跨文化交际case参考

Unit 1 Intercultural Communication in the Global Context

Case 1(P11)

1.What do you think are the reasons for young people?s yearning to be a celebrity today?

As humans we naturally measure ourselves to those around us, but now we live in a global village we are comparing ourselves with the most significant people in the world. In the past being a lawyer or doctor was a very reputable profession. But today, even high achievers constantly fear that they are insignificant when they compare themselves to success stories in the media.

2.How can today?s people find their own self-worth and real meaning of life?

The remedyis a process that he calls “active self-acceptance” through a sustained quest（持续探索）for self-knowledge through life. And People need to invest as much time in developing their worldview as their careers.

Case 2

1. Why was the Dutch technology manager so shocked?

The Dutch manager was shocked because he thought he hadn’t told the te am to build it in a certain way, he simply had asked if it could be done! He had never questioned the way in which he communicated to the head of his technology group.

In fact, he thought he had been asking simple questions, almost making idle conversation, and never considered that because he was the boss, his Indian employee would do as he asked. He expected that the technology design team would counter with another recommendation if his idea was inappropriate.

2. How could such misunderstandings in this case be avoided?

Both the Dutch and the Indian teams needed to have a better understanding of the culturally based expectations of each group. Case 3

1. What has modern technology brought about to people today?

Advances in information technology are bringing about changes in contemporary society that pose new situations requiring intercultural communication expertise. Technology has enabled ordinary individuals to quickly organize themselves around a common interes.

2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of modern technology?

Rather than moving the global community toward the single, homogenized culture decried by many globalization opponents, technology is actually providing a means to reaffirm and extend cultural awareness, identity, and practices. Media technology plays an important role in modern society whether it is political, economic or cultural

Case 4

1. Why did Mrs. Nimos hesitate when the Japanese young man asked about her age?

In western countries where privacy is greatly valued, age is something that is considered rather private. Asking about the others’ age, especially in this case on their first meeting, is rather impolite.However, age is an important factor in situat ing a person in the Japanese cultural hierarchy.

2. What is the Ch inese perspective concerning people?s age?

In China, age is important. However, when communicating with family members generation becomes an important factor that overrides age. Even if they have the same age, the one belonging to the younger generation must address the other with the respect accorded to the older generation in the family. If they are the same generation, they can communicate as peers.

Case 5

1. Why did Mr. Richardson leave an impression of insincerity on Mr. Wong?

“We must get together and have lunch sometimes” issignals that the person who says it thinks that the encounter should be ending soon. So it can call a “pre-closing.” While it does contain the vague idea that a subsequent meeting would be desirable, it does not in any way commit the speaker or the hearer to such an arrangement. However, to Mr. Wong, it sounds like an invitation.

2. Do people always mean what they say? Give Examples.

Similarly, “See you later” does not commit someone to a later meeting. It would be very odd if, i n response to this utterance, the hearer were to take out his or her diary and attempt to set a date. Other examples are “How are you” in English and “Have you eaten?” in Chinese, both of them are typical greetings, which do not require the hearer to give specific answers. All of them just serve as lubricants to move the conversation forward.

Case 6

1.Why does Fiona feel exhausted in America and want to return to Australia?

When people come into a new culture, they have to make many small adjustments in a short period of time. Each adjustment causes a little bit of difficulty, but the stress adds up to a point where people become frustrated and begin to complain about their life in the other culture.

2.What do you think Fiona should do to make herself adjusted to her life in American?

However, she should know that this is only a necessary period of culture shock, requiring her to make some adjustment. She is likely to have experienced some cultural differences and will be more willing to take them seriously.

Unit 2 Understandings of Culture and Communication

Case 1(P41)

1.Why did the Chinese young man leave the company?

The Chinese usually work to complete the task according to what their boss requires, while Americans, on the contrary, finish their jobs according to what they suppose is right. In this case, Li Hua completed his report within 16 days, faster compared with the actually 20 days, but later than it was agreed on. So the American supervisor got angry, which caused Li Hua’s resignation.

2.If you were the young man,what would you do?

If I were Li Hua, I would tell theboss the fact that I really had made great efforts to finish the report in 16 days.Then, if the supervisor still felt angry and were not flexible, I would resign without hesitation.

Case 2

1.What does it mean by saying that Jim was enough of a realist?

Jim comes from American where personal competence in dealing with matters is emphasized in spite of high focus on teamwork. On the other hand, American people are highly practical and realistic, they would think the earlier the problem can be discovered the better solutions can be sought.

2.What way can be found to help Jim cooperate with Korean staff?

For Jim, he is supposed to build a good intercultural communication, but what he should do first is to know Korean culture well. Koreans hold that American’s directness in dealing with problems. So from Jim himself it is much better to know Korean culture especially their strategy of saving face and losing face.

Case 3

1.Why did Peter refuse to accept ChenJie?s apology?

Smiling in china means not only that someone is happy but also that he is sorry. It is very desirable for Chen Jie to make an apology with a smile, which indicates his embarrassment. But for Peter, this smile does not mean the same thing. He regarded the smile not as a sorry but as smirking. And a westerner would expect the employee to look at him or her in the eye and definitely not to smile.

2.How do you deal with the trouble successfully when you communicate with others?

Chen Jie is supposed to look at Peter in the eye when he made an apology, and definitely not to smile. By doing so Peter will truly believe that the sorry he made came from his honesty.

Case 4

1.Why did Parisa?s European colleagues s ee her in a particular way?

When Parisa came to Europe, what she should do is to adjust herself to European culture, to become a member of them. But the key is that Parisa, born an Iranian after all, can not isolate her from Iranian culture completely. So her behaviour of adjusting to European culture is blended with her Iranian culture to a larger extent. That is why Parisa’s European colleagues saw her in a particular way.

2.What is your opinion about the sentence”It also hurt Parisa when someone said that she was‘Westernized? and …not a real Iranian?”?

Parisa’s colleagues failed to know more about her Iranian culture. Even though Parisa tried her uttermost to do as her colleagues do, Iranian cultural elements reflected in her identity and daily behaviour tells she is still an Iranian woman, which makes a distinction between her and her European colleague. When Parisa learned to integrate herself with her colleagues, her colleagues said she was “Westernized” and “not a real Iranian”. This hurt her certainl y.

Case 5

1. Why did the vice presidence make no explanations?

When the American found the manager did not tell the truth possibly, he adopted the face-saving strategy in Chinese culture . He was unwilling to let the Chinese manager feel embarrassed if he told the truth directly, otherwise, the business negotiation with Chinese telecommunication enterprise would not succeed.

2.What do you think are the reasons why the manager became very friendly and agreed to build a long standing partnership with the electronic manufacturer?

As a matter of fact, he discovered that the vice president of the American electronic manufacturer knew Chinese face culture very well. And in the negotiation he made up a story in order to get upper hand over the American. When the American unclosed the story and did not embarrass him.

Case 6

1.What advice would you give to Li Xia and Sawada if you were their close friend?

They are supposed to learn more about each other’s cultures andbe aware of the cultural differences to avoid such misunderstandings.

2. Why did Li Xia so angry when Sawada put his arm around her back?

Chinese culture is characterized by modesty and reserve. For almost every girl, when some boy, try to put an arm around her neck she would feel disgusted. So when Sawada decided to approach Li Xia by putting his arm around her back, Li Xia gave him a strong push and stopped him from doing that.

Unit 3 CulturalDiversity in Customs and Perspectives

Case 1(P70)

1.Why do the Andersons enclose the map and hotel information of the rates and phone numbers of hotels and motels with

the invitation?

The Andersons enclose the map and hotel information as a convenience for the out-of-towners. They believe that by doing so they are being considerate.

2.Why do the Sandoval become outraged and refuse to go to the wedding when they receive the invitation?

But to the Sandoval family, hospitality meant more. From their point of view, the family of the bride should have welcomed the groom’s family into their home, no matter how crowded they might have been. To the Sandoval, hotel recommendations represented coldness. After all, the Sandoval believe they have demonstrated their closeness by taking time off from work to drive five hundred miles to the ceremony.

Case 2

1.Why is the villager offended by the doctor?s refusing to accept her offer of bread?

In this case, the Azerbaijani(阿塞拜疆) woman shows her hospitality towards the Americans by offering her bread. By rejecting the bread, the doctor rejects the woman and her culture. Azerbaijanis believe that if you share food, you expose your heart and soul to the other person and are forever linked in friendship.

2. In what way had the doctor?s companion restored the vallager?s dignity?

By accepting the bread, the doctor’s companion accepts the villager’s hospitality, thus keeping her dignity and building a bridge between the two cultures.

Case 3

1. What make Mrs. Golestani so upset that she cries alone in the kitchen?

The color of flowers has different meanings for different cultures. In Iranian culture, yellow flowers represent the enemy, and giving someone yellow flowers means that you hate the person. It is just the color of flowers that makes Mrs. Golestani think that Anahid hates them. However, in American cult ure, the meaning to the gift of yellow flowers means “I miss you”.

2. What would you do if you were Anahid in such a case?

In such a case, the proper thing for Anahid to do is explain the different meanings of yellow flowers to show her sincerity and good intention so that their relations can be restored

Case 4

1. Why do Mr. and Mrs. Lin want to change the numbers in the address of their house?

Just as many Americans believe that thirteen is unlucky, the Chinese have strong beliefs about good luck or bad luck associated with particular numbers. Four is the most negative number, since its sound is the same as death. Mr. and Mrs. Lin are obviously Chinese who are fully aware of the negative meaning of four.

2. What else do you know about the cultural connotations of numbers?

Numbers have positive and negative values for the Chinese. Sometimes the number has negative connotations; for example, seven is related to the notion that ghosts return seven days after death. Positive meanings are associated with other numbers: six for happiness; eight for prosperity; nine for long life.

Case 5

1. Having a new baby is a happy thing.Why is Evelyn offended and why does she think that Zen is a lazy new mom?

Evelyn was unaware that her daughter-in-law was observing common Asian postpartum behavior: the new mom goes to bed for a month while everyone pampers her. Family members, and sometimes neighbors, take over cooking and cleaning; when the baby needs to be fed.

2.What is the Chinese practice in this respect?

In American culture, the new mothers can do all the things. Evelyn thinks Zen should do.While in some other cultures it is quite different. In China, this practice is called zuoyuezi. The woman must stay in bed, and take many precautions to insure that she not damage her ability to produce breast milk.

Case 6

1.Why was the peaceful Latin American demonstrator arrested?

How close an individual can get to another while talking is, dictated by one’s culture. It is said that most middle-class North Americans choose a normal conversational distance of no closer than twenty-two inches from each other’s mouth. However, for people of certain South Americancultures, the distance is approximately fifteen inches.

2.What caused the misunderstanding between the Latin American and the New York City policeman.

The problem that occurred between the Latin American and the New York policeman was that their respective cultures had different ideas about spatial distancing. The Latin American was attempting to establish what for him was a comfortable conversational distance. Unfortunately, the policeman felt threatened because his personal space was being violated.

Unit 4Cultural Values and Interpersonal Relationships

Case 1(P100)

1.Why did Guangrui consider Professor Stevens a powerful man?

Guangruithinks that it was Professor Stevens’ personal relation with Ms Morin that helped to convince her to change her mind about his project.

2.What are the different meanings of “I know her” in Chinese and north American cultures?

In China, “I know her” means someone can use the social relationship to solve the problem which he or she are confronted by. In North America, “I know her” means someone does not need the social relationship to help he or she, but he or she can take this

chance to explain make the fact clear.

Case 2

1.Why did Kevin close the door?

I n America, people talk to someone with the door closed for which they can protect their secret.

2.How do you understand LanLan?s behavior of leaving the door ajar?

I n China, it is not appropriate for a man and a woman to be alone together in the same room.Thus LanLan deliberately left the door ajar when she went into Kevin’s room.

Case 3

1.Why did people stand so close in queuing?

People in line had to stand very close to one another to prevent others from cutting into the line. As a result, people have got used to standing close to the one before them, even when it comes to banking.

2.How can you understand He Jia?s discomfort?

North Americans prefer more distance than Chinese do. Some Western Europeans, like even more space. Differences in how close to stand are a source of discomfort or misunderstanding as frequently as are dining habits

Case 4

1.How do you understand Le?s behavior?

Traditionally, most Chinese women have the tendency to rely on their men for things they are better for.Since Bill did better with photographing, Le decided that he should be in charge of it when they were together.

2.Why was Bill so unbearable toward Le?s behavior?

Most western men initially expect that any women in their life wants to be treated as an equal. In this situation, he would expect Le to function as an independent and competent amateur photographer.

Case 5

1.Why do you think June didn?t go and sit with Lee?

American students often have a lot of work to do and little free time, so in their social relationships they prefer to do what is easy, and it is generally easier to interact with people with whom one has more in common.

2. What do you think Fran?s answer will be?

You will probably need to be patient, and not give up too quickly. You also need to keep making an active effort instead of waiting and hoping.

Case 6

1.What do you think of the relationship between Guangcheng and Ma Hua?

Therefore, as far as Chinese culture is concerned, Ma Hua said he needed to see other people first because it was socially required of him, while his friendship with Guangcheng was strong enough for him to wait till he felt relaxed enough before arranging a visit.

2.Why can?t peter understand that Guangcheng and Ma Hua are the best friends?

A North American would normally attempt to see those people closest to him or her first. They believe that they have to work on strengthening those relationships by putting a higher priority on spending time with those people.