Body Language in Cross—cultural Communication

曾玉丹

【Abstract】Under the background of economic globalization， ties of all the countries around the world are becoming closer and closer. People from different cultural backgrounds communicate more and more frequently as well. Usually， we communicate using verbal expressions and non – verbal ones. This paper aims at analyzing the characteristics of body language and the application of body language in intercultural communication， thus the development of intercultural communication gets promoted.

【Key words】cross-cultural communication； body language； cultural differences

1. Introduction

Whenever people speak of communication， the first thing hit their heads is the verbal behavior of language， which is a process relying on language instrument including written materials and oral language to carry and deliver information. Its no doubt that language， I mean the verbal ones， is a tool of vitality in communication. Still， there are non-verbal behaviors of language—body language， which can carry abundant content of the means of communication.

2. Literature Review

2.1 Definition of Body Language

Body language is a type of non-verbal communication in which physical behavior， as opposed to words， are used to express or convey information. Such behavior includes facial expressions， body posture， gestures， eye movement， touch and the use of space （https：//en.wikipedia）.

2.2 Main Characteristics of Body Language

2.2.1 Universal

In our daily life， people use body languages to convey ideas and exchange information consciously or subconsciously as long as they communicate with others. At times， body language， which is simple and flexible， forms the first visual image in the mind of the people who are listening to us even before the natural sound of verbal language.

2.2.2 Informative

Ed Fast ever said that body language is a set of stimulus responses or not of our body or part of body to communicate with the outside world. It is estimated that our body can make up nearly 27， 000 gestures and movements， more than the sound that our body can make. Body language can also carry out multi - faceted， multi-level information， which is rather complex.

2.2.3 Direct

As is known to all， light travels much faster than the sound. Verbal language can appeals to the human auditory organ directly， but it cannot send the visual image while body language can. With its flexible expressions， actions and postures directly resorting to the human visual organ， people can easily get the informationendprint

3. The Application of different types of body language in cross-cultural Communication

3.1 Facial Expressions

Facial expression is integral when expressing emotions through the body. Combinations of eyes， eyebrow， lips， nose， and cheek movements help form different moods of an individual （e.g. happy， sad， depressed， angry， etc.）. A few studies show that facial expression and bodily expression （i.e. body language） are congruent when interpreting emotions. In all of the various types of body language， facial expression is the most widely accepted by people.

3.2 Gestures

Gestures， the most important part of body language， are those movements we use our hands or other body parts to form. It plays an integral role in communicating especially in cross-cultural communication. People gestures， which are granted with different meanings by the cultural background， are so rich and colorful that we must be very careful when using it lest something awkward happens.

3.3 Eye Language

Eye can tell much. Just as the old saying goes， “The eye is the window of the mind”， eye language， which can express various complex feelings and inside activities of people， is also very important in communication. Compared with verbal language， the information delivered through eye language is more reliable for that eyes are much less likely to cheat people.In different culture， eye language can be different.

3.4 Space Distance

Generally， communicators keep different distances according to the degree of their intimacy. People of different nationalities and cultures have different space regions. Most English-speaking people do not like to be too close to each other in the conversation， while the Spanish and the Arabs like to be very close.

4. Conclusion

Compared with the western culture of passion， eastern culture is relatively conservative. Body language provides a solid foundation for the east-west people to learn more and better understand each other and promote communication. Only if we understand the special meaning of some body language in the cultural background of the opposite party， can we really play the pragmatic value of the body language， we can understand each others intentions， and make the cross-cultural communication successful.

References：

[1]Li Li-na&Li Hua&Yao Shanglian.The Meanings and Application of Body Language[J].Journal of Xichang Agricultural College，2003（2）：12-14.endprint