seminor paper

1. Introduction　
Williams (1998) said, “In order to correctly understand and communicate with people from different cultures, it is necessary to be able to interpret their gestures and nonverbal communication.” He also thinks, “If you rely on your own gestures and don’t know what they mean in other cultures, you can make serious cultural mistakes and cause bad feelings and misunderstandings.”
This topic is the difference of body language between Americans and Japanese. People say that there are some differences in body language between Americans and Japanese. This paper will research the differences by using some references. A questionnaire will then be made to examine the problems involved in interpretation of differences in body language.
First, to research about the differences in Japanese and English body language, the author made a movie and took a survey using the movie. Through the results, the difference in body language that Japanese and exchange students use was compared.

2. Japanese Body Language vs. English Body Language
For the present research, ?? examples of Japanese and English body language gestures showing different emotions were chosen from Williams (1998).
Anger or Impatience (Williams, 1998, p. )
The impatient person jiggles his or her leg.
Uses their index finger to drum on a surface.
Commitment
The little finger of both participants is interlocked often the hands are moved up and down. This gesture is usually accompanied by the singing of “Yubikiri Genman”

English body language
Admitting a mistake or apologizing
The index and middle fingers are extended and the thumb is stuck up in order to form an imaginary pistol.
Denial or disagreement
A fist with thumb extended is jabbed sharply downward.
Difference
Invite someone to eat
In America, the right hand holds an imaginary spoon and spoons food into the mouth or a pursed right hand moves towards the mouth two or three times.
In Japan, the right index and middle fingers are extended to indicate chopsticks. The fingers are used to make a circular motion and the palm of the left hand is slightly cupped.

3. Questionnaire
Make a video to have a questionnaire. Exchange students help to make this video. Take a video to use my iphone. Have a questionnaire for Japanese students and exchange students each 10 students. The content of the questionnaire is answered the mean of 12 gesture on the videos.
4. Results
For Gesture 1, all of the Japanese students answered that it meant “come”. However the some exchange students answered antithetical mean. For Gesture 2, almost students answered that it meant “OK”. But some students answered that it meat “money”. Only Japanese and Korean answered like that. For Gesture 3, Almost students answered that it meant “Good”. But some students answered that it meant “boyfriend”. Only Japanese and Korean answered it meant like that. In Korea, this gesture means quite a compliment. For Gesture 4, Almost students answered that it meant “girlfriend”. However all Westerner don’t know this gesture’s mean. And some Japanese answered that it meant “yubikiri”. “yubikiri” is a type of promise and unique culture. For Gesture 5, Japanese students answered that it meant is good image. However, in exchange students answered that it meat is bad image. Especially, in Korea, this gesture is suggestive gesture. For Gesture 6, almost students answered that it meant “Sad” or “Apologize”. But some students answered antithetical mean. For Gesture 7, Almost exchange students answered that it meant “drink”. However, Almost Japanese students answered different mean. Because if Japanese convey this mean with gesture, do like holding a cop. For Gesture 8, almost Japanese students answered that it meant “Binbo yusuri”. This is traditional Japanese word. Almost exchange students answered same mean or closely meaning. For Gesture 9, Almost Japanese students answered that it meant “Get angry”. However, all Westerner answered different mean. For Gesture 10, Almost students answered that it meant “Peace” or “two”. For Gesture 11, almost students answered that it meant “talking “or similar mean. However, some Japanese students use this gesture in the way of greeting. For Gesture 12, all Japanese students and almost exchange students answered that it meant “All right!!” However, this gesture mean “penalty” in Korea. Because, if do wrong when elementary school in Korea, have to heave a chair for penalty.
This gesture is similar to that.



5. Conclusion　
Finally, research about difference of body language between Japanese and foreign country people. Make a questionnaire to research body language and have a questionnaire. As a result, get a lot of things about body language. First, body language is formed by daily motion. Second, the same body language is not same mean among different country. Some body language is answered antithetical mean between Japanese and other country. Third, body language means are closely resemble between countries near each other. This paper should have a questionnaire more people. For example, number of people and kind of country. Also think about body language and take a look at some examples of body language easy to understand. After that, choose the best wisely. If do this thing, these result are change and find more interesting result. The interesting thing in this paper is that there are two different countries involved the ways of minding are bound to be different. Therefore, we should understand each other better. If will continue this research, should do two things. First, have a questionnaire more. More number of people and more kind of people. Second, think about body language which can get more interesting result.

7. Bibliography
Williams, Stephen N.(1998) The Illustrated Handbook of American and Japanese Gestures. Koudansha International Ltd.

Body Language. (2011, March 19). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 3, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_language
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