The Influences of Nonverbal Communication Behavior on Cross-cultural Communication

Abstract： This paper analyzes and expounds the performance， position and influences of nonverbal communication in cross-cultural communication. The author thinks that nonverbal communication is an important factor for its success in cross-cultural communication. At the same time， the author also discusses the significance of studying nonverbal behavior in cross-cultural communication， thus clarifying the complementary and inseparable relationship between them.

Key words： non-verbal communication across cultures

With the acceleration of the process of global economic integration， the exchanges among countries， nationalities and regions are becoming more and more frequent. No matter what kind of communication， cross-cultural communication is still needed. Under such a background， cross-cultural communication is in the ascendant all over the world， and more and more people pay attention to how to achieve deep and effective communication and understanding.

Human communication process includes verbal communication and nonverbal communication. In the process of cross-cultural communication， people should not only overcome language barriers， but also understand the meaning of cross-cultural nonverbal communication. Because many cultural conflicts caused by differences in nonverbal communication behaviors are more common and prominent in cross-cultural communication behaviors. Non-verbal communication behaviors include body distance， posture， posture， gesture， eyes， smile， silence， touch， dress， and utilization of time and space. According to the research of scholars at home and abroad， in many communication occasions， the effect of nonverbal communication is more remarkable than that of verbal communication. Rosst（1974） claimed that his research results proved that verbal communication conveyed only 35% of the information， while non-verbal communication （mainly body language） conveyed as much as 65%. Me Brabia（1968） thinks that about 93% of information effect comes from nonverbal factors.

Samova believes that culture and nonverbal communication are inseparable， and many nonverbal behaviors are the result of cultural acquisition. A certain social and cultural environment often determines the formation and effect of certain nonverbal behaviors; At the same time， certain nonverbal behaviors also reflect certain cultural characteristics and nationality. In cross-cultural communication， only when the sender and receiver of information agree with each other culturally and "agree" a certain same （or close to the same）

Non-verbal communication behaviors of different cultures have both universality and particularity， and this particularity is the main factor leading to communication conflicts. Among them， there are some nonverbal behaviors shared by different cultures. For example， smiling means kindness and shaking hands means friendliness. However， some of them are unique to some ethnic groups. If the specific meaning of these unique nonverbal behaviors is unclear， it will lead to misunderstanding in cross-cultural communication. For example， in most countries， shaking your head up and down means nodding your head to agree and agree， and shaking your head from side to side means shaking your head to disagree and refuse; In India and Eskimos， the situation is quite the opposite， nodding in denial and shaking his head in favor. Chinese people hold hands with the same sex and walk side by side arm to show intimacy， which will not be criticized， but this kind of nonverbal behavior will be criticized in western countries.

Therefore， in cross-cultural nonverbal communication， both parties should have a common understanding of the meaning of nonverbal communication， in order to achieve the purpose of smooth communication and enhance understanding; Only by mastering the connotation of nonverbal communication behavior and applying it properly can we effectively avoid misunderstanding and better understand and communicate with each other; Only by realizing the deep reasons of cultural differences among people from different cultural backgrounds can we adapt to different cultures， understand the differences and meanings of nonverbal behaviors， and improve the awareness and quality of cross-cultural communication.

To sum up， by understanding and learning the relationship between nonverbal communication behavior and intercultural communication， we can enhance communicators' sensitivity to differences in nonverbal communication behavior， improve communicators' intercultural communication awareness and communication ability， and make them competent for various intercultural communication missions， thus reducing and avoiding cultural conflicts such as misunderstanding and prejudice caused by differences in nonverbal communication behavior， achieving true communication and understanding， and effectively completing and realizing communication tasks.

參考文獻：

[1]brry A.，Richard E.and Lisa A.跨文化交際[M].北京：外語教學與研究出版社，2000.

[2] 嚴明.大學英語跨文化交際教程（第二版）[M].北京：清華大學出版社，2015.

作者簡介：

劉艷君（1982-），女，滿族，河北承德人，研究生，蘭州信息科技學院，講師，研究方向：外國語言學及應用語言學;