探討非言語交際中目光接觸的功能

AbstractThe way we use eye contact not only transmits messages to others and reflects our personality but also indicates what we are thinking. Cross-culturally， the misinterpretation of the use of eye contact can lead to serious misunderstanding. So many attentions of the eye contact should be learned clearly， which can make us avoid some troubles.

關鍵詞 目光接觸 跨文化 避免誤解

Keyword eye contact Cross-culture avoiding troubles

1.Introduction

Eye contact is a meeting of the eyes between two individuals. We send and receive nonverbal messages every day because nonverbal communication exists no matter whether we speak or not. Without being able to use words， our bodies generally express our feelings and attitudes. In other words， we cannot not communicate in terms of nonverbal messages. Eye contact is one of the nonverbal communication patterns. Shakespeare’s“Your lips tell me no， but there is yes in your eyes” well describes the function of eye contact in human communication.

In human beings， eye contact is a form of nonverbal communication and is thought to have a large influence on social behavior. Coined in the early to mid-1960s， the term has come in the West to often define the act as a meaningful and important sign of confidence and social communication. The customs and significance of eye contact vary widely between cultures， with religious and social differences often altering its meaning greatly.

2. Function of eye contact

2.1 cultural attitude of eye contact

In recent years， some scholars in China have shown their concern about the correct attitudes towards others’ culture and one’s own culture in cross cultural communication. However， empirical studies are rarely found in this field. In view of this， a questionnaire involving two parts has been designed and administered to some native English speakers from different English speaking countries to do an empirical study. 31 valid responses have been gotten. The findings indicate that some implications may be drawn to give guidance to foreign language learners and workers in promoting cross-cultural communication in China.

2.2 Social meanings of eye contact

Eye contact and facial expressions provide important social and emotional information; people， perhaps without consciously doing so， probe each other’s eyes and faces for positive or negative mood signs. In some contexts， the meeting of eyes arouses strong emotions. In some parts of the world， particularly in Asia， eye contact can provoke misunderstandings between people of different nationalities. Keeping direct eye contact with a work supervisor or elderly people leads them to assume one is being aggressive and rude—the opposite reaction of most Western societies. In the Islamic faith， Muslims often lower their gaze and try not to focus on the opposite sex’s faces and eyes after the initial first eye contact， other than their legitimate partners or family members， in order to avoid potential unwanted desires. Lustful glances to those of the opposite sex， young or adult， are also prohibited. This means that eye contact between any man and woman is allowed only for a second or two. This is a must in most Islamic schools， with some exceptions depending on the case， like when teaching， testifying， or looking at a girl for marriage. If allowed， it is only allowed under the general rule: “No-Desire”， clean eye-contact. Otherwise， it is not allowed， and considered “adultery of the eyes”. In many cultures， such as East Asia and Nigeria， it is respectful to not look the dominant person in the eye， but in Western culture this can be interpreted as being “shifty-eyed”， and the person judged badly because “he wouldn’t look me in the eye” Nevertheless， the seeking of constant unbroken eye contact by the other participant in a conversation can often be considered overbearing or distracting by many even in western cultures， possibly on an instinctive or subconcious level.

2.3 Some unstated rules of eye contact

The most effective way to connect with people is to look at them into the eye. Eyes are the “window to the soul”. The number of messages we can send with our eyes is almost limitless. We always hear the direct， sensual， sardonic， expressive， intelligent， penetrating， sad， cheerful， worldly， hard， trusting， and suspicious to describe a person’s eyes.

In China， it is polite to maintain eye contact when talking or listening to someone that will gives an impression that you or they are confident and honest. We can tell them our feelings through eyes and show the interest and encouragement. So we can make a further understanding and our relations will be better. But direct eye is not a custom throughout the world. In Japan， for example， prolonged eye contract is considered rude， threatening and disrespectful. People from Latin American and Caribbean cultures also avoid eye contact as a sign of respect. In English culture， a certain amount of eye contact is required， but problem can arise when westerners attempt to do business with a group of people who believe it is a sign of impertinence to make prolonged eye contact with their communication partners. They make eye contact at the beginning and then let their gaze drift to the side periodically to avoid “staring at the other person”. In some culture and religious groups， eye contact between men and women is seen as flirtatious or threatening.

A story is told of a teenage Puerto Rican girl in a New York high school who was taken， with a number of other girls， to the principal for suspected smoking. Questioned by the principal， the girl kept staring at the floor and refused to meet his eye. Although there was no proof of her wrongdoing and although she had a good record， the principal decided she was guilty and suspended her， basing his judgment on an English saying:“Don’t trust anyone who won’t look you in the eye.”“There was something sly and suspicious about her，” he said in his report.“She just wouldn’t meet my eye. She wouldn’t look at me.” It’s lucky that one of the teachers in the school had a Latin American background and knew about Puerto Rican culture. He went to the principal and explained that according to Puerto Rican culture， a good girl doesn’t meet the eyed of an adult. Such behavior， he explained， is a sign of respect and obedience.Fortunately， the principal accepted the explanation， admitted his mistake and the matter was settled promptly. This difference in interpreting eye contact was a lesson on cultural diversity that he would not easily forget.

From the above， we realize that we must analyze the situation and depend on the different cultures to take measures.

2.4 Varying rules of eye contact in different cultures

Different cultures also vary in the amount that is acceptable to watch other people. Some experts call these high-look and low-look cultures. British culture is a low-look culture. Watching other people， especially strangers， is regarded as intrusive. People who are caught ‘staring’ usually look away quickly and are often embarrassed. Those being watched may feel threatened and insulted. In high-look cultures， for example in southern Europe， looking or gazing at other people is perfectly acceptable; being watched is not a problem. But if people’s expectation and interpretation clash， irritation and misunderstandings can arise.

3. Conclusion

Cross-culturally， the misinterpretation of the use of eye contact can lead to serious misunderstanding. So many attentions of the eye contact should be learned clearly， which can make us avoid some troubles.

Bibliography

1.Zhongwen Hu. General Theory of Interculture CommunicationBeijing:FLSRP， 1999.11

2.Ruiqing Du. Selected Readings in Intercultural Communication. Xi’an Jiao Tong University Press. 2004

3.Larry A. Samovae. Intercultual Communication a Reader. Shanghai Foreigh Language Education Press.2007

4.Michael Byram， 1997， Teaching and Assessing Intercultural Communicative Competence，Multilingual Matters Ltd.

5.Milton J. Bennett 2001 Basic Concepts of Intercultural Communication， Multilingual Matters Ltd.

6.Sylia Helmer/Catherine Eddy， 2003， Look at Me When I Talk to You， Pippin Publishing.

7.“Eye contact”. Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Retrieved May 14， 2006.