1、A Contrastive Study of English and Chinese Body Languages Cultural ConnotationsAbstractPeople usually rely on languages to communicate, to express their thought or to transmit the information, but just using the languages or words are not vivid enough to communicate in our life. So, we always need t
2、he help of body language. Body language, including hand gestures, eye contact, facial expression, body distance, body touch and so on. Body language differs from culture to culture, therefore it is necessary to understand the different meanings of body language in different countries. This thesis, f
3、irst discusses the definition, importance and function of body language in the communication through the elaboration of some examples; moreover, this thesis majorly focuses on the differences of English and Chinese body languages cultural connotations, especially those in hand gesture, eye contact,
4、facial expression, body distance and body touch; at last, this thesis discusses the reasons for the differences of English and Chinese body languages cultural connotations. The research of English and Chinese body language in cross-cultural communication is helpful for people to diminish or avoid mi
5、sunderstandings caused by the cultural connotations of body language in different countries. Key words: communication; body language; cultural connotations; difference; reason摘 要人们在传递信息，表达思想，交流感情时，主要借助于语言交际，然而仅仅使用文字或言语，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，目光接触，面部表情，交谈者之间的距离等等。身势语是随文化的改变而改
6、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在不同国家中表示的意思。本文首先介绍身势语的含义，重要性以及身势语在交际中的功能，然后从文化角度对身势语在不同的文化背景中的含义作了介绍，探讨了中国和英语国家在手势，眼神，面部表情，体距与身体接触等方面的文化差异，最后指出中国和说英语的国家之间身势语文化差异的原因。对跨文化交际中的身势语进行探讨，有助于人们减少或避免在跨文化交际中因身势语的文化差异而引起的误解。关键词：交流；身势语；文化内涵；不同；原因 ContentsChapter 1 Introduction 1Chapter 2 Body la
7、nguage .22.1 Definition of Body Language .22.2 Importance of Body Language .22.3 Functions of Body Language3Chapter 3 Differences of English and Chinese Body Languages Cultural Connotations .63.1 Hand Gesture 63.2 Eye Contact.73.3 Facial Expressions 83.4 Body Distance.93.5 Body Touch 10Chapter4 Reas
8、ons for the Differences of English and Chinese Body Languages Cultural Connotations.114.1 Religious Beliefs.114.2 Values and Ways of Thinking 114.3 Morals and Social Regulations .124.4 Disciplines of Organization 12Chapter 5 Conclusion13Notes .14Bibliography15Acknowledgements .16Chapter 1 Introducti
9、on1Chapter 1 IntroductionHuman communication consists of verbal communication and nonverbal communication. Nonverbal communication plays a very important role in the whole communication. Body language is a means of non-verbal communication. Some experts say more than 60 percent of communication come
10、s from nonverbal behaviors, such as facial expression, hand gestures, eye contact and so on. One expert estimated that verbal communication occupied about 30 percent of the whole communication behaviors. “American linguist Samovar affirms that in a face-to-face communication, only about 35 percent o
11、f messages are sent by verbal behaviors and others are sent by nonverbal behaviors.” 1 Body language is just like mans shadow that is always together with us. Even it is cloudy or rainy, we cant observe the shadow visibly, but it always works in our actual communications. Body language is an importa
12、nt medium through which people communicate with each other. It is a part of the culture and takes a complementary role to help people transfer information to improve communication. Owing to cultural differences, the same body language has different meanings and communicative functions, which causes
13、a lot of trouble in intercultural communication. With the development of intercultural communication, the contacts between the Chinese and the Western people are on the increase, and the differences between body languages have been the major barriers to efficient communication.In order to meet the i
14、nternational communication tendency, one of the most useful way to deal with the barriers is to know the different meaning of body language in Chinese and Western cultures, and to avoid the misunderstanding of body language and improve communication between people from these two cultures. Therefore,
15、 it is necessary and important to have an understanding of the uses and functions of body language in communication. This paper discusses the difference of body language between China and English-speaking countries and the reasons for it. The aim of this thesis is to help foreign language learners a
16、nd communicators “hear” the silent message and “read” the invisible action in intercultural communication.Chapter 2 Body Language2Chapter 2 Body language2.1 Definition of Body LanguageBody language is an important nonverbal form of communication. There are many definitions of body language in differ
17、ent dictionaries.Birdwhistell, an American psychologist, is the first person who created the definition of “body language” and he called it “optics” which means the system of motive power. Birdwhstell indicates that “all parts of human body can express and exchange information, emotion and attitude;
18、 moreover, these can make efforts that words cannot obtain.”2In Oxford Advanced Learners English-Chinese Dictionary its definition is: the process of communicating what you are feeling or thinking by the way you place or move your body rather than by words. In Business Dictionary it is defined as: n
19、onverbal and other unintended communication on the part of one individual to another. Nonverbal communication takes place by means of facial expressions, head movements, eye contact, hand gestures, body positions and acts, tones of voice and so on. In general, body language expresses individual emot
20、ions, feelings and attitudes. In Veterinary Dictionary it says: the expression of feelings by means of postures or gestures. It is characteristic of primates, but most animal species use gestures to demonstrate their attitudes to other animals and to environment generally. And body language is also
21、described as thought that is not conveyed through words. It is a kind of mans social attributes and behavior, which are issued by the deliverer, and received by the received purposely. So in general , body language refers to communication without the use of words, also called nonverbal communication
22、 .It includes communication through the use of facial expressions, gestures and postures, eye contact, touch, clothing, silence, time and space.2.2 Importance of Body LanguageHuman societys long historical evolution confirms that labor plays a decisive role in the course of humans evolution. At begi
23、nning, human ancestors rely on all sorts of gestures and postures for mutual coordination and communication. So body language is actually the most primitive instrument of communication. The phonic language is gradually developed with the continuous deepening of communication. Humans gradually learn
24、verbal communication after a far-flung nonverbal communication. This shows that the non-verbal communication come into Chapter 2 Body Language3being earlier than verbal communication, and it is the origin and base of verbal communication. Body language is the earliest communication tool of human. An
25、 investigation into the functions of the factors of verbal and nonverbal communications shows: 35% information is transferred by language; the other 65% are by nonverbal patterns. Other study indicates: only 7% emotions in peoples communication are passed by language; the other 93% are by nonverbal
26、patterns. American scholars pointed out that “Humans communication consists of writing, speaking and body three parts. Because of culture prejudices, a great majority of educated people often think that written language is the most important; the oral language is the second. The body language is ran
27、ked last.”3 However, whether from the continuously evolution of whole humanity or from a personal point of view, it shows the necessity and importance of body language.2.3 Functions of Body LanguageActions are more powerful than words. Successful communications are closely related to skillful use of
28、 signs, gestures and actions, etc. Namely body language can help carry out smoother, more successful and efficient communications. When carrying a conversation, deliberately or accidentally, people are always accompanied with changes of their facial expressions, gestures and other body languages. In
29、 English, there is a famous saying: do not trust those who dare not look at your eyes directly. This expression indicates the importance of eye contacts in communications. According to the displaying and transferring functions of body language, Ekman and Friesen classify the functions of body langua
30、ge into five aspects.4This thesis will explain them one by one.2.3.1 Symbolic functionBody language as a symbol, has clear and definite implications, and on this occasion it can replace speech acts, and usually has strong cultural properties. It can replace verbal behaviors to convey certain meaning
31、.Symbolizing gestures have usually different forms. They are conventional ones. For example, to act the committing suicide, in China people use the hand imitating the form of dagger penetrating into his or her own belly, while in the United States, people use the index finger at the temples to indic
32、ate the meaning of suicide.2.3.2 Complementing functionChapter 2 Body Language4Body language can be used to complement, describe, or accent verbal cues. Body language adds some information to the verbal message and can explain conversational implications. Use of body language in this way must be acc
33、ompanied with the use of verbal language. For example， while delivering a speech, the lecturer has to employ different gestures to support the speech, and make the speech stronger, otherwise the lecture will be a dull one, and fails to attract the interest of the audience .When talking about the big
34、 house one bought, he/she indicates how big it is with his/her hands.2.3.3 Indicating functionBody language can indicate signals of feelings and emotions, which can modify, exaggerate and negate the verbal language. For example, there is a cause of “The Sampler” in the College English, which says: w
35、ith a quick decision he turned to the shop girl and said in a loud voice, “Kindly pack me up this one here. I will take it with me.” He pointed at one of the largest and most expensive of the puddings. From it, we can know that there are three movement of body language were used in it“turned to”, “s
36、aid in a loud voice”, “pointed at one of the largest and most expensive of the puddings”. Although the old man doesnt say a word about the one which he wants to buy, his body language “pointed at” indicates the meaning.2.3.4 Regulating functionBody language can regulate conversations, especially in
37、face to face ones. Some specific forms for this function of body language occur in turn-takings of a conversation, and self-regularity. For example, if one participant is interested in the conversation, he might nod approvingly at times and smile from time to time to hint the speaker to continue the
38、 conversation. That is the regularity of turn-taking, which regulates the turns in conversations. Self- regularity means the speaking might use some body language actions to regulate himself or herself. For example, when we are nervous, we often feel uneasy whether sitting or standing. If we feel aw
39、kward, the usual action is to touch the back of the head or just curl the lip unconsciously to regulate ourselves to overcome the embarrassing situations. Maybe in different cultures different body language will be used to indicate this meaning, but in spite of the various forms, there is a fundamen
40、tal truth under this, that is, proper use of body language can regulate participants to get accustomed to conversations. 2.3.5 Negative functionChapter 2 Body Language5In this sense body language can negate the truth-value of verbal language, and this function is usually called negative function. He
41、re is an example for this. If A says to B, “I hate you”, without the corresponding facial expressions of hatred, A smiles and says gently. This is an apparent case, A doesnt really hate B, because his/her body language betrays him/her. Another example is also can be noticed in our daily life, if A s
42、ays to B, “I love you “, with the indifferent expression and no actions of lover. As body language shows that A is lying to B, he/she doesnt really love her/him. So, we can say body language publicly can negate the meaning of verbal language. Some scholars reckon that being the reflection of psychol
43、ogical conditions is the foundation on which body language functions in harmony with words and expressions in conversations. That is to say, body language always closely concerts the true meanings from our hearts, and transfers different kinds of information to the other speakers in conversations. B
44、irdwhistle has more specific description. He says, “body language and oral language supplement each other. If we attempt to communicate without the cooperation of body language, such as hand, the changes of forehead and other forms of facial expressions, we will soon learn that communications are ha
45、rd to proceed on.” 5Chapter 3 Differences of English and Chinese Body Languages Cultural Connotations6Chapter 3 Differences of English and Chinese Body Languages Cultural ConnotationsAccording to the study of anthropology, body language is the signal and tool of human communication and human being h
46、as the same ancestors, so the signal they express through their body language may be the same. We called it “innate”, so some body language belongs to all nations in the world: for example, people laugh when they feel happy; people cry when feel sad; people faces turn red when they feel shy.As globa
47、lization of the world, people from different countries communicate with each other more and more closely and frequently. At the same time, economy and culture become mingled. The world becomes smaller and smaller. We often called it “Global Village” in which the cultural meaning of body language ten
48、ds to be similar. However, the differences in body language have been the major barriers to efficient communication. This thesis will detail the differences of Chinese and English body languages cultural connotations in the following parts: 3.1 Hand Gesture Gestures refer to specific body movements
49、that carry meanings. Gestures are both innate and learned. They are used in all cultures, tend to be tied to speech processes, and are usually automatic. Gestures include those made by both hands and other parts of the body, such as arm gestures and leg movements.Everyone has hands and everyone uses them to communicate everyday. In fact, hand gesture is the core of body language. Instead of words, people can convey ideas, information and message by using the movement and style of hands and fingers. Hands are the earliest communicative tools in human communicati
