AcomparativestudyofChinesandAmericanBodyLanguage英语毕业论文.doc

A comparative study of Chinese and American Body Language About 1,000,000 years ago, when children asked for food from their mother, the hunters killed the preys together, even at that early time, the youth taught their fellows how to set fire—all these things were accomplished under the circumstances without any verbal communication at all. Some expertise believe that non-verbal communication appeared just between 160,000 to 350,000 years ago, which means human beings could just use gestures to communicate with each other in thousands of years. But one point we can make sure that body language is useful indeed. The famous anthropologist, nonverbal communication researcher Ray Birdwhistell estimates that less than 30% of communication between two individuals within the same culture is verbal in nature. While over 70% of communication takes place nonverbally. This proves the significance of nonverbal communication. Shakespeare said that “There’s meaning in silence and language in gestures”[1]. The fact that formulate body language include facial expressions, the methods of controlling your hands and body, actions and your habits as well, even tone and intonation. Brosnahan said that, “Hand gesture is the core of kinetics.” We said so because there are a variety of delicate and vivid hand gestures. Since the ancient time of western countries, one opens his palm to show honesty, sincerity, loyalty and obedience, so people often use this gesture when they swear. Since 3,000 years ago in China, Chinese have been using “hold fist salute” as their meeting etiquette to show modesty and respect to others. 1. The important meaning of learning body language What’s the body language? It has the definitions in both narrow and broad senses. In the narrow sense, body language includes body movement and facial expression, which can send messages. As to the broad one, it includes gesture, posture, facial expression, timbre of the speaker, distance between speaker and listener