Abstract：Intercultural communication includes verbal and nonverbal communication. Nonverbal communication plays a prominent role in the intercultural communication. However, people often pay more attention to verbal communication but ignore the effects of nonverbal communication. In fact, scholars indicate that nonverbal communication takes up 70 percent in the communication process.
With cultural differences, people from different cultures attach different meanings to nonverbal signals. In order to achieve effective intercultural communication, it is necessary to comprehend nonverbal messages. The interpretations of nonverbal behaviors vary culturally. Every culture has its own nonverbal communication system. Moreover, nonverbal communication can create intercultural friction and confusion since the same nonverbal signal can be different things in different cultures.
Key words: intercultural communication; nonverbal communication; cultural differences
摘要：跨文化交际分为语言交际和非语言交际。非语言交际在跨文化交际中的作用十分重要。但是，人们往往比较注重对语言交际的学习，而忽视对非语言交际的学习。实际上，有关学者指出非语言交际在整个交际过程中占70%以上。
由于文化的差异性，在不同的文化中非语言交际所表达的信息并不相同。为了能够有效的进行跨文化交际，学习并理解非语言信息是十分必要的。不同的文化会形成各自的非语言表达形式，每一种文化都有其独特的非语言系统。由于同一种非语言行为会被来自不同文化背景的人理解为不同的信号和信息，在实际交往过程中，由非语言交际引起的冲突和误解十分常见。
关键词 ：跨文化交际； 非语言交际； 文化差异性
