Verbal vs. Nonverbal

Wit in conversation is, in the midwives ' phrase, a quick conception and an easy delivery. However, there is another kind of conversation which does not use words--nonverbal communication--and it is born out in many countries. Nonverbal communication can be classified into four aspects: gestures, facial expressions, eye contact and space; but people from different cultures have different frequency in using those four interactions. In my personal opinion, Chinese people express emotions and attitudes by using gestures and eye contact more than using facial expressions; on the other hand, Americans seem to use all kinds of nonverbal actions in daily conversation. For instance, you can easily find a “poker face” in China, because Chinese was taught to be stereotype and socialized, so that they can face different people by using the same small. In addition, for being polite, Chinese people will look directly at the other’s eyes when they have a one on one discussion. There are similarities between these two cultures, such as they use almost the same gestures to mean the same things. At the same time, Americans are more comprehensive than Chinese people in using nonverbal interactions. The reason is that Americans are more out-going and open, and Chinese people are much more traditional. As Deena R. Levine and Mara B. Adelman says, “Whether we emphasize differences or similarities, the ‘silent language’ is much louder than it first appears”. (Page 347)