浅谈身势语-A Brief Discussion on Body Language(9)

(22) When we have guests at home, we will smile to show welcome. But American Indians will cry to express welcome. Smiles will not only represent happiness and friendliness but also indicate apology and understanding. For instance, we stamped other’s feet on the bus because of a sudden brake; we will smile to the person. It means to say “Sorry”, “Very Sorry”. When colliding with a stranger, we will smile to show we have no hostility. The smile on the face of waiters or waitress means they welcome us. But sometimes, western people will feel disgusted about Chinese’s smile. For example,

(23) A foreigner broke a dish in a restaurant and felt embarrassed. But Chinese who were on the spot smiled at him, which made him angrier. In fact, this smile means “Never mind”. Another facial expression is stretching out one’s tongue. When Chinese realize that their behavior is unsuitable and feel embarrassed, they often stretch out their tongues and shrink their necks at the same time, especially girls and children. But Americans never do it. They think it is rude.

5. The Similarities of Body Language and Their Causes

5.1 The Similarities of Body Language

We have discussed different cultural meanings of body language and its cause. Though different cultures result in different body languages, they also have common features. For example, master of comedy, Chapling was very popular with people all over the world because of his humorous behavior in the silent films during 1920s and 1930s. Now, let’s go on the similarities of body language.
“Charles Darwin mentioned in his book ‘Emotional Expression of Human and Animals’. This book discussed whether the same expressions and postures suggested the same meaning both for human and animals.”[21]p51 And he asked people all around the world and collected their possible replies. Surprisingly, the answers were almost same, especially on facial expressions. Heading nodding often means agreement or greeting in most countries. And shaking one’s head often means disagreement or “No”. Applauding means appreciation or agreement and so on.

(24) If a person is hurt, he/she will cry to express painfulness. And we smile when are happy. Waving one’s hand means goodbye. Even some Chinese and English expressions and their meanings are totally same. For example, patting on the back means encouragement and appreciation. Pulling a long face indicates unhappiness and anger. Being all smile means happiness, standing with folded arms means indifference and so on.

5.2 The Causes Resulting in the Similarities of Body Language

“We can analyze the reason why different cultures have the same meaning on body language from psychology, linguistics, anthropology, culturology, semilogy, philosophy and so on. From anthropology, body language is the symbols and a tool of human communication. Human beings have the same ancestor, which determines the similarities of body language.”[22]p119 Nowadays, with the development of the world, people from different cultures communicate more and more often. We have more chance to exchange culture and economy. The expert, Mcluhan compare the world to “global village” to describe the world, which means the world becoming smaller and smaller because of more and more communication. On the one hand, people from east world have accepted the body language from west world, such as thumbing a ride, shrugging, “OK” gesture, “V” gesture and so on. On the other hand, with rapid development of East Asia and Southeast Asia, the body language from east world has a great influence on that of the west world. In the communication of east and west people, many westerners have learned Chinese customs and etiquettes.

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