摘 要
空间关系学是人类学的一个分支，研究空间利用及支配空间利用的规则。爱德华·霍尔是这一领域研究与理论的先驱。空间关系学是人们如何运用空间进行交流，霍尔在他的著作《无声的语言》中指出我们的周围空间有4个区域，并且在交流中都有不同的意义。对个人空间的解释随着文化的不同而不同，这四种距离分别是亲密距离，个人距离，社交距离和公众距离。霍尔通过实验观察的方法得出了西方世界人际交际的空间距离，也有诸多学者与专家对霍尔的空间关系进行了相关的文化背景和历史原因的分析与研究。而中国作为世界第一人口大国，仍缺乏在人际空间距离方面的数据研究及分析，本篇文章将在利用观察法得出相关数据的基础上，致力于对比中西方的人际交际的空间距离的异同点，并利用霍夫斯泰德的文化维度理论对差异点的文化背景及原因进行分析，随着经济全球化的进一步深化和扩展，中西交流越来越密切，明确中西方的人际交际的空间距离差异并分析其文化原因，对中西交流有一定的参考价值和意义。
关键词：空间关系学 中西比较 文化背景 Abstract
Proxemics is a branch of anthropology that studies the rules for the use of space and how to make use of the space. Edward Hall is a pioneer in researching the proxemics. Proxemics is how people use space to communicate. Hall pointed out that our surrounding space has four areas and has different meanings in communication in his book The Si. The interpretation of personal space varies from culture to culture. The
four distances are intimate distance, individual distance, social distance and publicdistance. Hall's method of experimental observation has drawn the spatial distance of interpersonal communication in the western world. There are also many scholars and experts who have conducted relevant cultural background and historical reasons of Hall's spatial relations. China, as the world’s most populous country, still lacks data research and analysis on the distance between people. This article will use the
observation method to draw relevant data and strive to compare the spatial distance between Chinese and Western peoples. The similarities and differences, and the use of Hofstede's cultural dimension
theory to analyze the cultural background of the differences and the causes, with the further deepening and expansion of economic globalization, China and the West have become more and more close, clear the Chinese and Western interpersonal communication The difference in spatial distance and analysis of its cultural reasons have certain reference value and significance for the exchange between China and the West.
Keywords: Proxemics Chinese and Western comparisons Cultural background Chapter1 Introduction
Chapter 1 makes a brief introduction to the background, objectives, significance and structure of this study. Background of the study
There has been some research results relating to the space or distance and some studies about the cultural theory relating the space or spacial differences. Some of the them are about the spacial communication theory of Hall, which mainly reflects American spacial communication culture, because the theory is based on the American action. Moreover, some of studies focus on studying Chinese spacial
communication culture. And some thesis compare the difference between the Chinese communication culture and American communication culture. However, obviously, the theory of Hall do not apply to study the Chinese situation totally. Hall studied the spacial distance in the 1970s. And he classified it into four kinds, social distance, public distance, personal distance and intimate distance. The theory reflects the American attitude to the communication. While Chinese attitude to distance in communication maybe not applies to the theory. Though comparing Chinese distance and American distance, based on space communication distance theory of hall, we can understand the Chinese spacial communication culture. Hall’s theory can be applied to analyze Chinese spacial communication culture, because there are some same and different points between Chinese spacial communication culture and American spacial communication culture. Based on the spacial distance theory of Hall, which aims at researching American spacial distance communication, the paper studies Chinese spacial communication culture. Through the comparison, we can know that what is the Chinese spacial communication culture, why the
Chinese spacial communication culture shows these characters. The research result of this paper can provide some reference for studying Chinese culture. 1.2 Objectives of the study
This paper mainly focuses on the study of the spatial communication distance of Chinese people from a cultural perspective. In the study of the spatial
communication distance of the western world, Hall's space distance theory is used, but this theory is not entirely applicable to the situation under the Chinese cultural background. This thesis mainly compares the four aspects of Hall's spatial distance. They are the public distance, social distance, personal distance, and intimate
distance. This paper will also study the spatial communication distance of Chinese people from these four aspects.（Public distance generally refers to the distance between the speaker and the listener; social distance reflects the more formal
relationship between social and etiquette, which is the distance between the general working environment and social gathering; Personal distance: this is The space for acquaintances to communicate, and if strangers enter this distance, they will invade each other.Intimate distance: If two people can achieve this distance, the opposite sex is the lover, the lover, and the same sex is the best friend.）The research of the data mainly focuses on the cultural factors of the data, explores the data of the Chinese people's spatial communication distance, and analyzes the Chinese space culture is the main content of this paper.
The main problems to be solved in this study:
(1) What is the specific data of the spatial communication distance in Chinese? (2)
(3) What are the cultural differences
reflected in the similarities and differences of spatialcommunication between Chinese and the West?
1.3 Significance of the research
The reason for the cultural study of the Chinese communicative distance is the lack of relevant data support and the lack of systematic research on this issue. The
characteristics of the Chinese communicative distance can reflect the corresponding national characteristics. The study of this issue from the perspective of culture is conducive to a better understanding of our own culture, and the study of distance in space is also conducive to guiding us to better deal with interpersonal relationships. Theory can both reflect practice and guide practice. The theory of studying the
spatial communication distance of Chinese people from a cultural perspective in this
research can both give us a clearer understanding of China’s space culture and also that of us and others. In the process of getting along to play a guiding role. 1.4 Structure of the Paper
This paper is composed of five chapters.
Chapter 1 makes a brief introduction to the background, objectives, significance, and structure of this study. Chapter 2 provides a brief review of the previous studies on the studies on proxemics and the communication distance. Chapter 3 will introduce the research design of this study. Chapter 4 will discuss and introduce the research process and analyze the relating background and cultural reason and compare the Chinese and the West. Chapter 5 is a conclusion of the study and discussion on major findings, limitations of this paper and suggestions for further study. Chapter 2 Literature Review
There has been some research results relating to the space or distance and some studies about the cultural theory relating the space or spacial differences. Some of the them are about the spacial communication theory of Hall, which mainly reflects American spacial communication culture, because the theory is based on the American action. Moreover, some of studies focus on studying Chinese spacial communication culture. And some thesis compare the difference between the Chinese communication culture and American communication culture. However, obviously, the theory of Hall do not apply to study the Chinese situation totally. 2.1 Some previous studies about communicative distance
Edward Hall（1956） is an American cultural anthropologist. He put forward to four kinds of spacial communication distance in his Silent Language: First, Public distance can reach 360cm far. Second, social distance is from about 120cm to 360cm. Third, personal distance is from 45cm to 120cm. You can reach out to each other, although there is no special relationship. Fourth, intimate distance is from 45cm to zero distance. (Usually a loved one, a good friend, a couple or a couple).
Wang Jun（1998） studies the international communication through the body
distance theory. His paper studies and finds that Americans have a strong sense of personal secrets, so that Americans have a strong sense of space,while due to
historical and cultural reasons, Chinese people generally have strong ability to share geographical space, So rarely realize that space is also an inviolable property to Americans. Though the paper of Wang is not related to the theory of Hall, it pays more attention to the study of the difference between the Chinese spacial culture
and American spacial culture. It lacks of strong theory to prove the view in the paper. Wei Ting (2009) also studies the body distance, she refers that the spacial distance can “speak”. The paper of her comes to \verbal communication. However, \conversations were conducted non-verbally and only 7% were verbal\distance language belongs to a non-verbal communication. ‘Body distance language’ is the message that communicators use the space distance to transmit, so-called interpersonal space or interpersonal distance behavior. Tang Zhuo and Na Yanwu (2013) research the adaptability of communicative distance theory in Chinese cultural context. They use the communication distance theory of Lukens to research the Chinese culture. This paper refers that Lukens put forward the theory and Gudykunst, an American scholar reanalysed and defined this theory. Tang and Na (2013) make use of the theory to study American scholar Lukens, proposed in 1978. In 1984, American scholar Gudykunst re-analyzed Lukens's theory and made a new explanation of it, and proposed five levels of communication distance. The purpose
of Tang and Na’s study is to: (1) test the validity and applicability of communicative distance theory in Chinese cultural context; (2) reveal the ethnocentrism and cultural relativistic psychology of current foreign language learning and users in China. The results show that Gudykunst's five communicative classes do have a certain
theoretical significance in theory and are quite effective in Chinese cultural context. Most of the subjects have negative ethnocentrism's negative thoughts and effects opposition, more recognition of cultural relativism. Eligibility scores for foreign
language learning are higher than for those with short learning time, and the longer the score, the higher the score. Wang Lu (2004) studied that this article mainly
elaborates the cultural differences between East and West spatial languages and the various problems that arise in cross-cultural communication from the aspects of
office and family room arrangements, personal space, attitude towards overcrowding and the different reactions to cultural expectation in communication. The deep reason for the difference is to make the reader aware of the importance of
understanding spatial language in intercultural communication. That paper mainly studied three parts of differences between Chinese spacial communication culture and American spacial communication culture, including cultural differences between office and family room arrangements, cultural differences in personal space and
cultural differences in the attitude of overcrowding. And these differences reflect the Chinese cultural character. The paper of Wang do not give a final conclusion, but the research result is available.
2.2 Some previous studies about communicative culture
Hall (1976) also studied the intercultural difference in his Beyond Culture. Bai Su and Yuan Jinyue (2013) studied and found that under the current situation of global integration, cross-cultural communication shows great vitality and plays an active role in the integration and development of oriental culture and western culture.
Spatial language is an important part of non-verbal communication in the process of intercultural communication. Different interpretations of the extension and intension of spatial language in different cultures show the great tension of spatial language. From the cross-cultural perspective, this article analyzes the pragmatic tension of spatial language in different cultural contexts and reflects the diversity of world cultures. And the paper of Bai and Yuan (2013) comes to a conclusion that Spatial language is an important part of interpersonal communication in nonverbal
communication. How we should approach others and how far we should be with others have a direct bearing on the emotional state of both communicators. Edward Hall, the American anthropologist, first systematically discussed the theory of spatial language in the 1959 sensational novel Silent Language, which is considered as the foundation of intercultural communication. The book introduces the proposition that \demonstrating the significance of spatial language and the spatial relationship of human beings. He divides the space into three types: \made up of fixed wall columns and objects, such as a room; semi-fixed space, a space made up of larger objects, such as desks and chairs; and informal space where people interact with others Therefore, the non-verbal meaning of spatial
language is mainly reflected from the field-wide social relations, the intimacy of body distance and the difference in the position of space orientation. Starting from the perspective of interculturalism, this paper analyzes the pragmatic tension of these three parts of space language in different cultural backgrounds. Shi Zhenshu’ s (2005) paper contrast the concept of time and space between different cultures in China and the United States, and find that it is possible to improve cultural awareness and reduce the impact of negative cultural transfer
in communication so as to achieve the goal of successfulcommunication. It refers that there are many factors that affect the differences between China and the United States in space-time. However, the two most important factors are different value systems and cultural backgrounds. They are rooted in our thinking and behavior, affecting our communication. Zhang Lei (2008) studied that In addition to being reflected in the arrangement of offices and meeting seats, differences in spatial orientation may also have different spatial orientations in society due to different cultural values and customs. In Western countries where women preferentially address ceremonies, it is often the case that ladies are the places where people arrange their space. Such as group photo, the ladies stand the front row, men
behind them, officials in the back of the sides. In China, people pay attention to the respect of leaders and elders. Therefore, on the same occasion, the arrangement of locations is quite different from that of the West: leaders or elders are in the middle of the front row, and others are sorted by status, regardless of gender. The difference between Chinese and British cultural orientations actually reflects the difference between the values of the two cultures, that is, the integration and
separation between man and nature, and the difference between group dependence and individual independence. Differences in the orientation of space precisely reflect the cultural differences. A culture advocating group as a whole, one that emphasizes individual independence. The same office location in the Chinese and Westerners seems to convey the meaning will be different. Zhou Xiaodong and Fang fang (2006) refer that the openness of the Greek peninsula and its coastal areas, the maritime geographical environment and the development of the industrial, commercial and maritime industries, the birthplace of Western culture, have caused Greek
philosophers to have a keen interest in astronomy, meteorology, geometry, physics and mathematics, gradually formed a western science to explore the natural sciences. The theme of western philosophy is natural philosophyand philosophy of science, focusing on the exploration and understanding of the universe and nature. Humanism advocates human nature, demands human rights, advocates the
liberation of personality, pays attention to the personality of individuals and groups from the perspective of individuals. Unit and foundation advocate individualism. China's semi-closed continental geography and the small-scale peasant economy nurtured Confucianism. The ancestors, represented by Confucianism, recognized the world not mainly out of curiosity about nature's mysteries but out of concern for the reality of social politics and ethics. Therefore, China pays more attention to
humanism.Xie Lin（1998） refers and find that Asians generally have a stronger ability to share space and we are more Chinese-oriented partners. In buses, elevators and other public places crowded, people rub shoulders, shoulder to shoulder over the scene can be seen everywhere, people are accustomed to this, peace of mind. This situation is intolerable for some western countries. When they are compelled to get too close to other people's bodies, they often immediately say \space. This shows that even in crowded situations, they are aware of their personal areas. Directly linked with the distance of invasion is the distance between people. In general, Westerners are more strictly divided and abide by the contact distance. People in North American countries classify the contact distance, which is
comfortable for both parties, to be about 1.5 meters. In our country, the proper communication distance is generally within easy reach. Arabs, South Americans, French people and so are accustomed to closer contacts, including Arabs are
particularly prominent. Compared with North Americans, British people have longer distances and are at the other extreme. Even if they talk in a more intimate
atmosphere, they want to stand still further. And this is the Latin nation, the Arabs, it
中西人际交际空间距离的对比研究
