跨文化交际复习答案整理

Answer questions

1.What are the reasons which might contribute to an increase of intercultural contacts in the world?

Nowadays, the increasing trend of intercultural contacts can be ascribed to four main factors: the advancement of technology, immigration, economic globalization and the emergence of multiculturalism.

A. With the development of technology, the transportation systems and communication systems have witnessed great advancement. Trips once taking days are now measured in hours, making it possible for people to go to anywhere of the world in one day, and thus speeding up intercultural contact. Moreover, the advanced communication technologies, such as Internet, mobile phones and cable TV transmission equipment, have give people access to sharing and exchanging information and ideas instantaneously.

B. Changes in population migration have also contributed to the development of increasing intercultural contact. For pursuing a better job or endeavoring for a better life, people from all over the world leave their country while bringing their own culture, habits, language and so on to the other.

C. Economic globalization is another factor for increasing intercultural contacts. With the accelerated trend of economic globalization, the world we lived in is more and more interdependent and interrelated. And each country’s economy is tied to the economy of other countries. Therefore, the intercultural contacts between regions, countries and continents are inevitably increased.

D. Multiculturalism is the view that the various cultures in a society merit equal respect and scholarly interest, describing the coexistence of many cultures in a locality, without any one culture dominating the region.

Therefore, with the increasing of the trends of multiculturalism, the communications between regions and cultures will inevitably strengthened and increased.

2.What are characteristics of communication and culture common to all human beings?

Although communications are different from one another in their forms and norms, all communication systems around the world share certain characteristics.

A. Indirect: one characteristic of communication is that people can only obtain messages from other’s words and behaviors instead of obtaining from the mind of others.

B. Interactive: Communication takes place between at least two individuals, and each one in a communication process will affect or be affected by the other’s words or behaviors, and as a consequence, he/she will immediately modify or alter his/her responses either in words, tones, gestures, and so on.

C. Dynamic: as all communication processes and their consequences are affected by the specific time, place, occasion and the number of people with their particular rules, values, customs, and so on, the communication can be perceived as an ongoing and ever-changing activity.

D. Self-reflective: as human beings have a unique ability to think about themselves, to watch how they define the world, and to reflect on their past, present, and future, all forms of communication will inevitably involve and enhance this kind of activity, and

thus endowed itself the self-reflective nature.

Cultures, like communication, vary according to different history, geography, religion and world views, but they still share certain features.

A. Invisible: as we refer to a certain culture, we often mean the world views, perceptions, values, attitudes and preference beneath all the phenomena in that culture, which are all intangible object to human beings.

B. Learned: culture is not a procession that we inherited from out parents or forefathers, but is gradually acquired after birth by the influence of the traditional patterns and standards in the community we living.

C. Ethnocentric: Each culture has its religion, myth and legends which convince every generation that they are special, powerful and intelligent and are thus capable of great achievements. Such pride helps to bind people in a society together to strive for ever greater accomplishments.

D. Integrated: Culture is a complex and inclusive system in which all components, such as values, norms, perceptions and rules, are interrelated. And any change in one aspect of the culture will affect many other aspects.

3.How are culture and language related to each other?

A. Language is a guide to social reality. Language does not merely serve to allow us to describe what we see as reality, but language also shapes the way we see this reality.

B. Language can record culture.

Language can record the development of a society. People can learn culture left behind by their ancestors through language, and leave their culture to descendants

through language. For example, if we want to know the Chinese culture 1000 years ago, we can research the records of that time. Therefore through language, civilization passes over from generation to generation. The society will then make progress step by step.

In fact, we can know other cultures by reading books. We don't need to go to go abroad to know about cultures of foreign countries. Language brings us convenience to learn different cultures.

C. Culture affects language

From the definition of culture, we know that culture includes geography, religion, tradition, custom, value and so on. In fact, culture often affects language through them. Every nation lives and works in a certain natural environment, which is reflected by its language. People from different regions may have different languages. They use different words, metaphors to express their views towards their environment.

Nearly every nation has its religion. Religion is an important part in culture. Many daily used words are from religion. For instance: Adam's apple (喉结); my rib(我妻); Judas's kiss(背叛).

Every culture has its specific features, which is reflected through language. Chinese people from some regions are accustomed to sleep on a 炕（a heatable bed）. They eat 冰糖葫芦（candied haws on a stick）. Whereas westerners go to motel eat hamburger.

People from different cultures have different values. Sometimes, the differences cause misunderstandings. People should pay attention to the different values of different cultures.

Culture background determines a man's native language. For example, if a Chinese

infant is adopted by an American couple who live in American, he or she will grow up speaking perfect English.

4.How does the perception of communication due to cultural differences affect intercultural communication?

Culture strongly influences our subjective reality and there are direct links among culture, perception, and behavior. There are some factors in cultural belief, value, and patterns that might influence both perception and communication.

Firstly, belief systems are significant to the study of intercultural communication, because they are at the core of our thoughts and actions. They are our conviction in the truth of something. They tell us how the world operates. Belief systems are important because they are learned and hence subject to cultural interpretation and cultural diversity. We must be able to recognize the fact that cultures have different realities and belief systems. Beliefs are such an influential factor in intercultural communication because they affect our conscious and unconscious minds, as well as the manner in which we communicate.

Secondly, one of the most important functions of belief system is that they are the basis of our value. Formally, a value may be defined as an enduring belief that a specific mode of conduct of end-state of existence is personally of socially preferable to another. An awareness of cultural value also helps us understand our own behavior. Thus, value is another very important factor to affect intercultural communication.

Thirdly, cultural patterns can affect intercultural communication; culture is extremely complex and consists of numerous interrelated cultural orientations besides beliefs and

value. Cultural patterns refer to both the conditions that contribute to the way in which a person perceives and thinks about the world, and the manner in which they live in that world.

These three factors make people have different culture, and also affect both the perception and communication.

5.How do you understand functions of non-verbal means used in communication?

A. repeating;

In the United States, people often use nonverbal messages to repeat a point they are trying to make. We might hold up our hand in the gesture that signifies a person to stop at the same time we actually use the word stop. Or we might point in a certain direction after we have just said, “The new library is south of that building.”The gestures and words have a similar meaning and reinforce one another.

B. complementing;

Closely related to repeating is complementing. Although messages that repeat can stand alone, complementing generally adds more information to messages. For example, you can tell someone that you are pleased with his or her performance, but this message takes on extra meaning if you pat the person on the shoulder at the same time. Physical contact places another layer of meaning on what is being said.

C. substituting;

We use substitution in nonverbal communication when we perform some action instead of speaking. If you see a very special friend, you are apt to enlarge the size of your smile and throw open your arms to greet him or her, which is a substitute for all the

words it would take to convey the same feeling.

D. regulating;

We often regulate and manage communication by using some form of nonverbal behavior: we nod our head in agreement to indicate to our communication partner that we agree and that he or she should continue talking; or we remain silent for a moment and let the silence send the message that we are ready to begin our speech. Or we have direct eye contact with someone to let him or her know the channels are open. In short, our nonverbal behavior helps us control the situation.

E. contradicting.

On some occasions, our nonverbal actions send signals opposite from the literal meanings contained in our verbal messages. You tell someone you are relaxed and at ease, yet you voice quavers and your hands shake. It also is a contradictory message when you inform your partner that you are glad to see him or her, but at same time you are sulking and breaking eye contact. Because people rely mostly on nonverbal messages when they are receive conflicting data, we need to be aware of the dangers inherent in sending opposing messages.

Discussion

1.Do you always with people that knowing about the correct choice of grammar and vocabulary of a language can ensure a successful communication between a native and non-native speaker of that language? Why or why not?

We live in an increasingly complex world. One element of this complexity is the

mixing of different cultures, languages and faiths. Knowing the grammar and vocabulary of a language is of course not enough to communicate successfully because different cultures have different communication styles.

Take China and America as an example. Because of the collectivistic culture of China, the Chinese people are more at ease when speaking as members of group than as individuals. They of ten offer personal opinions by using “we” instead of “I”. This can create great difficulty for Americans in differentiating personal views from collective ones. And they will tend to consider such statement as lack of personal opinion and self-confidence.

2.Explain this statement and give examples of it “People are alike, and people are different”.

The similarities of humans: All humans around the world are like every other human being. Our commonalities as a species go far beyond the ways in which we share ideas and information. We are identical in numerous physiological and chemical ways. We all have a heart, lungs, brain, and the like. We are also literally made of the same components: water, salt, blood and so on. Moreover, emotions like self-respect, admiration, vanity, and so on are common to all cultures. Take the concept of self-respect for example. In Western culture, we may say ego; and in China, we may say face-saving, macho in Mexico, and pride in Japan. The point is, such feelings evoked very much the same.

Differences of human beings: since the creation of the world there never were two cases exactly parallel and even the people. Our experience of the world is both internal

and unique, therefore we each response to the world differently. Culture, as well as individual, differences keep us apart. Although the philosophical issues of death, isolation, free choice, and meaning confront everyone, our resolutions for each issue have their roots deep in culture. For example, Hinduism tells its members that they will be reincarnated when they die. In Islam, death moves people into heaven or hell, depending on how they lived.

(In a word, it is inappropriate to say that we are more alike or we are more different, because people are more alike than they are different. Our society is dynamic, we want to live and have to adapt to our dynamic society. The economic development level, political system and educational ideals are different in different periods so that we have common ideas and concepts in sometime but in other times may not. All of these will have influence on our values, thought, and communication. Therefore, it is always the theme that a successful intercultural communicator appreciates similarities and accepts differences.)

3.How have you ever used non-verbal means to facilitate your daily communication? Describe some of the occasions.

Nonverbal communication involves all those nonverbal stimuli in a communication setting that are generated by both the source and his or her use of the environment and that have potential message value for the source or receiver.

In my daily life, there are many occasions that I used nonverbal means to facilitate my daily communication. For example, frowning and making someone believe I am mad...

4.In what way can cultural differences influence international business negotiation?

There is a joke about an American and a Japanese sitting on a park bench in Tokyo. Both are businessmen. The American says, “Well, you know I’ve been in Japan for my company for forty years. Forty years! And now they are sending me back home to the States in just a few days.” The Japanese replies, “That’s the problem with you Americans: here today and gone tomorrow.”

This witticism clearly illustrates a major difference in cross-cultural negotiation—the pace at which negotiations are conducted. North American, Australian, Swiss, British, and Singapore negotiators value rapid negotiations, whereas other cultures such as China, Japan, much of Latin America, and Africa prefer slower negotiations. Direct versus indirect is often problematic in business dealings as well. In negotiations with many cultures, a “yes” really means “no”.

https://www.360docs.net/doc/236898362.html,pare and contrast the view to causes of illness and the treatment model between people from different cultural backgrounds in the health-care setting. Causes of illness

Many people of Asian origin(Chinese, Filipinos, Koreans, Japanese, and Southeast Asians) may view illness as a result of an imbalance between yin and yang. Yin is the feminine, passive principle that is manifested in darkness, cold, or wetness. Yang is the masculine, active principle that is exhibited by light, heat, or dryness. Yin and yang combine to produce every occurrence in life. An imbalance in this combination is believed to cause illness.

Even in the United States, where high technology and science are primarily relied on to diagnose illness, many Americans believe that their illness is a reminder from God that they have had a behavioral lapse such as neglecting to go to church regularly, not saying one’s prayers, or not thanking God daily for blessings.

In the Indian culture, where people hold strong beliefs about fate, reasons for becoming ill often are even questioned.

For them, ill health and even death itself are accepted as part of the process of birth and rebirth. Just like an Indian proverb summarizes: “That which blossoms must also decay.”

Treatment model

The Chinese may rely on fortune-tellers to determine auspicious times to perform scheduled surgeries or procedures. The Chinese have other methods for treating illness. As Dresser notes: To restore the balance of yin and yang, specialist may use acupuncture(metal needles inserted into skin at precise points) and moxibustion (heating crushed wormwood or other herbs directly on the skin). Herbalists, easily found in Chinatown shops, act as health consultants, prescribing and creating herbal remedies.

Many Asian groups use “cupping” to cure illness. “Cupping” involves placing heated glasses upside down on the chest or back of the sick person and pulling them off after they have cooled. This practice, believed to “rub out” evil winds and spirits.

Many people from Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Brazil believe in Santeria(a type of religion).

Within the United States, some groups, particularly African Americans, rely on pica

—a craving for nonfood substances—to treat illness. For example, an individual may eat laundry starch to “build up the blood” after an auto accident.