中西方肢体语言的比较研究

indifference, even in public speaking there should be plenty of eye contact. For a speaker to “burry his nose in his manuscript”, to read a speech instead of looking at and talking to hid audience, as some Chinese speakers are in the habit of doing, would be regarded as inconsiderate and disrespectful.

In Juliets Faster?s book “Body Language”, there is a paragraph which can explain the problem. “Two strangers sit face to face in the dinning room in a train; they can introduce themselves to each other. When they are eating, they can talk anything else. They also can avoid eye contact and do not show interest in each other. A writer described this situation in an article “They look over the menu again and again, play with knives and look at their nails. It seems that they look at them for the first time. If their eyes meet, they will turn away immediately and look out of the window.”[1]P94 In English there is an old saying “Don?t trust anyone who won?t look at you in the eye.” Rules about eye-language are numerous and complex, we should distinguish the difference between China and Western countries.

1.3 Smiles and laughter

Smiles and laughter usually convey friendliness, approval, satisfaction, pleasure, joy and merriment. This is generally true in China as well as the English-speaking countries. However, there are situations when some Chinese will laugh that will cause negative reactions by westerners. To illustrate, here is an excerpt from a letter by an American to a Chinese friend on nonverbal gestures that often cause cross-cultural misunderstanding:

“…One is the different meaning of laughter in China and American. When an American is parking his bicycle, for example, and the bicycle accidentally falls over, he feels embarrassed at his awkwardness, and is quite angered and humiliated when Chinese onlookers laugh. I have seen the same thing happen in the dining room, when a foreigner drops a plate quite by accident and feels badly and Chinese onlookers laugh, compounding his discomfort and causing anger and bad feeling.”[3:158] Such laughter, of course, is not at the person or his misfortune—whether he be a

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foreigner or a Chinese. It can convey a number of feelings: don?t take it so seriously; laugh it off, it?s nothing; such things can happen to any of us, etc. However, for people unaware of this attitude, the reaction to such laughter is usually quite unpleasant and often generates ill feeling towards those laughing.

II. Some gestures which have difference connotations in China and western countries

Since the cultures in different countries are different, the same gesture would have different meanings in different countries.

Americans like to shrug when they have no idea about something. But Chinese don?t do the same thing. Stretching out one?s tongue means contempt in America, but in China it means surprise or indicates dislike sometime. Another example, Americans often touch their temples to express somebody?s cleverness. But this action means there is something wrong with one?s mind or one is stupid to Chinese.

In China, people greet with each other with head nodding, smile, hand shaking and so on. Even good friends just hold hands for a short time or hammer softly on the other friend?s shoulder. As for hand shaking, people in North America shake hands when they greet with each other.

Chinese are often surprised to see Americans lay their hands on their necks when they are full. Because it is a suicide action to Chinese, what used to express full by patting their stomachs. For instance, a thumb in the air might mean a request for a ride on the highway or “ok” on the launch pad. However in China, it means something very good. Raising forefinger and middle finger to form a “V” indicate victory in English-speaking countries, but in China it means two in most of time.

III. Some gestures which have the same meaning in China and Western countries

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There are also some body language have the same meaning in both China and Western countries. Making a circle with thumb and index finger while extending others is to say It's OK. When you lift your forefinger near your lips with the sound ''shhh'' that shows you want somebody to be silent. Here are some examples, \I don?t know\“Come here” Hand extended toward person, palm open and down, with all fingers crooked in a beckoning motion Hand extended toward person, closed hand, palm up, with forefinger only moving back and forth

“Shame on you!” (semi-joking gesture) Forefinger of one hand extended, tip touches one?s face several times quickly, similar to scratching, but with the forefinger straight Forefinger of each hand extended, palms down in front of one?s body, one forefinger makes several brushing movements over the back of the other forefinger Punish oneself Giving oneself boxes on the face Giving oneself boxes on the ear Welcome, congratulation Applauding and clapping hands Applauding and snapping one?s fingers

“I?m very full” after a meal One or both hands open, lightly patting one?s own stomach Hand raised to throat, fingers extended, palm down High praise, the best Thumb up Closed hand, forefinger up

“No, don?t do that” Moving the head from side to side Moving the index finger from side to side

“That?s crazy!” “He/she is crazy!” Moving the index finger from side to side Moving the index finger in a circle in front of the ear.

IV. Some gestures which have no equivalents in other cultures

There are also many gestures only existing in one culture without equivalent in other cultures.

For example, the American “No, don?t do that” gesture, moving the index finger from side to side with forefinger up and others closed is not used in China. To express doubt, helplessness or baffle, people who live in English-speaking countries often shrug their shoulders. However, this gesture is seldom used in China. In English

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culture, the gesture, thumb against the tip of the nose, other four fingers wave from side to side together, indicates challenge and defiance; putting middle finger on the back of forefinger indicates “bless success”, which has a relevant phrase—cross one?s fingers. And people are very familiar with another phrase, that is “thumb a ride” (standing on the side of the rode, closing hand with thumb up) which means a request for ride. Now, as the Western media cultures such as Western films penetrate into China, such kinds of gestures have been used by more and more Chinese young people. There are also many gestures only existing in China. In Chinese culture, to express respect, people must take something that can be hold with one hand to their guests or others with two hands. And when others pour tea or wine for them, they must hold the cup with both hands to express “Thank you” or tap the tabletop with forefinger to indicate “It?s enough”. Touching or pointing to tip of one?s own nose with raised forefinger means “It?s me.” “I?m the one.” Upraised forefinger of each hand coming together in front of the body until the two touches, means a good match. These gestures are unique to China.

V. Cultural roots for the difference of body language

The reasons of causing the difference of body language are various, I?ll briefly recommend three kinds of cultural roots: different customs, different religion beliefs and different history.

5.1 Different customs

Traditional customs is also a reason of different body language in different countries, For example, Chinese traditional customs believes that people who are seated are more authoritative: emperors sit, while liege subjects stood; fathers sit, whereas sons stand; superiors sit, while inferiors stand and so on. So, to show respect, juniors often let seniors sit on their own seats. However, the situation in America is opposite to that in China. In America, “tallness usually equates with dominance. Standing up tall can help you appear more authoritative, whereas a slumped posture or

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