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非言语交际中的中美文化差异

摘  要

人类有两种交际方式：语言交际和非语言交际。语言交际通常被认为是人类最重要、最有效的交际手段。因此，人们很容易忽视人类的非语言交际手段。然而，在面对面的交际中，大量的社交信息是通过非语言方式传递的。据估计,人与人之间的信息交换约65%是通过非语言手段实现的,而通过语言方式实现的仅为35%,这充分说明了非语言交际在人类的交际中占有举足轻重的地位。

本论文针对跨文化交际中存在的非语言交际障碍的问题，采用理论分析和比较分析相结合的方法，以非语言的四个范畴，即身势语、副语言、时间语言和空间语言为基点对中美文化差异进行了对比研究，并提出对中美非语言交际具有参考性的建议，从而提高读者的跨文化交际能力。

关键词：非语言交际; 跨文化交际; 文化差异

Abstract

Human communication covers two types: verbal communication and nonverbal communication. Verbal communication is generally regarded as the most important and effective means of communication. Consequently nonverbal means of human communication is often ignored. However, in face-to-face communication, a great deal of information is sent and received through nonverbal means. It is estimated that up to 65% of the meaning of a message is transmitted by nonverbal means, and only about 35% is transmitted in verbal ways. This suggests that nonverbal communication plays an important role in human communication.

This thesis aims at problems caused by nonverbal communication barriers in cross-cultural communication, applies the research method of theory analysis and comparative analysis. Based on four categories of nonverbal communication, namely body language, paralanguage, time language and space language, this paper makes a comparative study of the cultural differences between China and the United States. In addition, the author puts forward to some suggestions to contribute to Sino-American intercourse so that the readers’ competence of intercultural communication can be improved.

Keywords: Nonverbal Communication; Cross-Cultural Communication; Cultural Differences

 

Contents

1. Introduction 1

2. Literature Review 2

2.1 Foreign Studies on Nonverbal Communication 2

2.2 Domestic Studies on Nonverbal Communication 2

2.3 Nonverbal Communication 3

2.3.1 Definitions 3

2.3.2 Features 3

2.3.3 Classifications 4

2.3.4 Functions 4

3. Sino-American Cultural Differences in Nonverbal Communication 5

3.1 Body Language: Kinesics 5

3.1.1Gestures 5

3.1.2 Postures 6

3.1.3 Facial Expression 6

3.1.4 Touch 7

3.2 Paralanguage: Paralinguistic 8

3.2.1 Silence 8

3.2.2 Nonverbal Sound 9

3.3 Time Language: Chronemics 9

3.3.1 Time Orientations 10

3.3.2 Time System 10

3.3.3 Time Concept 11

3.3 Space Language (Proxemics) 12

3.4.1 Personal Space 12

3.4.2 Spatial Orientations 13

4. Ways to Promote Nonverbal Communication Competence 13

4.1 Knowing Ourselves 13

4.2 Avoiding Stereotyping 14

4.3 Appreciating Similarities and Respecting Differences 14

4.4 Developing Empathy 14

4.5 Keeping an Open Mind 14

5. Conclusion 14

Bibliography 16

Acknowledgements 17

 

1.Introduction

Human communication is usually divided into verbal and nonverbal communication. Verbal communication is considered to be the most significant way of communication in our daily life while nonverbal communication is often ignored. However, as a matter of fact，in everyday life, we spend a great deal of time on nonverbal communication. It is estimated that language accounts for only 35% of communication, while nonverbal communication accounts for 65%.[王蓉,张爱琳.跨文化交际[M].重庆:重庆大学出版社,2018:117.] On the other hand, nonverbal communication is not only a supplement of language in people exchanging information, but also works as a subtle way for people to trade their underneath feelings which are not easily to be expressed by using plain languages. Therefore, nonverbal communication is so important that it deserves much of our attention. 

With the development of economics as well as technology, the contact between China and America are becoming closer and closer, the interactions between both sides become more and more frequent. In general, people prefer to pay more attention to verbal communication when running into people from different cultures and pay little attention to nonverbal communication in intercultural communication. Such neglect often leads to cultural misunderstandings and conflicts. Consequently, there is no doubt that nonverbal communication is of great significance to the study of intercultural communication. 

It is true that more and more scholars at home and abroad pay attention to nonverbal communication. In recent decades, noticing the importance of nonverbal communication, much research has been conducted on this subject and a large number of scholars believe that nonverbal communication transfers more messages than verbal communication. Through experiments, the linguist Mehrabian found out that only 7 percent of human communication is word in everyday face-to-face interaction, and the 55 percent of the information was expressed through nonverbal communication. According to the finding, he summed up a rule, that is “the total impact = 7% verbal feeling + 38% vocal feeling + 55% facial expressions”.

In China, people also attach great importance to using non-verbal means to express information, such as manner and behaviors. Through these studies, people can realize that nonverbal communication plays an important part in the whole process of communication. This thesis through a systematic comparative analysis of the cultural differences in nonverbal communication between China and the United States, the author puts forward to some suggestions to contribute to Sino-American intercourse. This thesis aims at arousing readers’ awareness of the importance of nonverbal communication and helping readers understand and appreciate the differences in nonverbal communication between Chinese and American cultures, improving intercultural communication competence and reducing misunderstanding between both parties to some extent.

 

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