying you are relaxed and at ease with quavering voices or shaking hands.6. Accenting强调: the act of giving specia

15、l importance or significance to something.(v) Gender and Nonverbal CommunicationRead the article “Gender and Nonverbal Communication”. Are men and women expected to behave exactly in the same manner even in the same culture?We have to say that there are the so-called 所谓的gender script in every cultur

16、e. The nonverbal behaviors that result from this socialization are learned rather than innate先天的, and they become part of an individuals experience as a “gendered self”. For instance, to sit like a lady, not to cry to be a man, etc.1. Touch, like physical closeness亲密, may be considered an expression

17、 of affection, support, or sexual attraction. For instance, in some cultures, it may be all right for women friends and relatives to walk arm-in-arm, dance together, and hug one another, but if men do so, they may be frowned upon皱眉不赞同, for they would be considered homosexual同性恋. On the other hand, t

18、ouch may be used to express and maintain an asymmetrical非对称的 relationship as well as a reciprocal 互惠one. For example, the doctor and the patient; the department head and the secretary. In this case, the former are usually male-oriented.2. The height and power differential between the sexes: In a wor

19、ld in which height equals power and women are not supposed to be more powerful than men女性不应比男性强大, taller women may attempt to diminish 缩小themselves, to slouch 没精打采and round their shoulders so as to retreat or to occupy as little space as possible.3. Men and women are not usually required to have the

20、 same facial expressions. Smile may mean different things to men and women. For females smile functions as an expression of pleasure, pleasantness, or a desire for approval, while males may resist any nonverbal display of expression to others in order to appear more masculine阳刚, because being facial

21、ly expressive is often seen as a marker of “femininity”.女性气质4. Through clothing and make-up, the body is more or less marked, constituted as an appropriate, or, as the case may be, in appropriate body for its cultural requirements. Males and females have to dress themselves appropriately according t

22、o their cultural definitions of masculinity and femininity.5. It is important to remember that the notion of “appropriate” nonverbal behavior is largely culturally determined. White, middle-class women in the US are expected to be highly expressive emotionally. However, African-American women are no

23、t expected in exactly the same manner. Dominant members of a hierarchy等级制度 are less likely to smile or disclose公开 their feelings nonverbally. III. Paralanguage (p191-192, p223-224) 副语言，伴随语言 We communicate with more than the words we speak. Effective speakers use vocal qualities to suggest different

24、meanings from exactly the same words, like the manner of speech, intonation.Paralanguage / Metacommunication are the accompanying features of the voice.a. voice set: the context in which the speaker is speaking: the situation, gender, mood, age, persons culture;b. voice qualities: volume, pitch音高, t

25、empo, rhythm, articulation发音, resonance共鸣, nasality鼻音, accent重读;c. vocalization发声: characterizers, qualifiers, segregates分离.IV. Kinesics体姿语Kinesics, that is commonly called as body language, is the term used for communicating through various types of body movements including gestures, posture, touch

26、ing, and other mannerisms that may accompany or replace oral messages.(i) Gestures: (p192-193)Gestures are an important component of non-verbal communication. This is mainly a matter of how we use our hands to convey a message. The language of the hands differs from country to country and a gesture

27、which means one thing in one country may well mean something quite different to those living in another.Gestures can be emblems象征 or symbols (the “ok” gesture), illustrators (police officers hand held up to stop traffic), or regulators (ones face turns red with embarrassment). Gestures are used to a

28、dd emphasis or clarity to an oral message. Its me or Im the onetouch or point to ones nose by raised thumb. Come hereextending a closed hand, palm up, with only the forefinger moving back and forth. Shame on youextending both hands, palms down, with forefingers stretching out and one forefinger make

29、s several brushing movements over the back of the other forefinger. Hitchhiking搭便车旅行moving several time a closed hand with an outstretched thumb opinion to the intended direction. (American method)-walking on the same side of the road and in the same direction as the car traffic, and extend the thum

30、b of your roadside arm toward the front. (European method)在车辆行驶的那边公路上，朝车开的方向行走，同时将靠边那只手臂的拇指伸向前方。 Kill oneselfraising ones closed hand to ones head with the forefinger食指 and the thumb stretching out and the forefinger pointing to the temple太阳穴. Im fullan open hand, palm down, raised to ones throat Go

31、od luckcrossing ones forefinger and middle finger. Stamping ones foot跺脚impatience. Thumbing ones nose (one thumb on the tip of ones own nose with other fingers curled and moving together)defiance蔑视 and contempt. Wagging摆动 ones forefinger (the forefinger of one hand is raised and wagged from side to

32、side while other fingers are lapsed)warning. crossing the heart, like crossing the fingers, provides protection against bad luck by invoking the power of the holy object; at the same time, it invokes the savior on the cross as a witness that the speakers pledge is in earnest. !Homework: Please finis

33、h the matching task (p200)1) bdac; 2) cadb; 3) cdab; 4) cadb; 5) bcda; 6) cadb; 7) bdca; 8) cabd;(ii) Posture身势语 (p211-212): Posture, the way someone stands, sits, or walks, can send positive or negative nonverbal messages. Posture can signal agreement or disagreement. Appropriate posture is related

34、 to a persons status in society. For example, the manager may stand erect竖立 when talking to subordinates下级, but the subordinates may drop their shoulders when talking to the manager.English speakers, especially Americans postures are more casual than Chinese speakers: sitting on a desk with both fee

35、t on another desk. Putting ones feet on the writing table in a crowded office while sitting in an armchair. Making big strides大步 while walking. Sitting on the grass or on the carpet (but never squatting蹲 in public).In western conversation, the speaker who is standing is superior to the other who is

36、sitting in ranks or status or ages. It is the opposite in Chinese conversation. The junior or inferior下级的 one should stand and show his/her respect and subordinate to the senior or superior.Shrugging your shoulders: message of helplessness “I dont know what to say” or “I couldnt help it”. Who should

37、 stand and who sit? According to Chinese tradition, people who are sitting have right to take charge of others: Monarch君主 sits and officer stands; father sits and son stands; leader sits and employee stands and so on. So the younger give the old a seat to show respect. But in America and Britain, pe

38、ople who are in charge of others have tendency to stand. They will make use of the height of space to indicate the high status. People who have high status choose to sit when they are conversing with you, which means they want to create harmonious and equal atmosphere and lessen space. So adults wil

39、l bend down when they are talking to children. In Indonesia, people often bow and put the other peoples hand on their forehead to express modesty. But Americans will not do it. In class:Traditionally, Chinese teachers, rated as Confucian scholars, are the souls of belief, knowledge and authority. Th

40、eir image of power certainly ought not to be damaged by the unserious posture. That is why some Chinese students often complain that their American teacher is so informal in class that he never seems to care about students reaction. On the contrary, sitting on the edge of desk to give a lecture or e

41、ven putting his feet on chairs in class is welcomed in many English countries. Consequently, in American eyes, Chinese teachers appear to be timid and sluggish迟钝的 or too boring in classroom. “In American culture, teachers responsibility is to help students realize selves. Teachers are students facil

42、itators促进者. Teachers image of power in America is far weaker than that in China.” (iii) Facial expressions:1. Read over the article (p196-197) and explain the different understanding of smiles at a stranger in these countries.Japan: either a sexual maniac or an impolite person.Korea: never talk or s

43、mile at strangers.Arab: something wrong with the strangers clothes or others.Vietnam: Americans are superficial for they smile too much. Nonverbal language, like a silence, a smile, a glance, has its own meaning.2. Read case 23 (p217). What does laugh serve in the mentioned situation?V. Haptics or T

44、ouch: (p198-199)Haptics or touch refers to communicating through the use of bodily contact. Differences in touching behavior are highly correlated with culture. People in high contact cultures evaluate “close” as positive and good, and evaluate “far” as negative and bad. People in low contact cultur

45、es evaluate “close” as negative and bad, and evaluate “far” as positive and good1. handshakingHow to shake hands when introduced or meeting together after a long time.2. embrace & kissIn Thailand and Laos, it is rude for a stranger or acquaintance to touch a child on the top of the head because the

46、head is regarded as the home of the spirit or soul. It is believed that a childs spirit or soul is not strong enough to be touched and has tendency to become ill if patted. Even placing a hand on the back of an Asian workers chair is considered inappropriate. White Muslims hug another person around

47、the shoulders, Korea young people do not touch the shoulders of their elders.VI. Artifacts or attire打扮 and olfactics嗅觉1. The use of clothing and physical appearance to communicate is more obvious. Clothing can reflect cultural heritage. Although Western business dress has been widely adopted among o

48、ther cultures, you may wish to learn cultural distinctions in appropriate business attire. When visiting Saudi Arabia, for example, the Saudi might wear the traditional Arabic white flowing robe长袍 and headcloth. 包头巾2. The study of communication via smell is called Olfactics. A persons smell can have

49、 a positive or negative effect on the oral message.VII. Oculesics or eye movements (p194-196)The study of communications sent by the eyes is termed oculesics.Eye contact is an important aspect of body language. One could draw up quite rules about eye contact: to look or not to look, when to look and

50、 how long to look, and who not to look at, etc. And these rules vary from culture to culture.See Case 22, then analyse the differences of eye contact between America and Puerto Rico.BritainAmericaPuerto Rico波多黎各the rule for dealing with strangers is that you must avoid staring at them but at the same time avoid ignoring them.those who are communicating with one another demands eye contact. Not looking at the person could imply a number of things (fear, guilt)looking someone straight in the eye is well thought; someone to fai