Differences In Nonverbal Communication Between Chinese And English

There are two forms of communication, one is verbal communication, and theother is nonverbal communication. In the process of communication, people only valueverbal communication, and they always neglect the importance of nonverbalcommunication. Although nonverbal communication is earlier than written languageand sound language, it began to have developed as a subject in the first half of the20thcentury. Except for verbal communication, nonverbal communication can expressfeelings and transmit information. Nonverbal communication not only includesgestures, facial expression, eye contact, clothing, smell and the nonverbal messagesrelated with body, but also includes personal concept of time, the use of space, thesound and silence in the speaking and the nonverbal messages related withenvironment. As an auxiliary means of communication in the process of cross-culturalcommunication, nonverbal communication is indispensable. In a way, nonverbalcommunication expresses the internal state of the communicators better than verbalcommunication.Based on Hall’s high-context and low-context communication, the thesis usesqualitative analysis to make a detailed analysis. The corpus for contrast and analysis iscollected from nonverbal codes of daily use and the related classical books. The mostbasic, familiar, and important nonverbal codes used in Chinese and English dailycommunication are objects of the research. The thesis makes a systemic research aboutbody language, paralanguage, environment language and object language, with an aimto find out the differences in nonverbal communication between China and English-speaking countries, and to avoid the communication failure and conflict in cross-cultural communication. In this way, the aim of successful communication can beachieved. Through analysis and research, there are three features about nonverbalcommunication: first, nonverbal communication is an important means for people toexpress their feelings and emotions, and to convey all kinds of information in human interaction; second, the differences between cultures, nonverbal communication isculture-bound just like verbal communication. People in different culture backgroundshave different understanding of nonverbal communication; third, the differencesbetween high-context culture and low-context culture; third, the differences ofthinking mode. People use not only verbal communication but also nonverbalcommunication consciously or unconsciously to express their emotions duringconversation. In communication, in order to achieve successful communication, weshould get rid of stereotype and ethnocentrism.Consequently, the thesis aims at arousing people’s awareness of the importance ofnonverbal communication in communication, attention and comprehension on thedifferences of nonverbal communication between China and English-speakingcountries. We should cultivate the ability of nonverbal communication, pay moreattention to the use of nonverbal communication, and improve the nonverbalcommunication. Thus, this thesis attempts to reduce the misunderstandings betweenthe two communicative sides, establish a better relationship, and contribute to thecross-cultural communication.