中西文化鉴赏

1.How many stages are typically experienced by people in adapting to a new culture situation？What are the main features for each stage?Euphoria (excitement—thehoneymoonstage)Depression (crisis)AdjustmentAcceptance (recovery)2.Make a list of the main types of body language3.Give examples to show the functions of nonverbal communication案例1Ma Dan (马丹) and Michael are classmates in the States. It is only one week before the submission date for a term paper for their class. Unfortunately, Ma’s computer br oke down at this critical time. In order to hand in the paper on time, Ma Dan decided to borrow Michael’s computer for only one day to finish her typing. In order to get an easy “yes” from him, Ma Dan treated Michael to a pizza lunch at Pizza Hut, an expensive eating-place for students like them. At the end of the lunch, Ma Dan asked Michael for a favor: “Michael, my computer broke down recently. But you know we have to hand in our term paper on time. I wonder if I could borrow your computer this weekend. W e are friends, aren’t we?” To her astonishment, Michael replied, “Yes, we are friends, Dan. But I’m afraid I’ve got a lot of things I need to type up every day during these days. I cannot afford to let it go even for a day. I hope I could help you in other ways.” Ma Dan was puzzled and thought: “are we really friends?”分析Ma Dan comes from a collectivist culture which emphasizes relations with in-group members. Michael comes from an individualistic culture which values independence and equality. Ma Dan comes from a country where people form into different relations and the axioms （[’æksi:əm] 格言）of “a friend in need is a friend indeed”(This is also a valued belief in the West!) are highly cherished. In Ma Dan’s view, she was desperate for a computer and Michael should offer her a hand in lending her the computer since they are good friends. In order to better secure this borrowing, she offered to give Michael a treat, which better positioned her to open her mouth to request the help.Michael was brought up in a culture valuing individualism where the personal interest always comes first. Since personal computer is the private property of a person and he was really in need of it, he thinks it proper to cater（[’ketɚ] 满足需要）to his own needs first. That explains why Michael chose to reject Ma Dan’s proposal, which hurt Ma Dan’s feeling.解决方案If Ma Dan wants to finish her work on time I suggest she turn to other classmates for help by raising her request directly or go to the library to solve this problem. If someone offers to lend her the computer, she can treat the lender afterwards to express her gratitude.案例2Shan Zhou is a well-established Chinese scholar in civil engineering. He had been cooperating with Paul, an American engineer on a large project. Paul had been to China twice for the project. Shan Zhou took great care of him on each visit, arranging everything from accommodation to making sure that one or more of his students would go with him whenever he needed to do something. Frequently Shan Zhou invited Paul to home for meals or went to restaurants with him. He also made arrangements with some of his students to travel around the city with Paul, to help him with shopping, and to socialize with him. Paul was very grateful, but repeatedly told Shan Zhou that he could take care of himself. Yet Shan Zhou continued to be very attentive（周到的）.Eventually, Shan Zhou went to the United States to work with Paul for half a year. Paul picked him up at the airport and took him directly to his temporary accommodations. Paulapologized that he had to go home to take care of his two children, and that he would take Shan Zhou out for dinner some day. Shan Zhou did not speak much English and it was his first visit to the States. He felt like a stranger and expected Paul to at least send his students to help him around, like what he had done for Paul in China. But that did not happen. Paul did take him out to a nice restaurant one evening, and invited him to his home once.Shan Zhou had expected more from Paul, especially after all the help he had given to Paul. He was very disappointed and hurt by Paul, thinking that Paul should at least return the favor he had done to him. Shan Zhou was so hurt that he said to a good friend that he would not take that much care of Paul any more if he went to China again. In fact, Shan Zhou was so upset that his working relationship with Paul suffered. Paul noticed the change but did not know where the tension came from.案例分析Shan Zhou comes from a collectivist culture which emphasizes reciprocal[rɪ’sɪprəkəl]（互惠的，互相的）bonds and duties toward in-group members. Paul comes from an individualistic culture which values independence and self-sufficiency.Working with Paul, Shan Zhou considered him as an in-group member, who, away from home, deserved good care from other members of the group. So he displayed his over hospitality by arranging everything from accommodation to making sure that one or more of his students would go with him whenever he needed to do something or travel around the city. When it was his turn to work in a foreign country, he expected the same treatment for him, but Paul, as an individualist, believed in independence and thought everybody should take care of himself. So he didn't get involved too much with Shan Zhou's life, besides settling him down and inviting him to diner for once. Shan Zhou, not realizing the cultural differences, was disappointed and hurt by Paul. Both Shan Zhou and Paul communicated only from their own cultural perspective and thus caused miscommunication.解决方案To avoid miscommunication, Shan Zhou and Paul should learn more about each other's culture and behave accordingly. As the saying goes, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." I think Shan Zhou could have learned to be more independent and made his own decisions instead of waiting to be taken good care of while in US .案例3Wang Lin wore a newly bought coat to work. On the way, she met with a former customer from the U.K, Lindon Jackson. Lindon complimented her for her beautiful clothes: Lindon: Oh, you looks gorgeous on this coat, Wang! Wang: Not so beautiful. It costs only 100 Yuan. (In fact, it was worth 250 Yuan) Lindon: Oh, really. Where did you get it. I want to buy one for my wife. Wang: uh.案例分析This is a typical cross-cultural case based on verbal communication. Wang Lin comes from a collectivistic culture which stresses self-denigration（诋毁）. Lindon Jackson comes from an individualistic culture which features assertiveness. Wang Lin, who wore a newly bought coat, met Lindon Jackson on her way to work. When Lindon Jackson complimented Wang Lin on her coat, Wang Lin reacted by saying that her coat was not so beautiful since she, as a collectivist, is accustomed to belittle（轻视）everything related to her. Her responses towards compliments are unquestionably appropriated between collectivists. Unlike Wang Lin, Lindon Jackson places greatvalue on assertiveness and is encouraged to express personal thoughts and feelings freely. He, therefore, would inquiry about where to buy the coat and finally led Wang Lin into the dilemma.SolutionTo avoid miscommunication, Wang Lin and Lindon Jackson should learn more about each other’s culture and adjust their behaviors accordingly. Lindon Jackson could repeat his c ompliment by saying “it really looks marvelous” and then turn to another topic. He should also understand that self-denigration is one of the key values in collectivism.案例4Tang Jun is an exchange student from the China at King’s Secondary School of Brist ol. He was invited by one of his classmates John Mill to a dinner to his family. Tang arrived there on time and was shown around by his classmate. When they were enjoying the views in the garden, John’s father Jerry returned from work. John took this opportunity to introduce his classmate to his father, “Jerry, this is Tang, a guest from China.” Tang Jun was very surprised and thought John was not polite to his father. What went wrong in this process?Case AnalysisTang Jun comes from a collectivistic culture which emphasizes deference associated with age in a family hierarchy（[’haiərɑ:ki]层次）, while John Mill comes from an individualistic culture which stresses equality. Tang Jun, as an exchange student from China, was invited by John Mill to a dinner t o his family. In the garden, Tang Jun was very surprised that John Mill used his father’s first name to address him. As Chinese culture stresses deference paid to old age, such a way of addressing parents could not be applied in Chinese families. If the Chinese children should do so, it would be regarded as impolite and disrespectful. In contrast, individualists tend to believe in equality in a family. They could address their parents by their first name without adding a title just like what John Mill did. However, without realizing the cultural differences, Tang Jun did not appreciate John Mill’s behavior. Both Tang Jun and John Mill communicated only from their cultural perspectives and thus caused miscommunication.SuggestionTo avoid miscommunication, Ta ng Jun and John Mill should learn more about each other’s culture and adjust their behaviors accordingly. Tang Jun could seize the opportunity to experience the atmosphere of equality in John Mill’s family. He should also understand that individualists do not value family hierarchy as much as collectivists do. As to John Mill, he could introduce his father by saying “this is my father, Jerry”.。