Abstract:People can communicate with each other through not only verbal communication but also nonverbal communication. Body language is an important part of nonverbal communication and it is connected with culture. Like verbal language, body language can also express emotions, exchange ideas and deliver information. However, for a long time in the past great importance has been attached to verbal language, and the influence and cultural difference of nonverbal communication have been neglected. In fact, body language from different cultures has many differences because of different regions, races and cultural customs. And it is restricted by its culture and has different cultural connotations. This article devotes to a comparison and contrast of body language in China and America. It aims to illustrate the differences and similarities of body language of two countries and put forward the principles of accurate reading of body language in different cultures so that we can reduce barriers in communication in different cultures and achieve efficient communication and avoid misunderstanding.
Key words: body language; cultural difference; communication; China; America
中文摘要:人们之间的相互交流不仅可以通过语言交际，还可以通过非语言交际。肢体语言是非语言交际中的一个重要组成部分，并且与文化相联系。肢体语言与语言交际一样，可以表达情感，交流想法和传达信息。然而，在过去的很长一段时间里，人们只关注到有声语言的重要性，而忽略了非语言交际的影响和文化差异。事实上，由于地域，种族，文化习俗的差异，不同文化的肢体语言有许多差异。它们由文化制约并拥有独特的文化内涵。本文致力于对中国和美国的肢体语言进行对比。目的在于通过列举肢体语言的文化差异与共性，并提出交际中准确理解不同文化下的肢体语言所要遵循的原则，从而减少交际中的障碍，促进有效交流，避免误解。
关键词：肢体语言；文化差异；交际；中国；美国
