The Importance of Body Language in Cultures
Overseas English Overseas English
ISSN 1009-5039
hwsy@overseaen.com 2011 2 http://www.overseaen.com Tel:+86-551-5690811 5690812
The Importance of Body Language in Cultures
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262700 ）
Abstract:Communication is necessary to people's daily life. Although we may not realize it when we talk with others, we make ourselves understood not only by words. Body language sometimes helps make the communication easy and effective. Body language is treated as equivalent to nonverbal communication which sends 65 percent communication message. In order to improve the quality of our communication, we should pay more attention to nonverbal communication. In addition, culture influences communication. Different country has different culture. Every culture has its own body language. It is useful to learn more about such body language, especially the using of body language in different culture. Key words: communication; culture; body language; nonverbal communication
：H319 ：A ：1009-5039(2011)02-0238-02
Body language is not language in the strict sense of the word language; it refers to, in fact, a broad term for forms of communication using body movements, gestures, facial expressions and eye behaviors in addition to sounds, verbal language, or other forms of communication. Some scholars treat body language as an equivalent to nonverbal communication. Although we may not realize it when we talk with others, we make ourselves understood not only by words. There are plenty of nonverbal communications around us everyday. In 1972, a research made by American linguists showed that only 35 percent communication message is sent by verbal communication, while 65 percent is sent by nonverbal communication. It is obvious that nonverbal communication plays an important role in our communication. We can understand it well by some functions and different cultural instances of body language.
1 Functions of Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal communication can convey
ISSN 1009-5039
hwsy@overseaen.com 2011 2 http://www.overseaen.com Tel:+86-551-5690811 5690812
The Importance of Body Language in Cultures
，
（
，
，
262700 ）
Abstract:Communication is necessary to people's daily life. Although we may not realize it when we talk with others, we make ourselves understood not only by words. Body language sometimes helps make the communication easy and effective. Body language is treated as equivalent to nonverbal communication which sends 65 percent communication message. In order to improve the quality of our communication, we should pay more attention to nonverbal communication. In addition, culture influences communication. Different country has different culture. Every culture has its own body language. It is useful to learn more about such body language, especially the using of body language in different culture. Key words: communication; culture; body language; nonverbal communication
：H319 ：A ：1009-5039(2011)02-0238-02
Body language is not language in the strict sense of the word language; it refers to, in fact, a broad term for forms of communication using body movements, gestures, facial expressions and eye behaviors in addition to sounds, verbal language, or other forms of communication. Some scholars treat body language as an equivalent to nonverbal communication. Although we may not realize it when we talk with others, we make ourselves understood not only by words. There are plenty of nonverbal communications around us everyday. In 1972, a research made by American linguists showed that only 35 percent communication message is sent by verbal communication, while 65 percent is sent by nonverbal communication. It is obvious that nonverbal communication plays an important role in our communication. We can understand it well by some functions and different cultural instances of body language.
1 Functions of Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal communication can convey