When we communicate with others, we express our thoughts and
feelings not only through the words we choose, but also through our tone of
voice, facial expression and body language. In fact, many communications
experts believe that far more information is communicated non-verbally (without
words) than verbally (with words). "Body language" is an important
part of non-verbal communication[1].
Body
language includes many different aspects of our every day physical behaviour[2]:
the way we greet one another[3]; how we stand, how we sit or walk; the way we
position our arms and legs or use our hands and eyes are some of the most
basic.
To
learn another language is more than just learning words and grammar, it
involves learning about another culture, too[4]. We learn much of our own
culture's body language before we learn to speak, from the time we are
children, usually without even being aware of it. And that body language
varies from culture to culture, so it's something to which second language learners
should pay attention.
So,
how attuned are you to other people's body language? Try this little
experiment. Turn the volume on the television right down while you watch
people interact on the screen. You may find it is more difficult to understand
what's happening between people from unfamiliar cultures.
Sometimes,
cultural differences in appropriate body language can cause discomfort or
misunderstandings too[5]. For example, there are definite cultural differences in
how much distance should be kept between two people who are speaking together[6].
If you are used to people keeping their distance, you will feel very
uncomfortable, and probably move away repeatedly, if someone keeps trying to
stand closer to you at a party! We call this the "personal comfort
zone".
Another
common example of misunderstanding is the use of a smile. In some Asian
cultures, a smile can show embarrassment or apology[7]. However, smiling back at a
teacher who is unhappy with you, or a stranger whose foot you accidentally
stepped upon is probably not a good idea in most English speaking cultures!
Also, you should not assume that nodding your head means "yes" or
that shaking your head means "no" or vice versa[8]. Yes, you can
even get that wrong, with potentially disastrous consequences.
Even
speakers of the same language, such as British, American, or Australian people,
may not use the same body language and must adapt if they wish to communicate
successfully. British people are said to be more reserved and formal, in
general, and this is reflected in their body language. Americans are
considered more open and outgoing, while Australians are seen as casual and
relaxed.
It's
worth learning, understanding any underlying cultural or regional attitudes can
help you learn how to understand and use body language to improve your
communicative abilities.
Just
as you should not allow a fear of making language mistakes prevent you from
speaking[9], you should not be overly afraid of using inappropriate body language
in an unfamiliar culture[10]. Most people will understand that people from
different cultures may not always use body language in the same ways. All the
same, it's definitely advisable to learn as much as possible about the body
language of a new culture, and to use careful observation to avoid making any
mistakes.
To
learn more about the topic of body language, you may like to start by looking
at the fascinating research of Allan and Barbara Pease and Dr Desmond Morris.
