讨论题
1、在你的日常活动中哪些是比较典型的跨文化交际？ 2、你认为强调个人之间的文化差异有什么利弊？
3、我国的地区文化差异是否可以作为跨文化交际研究的重要方面？ 4、跨文化交际学为什么产生在美国？
5、在我国为什么是一批外语教师首先对于跨文化交际学感兴趣？ 6、跨文化交际学主要和哪些学科有密切的关系？为什么？ 跨文化交际学为什么没有大家一致接受的理论框架和研究方 法？
7、为什么文化会有这么多不同的定义？
8、你认为哪几个定义对于你了解文化的内涵有帮助？ 9、文化具有哪些特点？认识这些特点对我们有什么意义？ 为什么文化是跨文化交际研究的核心？你同意这个说法吗？ 10、在汉语中“交际”与“传播”的词义有何异同？ 11、为什么人类不能没有传播？ 12、传播在人类历史上起了什么作用？
13华”在汉语中的文化内涵与bull在英语中的文化内涵有何异同？ 14、在语用规则方面你能否举例说明英语与汉语的某些差异？
15、在语篇结构方面除了本章所讲的以外你认为英美人与中美人之间还有什么差异？
16、如果比较语言交际和非语言交际，你认为哪个更重要？为什么？ 17、在非语言交际的各种手段中，你认为哪一种最容易引起误解？ 18、非语言交际是否一成不变？你能否举出例子说明它的变化？ 19、为什么在汉语的见面语中有许多是与当时情景相联系的提问？
20、为什么在我国文化中如此重视谦虚？在改革开放的二十年中在这方面有无变化？
21、为什么我国在许多地方有送重礼的习俗？近年来有无变化？ 22、中国传统的“五伦”在现代的社会中有什么改变？
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23、为什么在我国的单位在过去很长一段时间里“无所不包”？有什么益处和缺陷？
24、中国人和美国人在对待友谊的态度上有什么异同？试举例说明。
25、Guy和Mattock认为文化背景对于公司的特点以及谈判方式等具有很大的影响，你同意这种论断吗？
26、在你的朋友中有没有在外企工作的？他们感到最不适应的是什么？ 27、外商在我国开公司办企业，他们的主要抱怨是什么？你有所了解吗？你对于这些问题作何解释？
28、价值观是如何形成的？试举例说明。 29、价值观与社会习俗比较，哪一个更难改变？ 30、价值观在什么条件下更容易改变？试举例说明。 31、人们为什么常常会期望其他民族与自己一样？
32、请用英语释义的词典查以下几个词并说明它们有什么区别：
generalization categorization stereotype
33、我们当中有哪些刻板印象是比较典型的？试举例。
34、在和其他国家的人士接触的过程中，你感到最难适应的是什么？ 35、不同年龄段的人在对异文化的适应方面是否有区别？你认为原因何在？ 36、除了书中所列的跨文化训练的各种方法以外，你还有什么其它建议？ 37、How do you think culture and communication are related? 38、What are the barriers you experienced in intercultural communication? And how did you handle them? 39、 Work in groups to decide which of the following belong to overt culture and which to covert:
A. What and how people eat B. How to keep healthy C. How to raise children D. How to do business E. How to use time
F. How to introduce people
G. How to participate in ceremonies
H. Rules for facial expressions and eye contact
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I. Rituals J. Etiquette K. Work speed
L. What is right or wrong, beautiful or ugly, clean or dirty, good or bad, etc.
M. Theories of disease, sin, death, god or gods, sanity, self, etc. 40、 Can you add more to the above list? Which of them do you think are more likely to cause problems in intercultural communication? And why do you think they are?
41、 Study the following two versions of the same spoken discourse presented in a business meeting between a Hong Kong Chinese and an Anglo—North American businessman. Decide in small groups, which one might be given by a Chinese and which by an American. Why？
42、 We know that Westerners tend to distinguish mind from body, people from nature, and God from humankind, while Chinese are used to looking at the world as a whole unit. Now compare the Western Medicine and the traditional Chinese Medicine. Are there any differences? Do the differences reflect to some extent different world views? If yes, try to name these two world views.
43、In China we address a stranger with an advanced age ‚Grandpa‛ or ‚Grandma‛. Why do we do so since that stranger is not connected to us by blood? How does this sound to an English ear?
44、Chinese routinely use many position-linked or occupation-linked titles to address people, such as王经理, 马局长, 张主任, 李医生, etc. Discuss why? Do Americans have similar customs?
45、Find as many expressions and proverbs as possible relating to time in English and Chinese respectively. Examples are: ‚Time is money.‛ ‚Bu zhaoji, manman lai ‛(不着急，慢慢来). Then sum up and compare their attitudes towards time
案例分析
1.Two men meet on a plane from Tokyo to Hong Kong. Chu Hon-fei is a Hong Kong exporter who is returning from a business trip to Japan. Andrew Richardson is an American buyer on his first business trip to Hong Kong. It Is a convenient meeting for them because Mr. Chu’s company sells some of the products Mr. Richardson has some to Hong Kong to buy. After a bit of conversation they introduce themselves to each other.
Mr. Richardson: By the way, I’m Andrew Richardson. My friends call me Andy. This is my business card.
Mr. Chu: I’m David Chu. Pleased to meet you, Mr. Richardson. This is my card.
Mr. Richardson: No, no. Call me Andy. I think we’ll be doing a lot of business together.
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Mr. Chu: Yes, I hope so.
Mr. Richardson (reading Mr. Chu’s card ) : Chu, Hon-fei. Hon-fei, I’ll give you a call tomorrow as soon as I get settled at my hotel.
Mr Chu (smiling): Yes, I’ll expect your call. When these two men separate, they leave each other with very different impressions of the situation. Mr. Richardson is very pleased to have made the acquaintance of Mr. Chu and feels they have gotten off to a very good start. They have established their relationship on a first-name basis and Mr. Chu’s smile seems to indicate that he will be friendly and easy to do business with. Mr. Richardson is very particularly pleased that he has treated Mr. Chu with respect for his Chinese background by calling him Hon-fei rather than using the western name, David, which seems to him an unnecessary imposition of western culture.
In contrast, Mr. Chu feels quite uncomfortable with Mr. Richardson. He feels it will be difficult to work with him, and that Mr. Richardson might be rather insensitive to cultural differences. He is particularly bothered that Mr. Richardson used his given name, Hon-fei, instead of either David or Mr. Chu.
How do you account for their different impressions? Does culture play a role in the communication between these two men?
2.During the American Civil War, a very hungry young man fell down in front of a farm gate. The farmer gave him food but in return he asked the young man to move a pile of wood in his yard—in fact it was not at all necessary to move the wood back to its original place. Seeing all this, farmer’s son was confused.
1). Why did the farmer do that?
2). What values are reflected in this story?
3. Dear Mary,
We work in the typing pool of a large London store and are very concerned for the welfare of one of our young colleagues.
She is only 19, unmarried, and has become very friendly with a young man who works in one of the departments of the store. He pops into the typing pool to see her and there. We know that he is engaged to a girl who lives near him.
We feel for the protection of the girl, that we should complain to the general manager. But we wouldn’t like anybody to get the sack. Four Worried Typists
The answer from the columnist:
My advice is simple: Mind your own business. The girl is old enough to know what she is doing.
1) What value can we see behind the letter and answer?
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4.As a foreign student at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Keiko Ihara was on a strict budget. She had all her tuition and books paid for by scholarships and grants and until recently was comfortably housed in the dormitory, she found a small apartment to share with a friend. Her college friends, knowing of her situation, offered to round up some of the necessary items for apartment living. Keiko politely declined, saying she could manage. Wanting to help out her friends found some old but still usable household appliances and furniture. Mary had an old desk that was in her garage. Ed had some chairs from his uncle, and Joe and Marion had a few extra dishes. They cheerfully brought them over one day. Keiko seemed very embarrassed, but gracefully accepted them, sincerely and profusely thanked them.
The following week they were each presented with a gift from Keiko. Mary got an ornate jewelry box, Ed a volume of woodcuts by a famous Japanese artist, and Joe and Marion a beautiful Japanese case, all of which were of considerable worth and value, much more than the old things they had donated to her. They all protested that she could not afford to give such elaborate gifts; they really expected nothing as the household items were not really being used and they would rather have her use them. Keiko, however, insisted that they take the gifts. In the end, they accepted the gifts, although they all felt uncomfortable as they knew she was really sacrificing to give them.
1) What do you think of Keiko insisting on giving valuable gifts to her college friends?
2) How would you feel if Keiko presented you with a gift for your help?
5.Environments significantly influence one’s cognition, effect, and behavior. One feels the impact of the different culture especially when one comes into a foreign country. Shen-Lan, who is from Taiwan, was satisfied for her first twenty-five years of life because she was surrounded by the people who have loved her and whom she has loved. Her friends used to ask her why she looked very happy all time. Even though her parents limited her behavior or activities because of social bias, she accepted those controls because she understood her parents really loved her. Also, her parents did everything for her, such as taking care of her, cooking for her and making decisions for her. She complied with what her parents expected. She had never left home before she came to America. When she came to America, culture shock obviously influenced her self-concept, self-esteem, and self-presentation.
In Chinese culture, she was taught to be interdependent. She had to care not only about herself but also about the people who were around her, for example parents, siblings, and friends, even neighbors. However, in
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American society, she noticed that everyone was very independent, and minded his or her own business, and nobody cared about one another. Because she did not want to get hurt, she knew that she had to make some changes. In her self-concept, she changed her interdependent view to an independent view.
Using a different language, the major reason for culture shock, really injured her self-esteem. Shen-Lan graduated from a well-known university in Taiwan, and she felt proud of that. When she came to America, she was supposed to be good at English, but she was not. After this realization, she tried to study hard in English to match her standards. However, she had studied English for one year, yet she did not improve greatly. She lacked self-confidence to speak English, so her self-esteem decreased.
The change in self-concept and self-esteem was reflected in her self-presentation. Because Shen-Lan wanted to become independent, and she was afraid that she disturbed others with her personal problems, so she began to isolate herself. For English, she did not give up because of her high goal to meet her own and the expectations of others. She tried to avoid talking to her friends who speak the same language though she felt lonesome. She recognized and learned the new cultural rules and expressed it through a different self-presentation.
The three social self-components of Shen-Lan: self-concept, self-esteem, and self-presentation were influenced by culture shock. Shen-Lan tried to be independent, became aware of her self-esteem, and learned American behavior. Right now, she starts to think about having a pet. Can she become an American woman?
(Source://www.umaine.edu/iei/student_life/1995_web_projects/shu-min_liu/essayshu-min.html)
6. Jose and Jim worked together in a restaurant. They had become friendly because both of them were also studying. Jim was studying business, and Jose was taking English classes and planned to study engineering.
One day, as they were leaving work, Jim asked Jose, ‚Jose, I need a favor. I have to go over to school, and I’m out of money. Could you lend me a dollar so I can take the bus over there and then get home? I’ll pay you back tomorrow.‛
‚Sure, Jim. No problem. You don’t have to pay me back,‛ said Jose, as he handed Jim a dollar.
As soon as he got out to work the next day, Jim went over to Jose and handed him a dollar, saying, ‚ Thanks, Jose. I really appreciated this last night. It sure was too cold to walk.‛
‚Forget it,‛ said Jose, as he handed Jim back his dollar.
‚Oh, no, I insist. I don’t want to take advantage of a friend. What if I need to borrow money again sometime? If I didn’t pay you back now, I would feel wrong asking to borrow money again,‛ said Jim, as he put
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the dollar into Jose’s shirt pocket.
Jose answered, ‚But that’s what friends are for. In Spanish, We have a saying, ‘today for you, tomorrow for me.’ If you pay me back, I will feel that I won’t be able to ask you for money when I need it. I will feel like you are closing the door on me, that there is no trust between us. I thought we were friends. How can I take the money?‛ Jose handed back the dollar.
‚But I won’t feel right if you don’t take it!‛ said Jim. 1）Why did Jim insist on returning the dollar to Jose? 2）Why did Jose not want to take it?
3）Do you think that their attitudes are cultural? 7． Rosa (Mexican--American) and Annie (American) shared a small dormitory room at a university. They liked each other very much and got along well until a problem came up
One day, Rosa told Annie, ‚My second cousin wants to come and see the university. She might want to go to school here next year. Do you mind if she stays with us while she visits?‛
‚Gee, it’s pretty crowded with just the two of us. Where’s she going to sleep?‛
‚Oh, that’s no problem. She can sleep in my bed, with me.‛ ‚Well, okay, ‛said Annie. ‚It’s up to you.‛
‚Great! ‛ answered Rosa. ‚She’s coming tomorrow.‛
Two weeks later, the cousin was still with them. Since she did not bring enough money, Rosa paid for her meal. Rosa missed many of her classes so that she could help her cousin find her way around.
Rosa never complained about any of this to Annie, but Annie decided to speak to her friend.
‚Rosa,‛ she said. ‚I know it’s none of my business. But I don’t like to see you being treated this way. It’s not fair of your cousin to take advantage of you, using your time and your money like this. And how do you ever get any sleep, anyway? I think you should tell her you have your own life to live. After all, she’s only your second cousin.‛
Rosa was surprised. She answered, ‚Oh, the bed doesn’t bother me! It reminds me of sleeping with my sister as a child. You’re right, though, about my schoolwork. I know I’m missing too many classes. But family comes first. I just couldn’t leave my cousin here by herself. ‛
Even after their conversation, Annie still could not understand her friend. Before her cousin arrived, Rosa had always seemed like such an independent, responsible person, who never missed a class. Annie just could not understand why she had changed. 1）Why was Annie confused?
2）Why did Rosa continue to help her cousin?
3）Do you think Rosa’s and Annie’s ideas are typical of their culture?
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8.Kevin was leaving work one Friday, when he stopped to talk t Blanca, a new worker. On Wednesday, they had talked at lunch. She had told him that she had just come from the Dominican Republic two months before. Kevin liked her.
‚So, Blanca, what are your plans for the weekend?‛ asked Kevin. ‚Oh, hi. Kevin,‛ Blanca smiled. ‚I have to go shopping with my cousin for a winter coat.‛
‚Tonight some of us from work are going out to a place called ‘The Blue Hat’ for beers and something to eat. Would you like to come? I could pick you up at eight if you tell me where you live.‛
‚Okay, Kevin. That sounds nice. I hope it’s O.K. if I bring my little sister along.‛
‚As your chaperone ? ‛ laughed Kevin, making a joke.
‚That’s right,‛ said Blanca. ‚I guess you know something about the Dominican culture. It’s the only way my parents will let me go.‛
‚Are you serious?‛ Kevin stared at her. ‚Well, I’ll be there at eight.‛
When Kevin, Blanca, and her sister arrived at ‚The Blue Hat ‛, they sat down with Kevin’s friends, who were already eating. A waiter came and asked, ‚What would you like to have? And shall I put this all on one check or will you all pay separately?‛
‚Separate checks, please,‛ answered Kevin. ‚I’ll have a hamburger and French fries and a beer, please. Blanca?‛
Blanca opened her purse under the table. Then she whispered something to her sister in Spanish. She looked at the waiter and said, ‚My sister and I aren’t hungry. A coke and a beer, please.‛ 1）Why did Blanca bring along her little sister? 2）Why was Kevin surprised?
3）Why did Kevin say, ‚Separate checks, please‛?
9. Katherine came to Beijing in 1998 and found a job as an English teacher in a foreign language institute. Soon after her classes began, she found that her students showed no interest in her teaching and quite a few of them avoided to ask the Director, Prof. Wang, for help. One day, she came to the Director and told him that she would like to talk to him about her problem. The director looked at his timetable and asked if they could meet at ten o’clock on Thursday morning and she agreed.
On Thursday she arrived at the Director’s office at the exact time of their appointment when she found that Prof. Wang was talking with another teacher in Chinese. Seeing that she had come, Prof. Wang smiled to gesture a seat and asked her to sit down. She got herself seated, and the professor excused himself and carried on the talk with the teacher. About five minutes later, he concluded his talk and made a profound apology
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before he began to talk with Katherine. The Director showed great concern and asked her what the problems was. Just as she was specifying her problem, another Chinese teacher came in, with a form that apparently needed signature of the Director. The Director smiled an apology to Katherine again and turned to talk with that teacher, also in Chinese. Katherine became impatient, wondering why their talk should be interrupted since they had already made an appointment. She was so upset and got choked by their talking in Chinese in front of her that she became quite angry. Although their talk continued, she was apparently unhappy about what had happened.
1). How can you explain the Director’s behavior to Katherine?
2). According to Katherine, what kind of rules did the Director violate in their communication?
10. Read the following passage and think about the questions.
A Canadian colleague and I traveled to Guilin with our admirable guide Heping Liu in very hot weather. Sight-seeing is thirsty business, we did not trust the water, and delighted in the excellent beer which we politely offered Heping. Heping refused, we said nothing and drank our beer, while poor Heping watched. One day Heping must have been desperate because he accepted the first offer. Only when I saw that Heping in fact liked beer very much did it then occur to me to ask him whether maybe in Chinese it was not polite to accept a first offer.
Indeed, it is not and Heping was being modest, polite and well behaved and had every intention of accepting the beer at the second or third offer. But Heping had not figured on North American rules which firmly say that you do not push alcoholic beverages on anyone. A person may not drink for religious reasons, he may be a reformed alcoholic, he may be allergic. Whatever the reason behind the rule, you do not insist on offering alcohol. So unconscious and so strong are our communication rules that we equally politely never made a second offer of beer to Heping who probably thought North Americans most uncouth.
1) To avoid intercultural misunderstanding, do you think the Chinese guide should not have refused the first offer? And why or why not? 2) If you were to offer or be offered something, how would you behave? Would you behave in the Chinese way or the American way? And why?
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