发布时间 : 星期三 文章英语专业论文-A Contrastive Analysis of Body Language in Between Chinese and American Culture更新完毕开始阅读8c6201969e31433239689376
毕业论文(设计)
approval, challenge, or turn-taking.
The main difference of eye contact in between Chinese and American culture focuses on eye etiquette. The Chinese do not have much eye contact in conversation because in Chinese culture, staring at another for a long time is considered as an invasion of privacy, an act of defiance or demonstration of lack of trust. Contrast to that, American adult demand children look at them while they are speaking. American custom demands there should be eye contact to indicate attention. Too little eye contact may be seen impolite. This applies to both the speaker and the listener. If they don’t do so, it would imply a number of things, such as fear, contempt, uneasiness, guilt, and indifference. The saying “never trust a person who dare not look you in the eyes” confirms the importance of eye contact in conversation.
In America, even in public speaking, there should be plenty of eye contact. If the speaker bury his nose in his manuscript instead of looking at and talking to his audiences, which some Chinese speakers are in the habit of doing and the listeners can choose to listen, take notes and even glance over the data in the past, it would be regarded as inconsiderate and disrespectful. In American culture, people are expected to pay their attention to the people they talk to by maintaining corresponding eye contact.
Staring at people or holding a glance too long is considered improper in America. It may make people uneasy and embarrassed. However, it was interesting that the ordinary and implicit Chinese stared at the strange foreigners curiously in the open time. In fact, the behavior had violated the taboo of communication. Americans can
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only stare at non-persons like animals, pictures, and scenery. If people are stared at, they are not regarded as human beings. Being unaware of it, Chinese people offend them many times. Many Americans traveling to China find being looked at is an unnerving experience because their culture’s definition of it is being rude and unwelcoming. However, according to Chinese culture, this practice is quite common and it is nothing more than curiosity.
2.2 Touch
Like our words, movements are messages about what we are thinking and feeling. It is true with touch. Touch can indicate many things, including affection, aggression, and the type of status or relationship which exists between people. The way a dentist, doctor, or barber touches someone will differ from the way he/she touches or is touched by his/her friends and families.
Generally speaking, we can regard America as non-contact culture. Americans try their best to avoid touching strangers in public. When Americans stand in line, they always try to keep a distance from others. If someone is too close with him, the first reaction is falling back. If not, he will incline aside and contract his muscle. If the invader hasn’t reacted to the signal, he will use the bag which he takes with him or other things to protect him. In contrast, China is a country of togetherness, and China belongs to contact culture. In China, the sense of private space is comparatively weak. Crowdedness is quite ordinary because of the large population. People may feel uncomfortable with the physical contact in crowd, but in most of times, they would
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毕业论文(设计)
forgive and endure this kind of behavior rather than get angry. Although there is not much body contact or touch in public among strangers, Chinese people stand closer and touch more among intimates than Americans.
In China, pushing and shoving are tolerated in crowded shops, buses, restaurants and other gatherings due to the large population. However, when Chinese have to touch strangers, they stiffen their body to compensate for the discomfort. Such crowded may seem unpleasant and aggressive to Americans. When showing the way, Americans seldom walk side by side. Instead, one often leads the other’s way by walking in front of him/her. If two persons walk side by side, they often keep a distance of 3 to 4 inches. Physical contact is also avoided either in conversation among ordinary friends or acquaintances or in queuing up among strangers. Merely touching someone may cause an unpleasant reaction. If one touches another person accidentally, he/she usually makes an apology such as “sorry”, “oh, I’m sorry”, or “Excuse me”.
The touch of babies and small children is also different due to different cultures. In America, such acts are avoided. In China, a common complaint of American mothers is that Chinese often fondle their babies and small children. Such behavior----whether touching, patting, hugging or kissing----can be quite embarrassing and awkward for American mothers. They know that it means no harm, and such gestures are merely signs of friendliness or affection, so they can not openly show their displeasure. However, such action in their own culture would be considered rude, intrusive and offensive and could arouse a strong dislike and even
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repugnance. Therefore, the American mothers often stand by and watch in awkward silence, with mixed emotions, even though the fondling is by Chinese friends or acquaintances.
The matter of physical contact between members of the same sex in America is a delicate one. Once the childhood has passed, the holding of hands, or walking with an arm around another’s shoulder or waist, as is common in China, is not considered proper since it has the implication of homosexuality, which generally arouses strong social disapproval in America. Americans feel shocked when they come to China and find many Chinese “express feelings” like that in public. In America, it’s only common between husband and wife, lovers or members of the opposite sex. Actually, such gestures in China only mean intimacy or friendship. Besides, if a junior holds an elder’s hands, it may show the intimacy between them or the young person’s respect or concern towards the elder.
On the other hand, Chinese feel uneasy at the sight of hugging, embracing or kissing members of the opposite sex in public, which is a common practice in America. In America, it occurs frequently between husband and wife or close members of the family when meeting after a period of absence. A warm hug and embrace are a standard way of welcome. But these practices are seldom in China, for Chinese are reserved. They usually discourage the display of emotions and intimacy, thus they forbid such touching in public, especially from an opposite sex. So, when Americans touch or pat Chinese people on the shoulder in conversation, Chinese often avoid.
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