In a foreign country, a man visited a local restaurant. He didn't speak their language. He ordered something indecipherable off the menu. When the waiter brought him a plate of delicious looking fried noodles, he smiled and made an OK sign at the waiter with his thumb and forefinger linked in a circle. Looking angry, the waiter then picked up the dish and thrown it to his lap. What he did wrong, he wondered. Well, nothing is quite as it seems when it comes to using hand gesture in another country.
Gestures have been used to replace words in many countries, and they are often specific to a given culture. Gesture may mean something complimentary in one culture, but is highly offensive in another.
The gesture "thumb-up" is commonly misinterpreted. In English, it is popularly known as 'thumbs up', despite the fact that the action is commonly performed with only one hand. English-speaking Caucasians use it to signal 'OK', which is the same meaning as O.K. ring gesture. The two can in fact be used almost interchangeably(可互换地).
Avoid using this gesture in Southern Sardina or Northern Greece unless you want to invite a fight. While American, British and Australian would use the thumb up to signal hitch-hiking to the drivers, this message will not encourage a Greek driver or motorist to stop to give them a ride.
There are no right or wrong signals, only cultural differences. Lack of cultural understanding will lead to disharmony among people from different cultures. When we know what to look for, such encounters(特殊经历) with other cultures are actually very interesting, fascinating and fun. It is certainty a great topic to discuss over a cup of coffee and cakes.
Body language is a form of communication without using words. This means that the person using body language is not fully aware that they are using it. Some psychologists say that body language actually communicates more information than using words.
Human beings seem to know about other people by nature through their body language even when they speak a different verbal language. It is likely that in human prehistory, body language was an important survival skill that helped us to display and tell the difference between threats and safety.
Body language can communicate negative emotions. When a listener crosses their arms against their chest, it can mean disagreement with the speaker. This can also be indicated when a listener leans(倾斜) away from the speaker. It can also mean disbelief.
Positive feelings are often shown through facial expressions, eye contact, and gestures. When a person looks in another person's eyes and then down at their lips, it usually means they have romantic(浪漫) feelings for the speaker. Standing or sitting straight with good gesture shows that a listener is taking the person's speech seriously.
When a person is lying, they tend to touch their face during the conversation. They may also blink(眨眼) too much or not blink at all. Body language can reveal a lot about people but it's important to remember that everyone's body language is a little different, so learning to properly "read" information through body language can be helpful in interpersonal communication.
A. Lots of body language is actually unconscious.
B. Body language includes the use of gestures and eye movements.
C. Body language can even reveal when a person's being dishonest.
D. A lack of eye contact can show a person is anxious or uncomfortable.
E. Smiling is obviously a universal sign of friendliness and appreciation.
F. People can practice body language to improve their ability to communicate.
G. Being able to "read" body language means being able to understand what a person thinks.
