Different uses of silence both in high-context and low-context cultures  

解析沉默在高语境文化和低语境文化中的不同用途

作　　者：张奕雯[1] 

机构地区：[1]西安财经学院文法学院英语系,陕西西安710061

出　　处：《Sino-US English Teaching》2009年第12期42-46,共5页中美英语教学（英文版）

摘　　要：Silence, as a form of nonverbal communication, may be interpreted in various ways depending upon the culture. The purpose of this study is to explain misunderstanding concerned with the uses of silence in conversations situated in different cultural backgrounds, and then give possible methods to avoid it. The explanation is mainly based on the two categories related to the context posed by Edward Hall： high-context culture ＆ low-context culture. In this part, the study also contrasts distinct verbal styles in America ＆ Japan, in addition, it analyses different attitudes towards silence from three aspects： traditional value, religion and power distance. At end, the study is concluded with four solutions that try to solve the problem.沉默，作为一种非言语交际行为，在不同的文化背景下有不同的解释。本文的目的旨在解释不同文化背景下对沉默的理解不同而导致的交际障碍，并且给出可行的避免措施。该解释主要基于Edward Hall提出的两种语境文化：高语境文化和低语境文化。同时，文章对比了关国与日本的谈话模式，并从三个方面分析了人们对沉默所持的不同态度：价值观、宗教及权力距离。最后，文章给出四个方案以避免交际中的误解。

关 键 词：SILENCE high-context LOW-CONTEXT non-verbal communication 

分 类 号：G632.474[文化科学—教育学] G112