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Abstract：Verbal and non-verbal communication is often used as a form of communication between individuals. Between the two, body language is one of the most abundant non-verbal communications. According to United State’s findings of a study, we can learn that body language is very important in actual communication. Therefore, if we want to comprehend and master English idioms, we should proficiently master related body language. So, this paper discussed the usage of body language in English idioms through three aspects.
Keywords: body language, English idioms, non-verbal communication
Communication between people is the combination of language communication and non-verbal communication. Between them, body language is one of the most abundant non-verbal communications. Body language refers to communication through a variety of movements, behavior, demeanors other than language. According to a study of United States, we can learn that, in the aspect of emotion and attitude, 90% of the information is delivered by non-verbal language, however, in the external information people received, 70%-80% of it is from the visual information. So, body language is very important in actual communication. Thus, if we want to comprehend and master English idioms, we should proficiently master related body language. Here we talk about the use of body language in English idioms.
Firstly, let us begin with nod. In America or Britain, nod can express a lot of means. For example, nod can mean agreement, farewell, also can mean a familiar greeting or a sign of agreement and so on. Examples: When he passed, he gave me a nod (here, nod means a greeting); He nodded me into the room (here nod means letting me to go into the room) and so on. According to this, we can know that if we don’t know well about body language, we can’t really comprehend what the speaker really says. Therefore, it can make mistakes between us, and we can not communicate with others effectively, what’s worse, it maybe causes troubles. So we should understand and master body language, and we can know well about English idioms.
Secondly, let us see some body language. Keeping one’s fingers crossed means letting god to bless what he was doing is successful; twiddling one’s thumbs means being idle, lazy. For example, my boss kept general manager busy and left me twiddling my thumbs; thumbs up means supporting or praising, on the contrary, thumbs down means oppose or refuse; holding one’s head high means arrogance; shaking one’s fist means threat, and shaking one’s head means I have no idea; winking at somebody can have different meanings, for example, mother winked at Nancy as a sign for her to keep still. My best friend winked at me as a sign of letting me to go when her parents came home; shrugging one’s shoulders means being cold, on the other hand, it also means being suspected, and so on. According to body language mentioned above, we can know that body language is rich in actual communication, it is also very important in English idioms. One gesture can have a variety of meanings, some of them are opposite, and some of them are optimistic. The same body language can have two kind of complete different meanings. So, if we want to tell these meanings from each other, we must know well about body language and understand their meanings in English idioms. Otherwise, we will get mistakes during communicating with others.
In addition, it is worth mentioning that in western countries like America and Britain, sometimes, you will see that someone standing on the roadside, outstretching a fist of titling thumbs towards passing vehicle. In this condition, this body language means, “asking a free ride”. Therefore, if you want to ask for a lift, you also can see thumb a lift. Different countries have different cultures, so if you want to be good at English idioms, you should know well about different countries’ cultures and their different body language. Because there are different body languages in different countries, also, the same body language in different countries can have different meanings. Also, one meaning can be expressed by different body language, for example, when we want to ask for a “free ride”, we usually say having a lift, also, we can say thumbing a lift as mentioned above. Therefore, we can learn that body language is very abundant in English idioms. So, if we want to learn English idioms well, we must know well about different body language that can express the same meanings, including knowing well about cultures of different countries. Only doing that can we be proficient in English idioms. And can avoid unnecessary misunderstanding in communications and achieve a favorable effect.
In summary, in actual communication, non-verbal communication is absolutely very indispensable. As the body language regards as one of the most abundant non-verbal communications. A certain kind of body language can have several interpretations under different conditions. In this case, we should know well about body language and know well about different conditions. By doing this, we can tell different meanings from different conditions through one body language. And we can master better about English idioms and can communicate effectively in actual communication. As we all know, English idioms are very important in everyday communication in English speaking countries. And body language is vital to English idioms, especially in western countries. Because their body language are richer than ours when they communicate with others. So the use of body language in English idioms is abundant, as mentioned above, one kind of meaning can be expressed by several different body language, and one kind of English idioms can expressed several different meanings.
Also, the meaning of one kind of English idioms or one kind of body language can change if the condition changes. So if we want to be proficient in English idioms, we must know well about the meaning of body language in different countries and in different conditions.
References：
1.Borg, James. Body Language: 7 Easy Lessons to Master the Silent Language. FT Press, 2010, ISBN 9780137002603
2. Engleberg,Isa N. Working in Groups: Communication Principles and Strategies. My Communication Kit Series, 2006. page 140-141
Keywords: body language, English idioms, non-verbal communication
Communication between people is the combination of language communication and non-verbal communication. Between them, body language is one of the most abundant non-verbal communications. Body language refers to communication through a variety of movements, behavior, demeanors other than language. According to a study of United States, we can learn that, in the aspect of emotion and attitude, 90% of the information is delivered by non-verbal language, however, in the external information people received, 70%-80% of it is from the visual information. So, body language is very important in actual communication. Thus, if we want to comprehend and master English idioms, we should proficiently master related body language. Here we talk about the use of body language in English idioms.
Firstly, let us begin with nod. In America or Britain, nod can express a lot of means. For example, nod can mean agreement, farewell, also can mean a familiar greeting or a sign of agreement and so on. Examples: When he passed, he gave me a nod (here, nod means a greeting); He nodded me into the room (here nod means letting me to go into the room) and so on. According to this, we can know that if we don’t know well about body language, we can’t really comprehend what the speaker really says. Therefore, it can make mistakes between us, and we can not communicate with others effectively, what’s worse, it maybe causes troubles. So we should understand and master body language, and we can know well about English idioms.
Secondly, let us see some body language. Keeping one’s fingers crossed means letting god to bless what he was doing is successful; twiddling one’s thumbs means being idle, lazy. For example, my boss kept general manager busy and left me twiddling my thumbs; thumbs up means supporting or praising, on the contrary, thumbs down means oppose or refuse; holding one’s head high means arrogance; shaking one’s fist means threat, and shaking one’s head means I have no idea; winking at somebody can have different meanings, for example, mother winked at Nancy as a sign for her to keep still. My best friend winked at me as a sign of letting me to go when her parents came home; shrugging one’s shoulders means being cold, on the other hand, it also means being suspected, and so on. According to body language mentioned above, we can know that body language is rich in actual communication, it is also very important in English idioms. One gesture can have a variety of meanings, some of them are opposite, and some of them are optimistic. The same body language can have two kind of complete different meanings. So, if we want to tell these meanings from each other, we must know well about body language and understand their meanings in English idioms. Otherwise, we will get mistakes during communicating with others.
In addition, it is worth mentioning that in western countries like America and Britain, sometimes, you will see that someone standing on the roadside, outstretching a fist of titling thumbs towards passing vehicle. In this condition, this body language means, “asking a free ride”. Therefore, if you want to ask for a lift, you also can see thumb a lift. Different countries have different cultures, so if you want to be good at English idioms, you should know well about different countries’ cultures and their different body language. Because there are different body languages in different countries, also, the same body language in different countries can have different meanings. Also, one meaning can be expressed by different body language, for example, when we want to ask for a “free ride”, we usually say having a lift, also, we can say thumbing a lift as mentioned above. Therefore, we can learn that body language is very abundant in English idioms. So, if we want to learn English idioms well, we must know well about different body language that can express the same meanings, including knowing well about cultures of different countries. Only doing that can we be proficient in English idioms. And can avoid unnecessary misunderstanding in communications and achieve a favorable effect.
In summary, in actual communication, non-verbal communication is absolutely very indispensable. As the body language regards as one of the most abundant non-verbal communications. A certain kind of body language can have several interpretations under different conditions. In this case, we should know well about body language and know well about different conditions. By doing this, we can tell different meanings from different conditions through one body language. And we can master better about English idioms and can communicate effectively in actual communication. As we all know, English idioms are very important in everyday communication in English speaking countries. And body language is vital to English idioms, especially in western countries. Because their body language are richer than ours when they communicate with others. So the use of body language in English idioms is abundant, as mentioned above, one kind of meaning can be expressed by several different body language, and one kind of English idioms can expressed several different meanings.
Also, the meaning of one kind of English idioms or one kind of body language can change if the condition changes. So if we want to be proficient in English idioms, we must know well about the meaning of body language in different countries and in different conditions.
References：
1.Borg, James. Body Language: 7 Easy Lessons to Master the Silent Language. FT Press, 2010, ISBN 9780137002603
2. Engleberg,Isa N. Working in Groups: Communication Principles and Strategies. My Communication Kit Series, 2006. page 140-141