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【Abstract】 Intentionally or unintentionally， body language can be put into practice separately or in combination with utterance， paralanguage or other nonverbal communicative approaches. Because of cultural differences， it is a hard job to identify subtle body language in communication. This paper demonstrates the significance of knowing nonverbal communication by making a comparison of body language between China and America from the perspective of different cultural values.
【Key words】body language； nonverbal communication； cultural values
1. Introduction
Verbal expressions such as written and spoken language is only one of the primary modes through which we communicate. Nonverbal expression is the other primary one. Effective communication cross cultures requires more than understanding verbal language， which involves a basic knowledge of the acceptable nonverbal ways of communication within a culture.
Body language （kinesics）， as a category of nonverbal behavior， refers to gestures， facial expressions， eye contact， body positions， body movements， touch behavior， space and forms of greeting and their relation to communication. Body language communicates as effectively as words， maybe even more effectively. The social anthropologists Edward T. Hall claims 60 percent of all our communication is nonverbal （Axtell， 1991）. We use body language daily， almost instinctively， from beckoning to a waiter， or punctuating a business presentation with visual signals to airport ground attendants guiding an airline pilot into the jetway or a parent using a whole dictionary of body language to teach a child.
As the global village continues to shrink and cultures collide， it is essential for all of us to become more sensitive， more aware， and more observant to the myriad motions， gestures， and body language that surround us each day. And as many of us cross over cultural borders， it would be fitting for us to respect， learn， and understand more about the effective， yet powerful “silent language” of body language. Without body language， our world would be static and colorless. In that case， how can we possibly communicate with one another without body language？We may not have time to hear a language， but taking time to learn the “signals” is a powerful communicator （Imai， 1996）.
Therefore， a variety of different cultural values between China and America are to be explored to illustrate different body languages in these two cultures for the purpose of successful and effective communication. 2. Cultural types and values in body language
Each culture has developed as the result of influences from a number of different philosophies and religions， so each society has inherited different， sometimes conflicting values. We usually fail to recognize these contradictions when making decisions about how to behave， and always following our common sense without realizing the cultural iceberg–basic values lying hidden from our view （Davis， 2001）.
2.1 Collectivism vs Individualism
One of the most basic value differences to be focused on in cross–cultural communication is Collectivism vs Individualism. American society cherishes individualism， who values personal success over group success. By contrast， Chinese people， successors of Confucianism， who value group/family responsibility， place group goals and needs ahead of those of the individual， and take actions and process information in ways consistent with their collectivist values， which put them into intensive care for family and others （Dodd， 1995）. Therefore， Chinese people are generally modest， conservative， group concerned， and less competitive. As individualists， Americans are of the characteristics of directness， self–confidence， assertiveness and being competitive.
Cultural values will be reflected consciously or unconsciously in body language. Compared with American women， Chinese traditional females， influenced by Confucian culture are generally humble， conservative and shy， with head bent down and cautious posture in public places；while American females generally impress people with a image of confidence， vigor and self–assurance by maintaining straight and erect posture， keeping shoulders back and holding head high （Mitchell， 2002）.
2.2 Hierarchy （Large Power Distance） vs Individual （Small Power Distance）
In terms of social relationship as a cultural orientation， Chinese people， under the hierarchical system （vertical）， are obedient and loyal to their authority. By contrast， Americans individualists， emphasizing a horizontal relationship and having linear pattern of conversation， tend to express their own feelings and ideas frankly （（Davis， 2001）. Accordingly， Chinese culture values Large Power Distance in relation to their seniors and superiors， while American culture values Small Power Distance， in which everybody is equal to express himself and make his decision.
Oculesics （a study of eye behavior） affects international communication as an aspect of kinesics. According to Ellsworth and Ludwig （1972）， eyes contact varies with personality and sex but greatly influence credibility. But the amount of proper eye contact varies greatly from culture to culture. They reported that dominant and socially poised individuals seem to have more eye contact than do submissive， socially anxious persons. Americans take direct eye contact as a sign of honesty and sincerity. It shows interest and attentiveness in the communicative situations， while a lack of eye contact or shifty eyes is taken as a sign of untruthfulness. When greeting or conversing， American children are taught to look others directly in the eyes to show their good education；if not， it means shyness or weakness. As for Chinese people， however， to avoid direct eye contact and cast their eyes downwards in the process of communication is a sign of listening and showing respect and reverence for authority. Besides， for Americans， rolling the eyes unconsciously reveals incredulity. Moreover， widening of the eyes， in Chinese people’s view， is an indicator of anger or curiosity；while， for Americans， especially， Black Americans， is a sign of persuasion， meaning I’m innocent （Dodd， 1995）. Chinese people seldom challenge authority， because they keep in mind the deep-rooted traditional hierarchical concepts. While Americans are competitive yet egalitarian （Tyler， 1987）. Take teacher–student relationship for example， in Chinese culture， the teacher is not only a firm disciplinary figure but high on the social hierarchy and a teacher’s image is sacred and inviolable. Therefore， Chinese people are shocked to see what they consider disrespectful attitudes toward teachers and school administration by American students， say， posture in the classroom， admiring the informality of the student-teacher relationship and the freedom of expression and individual growth. American students， maybe after a few minutes’ seriousness， tend to slouch， that is， be seated relaxed and casual， even sometimes put their feet on chairs. Likewise， Chinese students will be astounded at the first sight of American teachers sitting on the platform even putting the feet on the desk in the classroom.
In addition， in China， one must consider the relationship of the person one greets；bowing occurs at more precipitous levels， depending on the relationship and the status of the other person– in general， the more status， the lower the bow. The same type of principle holds true for the order of greeting. In America， one greets persons in a group by convenience and proximity to each other. However in China， one must greet the head of a family or older person first， then the younger ones （Hong， 1976）.
2.3 High – Context vs Low – Context Cultures
Chinese culture is a culture in which information about procedure is not overly communicated， which is called a High-Context Culture or HCC （Hall， 1976）. American culture， however， provides information to equip members with procedures and practices in a number of situations， which is called a Low-Context Culture or LCC. Members in HCC are expected to know how to perform， with implicit information and cultural rules in the context；while members in LCC tend to explain procedures and discuss expectations with explicit information. In this sense， Chinese people are expected to be much more likely to convey message than Americans by virtue of implicit means such as facial expression in body language.
In experts’ view （Matsumoto， Wallbott
【Key words】body language； nonverbal communication； cultural values
1. Introduction
Verbal expressions such as written and spoken language is only one of the primary modes through which we communicate. Nonverbal expression is the other primary one. Effective communication cross cultures requires more than understanding verbal language， which involves a basic knowledge of the acceptable nonverbal ways of communication within a culture.
Body language （kinesics）， as a category of nonverbal behavior， refers to gestures， facial expressions， eye contact， body positions， body movements， touch behavior， space and forms of greeting and their relation to communication. Body language communicates as effectively as words， maybe even more effectively. The social anthropologists Edward T. Hall claims 60 percent of all our communication is nonverbal （Axtell， 1991）. We use body language daily， almost instinctively， from beckoning to a waiter， or punctuating a business presentation with visual signals to airport ground attendants guiding an airline pilot into the jetway or a parent using a whole dictionary of body language to teach a child.
As the global village continues to shrink and cultures collide， it is essential for all of us to become more sensitive， more aware， and more observant to the myriad motions， gestures， and body language that surround us each day. And as many of us cross over cultural borders， it would be fitting for us to respect， learn， and understand more about the effective， yet powerful “silent language” of body language. Without body language， our world would be static and colorless. In that case， how can we possibly communicate with one another without body language？We may not have time to hear a language， but taking time to learn the “signals” is a powerful communicator （Imai， 1996）.
Therefore， a variety of different cultural values between China and America are to be explored to illustrate different body languages in these two cultures for the purpose of successful and effective communication. 2. Cultural types and values in body language
Each culture has developed as the result of influences from a number of different philosophies and religions， so each society has inherited different， sometimes conflicting values. We usually fail to recognize these contradictions when making decisions about how to behave， and always following our common sense without realizing the cultural iceberg–basic values lying hidden from our view （Davis， 2001）.
2.1 Collectivism vs Individualism
One of the most basic value differences to be focused on in cross–cultural communication is Collectivism vs Individualism. American society cherishes individualism， who values personal success over group success. By contrast， Chinese people， successors of Confucianism， who value group/family responsibility， place group goals and needs ahead of those of the individual， and take actions and process information in ways consistent with their collectivist values， which put them into intensive care for family and others （Dodd， 1995）. Therefore， Chinese people are generally modest， conservative， group concerned， and less competitive. As individualists， Americans are of the characteristics of directness， self–confidence， assertiveness and being competitive.
Cultural values will be reflected consciously or unconsciously in body language. Compared with American women， Chinese traditional females， influenced by Confucian culture are generally humble， conservative and shy， with head bent down and cautious posture in public places；while American females generally impress people with a image of confidence， vigor and self–assurance by maintaining straight and erect posture， keeping shoulders back and holding head high （Mitchell， 2002）.
2.2 Hierarchy （Large Power Distance） vs Individual （Small Power Distance）
In terms of social relationship as a cultural orientation， Chinese people， under the hierarchical system （vertical）， are obedient and loyal to their authority. By contrast， Americans individualists， emphasizing a horizontal relationship and having linear pattern of conversation， tend to express their own feelings and ideas frankly （（Davis， 2001）. Accordingly， Chinese culture values Large Power Distance in relation to their seniors and superiors， while American culture values Small Power Distance， in which everybody is equal to express himself and make his decision.
Oculesics （a study of eye behavior） affects international communication as an aspect of kinesics. According to Ellsworth and Ludwig （1972）， eyes contact varies with personality and sex but greatly influence credibility. But the amount of proper eye contact varies greatly from culture to culture. They reported that dominant and socially poised individuals seem to have more eye contact than do submissive， socially anxious persons. Americans take direct eye contact as a sign of honesty and sincerity. It shows interest and attentiveness in the communicative situations， while a lack of eye contact or shifty eyes is taken as a sign of untruthfulness. When greeting or conversing， American children are taught to look others directly in the eyes to show their good education；if not， it means shyness or weakness. As for Chinese people， however， to avoid direct eye contact and cast their eyes downwards in the process of communication is a sign of listening and showing respect and reverence for authority. Besides， for Americans， rolling the eyes unconsciously reveals incredulity. Moreover， widening of the eyes， in Chinese people’s view， is an indicator of anger or curiosity；while， for Americans， especially， Black Americans， is a sign of persuasion， meaning I’m innocent （Dodd， 1995）. Chinese people seldom challenge authority， because they keep in mind the deep-rooted traditional hierarchical concepts. While Americans are competitive yet egalitarian （Tyler， 1987）. Take teacher–student relationship for example， in Chinese culture， the teacher is not only a firm disciplinary figure but high on the social hierarchy and a teacher’s image is sacred and inviolable. Therefore， Chinese people are shocked to see what they consider disrespectful attitudes toward teachers and school administration by American students， say， posture in the classroom， admiring the informality of the student-teacher relationship and the freedom of expression and individual growth. American students， maybe after a few minutes’ seriousness， tend to slouch， that is， be seated relaxed and casual， even sometimes put their feet on chairs. Likewise， Chinese students will be astounded at the first sight of American teachers sitting on the platform even putting the feet on the desk in the classroom.
In addition， in China， one must consider the relationship of the person one greets；bowing occurs at more precipitous levels， depending on the relationship and the status of the other person– in general， the more status， the lower the bow. The same type of principle holds true for the order of greeting. In America， one greets persons in a group by convenience and proximity to each other. However in China， one must greet the head of a family or older person first， then the younger ones （Hong， 1976）.
2.3 High – Context vs Low – Context Cultures
Chinese culture is a culture in which information about procedure is not overly communicated， which is called a High-Context Culture or HCC （Hall， 1976）. American culture， however， provides information to equip members with procedures and practices in a number of situations， which is called a Low-Context Culture or LCC. Members in HCC are expected to know how to perform， with implicit information and cultural rules in the context；while members in LCC tend to explain procedures and discuss expectations with explicit information. In this sense， Chinese people are expected to be much more likely to convey message than Americans by virtue of implicit means such as facial expression in body language.
In experts’ view （Matsumoto， Wallbott