Brief-Analysis-of-the-Differences-in-Chinese-and-W

龙源期刊网作者：郑波来源：《都市家教·下半月》2013年第10期Abstract：Kinesicsplaysanimportantroleincommunicating.Someareuniversalintheworld；somearepeculiartothespecificcultures.Understandingthedifferencesofkinesicsindifferentculturescanbettereliminatemisunderstanding.Keywords：kinesics；understanding；differentculturesKinesicsincludesfacialexpressions，gestures，posturesandeyecontact，etc.Kinesicsisanimportantformofnon-verbalcommunication.UsingKinesicswronglycanleadtofailureininterpersonalcommunication，orevenconflictsininternationalcommunication.I.CommunicativeProblemsCausedbytheDifferencesinChineseandWesternKinesics1.MisunderstandingSomekinesicsindifferentculturesmayhavedifferentmeaningsoreventotallycontrarymeanings.Forexample，intermsofinterpersonalspace，inChina，beingcloseindistancemeansbeingintimateinrelation；inthewest，appropriatedistancemeansrespect.EspeciallywhencomparingChineseandWesterngestures，itiseasytofindthattherearemanysamegesticulationsthathavedifferentmeaningsinWesternandChinesecultures.IfanAmericankeepshisfingerscrossedbeforehischest，Chineseusuallytakeitasthenumbertenratherthanthesymbolofpraying.IfaChineserotateshisringtoshowoffhiswealthbeforehisAmericancommunicator，hemaybeunderstoodasbeingnervouswhiletalking.IfanAmericanuseshishandtodrawcirclearoundhistemple，Chineseunderstanditasthemeaningofthinkinghardinsteadofthemeaningoflookingdown.IfagracefulwomaninChinaleavesherlittlefingerasidewhenhandingacuptoherAmericanguest，theguestthinksthatthewomanisafraidofmakingherhanddirty.IfanAmericanisinvitedtoaChinesefamily，afterthemeal，theAmericanmayhavethehabitofcrossingandmovingthehandnearthenecktoexpressthemeaning“Iamfull”.However，thisgestureinChinameanstokilloneself.2.CommunicationgapBecauseofdifferentculturalbackgrounds，sometimesacertainmeaningisexpressedbydifferentkinesics，whichmaycausecommunicationgap.Inexpressingnumberswithfingers，Chinesetendtousethefingersofonehand.Forexample，Chineseusuallyreachoutthethumband龙源期刊网，ChineseandAmericansarefarmorelikelytocausecommunicativebarriers.Also，uniquekinesicstooneculturecanalsoresultincommunicationgapininterculturalcommunication.Forinstance，ifanAmericantouristputshisorherthumbupbytheroadinChina，nocarwillstop.IfaChinesepinchesthethumbonthelittlefinger，alittlepartofwhichisleftout，hisorherAmericanpartnermaytakeitasnothing.II.CulturalAnalysisoftheDifferencesinChineseandWesternKinesicsMostkinesicsisformedduringtheprocessofgrowingupandcanbetransferredfromonegenerationtoanother.Atthesametime，differentnationshavedifferenthistories，religiousbeliefs，valuesandmodesofthinking.ThedifferencesinChineseandWesternkinesicsaredeterminedbydifferentculturalbackgrounds.1.Collectivismvs.IndividualismToChinese，collectivismismoreimportantthanindividualism.Atanytime，theindividualshouldobeythecollective.Whenthepersonalinterestcontradictswiththecollectiveinterest，theindividualshouldgiveuporsacrificehisinteresttoprotecttheinterestofthegroup.Inthehierarchyofpriority，thegroupisalwayspriortotheindividual.However，inWesternculture，theconceptionrelatedto“I”（self）isgrainedandomnipresent.Therearemanyterms，suchasself-absorption，self-admiration，self-cultivationandself-image，etc，whosemeaningsareself-centeredinEnglish.ThisisespeciallytruewithAmericanswhoemphasizeindividualism.Intheiropinion，everyoneisauniqueindividual，theyshouldhaveindividualfreedomandpersonalinterest.Intraditionalculture，Chineseholdtheattitudeofoppressingpersonaldesireandbeingtoleranttowardsothers’mistake.Confuciustaughtpeopletobetolerantandbroad-minded.Asayinggoesthattocarryforwardtheheaven’sjusticeandtowipeoutthepersonaldesire.Inotherwords，usingthemannersofthesageconstraintsthepersonaldesire.However，inthewest，undertheinfluenceofChristianity，peoplepaymoreattentiontopersonalfeelingandneed.Soinpublic，Chinesearetolerantaboutbeingpushedbyotherpeople.Forexample，onthebus，peoplestandcloselytootherpassengers.Onacrowedbus，youmayevenfeelthebreathofothers.Whenmeetingsomethingfunny，iftheleaderdoesn’tsmile，itisimpolitefortheinferiorstolaughfirst.IntheUSA，whatpeoplecan’ttolerateisbeingintrudedintotheirprivatespace.Evenbetweenparentsandchildren，intrusionisimpoliteandimproper.Beforeenteringchildren’sroom，parentsshouldknockthedoor.SothebehaviorofalmostzerobodycontactseldomhappensintheUSA.龙源期刊网，themodeofthinkingofChineseisspirality.PartofthereasonisthatChinahasbeenundertheimpactofConfucianism，TaoismandBuddhismforalongtime.Thesethreethoughtsemphasizethepowerofunderstanding，whichleadtothatChineseareimplicitandemphasizeeuphemism.Atthesametime，thebehaviorandmodeofthinkingofWesternersaregreatlyundertheimpactofAristotlelogicandrationalthinking.Soincontrast，themodeofthinkingofAmericansislinearity，whichmeansthatAmericansliketoshowandexposethemselvesinpublic.UnlikeChinesewhohavethehabitofguessingwhatothersarethink