Abstract

Body language is a very important way of communication in international communication. It is closely connected with cultures .It would pose problems to comprehension if people from different countries communicate without noticing such difference. Therefore, in order to enable an effective communication, the author feels imperative to conduct a study on body language.

   This paper made a contrastive analysis on Chinese and American body language from a cultural perspective. The author mainly clarified the differences from four aspects: gestures, posters, eye contact and facial expressions. In addition, she also explained the cultural causes of the difference and finally put forward some suggestions to avoid the misunderstanding in communication. As a matter of fact, having a better understanding of the differences between Chinese and American body language, respecting the cultural differences, and paying more attention to the way of social communication will promote better communication between Chinese and American people. 

Key words: body language, cultural difference, communication.

CONTENTS

中文摘要

Abstract

Chapter 1 Introduction1

Chapter 2 Literature Review 2

  2.1 Overseas studies on the body language.2

  2.2 Domestic studies on the body language 3

Chapter 3 Contrastive Analysis of Chinese and American Body Language and Their Cultural Causes3

3.1 Divergences of Chinese and American body language .3

   3.1.1 Body language on gestures .3 

     3.1.2 Body language on postures  4

   3.1.3 Body language on facial expressions.5

   3.1.4 Body language on eye contacts6

  3.2 Cultural factors for the differences7

     3.2.1 Individualism and collectivism  .7

     3.2.2 Power distance .7

     3.2.3 High and low context cultures 8

     3.2.4 Original cultures.8

Chapter 4 

Conclusion. .9

References .10