您现在的位置:首页>>英语泛读教程三>>UNIT 11

Text 1

Nonverbal Communication

More about nonverbal communication:

    Definition of nonverbal communication: Nonverbal communication is the process by which nonverbal behaviors are used, either singly or in combination with verbal behaviors, in the exchange and interpretation of messages within a given situation or context.


    Classes of Nonverbal Communication


    1. Facial expression and eye behavior
    2. Body movement and gestures
    3. Touching behavior
    4. Voice characteristics and qualities
    5. Culture and time
    6. Environment
    7. Body types, shapes, and sizes
    8. Clothing and personal artifacts.


    Functions of Nonverbal Communication


    1. Complementing: adding extra information to the verbal message
    2. Contradicting: when our nonverbal messages contradict our verbal messages
    3. Repeating: used in order to emphasize or clarify the verbal message
    4. Regulating: serves to coordinate the verbal dialogue between people
    5. Substituting: occurs when a nonverbal message is transmitted in place of a verbal message
    6. Accenting: emphasizing a particular point in a verbal message

 

Language notes:

1. Alan seems relaxed and even-tempered.

Even-tempered: not excitable.

 

2. If you were Cher, you could show up to make an Academy Award presentation speech wearing a bizarre creation that had more headdress than dress.

Cher(1946─), Cherilyn Sarkisian La Piere, American actress, won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Moonstruck.
 

3. Both presidents would soon be looking for work.

Be looking for work: lose their job and have to look for a new one.

 

4. Although the force of your speech can sometimes overcome a poor impression created by personal appearance, the odds are against it.

Odds: the probability that one thing is so or will happen rather than another; chances.

 

5. As you rise to speak, try to appear calm, poised, and confident, despite the butterflies in your stomach.

Butterfly in the stomach: (pl) a feeling of hollowness or queasiness caused esp. by emotional or nervous tension or anxious anticipation.

 

6. This will give your closing line time to sink in.

Sink in: be completely understood; be fully realized or felt.
    e.g. When he heard that war had started, it didn't sink in for a long time until his father was drafted into the army.

 

7. The quickest way to establish a communicative bond with your listeners is to look them in the eye, personally and pleasantly.


Look sb/sth in the eye: look boldly and steadily at (a person, danger, an opponent, enemy, etc).
    e.g. He is a person of high principles, who can look anyone straight in the eye.


Text 2

Your Actions Speak Louder

About the article:


    The author works with the Peace Corps and has a good knowledge of the nonverbal communication. He proves that ignorance of the meanings of gestures in different cultures will bring one into embarrassing, or even disastrous situations. He identifies five nonverbal channels: kinesic, proxemic, chronemic, oculesic, and haptic. These five channels of nonverbal communication exist in every culture. He calls for people to be aware of this important field in cross-cultural communication.

 

Language notes:

1. Peace Corps:

A federal government organization, set up in 1961, that trains and sends American volunteers abroad to work with people of developing countries on projects for technological, agricultural, and educational improvement.

 

2. A volunteer in Nigeria has great trouble getting any discipline in his class,

Getting any discipline in his class: Getting any control of his class.

 

3. In the second case, the volunteer insisted that students look him in the eye to show attentiveness,

Note that after the word "insisted" the that-clause is in the subjunctive mood.

 

4. We assume that our way of talking and gesturing is "natural" and that those who do things differently are somehow playing with nature.

Play with: trifle with.

TOP   

北京语言大学网络教育学院 (屏幕分辨率:800*600)