【正文】 ication, although it is only supportive. In reality, the body language is often used by people in their daily life. We often use some simplest gestures to express ourselves instead of using words. For example, waving hands with open palm often stand for goodbye. The body language is incidental, instinctive and helpful. In the plex social life, language is often disguised. Body language is a way to reflect people‘s changes of their inner feelings and emotions. In different culture backgrounds, body language is often endowed with different meanings. For instance, Chinese people make a praise with a thumbsup, contempt with the little finger. But Japanese use a thumbsup to mean ―father‖ and the little finger ―lover‖ and at the same time a thumbsup in the UK is a way to ask for a ride. Thesis, 20xx, Tianjin University of Technology amp。如果我們知道這些文化差異，才能及時避免這些不必要的尷尬。在跨文化交際中，同樣的身體語言所表達的意義也可能大相徑庭。這種跨文化跨區(qū)域的交流日益頻繁。我們彼此之間不僅可以通過語言也可以通過 非語言進行溝通。不同的文化背景下，身體語言的意思也存在差異。 關鍵詞 ：非言語交際；肢體語言；跨文化交際 Thesis, 20xx, Tianjin University of Technology amp。 Education 4 of Body Language Although body language is most often instinctive and incidental, its meaning is indicated by a whole range of actions, including distance between conversationalists, facial expression, eye contact, physical contact, gesture and so on. Distance between conversationalists Physic distance is an important factor when people go on a munication. It can tell us the relationship and psychology of the municators, and it can reflect their different cultural characteristics. It is found by psychologists that people need their own personal space, and the acceptable distance is diverse because of the differences in cultural backgrounds, personal characteristics and environments. When people from different countries or regions with different languages talk with each other, they usually have a sense of keeping a distance and not getting close to invade the personal space of the other . There are four kinds of keeping the distance in American and European countries. They are social personal distance, intimate distance, public distance and social distance, which are used in different situations. Personal distance is about 45 to 120 centimeters and is suitable for friends, acquaintances and relatives. Intimate distance is about 0 to 45 centimeters and used for the most private relations such as lovers. Public distance is farther than any of the above and is about 360 to 750 centimeters, generally for Thesis, 20xx, Tianjin University of Technology amp。 Education 8 gestures, but many gestures have more distinct regional and cultural features, therefore, we can not assume that everyone in the world can understand one gesture in the same way or many can understand in a different way. If somebody likes using the thumb to express number, he or she should mind the overall meaning conveyed by his or her gesture. People often think showing the forefinger to convey the meaning of number one, but in Germany raising big thumb means ?one‘, forefinger means ?two‘. So if someone wants to drink one glass of beer in Germany, don‘t fet the local custom of the finger and avoid making a fool. It is clear to see the same gestures including different meanings in different cultures, and the natives from different cultures will express the same meanings by different gestures. IV. The Relationship between Body Language and Culture Every culture has its own types of body language, A Frenchman talks and moves in a French way and the way an Englishman crosses his legs and conveys professionality has nothing in mon with the way an American does. Cultural influence on body language Culture has a big influence on body language, which is a big part of body language. Body language munication gets a strong connection with the culture. That is why people in different countries municate Thesis, 20xx, Tianjin University of Technology amp。 Education 11 home, workplaces, schools, even in offices. Besides, the interaction between people is also informal, even when the two sides are quite different in age or status. In addition, equality and individualism have long been part of American dream and Americans highlight the value of individualism and personal efforts very much. When the children are young, parents encourage their kids to be independent, sleeping alone in their own bedroom at night, making their own decisions about their life and what to do and so on. When the children are 18 years old, they will leave home and support themselves. The core factors of Chinese culture China is an old and big country with a long history of about 5,000 years. China is known as ―a state of ceremonies‖. No matter what people do, they always follow the conventional protocols and etiquettes. Therefore, pared with the casualness in American culture, Chinese people value more formality. In a Chinese family, people have clear distinctions between sisters and brothers, uncles and aunts, between the members from father39。 Education 13 Americans often touch their temples to show cleverness. But in Chinese culture, this action means there is something wrong with one‘s mind. Americans lay their hands on their necks to show that they are full, while Chinese just pat their stomachs to express fullness. It is a shock to Chinese when they see the Americans doing the gesture because it often means mitting suicide in Chinese culture. Here is another example. When the Americans warning somebody not to do something the gesture is to stretch out their forefingers and swing it left and right. And the gesture “ cross one’ s fingers” means hoping everything will be alright.