Animals, including insects, do not have a language like ours. They do not talk to each other in words and sentences. But if we watch them, we can see that they do have ways of communicating with each other.

Can you see the rabbit's tail which is moving up and down? When rabbits see this white tail moving up and down, they run too. They know that there is danger. The rabbit has told them something without making a sound. It has done this by using its body language.

Many other animals use this kind of language. When a cobra is angry, it raises its hood and makes itself look fierce. This warns other animals. When a bee has found some food, it goes back to its home. It cannot tell the other bees where the food is by speaking to them, but it does a little dance in the air. This tells the bees where the food is.

Some animals say things by making sounds.  A dog barks, for example, when a stranger comes near. A cat purrs when pleased. Some birds make several different sounds, each with its own meaning. Sometimes we human beings speak in the same way. We make sounds like “Oh” or “Ah!” when we are frightened or pleased or when we drop something on our toes.

But we have something that no animals have—a large number of words that have the meanings of things, actions, feelings or ideas. We are able to give each other all kinds of different information in words and sentences, which no other animals can do. No other animals  have so wonderful a language as we have.

Body language is used by people for sending messages to one another. It is very useful because it can help you make yourself easily understood. When you are talking with others, you are not just using words, but also using body languages. 【小题1】 A smile and handshake show welcome, and clapping hands means congratulations. These are accepted both by Chinese and foreigners as having the same meanings.

【小题2】 For example, men in Russia, France and Arab countries kiss each other when they meet, but men in China or Australia shake hands instead of kissing. People in Puerto Rico like touching each other, but people from English speaking countries do not touch each other. 【小题3】In some Asian countries, you must not touch the head of another person. People in Arab countries like standing close to one another when they are talking. 【小题4】 In Arab countries, you eat with the fingers of your right hand; the left hand is not used at all. In parts of Asia you must not sit with your feet pointing at another person.

When you use a foreign language, it is very important to know the meanings of body languages in the foreign country. Following this will help you live and work better with foreign people.