91011要点

Chapter 7 Nonverbal Interculural Communication

Part

Ⅰ

. General Introduction

1.

Definition of Nonverbal Communication

The messages sent without using words are called nonverbal communication.

2. The Functions of Nonverbal Communication

a. Repeating

People use nonverbal communication to repeat, clarify, and emphasize their point of view.

For example, nod as saying “yes”

.

b. Complementing

Nonverbal communication cues can add to or complement a verbal message.

For example, scratch head.

c. Substituting

Nonverbal messages may substitute verbal ones in certain settings.

There

are

situations

in

which

words

cannot

be

used.

In

a

very

noisy

street,

for

example,

police officer might use hand gestures to replace spoken messages.

d. Regulating

Nonverbal

behaviors

can

help

control

verbal

interactions

by

regulating

them,

such

as

turn-taking signals (hand raised) in conversations.

e. Contradicting

Certain nonverbal behaviors can contradict spoken words.

3. Significance of Nonverbal Communication

?

?

?

?

Nonverbal behavior accounts for much of the meaning we get from conversations.

Nonverbal behavior spontaneously reflects the subconsciousness.

We cannot avoid communicating through nonverbal signals.

Besides, nonverbal behavior is significant because nonverbal communication can be open

to many interpretations.

4. Categories of Nonverbal Communication

a. paralanguage(

副语言

)

b. silence(

沉默

)

c. chronemics (

时间行为

)

d. proxemics (

空间行为

)

Key Point:

b. Silence

Silence

is

a

form

of

nonverbal

communication

that

may

be

interpreted

in

various ways

depending upon the situation, the duration of the silence, and the culture.

Silence can communicate agreement, apathy (

冷漠

), awe (

敬畏

), confusion, contemplation

(

沉思

),

disagreement,

embarrassment,

obligation,

regret,

repressed

hostility,

respect,

sadness,

thoughtfulness, or any number of meanings.

5. Other Categories of Nonverbal Communication

a. oculesics (

目光语

)

b. olfactics (

嗅觉行为

)

c. haptics (

触觉行为

)

d. kinesics (

身势语行为

)

e. chromatics

（色彩学）

f. attire

（服饰）

Part

Ⅱ

. Body Language

1. Definition of Kinesics

The study of body language is known as kinesics. Kinesic behaviors include gestures, head

movements, facial expressions, eye behaviors, and other physical movements that can be used to

communicate.

2. Categories of Body Language

Paul

and

Wallace

Friesen

(1969)

have

suggested

that

there

are

five

categories

of

kinesic

behaviors: emblems, illustrators, affect displays, illustrators and adaptors.

(1) Emblems

?

Emblems

can

be

a

great

source

of

misunderstanding

in

intercultural

communication

because

the

shared

meanings

for

an

emblem

in

one

culture

may

be

quite

different

in

another.

?

In Turkey,

for

example,

to say

“no”

nonverbally,

one would

nod

his

head

up

and

back,

raising his eyebrows

at the same time. By contrast, wagging one’s head

from side to side

doesn’t mean “no” in Turkish, it means “I don’t understand”.

(2) Illustrators

?

Illustrators

are

nonverbal

behaviors

that

are

directly

tied

to,

or

accompany,

the

verbal

message. They help to emphasize a point that the speaker is making.

?

For example, in saying “the huge mountain”, you may simultaneously

lift your arms and

move them in a large half- circle. Similarly, you may use your hand to indicate directions

to a particular place.

?

Illustrators are less culture-specific than emblems,

which makes them more likely to be

universally

understood.

Illustrators

also

show

that

we

are

highly

involved

and

interested in the conversation.

(3) Affect Displays

?

Affect displays are facial and body movements that show feelings and emotions.

?

Affect

displays

may

be

unconscious

and

unintentional,

such

as

a

look

of

shock,

and

a

blush of embarrassment.

?

Or

affect

displays

may

be conscious

and

intentional,

as

when we

purposely

smile

and

look at another person to show warmth and welcome.

(4) Regulators

?

Regulators are nonverbal behaviors that maintain or regulate turn-taking in conversations.

?

They also convey information about the preferred speed of conversations and the degree

to which the other person is understood and believed.

?

Regulators

are

learned

early

in

life

and

used

automatically

with

little

thought.

In

this

sense, regulators are culture-specific.

(5) Adaptors

?

Adaptors

are

personal

body

movements

that

occur

as

a

reaction

to

one’s

physical

and

psychological

state.

Scratching

an

itch,

twisting

the

corner

of clothes, tapping

a

pencil,

and

smoothing

one’s hair are all behaviors that fulfill

some individual need.

?

Adaptors are usually performed unintentionally, without conscious awareness. They seem

to

be

more frequent when

one

feels

pressured,

impatient,

nervous,

or

enthusiastic,

and

they are often interpreted by others as a sign of discomfort, uneasiness or other negative