Comparison of Body Languages in Chinese and American Culture

高春雨

Body language is related to culture， which serves for communication and can make people communicate effectively and smoothly. People with different culture background have their own system of expressing body language in communication. However， because of some similar common customs between the American and Chinese， there appear some same body languages with the same meanings. But because of different cultures， they may cause misunderstandings or even conflicts in Sino-American intercultural communication.

1. The Same Body Languages with the Same Meanings

Both American and Chinese people have thousands of body languages； they speak， eat， decorate and dress differently. But they still have many similar body languages in daily life such as happiness， anger， sadness etc. Therefore， it is not difficult for American and Chinese to understand each other. In this part， here are the reasons of the body languages conveying the same meanings in Chinese and American cultures.

1.1 Facial Expressions

Face is the most expressive part of our body. In interpersonal communication， we depend on facial expressions when we make important judgments. Facial movements can express emotion. The seven basic emotions are happiness， sadness， surprise， fear， anger， disgust and interest. American and Chinese people almost express the basic emotions in the similar way. So it is easy for American and Chinese to guess the meaning of a body movement from his or her face.

1.2 Gestures

Gestures are the movement and manners of a part of body especially our hands and heads. It is not difficult for Chinese and Americans to interpret the meanings of the gestures in communication. For example， the gesture of nodding head up and down in both Chinese and American culture means “yes”， and the gesture of shaking head from side to side means “no”； the movement of waving hands from side to side to Chinese and American both means saying goodbye.

1.3 Postures

“Posture is a matter of how people sit， walk， stand and move.” It is usual to observe both in China and America that individuals usually use a relaxed posture such as falling into chairs or slouch when watching TV or having fun.

There are same body languages with the same meaning in China and America even when they are clouded and confused by racial， cultural or political difference. We believe the reason is that both Chinese and American people have the same basic needs.

2. The Same Body Languages with Different Meanings

Body languages between Chinese and Americans are much related to the culture， history， religion， race etc. Just as the proverb says “do as the Romans do”， it is necessary to pay attention to the same body languages with the different meanings. This part focuses on the studies of the same facial expressions， gestures， and postures， which has different meanings in Chinese and American cultures respectively.

2.1 Facial Expressions

There are differences between Americans and Chinese using facial expressions. For example， Chinese people cover mouth with hand to whisper or to prevent the spill or spittle， while American do the same action is to cover up lies. Americans tend to show their openness and friendliness by smiling. However， Chinese do not smile a lot as American do. Chinese People believe smiling has the negative meaning in addition to the positive meanings. While Americans usually enjoy a very heartfelt laugh coming from their deepest emotions.

2.2 Gestures

People from China and America have a lot of same gestures with different significances in certain contexts. For example， patting on head means differently in Chinese and American culture. Chinese adults patting the head of children show their affection to the children； but patting the head of a teenager or an adult is not so acceptable in China for it may cause displeasure and mistake for insulting. While Americans patting on others head is just for giving comfort or encouragement and sometimes also for showing affection.

2.3 Postures

Sitting posture often brings some misunderstandings between the communication of Chinese and Americans. According to Chinese tradition， people who are sitting have more important status than those who stand. So we usually see the situation on TV that Monarch sitting and officer standing， father sitting and son standing， leader sitting and employee standing and so on. But in America， people who have the right to charge others tend to stand， because they think that the standing indicates their high status.

3. Conclusion

The study of body language in Chinese and America culture can make Chinese and American people understand others very well. Even though the cultural background and the history of China and American is apparently different and it is hard for people to master all the body language for its complexity， it can improve our abilities to learn the differences and similarities of body language which has been pointed out by many researchers of Chinese and American.

References

[1] “Body Language.” Collins English Dictionary， 2010.

[2] “Body Language.” The Columbia Encyclopedia， 6th ed， 2011.

Darwin， Charles. The expression of the emotions in man and animals， London： John Murray， 1872.

[3] Li Li-na， Li Hua and Yao Shanglian. The Meanings and Application of Body Language[J]. Journal of Xichang Agricultural College， 2003.

[4] Samovar， Larry A. Communication Between Cultures[M]. California： Wadsworth Publishing Company， 1998.

（作者單位：山東省單縣第一中學）