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Body language
Although we may not realize it when we talk with others we make ourselves understood not only by words. We send messages to the people around us also by expressions and body movements.we call it "body language ",which is a kind of communication,noverbal communication.A smile and handshake show welcome ,Waving one's hand is to say"goodbye", nodding the head means agreement,while shaking it means disgreement .Putting up a hand means"May I ask a question?". Kissing means"love". Waving one's arms show happiness.These gestures are accepted both by Chinese and Americans as having the same meanings.
Because culture influences communication.Different country has different culture.So the way people in different countries communicate is different too.FOR EXAMPLE, Arab man often greet by kissing on both cheeks.In Japan men greet by bowing .In the Unite States, people shake hands to show"their greeting". And the gesture of putting a hand on a person' neck is different for Chinese and Americans. For Chinese,it is to say"someone will be killed". For Americans, it shows"I'm full” .And in Thailand, If you want to signal a person to come near, you should move the fingers back and forth with palm down.But in the United States, you ask someone to come by holding the palm up and moving the fingers towards our body. And crossing one's legs in the United States is a sign of being relaxed. But in Korea , it's not allowed. In Chinese,people hand everything with both hands to show their respect,but for Muslims,they think the left hand is unclean and do not eat or pass something with it.
Because of special culture influences some counties, some body languages should attract our attention. In Turkey , putting one's hand in one's pockets is a sign of disrespect,In some Asican countries, you must not touch the head of another person. And in China, people don't kiss or hug each other ,except his\her lover. For an Arab, it is a good manners to stand close to his friend when they are talking, but for English people, they don't like to be close to one another.And in parts of Asia, you must not sit with your foot pointing at another person.
All above show that it is important to know the meaning of gestures and movements in foreign country, foreigners should follow these customs, should learn their culture. So we can communicate with them in a correct way, not only by words, but also by body language. I think that it is important in our lives to show and learn body language ..
BeiJing 10th middle school SUN HAI BO
2001/5/10
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