Teaching Nonverbal Differences in English Class: Cross-Cultural Communicative Ap
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最后更新时间:2024-03-17
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点赞:13429
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最后更新时间:2024-03-17
Abstract
Nonverbal communication is like our words， an essential part of overall human communication process. While nonverbal communication was once considered innate， it is now recognized that nonverbal communication including body movements， facial expressions， gestures， and the study of time and space etc.， often varies from culture to culture. In order to help Chinese students to achieve communicative competence in intercultural communication， suggestions are made for teaching nonverbal differences in the English class.
Key words： Nonverbal differences； Cross-cultural； Teaching
INTRODUCTION
Culture is primarily a nonverbal phenomenon because most aspects of one’s culture are learned through observation and imitation rather than explicit verbal instruction or expression. The primary level of culture is communicated implicitly， without awareness， by primarily nonverbal means. Moreover， culture tends to determine the specific nonverbal behior that represents or symbolizes specific thought， feeling， or state of the communicator. Culture also determines when it is appropriate to display or communicate various thoughts， feelings， or internal states. As culture has a subtle and pervasive influence on nonverbal communication， the communicators come from different cultures he different rules for nonverbal communication.
As people from different cultures use nonverbal codes quite differently， a practical understanding of the knowledge of how specific nonverbal behior differ helps us to learn how to interact with people from different cultures with whom we do come in contact. There is no doubt that combining cognitive knowledge with actual encounters is the best way to gain communicative competence.
1. WHAT IS NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION？
Nonverbal， quite simply put， means “not words.” The definition of the word nonverbal says “It does not pertain to， or is not in the form of， words” （Caputo， Hazel， & McMahon， 1994）. Nonverbal communication （NVC） then is the partof the communication process that focuses on the non language or spoken components. Generally， it can be defined as the deliberate or unintentional use of objects， actions， sounds， time and space so as to arouse meanings in others.
Although nonverbal communication can be intentional or unintentional， it normally operates out of the awareness level and unlike verbal behior it is difficult to manipulate or falsify. As nonverbal signals are visible they are beyond ready concealment or manipulation. Whether you try to send a signal or you stay silent with a neutral expression on your face， a receiver still interprets your uninterrupted stream of behior. The Communication takes place in the reception and interpretation of the message. Moreover， when you make a verbal mistake， you can always say “you did not understand what I was trying to say.” On the other hand， it is really difficult to tell someone that your angry face is not angry.
Nonverbal communication is like our words， an essential part of overall human communication process. While nonverbal communication was once considered innate， it is now recognized that nonverbal communication including body movements， facial expressions， gestures， and the study of time and space etc.， often varies from culture to culture. In order to help Chinese students to achieve communicative competence in intercultural communication， suggestions are made for teaching nonverbal differences in the English class.
Key words： Nonverbal differences； Cross-cultural； Teaching
INTRODUCTION
Culture is primarily a nonverbal phenomenon because most aspects of one’s culture are learned through observation and imitation rather than explicit verbal instruction or expression. The primary level of culture is communicated implicitly， without awareness， by primarily nonverbal means. Moreover， culture tends to determine the specific nonverbal behior that represents or symbolizes specific thought， feeling， or state of the communicator. Culture also determines when it is appropriate to display or communicate various thoughts， feelings， or internal states. As culture has a subtle and pervasive influence on nonverbal communication， the communicators come from different cultures he different rules for nonverbal communication.
As people from different cultures use nonverbal codes quite differently， a practical understanding of the knowledge of how specific nonverbal behior differ helps us to learn how to interact with people from different cultures with whom we do come in contact. There is no doubt that combining cognitive knowledge with actual encounters is the best way to gain communicative competence.
1. WHAT IS NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION？
Nonverbal， quite simply put， means “not words.” The definition of the word nonverbal says “It does not pertain to， or is not in the form of， words” （Caputo， Hazel， & McMahon， 1994）. Nonverbal communication （NVC） then is the partof the communication process that focuses on the non language or spoken components. Generally， it can be defined as the deliberate or unintentional use of objects， actions， sounds， time and space so as to arouse meanings in others.
Although nonverbal communication can be intentional or unintentional， it normally operates out of the awareness level and unlike verbal behior it is difficult to manipulate or falsify. As nonverbal signals are visible they are beyond ready concealment or manipulation. Whether you try to send a signal or you stay silent with a neutral expression on your face， a receiver still interprets your uninterrupted stream of behior. The Communication takes place in the reception and interpretation of the message. Moreover， when you make a verbal mistake， you can always say “you did not understand what I was trying to say.” On the other hand， it is really difficult to tell someone that your angry face is not angry.