Abstract This paper makes a contrastive analysis of English and Chinese sign language in intercultural communication from the perspective of body language, and focuses on the characteristics of body language in intercultural communication. This paper also discusses the causes of the differences between Chinese and Western body language from the two ways of religious culture and national culture. Finally, introduces the barriers in intercultural communication and how to use accurate and appropriate body language in intercultural communication.67940

Keywords: nonverbal communication; body language; intercultural communication

摘要本文将英汉手势语的对比在跨文化交际的视角下进行分心。重点论述了肢体语言在跨文化交际中的特性，并从宗教文化以及名族文化两方面论述了造成中西方肢体语言差异的原因。最后介绍了跨文化交际中所遇到的障碍和如何在跨文化交际中运用准确得体的肢体语言。

毕业论文关键词：非语言交际；肢体语言；跨文化交际

Contents

1. Introduction 1

2. Literature Review 1

2.1 The differences of body language in China and in American.........................1 

2.2 Contrast to Western body language discovery 1

2.3 Cultural factors to impact differences of body language 3

3 Application of Body Language in English and Intercultural Communication 7

3.1 Cross-cultural communication barriers 7

3.2 Application of the principles of body language in intercultural Communication 9

4. Conclusion 11

Works Cited 13

1. Introduction 

Body language is a type of nonverbal communication that relies on body movements (such as gestures, posture, and facial expressions) to convey messages.Body language may be used consciously or unconsciously. It may accompany a verbal message or serve as a substitute for speech. Body language is an important form of non - verbal communication, plays an important role in intercultural communication. In the two English Chinese cultural circle, by comparing the five aspects of posture, gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, body behavior, we can see that body language to form two kinds of cultural background have personality, but also has common. People from different cultural backgrounds in cross cultural communication, body language in addition to express intention, emotion and other functions, also has the following characteristic.

2. Literature Review

2.1 The differences of body language in China and in American 

Body language is an important part of nonverbal communication and it is connected with culture. In order to make successful exchange in multi-cultural communication, we should know the body language from different cultures. Sometimes the same body language has different meanings in different cultures and has different social functions.

Americans often touch their temples to express somebody’s cleverness. But this action means there is something wrong with one’s mind or one is stupid to Chinese. Chinese are often surprised to see Americans lay their hands on their necks when they are full. Because it is an suicide action to Chinese, who used to express fullness by patting their stomachs.

People from English-speaking countries turn around their rings constantly to show nervousness or uneasiness. Now people from Taiwan and Hong Kong also have this gesture. But if people in the mainland of China act like this, they will be regarded they are showing off richness.