Abstract: Body language is a means of nonverbal communication often found in communication of mankind. It is an important channel to express thoughts, attitudes and feelings of human beings. It is helpful to use and study body language in cross-cultural communication. This paper first introduces the basic information of body language, then compares the differences of body language between China and English-speaking countries and finally discusses the ways to use body language properly in cross-culture communication. It might be helpful to people to reduce or avoid misunderstanding due to cultural differences of body language in cross-cultural communication.

Key words: body language   cross-cultural communication    cultural difference

摘要：体态语是人类交际中最常见的一种非语言交际手段，是人们交流思想和感情的重要手段，是表达态度，感情的信息载体。研究和使用体态语有助于我们进行跨文化交际。本文介绍了体态语的基本信息，通过比较中西方体态语的差异并提出正确使用体态语的方法，可帮助人们减少或避免在跨文化交际中因体态语的文化差异而引起的误解。

关键词：体态语   跨文化交际    文化差异