Non-Verbal Communication: What are you REALLY saying?
非語言交流：你真的在說什麼？

Communication occurs on two levels: verbal and non-verbal. Non-verbal communication (NVC) is not a new idea: we can see it in artwork that is thousands of years old. Basically, our introduction to life begins our introduction to NVC. Similarly, when people gather, we often begin to form opinions about each other based on non-verbal cues: clothing, eye contact and eye movement, posture, and the distance separating us. Although no one can measure exactly the importance of NVC, it is estimated that 50% or more of communication is non-verbal. Therefore, we must pay careful attention not only to the words we use, but also to our NVC.
溝通發生在兩個層面：語言和非語言。非語言交流 （NVC） 並不是一個新想法：我們可以在擁有數千年歷史的藝術品中看到它。基本上，我們對生命的介紹從我們對 NVC 的介紹開始。同樣，當人們聚集在一起時，我們經常開始根據非語言線索形成對彼此的看法：服裝、眼神交流和眼球運動、姿勢以及我們之間的距離。雖然沒有人能準確衡量 NVC 的重要性，但據估計 50% 或更多的交流是非語言的。因此，我們不僅必須仔細注意我們使用的詞語，還必須仔細注意我們的 NVC。

One of the first things we generally observe in others is her/his clothing and accessories. We wouldn't likely go to a job interview wearing shorts, a rock star's T-shirt, a pair of sandals, and sunglasses, with purple hair and multiple body piercings. Most of us know that we must make a good impression from the very beginning even before we introduce ourselves. This explains why business people throughout much of the world quite often dress formally: slacks, a dress shirt, and a tie for men; a dress, a skirt or a pair of slacks, and a blouse for women.
我們通常在其他人身上觀察到的第一件事是她/他的衣服和配飾。我們不太可能穿著短褲、搖滾明星的 T 恤、一雙涼鞋和太陽鏡，留著紫色的頭髮和多處身體穿孔去參加工作面試。我們大多數人都知道，我們必須從一開始就給人留下好印象，甚至在我們介紹自己之前。這就解釋了為什麼世界上大部分地區的商人經常穿著正式：男士穿著休閒褲、正裝襯衫和領帶;女士則穿連衣裙、裙子或休閒褲，以及襯衫。

Likewise, eye position, eye movement, and posture play important roles. Eyes pointed downward, darting eyes, and a curved spine don't make a good impression. We can interpret this to mean, "Leave me alone." In fact, those who study NVC separate the body into 3 different sections: the face and the neck; the area between the shoulders and the waist; the hips, legs, and feet. Although each of these sections is equally important, the face (in particular, the eyes) and neck probably play a more important role: they can't be hidden under tables or behind desks as the lower half of the body can.
同樣，眼睛位置、眼球運動和姿勢也起著重要作用。眼睛向下看、眼睛飛快和彎曲的脊椎不會給人留下好印象。我們可以把這解釋為，“別管我”。事實上，研究 NVC 的人將身體分為 3 個不同的部分：面部和頸部;肩膀和腰部之間的區域;臀部、腿部和腳部。雖然這些部分都同樣重要，但面部（特別是眼睛）和脖子可能起著更重要的作用：它們不能像下半身那樣隱藏在桌子下或桌子後面。

The anthropologist Edward T. Hall has divided space into 4 zones: intimate distance;personal distance; social distance; and public distance. As the name suggests, intimate distance extends from direct physical contact up to about 45 cm. This distance is primarily for private actions. Personal distance, usually .75 m to 1.2 m, is the space in which you generally have a conversation with someone. The distance varies depending on the closeness of the person. Social distance (1.2 m to 2.1 m or farther) occurs during business actions, with sales clerks, or at social gatherings. The greatest distance, generally 7.5 m and over, often occurs during public gatherings, such as a speech.
人類學家愛德華·霍爾（Edward T. Hall）將空間分為4個區域：親密距離;個人距離;社交距離;以及公共距離。顧名思義，親密距離從直接身體接觸延伸到約 45 釐米。此距離主要用於私人操作。個人距離，通常為 75 m 到 1.2 m，是您通常與某人交談的空間。距離取決於人的接近程度。社交距離（1.2 米到 2.1 米或更遠）發生在商務活動期間、與銷售人員或社交聚會中。最遠的距離通常為 7.5 m 及以上，通常發生在公共集會期間，例如演講。

Many problems can occur when interpreting NVC. First, NVC is cultural. For example, someone from Latin America often has a much shorter personal distance than someone from Europe. Second, the study of NVC is inexact. No one can determine every individual characteristic that could influence NVC. Third, NVC can be easily misinterpreted. Someone whose arms are crossed against her chest might not be acting defiantly; rather, She might simply be cold. Fourth, generalizations and overgeneralizations about NVC could easily lead to stereotypes. Asians quite often look downward when talking with someone in a higher position. This shouldn't lead to the stereotype that Asians are untrustworthy because they never look you in the eye. If we accept the limitations of this research field, however, we might be able to learn more about ourselves and each other. This might also help us to begin to understand why mama and papa know when we're lying, why teachers know we haven't done our homework, and what our boy/girlfriends are really thinking!
解釋 NVC 時可能會出現許多問題。首先，NVC 是文化的。例如，來自拉丁美洲的人通常比來自歐洲的人擁有更短的個人距離。其次，對 NVC 的研究是不準確的。沒有人可以確定可能影響 NVC 的每一個個體特徵。第三，NVC 很容易被誤解。雙臂交叉在胸前的人可能不是挑釁的行為;相反，她可能只是很冷淡。第四，對 NVC 的概括和過度概括很容易導致刻板印象。亞洲人在與身居高位的人交談時經常向下看。這不應該導致亞洲人不值得信任的刻板印象，因為他們從不看你的眼睛。然而，如果我們接受這個研究領域的局限性，我們也許能夠更多地瞭解自己和彼此。這也可能幫助我們開始理解為什麼爸爸媽媽知道我們在撒謊，為什麼老師知道我們沒有做作業，以及我們的男朋友/女朋友的真實想法！

by Shane M. Drews
作者：Shane M. Drews