Analysis of Silence in Intercultural Communication
Yuan, Yuan Quan
School of Foreign Languages, Neijiang Normal University, China
yuanyuanquan2015@126.com
Keywords: silence,intercultural communication, social and pragmatic functions.
Abstract. Verbal communication and non–verbal communication are two ways of communication
between human beings. Verbal communication is important and has significant influence on human
behavior, meanwhile, non–verbal communication should not be ignored. Silence is one aspect of
non-verbal communication. It can also express our ideasand convey information. People from
different cultures have different understandings of silence. In order to reach successful intercultural
communication, different cultural connotations of silence should be known. This paper explores the
reasons for different understandings of silence in American culture and Chinese culture through
comparison, illustrating the social and pragmatic functions of silence.
Introduction
Communication, which is our ability to share our ideas and feelings, is the basis of all human
contact. Language is a foremost way of communication, while silence can also convey a lot of
information, even something difficult to express with language. An African proverb states, “Silence
is also speech”. Silence is a common social content; at the same time, it communicates some
specific social and cultural implications. We make important judgments and decisions concerning
the internal states of others–states they often express without words. In daily communication,
people from different countries or from different cultures have different attitudes towardssilence.
Such differences become the serious obstacles in intercultural communication.
This paper firstly compares silence in American culture and Chinese culture, investigating the
reasons for the different attitudes and understandings of silence in these two cultures.Then it
analyzes the social and pragmatic functions of silence. The analysis of silence is helpful to
understand its communicative functions in different cultures, therefore, the efficiency and success
of intercultural communication can be improved.
Comparison of Silence between Chinese Culture and American Culture
Although people generally think that silence can be used to communicate, in fact, people from
different cultures have different understandings of silence. This section makes a comparison of
silence between Chinese culture and American culture, which are the representatives of the eastern
and western cultures.
Silence in Chinese Culture. Generally speaking, silence is used in most situations in Chinese
culture, thus the attitude of Chinese towards silence is positive. Chinese people emphasize the
functions of silence in their communication. In Chinese people’s communication, pause and silence
can express plenty of meanings, such as agreement, praise, disagreement, protest, decision, respect,
etc. When Chinese people talk with strangers, they will not break the ice, for they think that it will
be embarrassed to talk with someone that they don’t know at all. So it is very common to find in
train or plane or even bus that Chinese people would like to keep silent instead to talk with each
other if they do not know each other, even though they have nothing to do and they feel the trip or
journey bored. In class, Chinese students are just audience. They usually listen to the teachers
quietly. They seldom participate in the activities in class, let alone proposing their own opinions,
asking questions to their teachers or offending their teachers. In Chinese culture, when the superior
are speaking or put forward some proposals, the inferior just keep silent to show their respect to the
superior.
International Conference on Economy, Management and Education Technology (ICEMET 2015)
© 2015. The authors – Published by Atlantis Press
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Silence in American Culture. In contrast, Americans’ attitude towards silence is negative. In
most situations, Americans tend to consider silence in communication as indifference, anger, shame,
disgust, embarrassment, disagreement, etc. They cannot bear those who always keep silent. They
cannot understand what conveys from silence. In America, speech is crucial to the president
candidates. These candidates have to travel around the country from state to state and show their
political talents through their speech, so they cannot be silent. Americans tend to explain their
thoughts clearly and like to talk with each other. They try to bridge the gap of silence in their
communication with words, so that they would not feel embarrassed.
“Silence is not a meaningful part of the life of most members of the dominant culture in the
United States” (Samovar 1998). Talking, watching TV, listening to music, and other
sound-producing activities keep them from silence. The American saying “The squeaky wheel gets
the grease.” demonstrates that silence is negative to Americans.
The Similarities of Silence in Chinese and American Cultures. The perceptions of 2.1 and 2.2
should be considered as stereotypes. Roach and Wyatt point out that whether silence is considered
as positive or negative, communication depends on the property of communicative situations. In
fact, human beings have certain common understanding. When we are sad or tired, we will wish not
to be disturbed by someone but to stay alone silently. At this time, silence is what we expect. It is
positive and proper. While when we want to transmit information or exchange emotions or feelings,
silence is negative and improper, but language is the best way. When humans pray in the church,
attend a concert, they will be expected to keep silent, otherwise, their behavior would be thought
impolite. The stereotypes about Chinese and Americans understanding silence can play an
important role in anticipating and understanding what is conveyed in intercultural communication
correctly.
The Reasons for the Different Attitudes towards Silence in Both Cultures
The Perceptions of Language in Traditional Philosophy. Chinese and Americans have
different opinions about the functions of speech and silence in communication. Chinese culture is
