【英文學習】Body language in the United States

  
 
Here are some things you might notice on a visit to the United States.

1.      Most people use a firm handshake, accompanied by direct eye contact, as the standard greeting. Occasionally, among very good friends, women may briefly hug other women, and men may quickly kiss the cheek of a woman. Males rarely hug one another, however. Occasionally, men may shake hands with the left hand either covering the handshake or lightly gripping the forearm. This shows greater warmth and friendship.

2.      Many people in the United States  tend to stand just about one arm’s length away from each other while talking or standing in public. This is called “the comfort zone.”

3.      Many American women still enjoy having men open doors for them, help them get seated, and give up their seats in public transportation. With increasing emphasis on equality between the sexes, however, there are some women who object to this type of behavior.

4.      To call or ask someone to come over, people usually raise an index finger and then bend and straighten it, or raise the hand(palm facing inward)and curl the fingers quickly towards him or herself. Either is acceptable. To call a waiter, they generally just raise one index finger to head level or above.

5.      Americans consider direct eye contact very important in both social and business situations. Failure to make and maintain eye contact implies boredom or lack of interest.

6.      People in the United States generally respect lines in public situations and form lines in an orderly fashion. Shoving or pushing one’s way into such a line will probably cause both anger and complaints. 

7.      Most people wave “hello” or “goodbye” by extending the arm, palm facing outward, and twisting the hand at the wrist. Another way is to raise the arm, palm outward, and move the whole arm and hand back and forth. This may be important to know because in many other countries this is a signal for “no.”

8.      Americans quickly try to make conversation if silence occurs during business or social situations. Many Americans become uncomfortable with periods of silence.

9.      It is common and acceptable for people to use the hand and index finger to point at objects or to indicate directions.

10.  American mothers sometimes scold children by shaking an index finger at them. People admire children by patting them on the top of the head.