All of us communicate with one another nonverbally, as well as with words. Most of the time we're not aware that we're doing it. We gesture with eyebrows or a hand, meet someone else's eyes and look away, shift positions in a chair. These actions we assume are random (任意) and incidental. But researchers have discovered in recent years that there is a as language.
Every culture has its own body language, and children absorb its meaning along with spoken language. A Frenchman talks and moves in French. The way an Englishman crosses his legs is nothing like the way a male American does it. In talking, Americans are apt to end a conversation with a droop(低垂) of the head or hand, a lowering of the eyelids. They wind up a question with a lift of the hand or a widening of the eyes.
One of the most effective elements in body language is eye behaviour. American are careful about how and when they meet one another's eyes. In our normal conversation, each eye contact lasts only about a second before one or both individuals look away. When two Americas look searchingly into each other's eyes, emotions are heightened and the relationship becomes more intimate(亲密). Therefore, we carefully avoid this, except in appropriate circumstances.
Postures sometimes offer a guide to broad relationships within a group. Imagine that at a party, guests have been fired up by an argument over student radicalism. You may be able to spot at a glance the two sides of the argument by postures adopted. Most of the pros, for example, may sit with crossed knees, the cons with legs stretched out and arms folded. A few middle-of-the roaders may try a little of each －crossing their knees and folding their arms.
The amount of space a man needs is also influenced by his personality －introverts (内向), for example, seem to need more elbow room than extroverts(外向). Situation and mood also affect distance. Moviegoers waiting in line to see a sexy movie will line up much more densely than those waiting to see a family-entertainment movie.
Communication between human beings would be just that dull if it were all done with words. But actually, words are often the smallest part of it.
