Temporal-Spatial Differences In Nonverbal Communication Between Chinese And Americans: Implications For Flt

With the development of globalization, the interaction between people with different languages and cultural backgrounds increases rapidly, and cross-cultural communication has become an important part in human communicative activities. In the process of communication, people also use nonverbal symbols except verbal symbols. The research shows that most communicative activities are undergoing through nonverbal communication, which to a great extent determines the efficiency of communication. Time and space are the main components of human activity, they exert a subtle influence on the communicative activities, and different spatial-temporal systems are the important factors causing the misunderstanding and failure in cross-cultural communication. Therefore, the problem of cultural differences must be stressed. Through the comparison of spatial-temporal cultures between Chinese and Americans, we should try to raise cross-cultural consciousness, overcome ethnocentrism, and reduce negative cultural transfer, finally reach the aim of successful communication. The thesis consists of five chapters. Chapter one introduces the purpose and basic structure of the thesis. In chapter two, the basic knowledge about culture, communication, intercultural communication and nonverbal communication are discussed, as well as the introduction of the relevant theories used in this thesis, such as negative cultural transfer and cultural relativism. Chapter three is the main body of the thesis, in which the temporal and spatial differences between Chinese and Americans are introduced and analyzed respectively. Chapter four explores the cultural and historical roots of the temporal-spatial differences between Chinese and Americans from the perspectives of value systems, high-context, low context, and agriculture and industry cultures. Chapter five relates nonverbal communication with foreign language teaching, emphasizes the importance of nonverbal communication in FLT, meanwhile put forward some suggestions for improving students'intercultural communication competence.