In a particular space and environment, people choose a seat generally following the principle: do not sit next to strangers。 A psychologist has done such an experiment。 In a large reading room with the door opened, when there was only one reader, the psychologist went into the room and sit beside the reader。 The experiment was carried out for 80 full times。 The results showed that in an opening reading room with only two readers, no one was able to bear a stranger sitting next to him/her。 The subjects did not know that was experiment, and many people kept away from the psychologist。 This experiment illustrates that it is necessary to maintain a certain personal spatial distance between people and anyone needs to have their own space。 When this oneself space is violated, people will feel uncomfortable, unsafe, and even feel angry。 Generally speaking, the relationship and the situation determine the range of personal spatial distance in intercultural communication。

No matter what kind of intercultural communication, there is a certain distance between people and people。 This distance not only determines the form of intercultural communication, but also determines the extent and depth of communication。 Therefore, people in their daily work and life should grasp the spatial scale of communication。 In order to promote the communication, make intercultural communication effective and coordinate various relations, the personal spatial distance should consciously used in intercultural communication。 Due to the nature and forms of intercultural communication, communication must be carried out in a certain distance。 In most cases, this personal spatial distance is regulated and ordered, it should not be changed。 The communication obstacles will emerge, and even the communication will be interrupted if it is changed。 This paper mainly discusses the differences between Chinese and American personal spatial distance in intercultural communication, and investigates the causes that lead to the differences, in order to put forward some beneficial information for the development of intercultural communication between the people of China and the United States。

II。 A Brief Introduction to Personal Spatial Distance

2。1 Definition of Personal Spatial Distance

The theory of spatial distance was put forward by Dr。 Edward Hall in the 1950s。 In his book Silent Language, he had elaborated about the theory which discusses the spatial relationship between human and the requirements for personal domain。 Dr。 Edward Hall defined the personal spatial distance as distance between people when they do all kinds of activities (23)。 When people are in communication, the physical distance between the two sides is formed。 There is a border between people, but people cannot see。 That border is called personal spatial distance, then the concept of personal spatial distance is acquired。 LaRay Barna thinks the concept of personal spatial distance has penetrated into all aspects of culture including tradition, habit, custom, values and beliefs (340)。 It is a very complex system and presents huge differences between different cultures。 People’s demand for personal spatial distance and the rules of personal spatial distance are different because of the different culture。 Personal spatial distance can convey information and people use information to express some kind of ideas。 Obviously, the personal spatial distance in interaction is an important symbol of relationship。 Therefore, it is very important to choose the right distance when dealing with people。 Different views on the use of personal spatial distance are likely to lead to mistakes in intercultural communication。 People need to fully understand the concept of personal spatial distance in different cultures。文献综述

    Personal spatial distance refers to people have the inpidual freedom in the personal environment, and inpiduals need to control the quality and quantity in the exchange of information with others。 People are often used to control the distance when they interact with other people to make sure they have enough personal space。 People seem to need to maintain a certain distance and physical space between themselves and others。 People regard physical space around themselves as part of their own, this area is called personal space。 Personal spatial distance is the space or distance between one person and another person。 Everyone have it and call it a piece of land that belong to us。 R。 Sommer defines personal spatial distance as an area, which is around people’ body, and is not visible, and cannot be violated by others (20)。 Everyone is the owner of these areas。 Whether other people can enter this area, that is determined by each person。 When this space is invaded, people will react in different ways。 He also pointed out that this space is not inpidual, but interpersonal。