Focused on today's world, "globalization" has become an irresistible trend. Different groups of cross-domain, cross-national and cross-cultural live together in a "global village". Cross-cultural communication has become a more and more common reality. As a way of cross-cultural communication, gesture is found across cultures, ages, and tasks to transmit ideas or thoughts. As a result, some gestures are mutually understood. For instance, a nod is universally understood as signifying approval, while shaking the head indicates a negative reaction. However, some other gestures may convey different messages to people of different nationalities.
Just because there are some cultural differences, different gestures have assorted meanings and even the same gestures have distinct meanings in varied countries. Improperly used, an innocent gesture may lead to misunderstanding and ambiguity or even conflict in cross-cultural communication. Therefore, in order to reduce barriers in communication and avoid misunderstanding then achieve efficient communication, it’s advisable to be aware of these differences and make good use of our gestures. Understanding the gestures, identifying and using the gestures correctly, are the important factors of ensuring the cross-cultural communication to go on wheel. It has great practical significance for different ethnic groups. In this essay, after borrowing and studying the experience of the forefathers, I will analyze the various usages and significances of gestures in different culture background.
Keywords：Gestures Cross-cultural communication Significance
CONTENTS
ABSTRACT I
摘 要 II
CONTENTS III
1 The Background of Today’s Cross-cultural Communication 1
1.1 Political Background 1
1.2 Economic Background 1
1.3 Educational Background 2
2 The Significance of Gestures and Cross-cultural Communication 3
2.1 Political Communication and Gestures 3
2.1.1 The Gestures in the Inauguration Speech 3
2.1.2 A Dispute on a Military Salute 5
2.2 Economic Communication and Gestures 6
2.2.1 The Gestures in the Business Negotiations 6
2.2.2 Different Styles in Negotiations 7
2.2.3 Handshake in Business Negotiation 7
2.3 Educational Communication and Gestures 7
2.3.1 The Gestures in Class 7
2.3.2 Deaf-mute People and Gestures 8
2.4 Emergencies or Non-verbal Situations and Gestures 9
2.4.1 The Semaphore in Shipping Steam 9
2.4.2 The Sign Code of the Referee in the Basketball competition 10
2.4.3 The Gestures Between Conductor and Operator in Aloft Work 12
3 The Meanings of Gestures 13
3.1 Different Gestures with Different Meanings 13
3.2 The Same Meaning with Different Gestures 17
3.3 The Same Gestures with Different Meanings 17
4 The Correct Use of Gestures 21
4.1 The Correct use of Gestures in the Cross-cultural Communication 21
4.2 My Views and Suggestions 21
5 Conclusions 22
References 23
Appendix 24
Acknowledgements 25
