单项选择题

TEXT D
Not surprisingly, interaction among peoples of different cultures is often filled with uncertainties and even difficulties. Take the matter of "the language of space", identified by the anthropologist Edward T. Hall. He notes that Arabs tend to get very close to other people, close enough to breathe on them. When Arabs do not breathe on a person, it means that they are ashamed. But Americans insist on staying outside the range of other people’s breath, viewing the odour as distasteful. Arabs ask, "Why are Americans so ashamed They withhold their breath. "Americans on the receiving end wonder, "Why are the Arabs so pushy" Americans typically back away as an Arab comes close, and the Arab follows. Such differences can have serious consequences. For example, an Arab business representative may not trust an American who backs off. And the American may distrust the Arab for seeming so pushy.
Culture is a taken-for-granted aspect of life, one we commonly overlook as we go about our daily activities. Yet it touches all aspects of our lives. Alexander Alland, Jr. a sociologist, provides the following description:
I remember watching a blind student several years ago walking across the campus of a large state university. He guided himself with a cane, tapping it against the sidewalk which ran in spokes from building to building. Although he knew the campus well, on that particular occasion he became distracted for a moment and wandered onto the grass, where he immediately lost all sense of direction. His movements became disorganised as he searched hopelessly for a bit of cement. He became visibly panicked until a passing student came up and led him back to the appropriate path. Once again he was able to continue toward his class unaided.
I was struck by the similarities of this situation to the situation of all human beings who have grown up within a particular social environment. Out of an incredibly large number of possible ways of living successfully, all normal human beings operate within a narrow framework of convention. The convention is sometimes limiting and perhaps to certain individuals unsatisfying, but it provides a set of rules which act as guidelines for action.
What does "the language of space" refer to