1、Cultural Misunderstanding -Body Language 02 Sun 27 Dora 28 Tia 34 James StructureIntroductionBackground informationDescription and Further AnalysisDifferent points of view(discussion)Our opinionsConclusionIntroductionIntroductionBody language,like verbal language,is also a part of culture.Different
2、cultures have different Body languages except some universal ones.And in intercultural communication,the same body language may mean different things.So there are many cultural taboos in intercultural communication and if we do not be aware of them,it may easily cause cultural misunderstandings.Comm
3、unicating with foreigners,we should attach importance to the differences to avoid misunderstandings.What is body language?Its the way you stand and sit and walk.Its your gestures and the expression on your face and in your eyes.Its your whole appearance that communicates things.What is cultural misu
4、nderstanding?People from all over the world may have the opportunity to make the intercultural communication more and more frequently,and as for their different national,ethic,culture,or linguistic backeground,they may have culture misunderstanding.Some body languages:Touching 体触Handshaking 握手Kissin
5、g 亲吻Posture 姿势Head gesture 头部动作Face gesture 面部动作Eye movement 眼部动作Hand gesture 手部动作Territoriality 领地Silence 沉默Time language 时间语We can understand what others are saying even when they are not talking.We can sense when people are silent and digesting information,or when they are silent and confused.Wha
6、t can we know from body language?Lets Examine How Body Communicates,from head to toesBackgroundBackgroundThere are some cultural differences between countries because of different regions,races and methods of thinking,etc.Misunderstanding and conflicts sometimes occur in the process of intercultural
7、 communication due to cultural differences and improper uses of body languages.Human communicationverbal communicationnon-verbal communicationbody languageExample:A Chinese girls experience.Once I went to the airport to meet an official from Columbia.When I met him,he suddenly dashed to hug me and k
8、issed me on both cheeks.As a young girl,I felt truly embarrassed and put up my hands to defend myself.His false smile told me that he had lost face.Later,I received a cassette from him,in which he recorded his apology.On hearing that Columbians were more likely to kiss others,I soon felt at ease.dif
9、ferent regionsdifferent methods of thinkingdifferent culturesAppearance and DressFingerEyecontactPostureTouchingForm birth to death,communication plays an important part in our life.There are some body languages can lead to wrong interpretations.The misinterpretation nonverbal signs and symbols such
10、 as gestures,postures,and other body movements.It is a definite communication barrier.However,it is possible to learn the meanings of these messages.We need to read these body language,but also interpret it correctly to avoid misunderstandings.Thou tellst me there is murder in mine eye.-ShakespeareY
11、our lips tell me no,no,but theres yes,yes in your eyes.-Musical balladDescription and Further AnalysisThink about:At the airport,a Japanese asked an American tourist whether the airport provides the baggage service.The American wants to tell him that the airport not only provides baggage service,but
12、 also provides free of charge,so he answered with a well-know gesture of“OK”.But to the Japanese,this gesture means money.So the Japanese thought the baggage service is expensive.And at the same time,a Tunisian nearby saw the scene.He thought the American was telling the Japanese that he is a shamel
13、ess thief.Example:When Nixon first visited Brazil,he went out of the door in Brazils capital airport,in face of the Brazilian and the media from all over the world,he put his hands up with the OK gesture.He also constantly swing back and forth,just as he win the election victory.But the Brazilian ar
14、ound all booed on him and the next day,all headlines of Brazil media are the gesture of Nixon.Do you know why?In America:victory,friendlyIn Brazil:low-down behavior,dirtyExample：smileJapanese student:On my way to and from school I have received a smile by non-acquaintance American girls several time
15、s.I have finally learned they have no interest for me;it means only a kind of greeting to a foreign.If someone smiles at a stranger in Japan,especially at a girl,she can assume he is either a sexual maniac or an impolite person.Example:smileKorean student:An American visited me in my country for one
16、 week.His inference was that people in Korea are not very friendly because they didnt smile or want to talk to with foreign people.Most Korean people take time to get too be friendly with people.We never talk or smile at strangers.Example:smileArab student:When I walked around the campus my first da
17、y,many people smiled at me.I was very embarrassed and rushed to the mens room to see if I had made a mistake with my clothes.But I could find nothing for them smile at.Now I am used to all the smiles.DiscussionQuestion 1:Whats your opinion on the cultural misunderstandings caused by body language?Yo
18、u can talk about it through your own experience.Question 2:From your own perspective,how would you deal with the cultural misunderstandings?Try to avoid it,understand it or just let it be?Our opinionsOpinions:JamesAs to me,I agree to existence of this otherness.The misunderstanding of the body langu
19、age is mainly caused by the cultural background.Different people have different beliefs and their world views are diverse.We cannot remove the misunderstanding but the most important is that we can do something to avoid that.The beautiful world is rich and colorful on account of its diversity,and ha
20、rmony of its tolerance.TiaIbelievethatcertainculturalmisunderstandingscanpromotemutualunderstandingbetweendifferentcultures.Whenyouhavesomeconflictsorunpleasantwithotherscausedbythebodylanguageofdifferentculture.Thenyoumaytrytoknowanotherculture,andtoencouragethepeoplearoundyoulearnaboutothercountri
21、esbodylanguage.Itwillpromoteculturalcommunication.Opinions:Dora:Body language varies from culture to culture.Not all members of all cultures behave the same way.We should try to grasp and respect each others culture in order to make good communication.Learning a foreign language is more than learnin
22、g the knowledge of the language itself.It is important for us to be aware of the culture difference because it is crucial and indispensable for successful communication.SunWhen we come through some body languages that we can not understand or fell confused,do not be angry or blame on others first,tr
23、y to understand whether it is their culture.Although we live on the same earth,we are from different culture and countries.We should seek common ground while reserving differences.ConclusionConclusion:Actually,in our communication,especially the intercultural communication,body language is very impo
24、rtant.Nonverbal factors such as touch,height,gaze,and facial expressions exert a potent influence on our interactions with others.Sometimes the body message reinforces the words.Sometimes it contradicts them when we stay in different circumstances.Superficially,the misunderstandings of the body lang
25、uage may cause displeasure,anger or indignation.In depth,sometimes the misunderstanding will cause a hostility,even a war just because of their converse beliefs.Some advicesBefore we visit some other countries or touch with someone who comes from different culture,we should know more about the cultu
26、re in it,especially the different parts between the country and our country.Grasp the countrys unique body language so that you could communicate with others at ease.In addition,globalization developing,we are supposed to pay more attention to the issues around the world.It is beneficial to us to ha
27、ve a good knowledge of various culture.Some advicesFurthermore,we could be devoted to enhancing our education,talking with others more genteelly through some commom body language;if we dont know how to use the body language in an unknown circumstance indeed,we should avoid the expression of our body to the greatest extend.Finally,we can learn to be more sensitive to our own bodies-to see how they express our feelings and to see ourselves as others see us.we do not have bodies;we are our bodies.
