How can I translate “非语言表达方式”?

Question

This is an example sentence from my textbook:

除了学习用语言表达自己的思想感情以外，还要学习用非语言表达方式。

Here "非" has the meaning "not" or "non-".

I would translate it to something like:

Aside from studying using language to express your deep philosophical thoughts and emotions, you also must study non-language methods of expression.

I'm having trouble wrapping my mind around what is meant by "non-language methods of expression".

At first, I thought this might be referring to gestures, but gestures are also a kind of language, namely body language or "肢体语言".

What is meant by a non-language method of expression?

Answer 1

Your understanding is right.

"非语言表达方式" means expressing things without using language, here the word "language" means just spoken and written language, gestures are not considered as "language" here although they can be refereed to as "肢体语言".

The reason is that you need to understand the word "language" here by context. The word "language" from the first half of the sentence means spoken and written language, e.g. Chinese here, so it still means that in the second half of the sentence.

Actually, the reason we Chinese sometimes call gestures "肢体语言" is that it serves the purpose of expressing thoughts and emotions, just like what we can do with the "real language".

There are other similar phrases like "艺术语言", which means the way of expressing by practice of art.

Hope this helps :)

Answer 2

I would not translate 语言 as language here at all. It sounds forced. Study is also a bad choice of word here. In fact, the whole English sentence sounds unnatural to me.

Aside from learning to use words to express one's thoughts and feelings, one must also learn to express oneself without using words.

• Words here may refer only to spoken words, but you could also interpret it as both written and spoken.
• Also, when used before a verb like in your example, sounds very awkward to me. It's best to move it immediately after the auxiliary verb.
• 非语言 refers to everything other than using words: body language, music, art, morse code or whatever method of communication or expression you can think of that doesn't involve using words.

Answer 3

I agree with @fefe who posted his/her answer as a comment.

非语言方式 is non-verbal ways, which include 肢体语言 (body language), 面部表情 (facial expressions), etc.

The book might be encouraging you to explore the cultural differences and social cues. For example, shaking your head in China means "no." Typically, European and some American men pull out chairs for their female guests/partners -- that's something Chinese people should know if they are serious about learning English.

And 思想感情 is not necessarily "deep philosophical thoughts and emotions." I think you can see it more like a 成语 (idiom) that means "thoughts and emotions."