Body language is an important form of communication that is used everywhere, although we don't often think about it. Some messages are understood by people around the world simply because they are not communicated by words. For example, in many countries, people nod their heads to show agreement and they put their fingers up to their mouths to ask for silence.
尽管我们不经常研究肢体语言，但它已成为一种重要的交流形式，无处不在。世界各地的人们正是通过这些非语言交流形式来获得某些信息。举例来说，许多国家人们点头表示赞许，手指立着放嘴巴上表示安静。
However, body language is used differently in different cultures. For example, in some western cultures, people shrug their shoulders to show they don't understand or they don't care about something. This isn't common in other places. In Asian countries, such as Japan, people bow to show respect when they greet each other or say goodbye. This isn't done in the West.
然而，肢体语言在不同文化中使用不同。例如，在一些西方国家，人们耸肩表示对某事的不理解或是不在意。这一习俗在其他地方却并不常用。亚洲的一些国家，比如日本，人们在问候或分别时以鞠躬之礼以示尊重。在西方国家人们却不这样做。
Sometimes, people think they know about the body language customs of certain cultures, but in fact, they don't know enough. Take bowing as an example. Many travellers aren't sure how to bow or when to bow while in Japan. Kissing is another example that we need to learn about. In many European cultures, women and children are kissed on each cheek by family members or friends when they meet in the street. New friends are often greeted with a kiss on the cheek by Europeans at parties. Two men usually shake hands and put their free hand on each other's shoulders. In the Middle East, you must be careful about your feet. It is very rude to show the bottom of your shoe when you rest one leg on top of the other. It is also not polite to touch people with your shoes.
有时，人们自以为了解特定文化的肢体语言习俗，然而事实上，他们了解的还远远不够。以鞠躬为例，在日本很多游客对于何时鞠躬及如何鞠躬不甚了解。亲吻礼我们也需要多加了解。欧洲文化中，在街头相遇时家人或朋友会互相亲吻女士和小孩的脸颊。新朋友则会在宴会上亲吻脸颊。男士见面行握手礼，另一只手则轻放对方肩头。在中东地区，务必要留心你的脚。当一条腿放另一条腿上休息时，漏出鞋底是不礼貌的，用你的鞋子接触别人也是失礼的。
So, as we can see, body language is just as important as the spoken language when we communicate with people from other cultures.
由此可见，当我们与不同文化的人交流时，肢体语言和口头语言同等重要。