跨文化交际答案

Unit 1 Communication Across Culture

Translation

纵观历史，我们可以清楚地看到，人们由于彼此所处地域、意识形态、容貌服饰和行为

举止上存在的差异，而长久无法互相理解、无法和睦相处。在这种情况下，跨文化交际作为

一个特定的研究领域得以形成和发展。值得注意的是，人类文明在发展过程中所遭受的许多

挫折，既是个人的，又是全球性的；人类历史进程总是充满了个人间的直接冲突和民族间的

误解——从骂骂咧咧到孤立主义直至到武装冲突，大大小小争端不绝。

很显然，文化间以及亚文化间的交往比以前多了，这迫切要求我们共同努力，去理解有

着不同信仰和文化背景的人们，并与之和睦相处。通过加深认识和理解，我们能够与生活方

式、价值观念不同的人们和平共处；这不但有益于我们周遭环境的安定，也是维护世界和平

的决定性因素。

Case Study

Case 1

In this case, there seemed to be problems in communicating with people of different cultures in

spite of the efforts made to achieve understanding.

We should know that in Egypt as in many cultures, the human relationship is valued so highly

that it is not expressed in an objective and impersonal way. While Americans certainly value human

relationships, they are more likely to speak of them in less personal, more objective terms. In this

case, Richard„s mistake might be that he chose to praise the food itself rather than the total evening,

for which the food was simply the setting or excuse. For his host and hostess it was as if he had

attended an art exhibit and complimented the artist by saying, ―What beautiful frames your pictures

are in.‖

In Japan the situation may be more complicated. Japanese people value order and harmony

among persons in a group, and that the organization itself－be it a family or a vast corporation－is

more valued than the characteristics of any particular member. In contrast, Americans stress

individuality as a value and are apt to assert individual differences when they seem justifiably in

conflict with the goals or values of the group. In this case: Richard„s mistake was in making great

efforts to defend himself. Let the others assume that the errors were not intentional, but it is not right

to defend yourself, even when your unstated intent is to assist the group by warning others of similar

mistakes. A simple apology and acceptance of the blame would have been appropriate. But for poor

Richard to have merely apologized would have seemed to him to be subservient, unmanly.

When it comes to England, we expect fewer problems between Americans and Englishmen

than between Americans and almost any other group. In this case we might look beyond the gesture

of taking sugar or cream to the values expressed in this gesture: for Americans, ―Help yourself‖; for

the English counterpart, ―Be my guest.‖ American and English people equally enjoy entertaining and

being entertained but they differ somewhat in the value of the distinction. Typically, the ideal guest

at an American party is one who ―makes himself at home,‖ even to the point of answering the door

or fixing his own drink. For persons in many other societies, including at least this hypothetical

English host, such guest behavior is presumptuous or rude.

Case 2

A common cultural misunderstanding in classes involves conflicts between what is said to be

direct communication style and indirect communication style. In American culture, people tend to

say what is on their minds and to mean what they say. Therefore, students in class are expected to

ask questions when they need clarification. Mexican culture shares this preference of style with

American culture in some situations, and that„s why the students from Mexico readily adopted the

techniques of asking questions in class. However, Korean people generally prefer indirect

communication style, and therefore they tend to not say what is on their minds and to rely more on

implications and inference, so as to be polite and respectful and avoid losing face through any

improper verbal behavior. As is mentioned in the case, to many Koreans, numerous questions would

show a disrespect for the teacher, and would also reflect that the student has not studied hard enough.

Case 3

The conflict here is a difference in cultural values and beliefs. In the beginning, Mary didn„t

realize that her Dominican sister saw her as a member of the family, literally. In the Dominican view,

family possessions are shared by everyone of the family. Luz was acting as most Dominican sisters

would do in borrowing without asking every time. Once Mary understood that there was a different way of looking at this, she would become more accepting. However, she might still experience the

same frustration when this happened again. She had to find ways to cope with her own emotional

cultural reaction as well as her practical problem (the batteries running out).

Case 4

It might be simply a question of different rhythms. Americans have one rhythm in their personal

and family relations, in their friendliness and their charities. People from other cultures have

different rhythms. The American rhythm is fast. It is characterized by a rapid acceptance of others.

However, it is seldom that Americans engage themselves entirely in a friendship. Their friendships