戴晓婷 B2016022128 定稿

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ContentsChineseAbstract2EnglishAbstract31.Introduction41.1ResearchBackground41.2PurposeandSignificanceoftheStudy42.LiteratureReview52.1ThePositionofSilenceinCommunication53.SilenceDifferencesandSimilaritiesinSino-USCulture63.1SilenceDifferencesbetweenSino-USinDailyLife63.2SilenceDifferencesinSino-USExchangesandNegotiations73.3SilenceSimilaritiesinSino-USCultures84.IntrinsicCulturalFactorsofSilenceDifferencesinSino-USCulture94.1TheDifferencesofHistoricalBackground94.2TheDifferentOpinionsofValue—IndividualismandCollectivism95.TheWaystoDealtheSilenceDifferencesinSino-USCulture116.Conclusion11References1313

1中美文化差异下的沉默观摘要跨文化交际的进程中，人们往往更注重语言交际而忽视了非言语行为的信息传递。作为非言语符号的一种——沉默，它普遍存在于非言语交际中并对人际交流产生了不可小觑的影响。沉默不仅与语言共同构成了会话，而且它本身也包含着复杂而深刻的意义。本文从跨文化的角度出发，通过对比中美两国的文化，比较中美文化中沉默的差异，并根据比较的结果探析其中的深层次原因，试图帮助人们理解沉默在中美文化中的差异，解决由于文化差异而对沉默出现不同理解所产生的问题，提高人们的跨文化交际能力。关键词：语言；非言语行为；沉默；跨文化13

2ContrastiveStudyoftheViewofSilenceunderSino-USCultureAbstractWhencarryingoutcross-culturalcommunication,peopleusuallyfocusmoreonverbalcommunication,butignorethetransmissionofnon-verbalbehaviorinformation.Silence,asakindofnon-verbalsymbols,isubiquitousinnon-verbalcommunicationandhasasignificantimpactoninterpersonalcommunication.Silencenotonlyformsaconversationwithlanguage,butcontainscomplexandprofoundmeanings.Fromacross-culturalperspective,throughthecross-culturalcomparisonbetweenChinaandtheUnitedStates,thisarticlecomparesthedifferencesofsilenceinSino-Uscultures,andexplorestheunderlyingcausesbasedontheresultsofthecomparison.ItalsotriestohelppeopleunderstandthedifferencesbetweensilenceinSino-UScultures,andfindthewaystosolvetheproblemofsilencedifferenceswhichcanimprovepeople'sinterculturalcommunicationskills.Keywords:language;non-verbalbehavior;silence;cross-culture13

31.Introduction1.1ResearchBackgroundWiththedevelopmentofChina'seconomyandculture,Sino-USexchangeshavebecomemorefrequentandin-depth.Whendoingcross-culturalcommunication,peopleusuallypaymoreattentiontoverbalcommunication,butignorethetransmissionofnon-verbalbehaviorinformation.AmericanscholarSamovarconcludedthroughquantitativeresearchthatinformalface-to-faceinteractions,onlyabout35%ofthesocialcontentofinformationisconveyedbylanguage,andtherestisconveyedbynonverbalbehavior.Sonon-verbalcommunicationandverbalcommunicationareindispensablemeansofhumancommunication.RichardE.Porter(2004),apioneerofnon-verbalresearch,healsomentionedthatinanormaltwo-personconversation,thecommunicativecontentofthesituationcarriedbythelinguisticelementsislessthan35%,whilethenon-verbalpartbringsmorethan65%.Theirresearchshowsthatthenon-verbalcommunicationplaysanimportantroleininterpersonalcommunication.Non-verbalsymbolscontainrichcontents,including:signlanguage,bodylanguage,facialexpressionlanguage,sub-language,andcostumelanguage.Inactualcommunication,peoplehavenoticedthattheirnon-verbalsymbolssuchasmanners,gestures,andexpressionscanhaveanimportantimpactoninterpersonalcommunication,andpaymoreattentiontotheroleofnon-verbalsymbols.However,peoplemayoverlooktheissueof“silence”innon-verbalcommunication.1.2PurposeandSignificanceoftheStudyPeopleneedcommunication.Speechisabasicanduniversalwayofcommunicating.However,wesometimesusesilencetoexpressouremotions,sothereisacloserelationshipbetweensilenceandspeechacts.ForstudentswhostudyEnglish,themostimportantthingistoputthetheoryintopracticeindailycommunication.Silenceisanimperceptiblewayofcommunication.Asanon-verbalbehavior,itdeservesourin-depthstudy.Becausetheeffectiveuseandunderstandingofsilenceindailylifeorinspecificpracticalenvironmentslikeclassroomeducationcanpromotecommunicationandachievethepurposeofcommunication.However,people'sopinionsofsilencearedifferentindifferentregionsandcultures.Ingeneral,EasternusessilencemoreoftenthanWestern.Theyknowbetteraboutwhatitmeans,andhowimportantitis.ThemainreasonsforthedifferentmeaningsofsilenceinEastandWestaretheirdifferenthistoricalbackgroundsanddifferentculturalsituations.Inhumancommunication,themisunderstandingofbothwordsandsilencecanleadtotragedy.Intoday'sglobalizingworld,peoplecanreducethehelplessnessofcommunicationcausedbylanguage13

4barriersthroughlearningaforeignlanguage.Theycanalsochangetheirdress,andlearnsignlanguageorbodylanguageindifferentculturestomeettheneedsofcross-culturalcommunication.However,ifyoudonotunderstandthedifferentmeaningsandpragmaticcontextsofsilenceindifferentcultures,itwillalsobringobstaclestocross-culturalcommunication.1.LiteratureReview2.1ThePositionofSilenceinCommunicationInfact,silence,asakindofnon-verbalsymbols,isubiquitousinnon-verbalcommunicationandhasamajorimpactoninterpersonalcommunication.Accordingtostatistics,theproportionofsilenceinconversationrangesfrom5%to65%,andingeneral,ithasreachedabout45%to50%.Thisshowsthatsilenceisanintegralpartoftheconversation,anditformsaconversationwithlanguage.Moreimportantly,silenceitselfmaycontaincomplexandprofoundmeanings,forexample,BaiJuyidescribedsilenceinPipaXing:“别有幽愁暗恨生，此时无声胜有声”,andAmericanresearchershaveconcludedthatonly7%ofemotionalinformationisexpressedthroughlanguage,55%istransmittedbyvisualsymbols,and38%istransmittedbyparalinguisticsymbols.Thisdemonstratestheimportanceofnonverbalbehaviorininterpersonalcommunication.Asanaspectofpara-language,silencealsoplaysaveryimportantrole.2.1.1TheMeaningofSilenceSilenceisanon-verbalsymbol,buttherearedifferentviewsonthedefinitionofsilence.Someresearchersbelievethatsilenceincludesallnon-verbalbehaviors.AmericancommunicatorsTeriKwalandMichaelGamblebelievethatsilenceincludesallnon-verbalcommunicationmethods,andcommunicationisamultichanneltransmissionprocessthatincludesvariousinformationsuchassoundandcolor.Toachievecommunicationsuccess,peopleshouldknowhowtouseavarietyofcommunicationmethodsflexibly.Therearemanyresearcherswhobelievethatsilenceisjustonetypeofnonverbalsign.Butmoreresearchersregardsilenceasaseparatenon-verbalbehavior,andamongthem,somebelievethatsilencereferstotheabsenceofsound,whileothersbelievethatsilenceitselfisalsoakindofspeechandapartofconversation.Foucault(1998)saidthatsilenceisnottheabsoluteendofutterance.Itaccompanieswithutterance,whichisanotherwayofexpressingthoughts.Itformsapartofpeople'sunderstandingoftheworldandpenetratestheirunderstandingoftheworld.In1978,Levinson(1983)definedsilenceas“theabsenceofvocalization”.Laterhegraduallyrealizedthatthemeaningofsilenceisdiverseandthroughfurtherthinking,afterthatheintroduced“FaceTheory”intothestudyofsilencewithBrown.Thetheorydescribesthatpositivefacemeansbeingrecognizedbyothers,whileindependencemeansnegativefacesorneednotimposedby13

5others.Inconversation,peopletrytoavoidthreateningothers'faces,andsilenceisaneffectivewaytomaintainface.2.1.1TheFunctionsofSilenceAmericaneducationalpsychologistArthurR.Jensenclassifiedthesilenceintotwocategoriesandpointedoutthat“silence”canplayfivedifferentcommunicativeroles.Andeachrolehastwoaspects:(1)Synergy,includingconnectingorseparatingtherelationshipbetweenthetwopartiesincommunication;(2)Emotionaleffects,includingadmiration,friendliness,recognitionorindifference,hostilityandhatred,etc.;(3)Apocalypticeffects,includingunderstandingeachother,self-awareness,orcoveringuppersonalemotions,thoughts,andopinions;(4)Theroleofjudgment,includingagreeingwithacertainopinionorraisinganobjection;(5)Theroleofexpressingthoughts,includingtheprocessofreflectinglackofthinkingordeepthinking(杨平,1996).Silenceisoneofthemostdistinctivecontentsinnonverbalcommunication.Whenwesaythatapersonissilent,itdoesnotmeanthathehasnothingtosay,becausesilenceitselfhasmeaning.InEasternculture,itgivesmorepositivemeaningtosilence,whileinWesterncultureitgivesmorenegativemeaning.Westernersgenerallybelievethatsilenceisariftindialogue,whileEasternersbelievethatsilenceispartofthedialogue.What’smore,Westernersuselanguageasatooltoexploreandexpresstruth,toextendthemselvesandtoinfluenceothers,therefore,theyadoreeloquenceandthinkthatsilenceisnegative,anditspragmaticmeaningisusuallyconsideredasapathy,anger,hostility,opposition,shyness,embarrassment,contempt,boredom,etc(彭艳红,2007).ContrarytoWesternunderstanding,mostEasternholdtheviewthat"silenceisgold",andbelievethatthepoweroflanguageislimited,andinmanycasesitismorepowerfultokeepsilent.1.SilenceDifferencesandSimilaritiesinSino-USCulture3.1SilenceDifferencesbetweenSino-USinDailyLifeOnthetrainorplane,twoChinesepeoplesittingnexttoeachotherorsittingoppositemightsaynothing,willnotintroducethemselvesimmediately,andnaturallyacceptthissilence.Whendrinkingteawithfriends,Chinesecankeepalongtimefornottalkingwithoutfeelingembarrassed.Sometimesintheatmosphereofsilence,atacitunderstandingisreached,theheartiscloser,thefriendshipisstronger,andtheythinksilenceisbetterthanthesound.However,Americansarealwayscommunicatingwithfriendswhentheyaretogether.Theydonotlike13

6sittingwithsilence.Iftheinterlocutorissilent,theywilltrytogethimtojointheconversation.Whentheconversationisinterrupted,theywillimmediatelyfillitwithwordsoractions,otherwisetheywillfeeluncomfortable(张荣婕,2009).Infamiliarfamilyfarewellscene,whenthechildrenareawayfromhome,thefatherisusuallysilent,andthemotherwillalwaysremindchildrentotakecareoftheirhealth.Chineseparentsarenotgoodatexpressinglove,andmoreoftenusesilencetoexpressit.Forthem,silenceoftenmeanstosupportandtolerance,andcontainsunspeakablelove.Onthecontrary,Americansaremorewillingtoexpresslovefortheirfamilieswithlanguageandphysicalmovements.Theyliketohugandkisseachother,andoftensaysomewordslike“Iloveyou”toexpresstheiremotions.Andintheireyes,silenceoftenmeansindifference.AtdiningtableChinesepeoplearerarelysilent,butthereisverylittleconversationafterthemealcoming,andthehostusuallyasksthegueststoeatanddrinkmorethansayotherwords.WhilethehabitofAmericansisthateatinganddrinkingarenotimportant,theyconsiderthateatingdinnerisjustanopportunityforsocialconversation.SowhentheyfindthatChinesedonottalkwithothers,theyfeelalittlepuzzled.3.1SilenceDifferencesinSino-USExchangesandNegotiationsIncross-culturalcommunication,Chineseoftenrespondsilentlytoembarrassingordifficultproblems,theythinkkeepingsilencecanbeeitherasilentpraiseorasilentprotest;itcaneitherbeacquiescedinacquiescenceorkeepyouropinions;itcanbeanexpressionofconsensus,orasignofdetermination(范蕴华,李杰群,1991).BrosnahanisanAmerican,hisviewsarerepresentativeofAmericanswhoarecloselyrelatedtoChinese.HethinksthatChineseshouldalwaysrememberthatsilenceispreciousonlyatsomespecialmomentslikethechildren'sattitudestowardsadultsintheeyesofWesterners.Butbetweenadults,aslongasthequestionhasbeenaskedandyouhavehearditclearly,youmustanswerit.Becauseaskingquestionswithoutansweringandkeepingsilentisseenasamockeryofothers.YouranswerlikesIdon'twanttotellyou,whichismoreappropriatethansilence.TherearesomeChinesecommonbehaviorswhichareunpopularwithAmerican.Forexamplethereporterdoesnotanswertheaudience'squestionsandaudiencedonotreplywithaclearvoiceduringtheconversation.Orlistenersjustlistenquietlyanddonotwillingtoaskanyquestions.Andtheseshowthatunderdifferentcultures,ChinaandAmericahavedifferentviewsonkeepingsilenceincommunication.Gram,Campbell,andMeissnerhavepointedoutthatAmericans'negotiatingstyleisverysimilartothatoftheBritish,buttheyusethenon-verbalactofsilencelessthantheBritish,becauseforAmericans,silencerepresentsamorenegativemeaning(贾玉新,2000).ComparedwithAmericans,theChinesearemoregentle.Theydonotliketoargueandrarelyfight,buttheyoftendarenotbelieveinthebehaviorofothers.Althoughtheyareflexibleandchangeable,they13

7areconcernedaboutface-saving,andtheyvaluefeelingsandfriendship.Theyoftentreateachotherasfleshandbloodandemotionalwhole.TheyarenotasoutspokenasAmericans,theytalkinaroundaboutway,andoftenusesilence.Whentheyhaveanopiniononacertainissue,ordonotagreewithaclause,sometimestheydonotdirectlysay“no”,bututilizesilenceinsteadtoshowcourtesyandrespectforothers.ThisisnaturallydifficultforAmericanswhohaveapessimisticviewofsilence.ItiseasytoseethattheconflictsanddifferencesbetweenChineseandAmericancompaniesinbusinessnegotiationsaremainlycausedbyculturaldifferences.3.1SilenceSimilaritiesinSino-USCulturesDespitethefactthattherearedifferencesintheunderstandinganduseofsilenceinSino-UScultures,wecannotignoreitssameorsimilarpragmaticfunctionsindifferentculturalbackgrounds.Silencecanbeusedtoexpressfeelings.Whenpeopleareinastateofextremeanger,thereareseveralpossibilitiesforsilence.Oneisthatitisdifficulttospeakbecauseofexcessiveanger,andtheotheroneistocalmdownangerandearntimetothinkbeforespeaking.Silenceisalsoalanguageoflove.Someonesawacoupleonalong-distancevoyageintheUnitedStateswhoneverspeakswitheachotherafewhoursonaflight.Andtheyjusttangletheirfingers,gazeateachother'sfacewithasmile,andimmersethemselvesinthejoyoftravellingtogether.Thesenseofhappinessisveryobvious.Thisphenomenoniscommoninloversandcouplesaroundtheworld.Whenmourningthedead,evenordinarychattererscaneasilyremainsilentforalongtimeThisisbecausepersonalimpactssuchassadness,recollection,andlonelinessaretoostrongtobeexportedanddifficulttospeak.Silenceissometimeswhatwewanttoseek.Peoplesometimesstaysilentforconcentration.Whenlisteningcarefullytowhatotherssay,inanticipationofhearingsomethingimportant,peoplealwayskeeptheirmouthsclosed,theirearsraised,anddonotmove.Peopleoftenfeeltheneedtobealoneperiodically.Whenseeingthesunset,thestars,thesea,peoplewanttoenjoysomekindofsilence.Andsometimespeoplearealoneinpursuitofpeaceofmindortheopportunitytoexploreandreflectontheirownsoul.Itcanbesaidthatsilenceisanactthatsupplementshumanthinkingandlife.Silencecanalsobeusedtoexpressanattitude.Whenansweringthequestion"Willyoumarryme?",SilenceexpresseduncertaintyandhesitationinbothChinaandtheUnitedStates.Fortheauthority,theseniors,orthepeoplewithgreatwisdom,Peoplepaytributetothemwithsilence.Atweddingsandfunerals,orchurches,hospitals,libraries,courts,etc.,ifwearenotaskedtospeak,wewillremainsilent.ThesepragmaticmeaningsofsilenceareconsistentinChineseandWesternetiquettenorms.Fromtheseaspects,itcanbeseenthathumanshavedifferentunderstandingsandusesofsilence,andtherearealsomanysimilarities.13

81.IntrinsicCulturalFactorsofSilenceDifferencesinSino-USCulture4.1TheDifferencesofHistoricalBackgroundChinahasbeenoppressedbythefeudalregimeforalongtime.Thegovernorstooksomepoliciessuchas“罢黜百家，独尊儒术”toconsolidatetheirposition.Peoplecouldbeindangeriftheysaysomethingwrong,soitiswiseforthemtokeepsilent.TheUnitedStateshasonlytwohundredyearsofhistory,itiscalledthemeltingpotwhichhasalargenumberofimmigrants.Theyhavedevelopedrichspeculativespeech,andthenuselanguageasatoolforexploringtruth,developingthemselves,andtransformingtheworld.Therefore,differentunderstandingofsilencebetweenChinaandtheUnitedStatescanbeattributedtodifferenthistoricalthoughts.TheConfucianismhasastronginfluenceinChina.Itemphasizesacautiousattitudetowardpeople.TherearemanyexpressionsofthisattitudeintheAnalects,forexample“君子欲讷于言而敏于行”;“敏于事而慎于言”;“成事不说，遂事不谏，既往不咎”;“知者不失人，亦不失言”.InConfucianculture,lessandcarefulwords,speakingwithcaution,areworthyofpraise.Whilesweetwordsandtalkingalotarenotcommendable.What'smoreinTaoistculture,LaozipointedinTaoTeChingthat“道可道，非常道，名可名，非常名”;“知者不言，言者不知，信言不美，美言不信。善者不辩，辩者不善。知者不博，博者不知”.Theseexpressionsrevealtheunspeakablenatureof"Tao",whichshowsthatspeechisnotrespected.TheseareaverynegativedefinitionofspeechandhaveahugeimpactontheChinesewayofthinkingandsocialbehavior.Chineseculturebasicallyholdsacertainandpositiveattitudetowardssilence,emphasizinglesstalkandmoreaction,whichisconsideredasawayoflanguageexpression.UnliketheideaofChineselanguageexpression,Westerncultureencouragesexpression,whichcanbetracedbacktotheBible.TheologyisrespectforspeechintheBible,andtherecognitionof“speech”and“debate”byancientGreekandRomanrhetorichadstipulated“speakingforwho”,“whoisspeaking”and“howtospeak”.InWestern,mostpeoplefollowGod.TheythinkGodcreatedtheworld,thelight,thehumanandeverythingintheworld.Theyhaveastrongbeliefingodandregarditasthenormintheirlives,eventheirlanguageexpressionisdeeplyinfluencedbyGod.Theybelievethatlanguageexistswhentheworldisborn,languageiswithGod,sospeechisequivalenttogod,whichissupremeandinalienable,andalsoistheimportantlinkbetweenhumanandnature.Therefore,silencemeanslackofcommunication,self-enclosed,andnon-cooperationinAmericanculture.Itisanegativeactofgivingupone'srights,cowardice,andrudeness.Silencecannotbetolerated,anditmayhinderthesmoothprogressofcommunication.Onlysoundexpressioncanshowfranknessandtrust.4.2TheDifferentOpinionsofValue—IndividualismandCollectivismIndividualandcollectiveorientationisoneoftheessentialvariablesdeterminethathuman13

9behavior.Incollectiveculture,therearefewpeopledeveloprelations,buttheserelationshipsaredeepandlong-lasting.Whileinindividualisticculture,peopledevelopsocialrelationshipsindifferentscenarios,andtheserelationshipsareoftennotveryintimate.Americanculturepromotesindividualism,andChinesetraditionalculturepromotescollectivism,whichformsdifferenttypesofrelationsindailyexchangesbetweenChinaandtheUnitedStatesandaffectsthefunctionofsilence.Generallyspeaking,intheAmericansocietywhereindividualismisthemainstreamculture,peopleliketodothingsuniquely,toshowtheirdifferences,toshowtheirtalents,andtoadvocatecompetitivecommunication.Therefore,silenceisunwelcome(贾玉新,2000).Peoplevaluelanguagecommunicationmore,andwanttoreflectthefunofconversation,becauseindividualistsmustworkhardtoshowthemselvesinordertogainsocialrecognitionofthemselves.Theygenerallybelievethatoneofthemainfunctionsofconversationistoshortenthedistanceinrelationships,andsilenceisoftenreservedforintimaterelationships(William,1997).Inotherwords,silenceisrecognizedonlywhenintimaterelationships,suchaskissing.Itisunforgivabletomaintaininterpersonalsilenceinothersituations,especiallyinstrangers.Americansaremostafraidofsilence,andtheyoftenfeeluncomfortableaboutsilence.Theyfirmlybelievethatafunctionofdiscourseistoavoidsilence(Nancy,1993).Infact,forAmericans,keepingsilentcouldbeseenasaprotest.Onthecontrary,forChinesepeoplewhoarecharacterizedbycollectivism,theyhaveastrongsenseofbelongingtothecollectiveorgroup.Peopletendtobeself-defeating,self-suppressinginaccordancewithrules,beingsubtleandquiet,andrevelinginselflessculture.Sopeoplearealwaysmodestandcautious,withoutshowingthemselveseasily,andoftenshowspecialpreferenceforsilence.BecauseChinesecultureisvastandprofound,theexpressionofsilenceincollectivismcultureismultifaceted,butitsmainstreamispositive.AccordingtoChinesetradition,silenceisgolden,sodeepnessandsilenceareavirtue.Asilentpersonismoretrustworthythanapersonwhospeaksalot,sokeepingsilentispraised(胡文仲,1999).Inaddition,affectedbythefeudalcultureofthousandsofyears,theChinesehavebecomeintroverted,goodatrestraint,andevendevelopedasilentculturalcharacter.Chineseculturebelievesthatspeakingtoomuchmustbelostanddisastercomesoutofthemouth,sokeepingsilentcanprotectthemselves(王福祥,吴汉樱,2000).Silencecanalsogivetheotherpartytimetoconsiderissuesorevaluatethesituation,sothattheycanthinkaboutthefeelingof"silenceisbetterthansound"atthistime.Tobesilentandbowyourheadinfiercewordsisakindofavoidance.Itisaneffectivewaytocalmtheatmosphereanddelaytheintensificationofcontradictions.13

101.TheWaystoDealtheSilenceDifferencesinSino-USCultureTosomeextent,theculturaldifferencesofsilenceinSino-UScultureshindercross-culturalcommunication.Inordertoavoidsuchcommunicationbarriersandimprovetheefficiencyofcross-culturalcommunication,herearesomeattemptstodealwithdifferences.Firstofall,attachinggreatimportancetothestudyofcross-culturalcommunication.Throughreading,practiceandothermeanstounderstandtheculturaldifferencesbetweenthetwocountries,graspthetruemeaningandcorrectusageofthetwocountries'silence,andthenuseittoguidepracticalactivitiestoreducemisunderstandingswhicharecausedbysilence.Secondly,strengtheningcross-culturalawarenessandbeingamulticulturalperson.Wemustlearntoseekcommongroundwhileshelvingdifferences,andadoptacorrectmentalitywhendealingwithculturaldifferencesandavoid"ethnocentrism".Lastbutnotleast,developingcross-culturalcommunicationskills.Interculturalrelationsareverycomplexinnature,whicharefullofmanyfactorsanddifferences.Theinterpretationsofsilencediscussedhereareonlyasmallone.Soitrequiresustoraiseorlowerconversationexpectationsaccordingtothespecificenvironment,andmakeappropriateadjustmentsindifferentconversationbackgroundsandmodes.2.ConclusionFromaculturalperspective,thecharacteristicsofChinesetraditionalhistoricalandculturalbackground,andcollectivismdeterminetheimplicitnessofinterpersonalrelationsinChina.Andtheyalsodeterminepeople'spreferenceforsilence,dependenceonmultipleexpressions,andgreatabilitytodecodesilence.Onthecontrary,Americanhistoricalandculturalbackground,andindividualismmakeAmericansuselesssilenceandmoreexplicitsymbolslikelanguagetoexpressdifferentmeanings,andtheirunderstandingofsilenceismoremonotonous.However,noteverythingissetinstone.Withthedevelopmentofcross-culturalcommunicationbetweenChinaandtheUnitedStates,therehasbeenacertaindegreeofintersectionandintegrationbetweenthetwocultures.Buttheconflictbetweenthemisstillunavoidable,andheterogeneouscultureshavemanydifferencesinmicroscopicexpressionssuchassilence.Howtoreducemisreadingcausedbysilence,orhowtomakethetwopartiesunderstandeachotherinasimilardimensionwhenconductingcross-culturalcommunication,hasbecomeanissuethatmustbeconsideredbyChineseandAmericancultureswhensharingsilenceandreachingconsciousconsensus.Onlybyenrichingone'sowncross-culturalknowledge,combininglinguisticfactorsandnon-linguisticfactors,andresolvingunderstanding13

11deviationsindifferentculturalbackgroundseffectivelycanincreasetheprobabilityofcommunicationsuccessandcreateaharmoniousatmosphereofcross-culturalcommunication.13

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