Question:

The use of silence varies from culture to culture. Genearlly,

Eastern cultures value silence more than the use of words; in Western culutre, the opposite is true. Please illustrate how “silence” is perceived and used by people from different cultures?

The Different Interpretations of Silence in different cultures 摘要：沉默，作为一种非语言交际行为，在高语境和低语境文化中有着不同的诠释。在高语境文化中，沉默往往赋予积极的意味，是一种特殊的沟通方式；在低语境文化中，沉默常蕴涵消极的意味，是缺乏沟通的表现。了解高语境和低语境文化对沉默的不同理解，人们在跨文化交际中能够更好地理解彼此。

关键词：沉默；高语境文化；低语境文化

Abstract：As a part of nonverbal communication, silence is provided with different interpretations in high-context and low-context culture．In high-context culture， silence usually indicates positive meaning, and it is a special way to communicate．However, in low-context culture, silence is negative for the most part, and it is considered as a lack of communication．Knowing the different understanding of silence between high-context culture and low-context culture, the men in intercultural communication will have a better understanding of each other.

Keywords: silence; high-context culture; low-context culture

1. introduction

Silence, as a means of nonverbal communication, refers to the state that one gives the voiceless response or takes a pause in the communication instead of saying some words to show his or her standards. In fact, in different cultural backgrounds, silence transfers different culture connotation. Edward T．Hall took silence as one of the important standards to divide high-context culture and low-context culture. In high-context culture, plenty of information is implied in the socio-cultural environment and circumstances or internalized in the mind of communicators, and