Body Language
Body language is used by people for sending messages to one another. It is very useful because it can help you make yourself easily understood. When you are talking with others,you are not just using words, but also using expressions and gestures. For example, waving one's hand is to say "Good-bye." A smile and handshake show welcome, and clapping hands means congratulations. Nodding the head means agreement, but shaking the head means disagreement. The gestures are accepted both by Chinese and foreigners as having the same meanings.
Different countries have different body language. For example, men in Russia, France and Arab countries kiss each other when they meet, but men in China or Australia shake hands instead of kissing. People in Puerto Rio like touching each other, but people from English speaking countries do not touth each other. If you touch an English person, you should say "Sorry.' People in Arab countries like standing close to one another when they are talking, but English people must keep a distance away when they are talking. In some Asian countries, you must not touch the head of another person. In Arab countries, you eat using the fingers of your right land;the left hand is not used at all. In parts of Asia you must not sit with your feet pointing at another person.
When you use a foreign language, it is very important to know the meanings of gestures and movements in the foreign country. Following the customs will help you communicate with people and make your stay there much more pleasant and comfortable.
[点评]
文章举例说明了什么是身势语,接着叙述了身势语在不同的国家有着不同的意义,所以作者建议我们对各国的身势语作一些了解,以便更好地交往。语言简单易懂,叙述切合主题,清楚明了。
[参考译文]
身势语
身势语是用来帮人们传递信息的,身势语非常有用,因为它可以使对方很容易地明白你自己的意思。我们同别人谈话时,并不仅限于用言语来表达,我们还用表情和身体的动作来向对方表达要传递的信息。例如:挥手表示“再见”,微笑和握手表示欢迎,拍手表示祝贺,点头表示同意,摇
头表示不同意。这些手势对说汉语的人和说英语的人来说,都具有相同的意思。
对于不同的国家来说,身势语也不同。例如,在俄罗斯、法国、阿拉伯国家里,男人们会晤时彼此亲吻。然而,在中国或澳大利亚男人不是亲吻
而是握手。在波多黎哥,人们喜欢彼此触碰,而英语国家的人不大这么做。如果你碰了一下英国人,你应该说声“对不起”。阿拉伯人喜欢在交谈时彼此站得很近,而英语国家的人则乐意保持一定的距离。在有些亚洲国家里,你不可以触摸别人的头。在阿拉伯国家,吃饭用右手的手指,根本不用左手。在亚洲的某些地方,你不可以坐着把脚跷起对着别人。
当你学一门外语时,了解这个国家的身势语很重要。遵守他们国家的习俗会助你与人交流,也会使你在此很愉快舒适。