跨文化交际英文案例
大学英语跨文化交际U3 课文案例+词汇习语整理

U3 Daily Verbal Communication一、案例Case 1美国爸爸和女儿来到菲律宾,举行首次领圣餐仪式,叫了菲律宾朋友,他不置可否,后来却去了别的朋友之间聚会。
美国人觉得很不尊重领圣餐仪式,因此关系不好了起来。
Comment:美国人把这种仪式,特别是关于自己的孩子的看的很重要;而菲律宾朋友忽略了美国人的习俗,而且清点人数是美国人开party 前要做的,为了确保食物数量。
Case 2新西兰人在公开场合对他的菲律宾朋友进行建议和批评,让他下不来台。
他的菲律宾朋友十分生气,并且取消了晚上的一起吃饭。
Comment:在菲律宾,不可以当面指出别人的错误(面子、);在新西兰,被看成是十分正常的。
选项:Jose thought that Stans actions during the meeting were not those of a true friendCase 3菲律宾夫妇遇见了英国熟人,又遇见了自己的菲律宾朋友,并且大声地用自己的语言进行寒暄,英国人因此十分不悦。
选项:He thought the Filipinos were very rude for introducing him to their friend.Case 4在澳大利亚“no etiquette”customno seeing out when guests leaves;no stand-up when leaders come in;no help for old people专题:Compliments and compliment responsesExamples:1.中国女士买了条裙子,美国女士说好看,中国女士说哎呀一般般;2.美国女主人向别人介绍中国学者,夸赞,中国学者却笑着说你不是真的这个意思?3.中国式谦虚反映了:1.the taste of the American lady is questionable,and poor judgement2.the hostess is not sincere3.“fishing for compliments”沽名钓誉,别人会接着夸你Social functions of complimentssituations: range from formal to casualIn formal situations—reinforce solidarity,connected with the appreciation of something that has been done to the speaker(尼克松访华:感谢中国人的好客和款待)In informal situations —achieve solidarity;make people feelcomfortable体现在:greeting people;expressing thanks ;getting over embarrassmentDifferences between Chinese and English compliments美国,女人不主动夸男人,但是男士应该通俗的对女士的打扮和衣着进行赞美但是在中国,如果男士夸奖女士,会被认为是调情,不尊重。
跨文化交际教学的经典案例

跨文化交际教学的经典案例
跨文化交际教学的经典案例有很多,以下是其中一些:
1. 红豆衬衫的广告语:红豆衬衫的广告语“红豆情深”在中国非常流行,但将其翻译成英文“Red Bean, the more you eat, the more you toot”却
引发笑场。
这是因为中文中的“情深”具有深厚、真挚的情感含义,而在英
文中却变成了“吃得越多,放屁越多”,给人不雅之感。
2. 麦当劳改名:麦当劳在台湾市场推出新品牌形象,将原本的“I’m lovin’ it”改成了“I’m thrilin’ it”,以吸引更多年轻人。
然而,这个新口号在
推广中遭遇了巨大的困境,因为消费者并不买账。
最终,麦当劳不得不放弃
了这个口号,重新使用原来的“I’m lovin’ it”。
3. 百事可乐广告:百事可乐曾经在中国市场推出了一支非常感人的广告,广告中描述了一对恋人因为一瓶百事可乐而结缘的故事。
然而,在广告播出后
不久,就因为广告中出现了一名黑人男演员而被中国网民质疑。
虽然百事可
乐公司很快就删除了广告并发表了道歉声明,但这个事件仍然给百事可乐的
品牌形象造成了不小的打击。
这些案例都表明,在跨文化交际中,我们需要更加注意不同文化之间的差异
和特点,并尊重这些差异和特点。
同时,我们需要更加谨慎地选择语言和表
达方式,以避免出现不必要的误解和冲突。
跨文化交际案例分析

案例分析I. Linda Walker is a new American teacher in her fifties and has asked her new colleagues to call her Linda. She’s been invited for dinner to the home of her young Chinese colleague Xu, who is also an English teacher. When Linda arrives, she is introduced to Xu's 5-year old daughter. "Hello, granny," said the little girl in English."No, not granny," the mother hurriedly corrected. "This is Linda. " ?“But why? She’s so much older than you! How can you be so impolite! “The little girl was puzzled and protested in Chinese. Then Linda's face flushed and didn't know what to say. Fortunately, Linda didn't understand Chinese, though she could sense something was wrong from the little girl' s reaction.What was the reason for the awkwardness in this situation?Why did the little girl think it was impolite to call Linda by her first name?II. Sun Yan was very happy to hear that she had been accepted by TDP Company, a well-known American company in Beijing, in which she had been looking forward to finding a position. When she came to the office on her first day and was introduced to her boss, Mr Blake, she could tell at once he was a kind of person and easy to get along with.Everything went smoothly. My Blake and Sun Yan worked together well. Mr Blake had confidence in Sun Yan and regarded her as sweet, smart and efficient. He would often discuss things together with Sun Yan before making decisions. One day when she ws ordering her files in the room outside Mr Blake’s office, Sun Yan heard Mr Blake opening his door and calling her. She looked up and saw Mr Blake extending his left hand, palm up, beckoning her with the forefinger. She put her work down at once and went into Mr Blake’s office. Mr Blake then asked to hear her opinion about a new project.Later that day, Sun Yan felt a little depressed. She recalled every detail of the day and to try to recall anything which may have upset her and finally found the answer. And when she recalled that scene again, she couldn’t help viewing Mr Blake in a rather less favorable light than before.What did Mr Blake do that made Sun Yan suddenly change her opinion about him? Why?III. Litz, a Finnish, once told a story about her mother-in-law.Ten years ago, I met a Taiwan Chinese doctor in the States, and fell in love with him. In less than 6 months we got married. After my graduation we returned to Finland. My husband had long wished to bring his mother to stay with use for a while. Last summer, after we re-decorated out house, we invited her over. You can well imagine how happy my husband was! And I was just as happy. I know being filial(孝顺的) to parents is a great value Chinese people cherish. As wife of a Chinese, I try to be as filial as my husband.Two days after my mother-in-law’s arrival, I talked to my husband whi le his mother was sitting in the garden enjoying the sunshine.Litz: Dick, how long is your mum going to stay?Dick: I don’t know. I haven’t asked her.Litz: Why not ask her?Dick: What do you mean by asking her?Litz: I mean what I said. Just ask her how long she’s going to stay.My mother-in-law overheard out conversation, and decided to leave for Taiwan the very afternoon. I had never expected that her visit should be so short. I tried very hard to persuade her mind, but in vain.Now can you diagnose Lit z’s problem by using the three types of meaning? The utterance meaning is obvious. What about the speaker’s and hearer’s meaning?IV. Litz is a professor of cross—cultural communication in a university in Finland. She invited her Chinese students home for an evening party.The schema from Litz’s point of view includes the following:1. Giving invitation: by phone / by mail2. Prepare everything before the arrival of guests3. Receiving guests: open the door / express welcome / take their overcoats / introduce guests / offer them drinks / make them comfortable4. Serving food: set the table / soup first / main course / desert5. Post dinner activities: chat / play music / offer more drinks6. Seeing guests off: thank them for coming / good nightLitz’s eveni ng party was not very successful, because she was upset by one of her guests. Here was the initial conversation between Litz and Lin:Litz: (opens the door) Oh, Lin, how nice you could come!Lin: It’s not difficult to find your house.Litz: Come on in.Lin: (comes in)Litz: Can I take your coat?Lin: No, thanks.Litz: Ok, this way please.Lin: (take off her coat and hangs it)Litz was hurt. Can you tell us why she was hurt ?V. Professor Liang has written a book on Chinese culture in Chinese. His book is put on display in Beijing International Book Fair’ 96. Professor Liang would like to have his book translated into English and submitted to Thompson Publishers. Professor Liang has asked Li Yan, whom he meets regularly in the English Corner, to help him to talk to Peter Allright, a Thompson representative.Prof. Liang: 奥莱特先生,这是鄙人的拙作。
跨文化交际的英文作文

跨文化交际的英文作文英文:Cross-cultural communication is an important aspect of our globalized world. As someone who has lived in bothChina and the United States, I have experienced firsthandthe challenges and rewards of communicating across cultures.One of the biggest challenges is language. Even if both parties speak the same language, there may be differencesin vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation that can cause misunderstandings. For example, in China, it is common to use indirect language and avoid saying "no" directly. As a result, when I first arrived in China, I had a hard time understanding when someone was saying "no" without actually saying it.Another challenge is nonverbal communication. In China, eye contact is not always expected or even consideredpolite in certain situations. In the United States, however,it is seen as a sign of honesty and trustworthiness. This can lead to misunderstandings if one person is expecting eye contact while the other person is avoiding it.Despite these challenges, there are also many rewards to cross-cultural communication. Learning about different cultures can broaden our perspectives and help us become more empathetic and understanding. For example, in China, it is common to show respect for elders by addressing them with specific titles and using formal language. This can teach us the importance of respecting our elders and valuing tradition.In conclusion, cross-cultural communication is both challenging and rewarding. By being aware of the differences in language and nonverbal communication, we can navigate these challenges and learn from each other's cultures. 。
跨文化交际电影案例分析(全英文版)(文化沟通课程论文)

Case Analysis of Cross-cultural Communication Film [Abstract]:With the advent of the 21st century, the degree of globalization continues to strengthen,and the communication between regions and countries becomes more and more frequent. As is known to all, the cultures of different nationalities have their own characteristics, and it is precisely because of these multi-ethnic cultures that our colorful world is made up of. However, it is undeniable that the existence of cultural differences leads to constant conflicts in the process of cultural exchanges. Crash and Scrapping two movies, for example, this paper tells the conflict phenomenon in cross-cultural communication and on the causes of these problems, puts forward some constructive Suggestions.[keywords]:Intercultural communication,Cultural differences, cultural consensusCross-cultural communication refers to the information transfer and communication between different cultural units. It is the communication between people in different cultural backgrounds. Due to the cultural differences between different countries, communicators often cause conflicts in communicative activities such as language blending and cultural integration due to different cultural backgrounds. Through watching relevant films, the paper discusses and studies the causes of problems in cross-cultural communication, and puts forward ways to alleviate conflicts, promote harmonious and friendly communication between regions, and promote the prosperity and progress of world culture.I.Analyze the problems in cross-cultural communication(I)Interpersonal relationship differences -- take film scrapping as an example As we all know, Western culture tend to be individualist. Westerns tend to view individualism as a good thing and believe that people should rely on themselves as much as possible ——and they usually expect other people to do the same. As mentioned in the scrapping film, Xu datong succeeded through his own efforts and finally changed his social status and situation. Even the Chinese people still won the respect and admiration of the americans at that time.Westerns generally feel that the rights of individuals should not be subordinated to the needs of large group, or at least that individuals should have the right to decide for themselves whether to sacrifice their personal benefit for the sake of group.However, in the face of the facts, the Chinese people, the more important. Although in fact is the father for the son scraping, but Xu datong still take the initiative to take the responsibility to protect his father. Although he knew it was illegal to leave the child alone at home, xu datong still went to pick up his father after receiving a call from the police. It is because of the culturaldifferences between the two sides that led to the tragedy of the life of Xu datong's family.Westerns tend to believe that individuals should make decisions for themselves, and that individual should take credit and responsibility for what they have personally done.In the film, a colleague of Xu datong, instead of helping him escape unwarranted charges under the law, testifies in court that he abused his son. One of the important reasons why this happened is that americans advocate individualism, law and facts, and colleagues do not know about scrapping and saw Xu datong beat his son, which led to the tragedy in the movie.(II)Conflicts caused by cultural differences -- take movie Crash as an example Does a white farmer in Illinois have so much in common with a black banker in New York that what we say they all belong to the same culture?Obviously there will be many difference between these two people ——they live in different regions, have different jobs, have different ethnic background, and so forth .Throughout the movie, I'm impressed with the two black brother, came out from the coffee shop, one of the black has been complaining about discrimination against blacks, whites and another black didn't think so, but in the black complain, another black gradually produced a strong sense of identity, so they conducted armed robbery, hit-and-run, and so on a series of bad things.In fact, this story can reflect the parents' teaching to their children, whether white or black, if parents teach them from an early age that white is noble, will not swear, will not do wrong, black is rude, uncivilized, always doing wrong. Then the idea will be rooted in the idea of children, then white and black children can never be friends, the misunderstanding between white and black people will be deeper, the conflict between the two sides will become more and more fierce, I believe if things go on for a long time, will eventually lead to the inevitable riots.However, most likely there are many things that they share in common. For example, the schools they went to probably taught roughly the same kinds of courses, they probably watch many of the same TV programs, they live under the same government and legal system ,and they probably all speak the same language.As a result, even if these people look different on the outside, the ideas and information in their heads will have much in common. You should say that they are many different brands of computers that look different on the outside, but have a lot of the same software and data. It is these shared ideas that make a grou p of people into a culture , in fact, you should say that a “culture ”is essentially a group of people who carry many of the same ideas in their heads.Most modern societies believe that equality is a virtue.But there's no denying that every society still has hierarchy to some degree. In other words, some people have higher and more power than others. Thisinjustice is mainly reflected in the racial discrimination in the United States. In the movies, white people always have a higher status than black people, and black people are not respected by white people.Preserving good relationship and harmony between people, especially among one's ingroup and circle of acquaintance, is generally considered very important. so people generally try to avoid direct confilt. Therefore, in order to avoid conflicts, every one of us should master certain methods when conducting cross-cultural communication, so as to consciously carry out correct cross-cultural communication and promote the formation of a beautiful and harmonious society.II solutions to cross-cultural communication problems(I)Strengthen cross-cultural communication and learn from western culture Peace and good relation between nations, people and cultures need to be beased on mutual understanding. As you study English, you are learning how to be an ambassador who can serve as a bridge between China and the world, a translator who can help people of China and other countries better understand each other. The more you understand about intercultural communication, the more effectively you can serve as an ambassador for your own culture and as a bridge between your culture and others.When you are new to Chinese culture, this made it harder for you to understand why the other people acted as they did. When you really didn't understand what was happening, you should consider other possible explanations for the Chinese students' behavior instead of jumping to negative conclusions. To communicating with local people, you 'd better to improve the local language and learn as much as possible about local culture. Of course, you also need to learn something about intercultural communication and learned how to be a more effective intercultural communicator.As you learn about other culture there are two good habit you should cultivate right from the start. First, build the habit of consciously making an effort to avoid stereotypes. second, build the habit of making a conscious effort not to judge other cultures too quickly. one of the best way to manage our tendency to judge negatively is by cultivating the habit of describing things instead of evaluating them.(II)Interpreting what foreigners mean“Interpretation ”the process of deciding what foreigners' words and action mean and why they do what they do. However when you interpret the behavior of foreigners, you don't have so much cultural background information to help you understand their behavior, so you have to guess and use your imagination much more. If you interpret their behavior quickly, without thinking carefully and getting asmuch information as possible, it is very likely that your Interpretation will be at least partially wrong.The same three habits will help you be a more effective intercultural communication. First, get into the habit of consciously noticing that you are entering an intercultural encounter. Second, get into the habit of interpreting intercultural encounters more slowly, rather than jumping to conclusion quickly. The last but not least, get into the habit of thinking more consciously and carefully about the situation.(III)To become a good intercultural communicatorThere is no doubt that you will probably have to speak in English when you are interacting with Westerners .In fact, when people from two different cultures try to communicate with each other, at least one of them will almost certainly have to speak in some language other than his native tongue. Therefore to avoid the language gap problem and become a good intercultural communicator, you need to be aware of how speaking in a foreign language affect you and make a special effort not to let these negative affect how you interpret the words and actions of others.III.The conclusionAs I talk about culture in this passage, my goal is not to say that one culture is better or worse than another. Instead, our goal is to describe differences between culture,and try to come to a better understanding of Western and Chinese culture. Before one can evaluate a culture, one must understand it.Reference:I: A Book called Encounters With WesternersII: A Film called CrashIII: A Film called Scrapping。
跨文化交际Case 10分析英文版

• Mr. Tanaka,the general manager of a Japanese company in france,offered a great position to Mr.Legrand who is a French engineer of the company,unfortunately, after consideration ,Mr.Legrand refused the position which would bring him considerable personal financial benifits.Mr. Tanaka felt surprised by his decision.
Thank you
• Deeply infiuenced by this idea,Mr. Tanaka believes that Mr.Legrand who is his subordinate should obey him no matter what he puts forward,not to mention a great job with considerable personal financial benifits. • On the other hand, Mr. Tanaka is influenced by the idea of freedom,so he made the decision according to his willing and refused it .
• Each of these relationship, including those among friends (who differ, however slightly, in age in other indicants of status), presumes the existence and legitimacy of social hierarchy and the reciprocal, complementary obligations that each position in the hierarchy requires. The higher-status person in each pair must provide protection and consideration, while the lower-status person owes respect and obedience.
十二杯茶 跨文化交际英文作文

十二杯茶跨文化交际英文作文The Twelve Cups of Tea: A Cross-Cultural EncounterIn a bustling city, where the pace of life often leaves little room for pause, a small tea shop stood as an oasis of tranquility. It was here that a group of individuals from diverse backgrounds would gather, united by their shared love for the aromatic and soothing ritual of tea drinking. This is the story of their cross-cultural journey, woven through the threads of twelve cups of tea.The first cup was served to a young professional named Emily. As she held the delicate porcelain in her hands, the steam curling upwards, she couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity and anticipation. Emily had always been intrigued by the rich cultural traditions surrounding tea, but her fast-paced lifestyle had often left her little time to explore them. Today, however, was different.Across the table, a soft-spoken gentleman named Akira sipped his tea, his eyes closed in quiet contemplation. Akira had grown up in Japan, where the art of tea ceremony was revered as a sacred practice. He had come to this city in search of new experiences, eager to share his passion for the subtleties of tea with those whomight appreciate it.As their eyes met, a silent understanding passed between them. Emily listened intently as Akira shared the history and symbolism behind the tea they were enjoying, his words painting a vivid picture of a world she had only ever glimpsed through books and documentaries.The second cup was poured for Fatima, a young woman whose family had immigrated to the city from Morocco. As the aroma of the fragrant mint tea filled the air, Fatima's eyes lit up with a sense of nostalgia. She fondly recalled the long afternoons spent with her grandmother, sipping tea and sharing stories of their homeland.Sitting beside her was Liam, a local resident who had always been curious about the diverse cultures that made up his community. As Fatima described the intricate rituals and traditions surrounding Moroccan tea, Liam found himself captivated, his own preconceptions slowly melting away.The third cup was shared by Mei and Sanjay, two students who had become fast friends despite their different cultural backgrounds. Mei, hailing from China, and Sanjay, from India, bonded over their shared appreciation for the nuances of tea preparation and the role it played in their respective traditions.As they sipped their tea, they engaged in a lively discussion, comparing the delicate flavors and the unique brewing techniques they had learned from their families. Their conversation soon expanded to include the group, each member eager to share their own cultural perspectives and experiences.The fourth cup was savored by Aisha, a woman whose family had roots in Kenya. As she took a sip, she fondly recalled the earthy, robust teas she had enjoyed as a child, brewed over an open fire and shared with her extended family.Sitting beside her was Robert, a local businessman who had always been intrigued by the diverse cultures that made up his city. As Aisha shared the significance of tea in Kenyan traditions, Robert listened with rapt attention, his own preconceptions about tea being challenged and expanded.The fifth cup was poured for Luca, an Italian expatriate who had made this city his home. As he inhaled the fragrant aroma of the tea, he was transported back to the bustling piazzas of his hometown, where the ritual of drinking espresso was deeply ingrained in the fabric of daily life.Across from him sat Fatima, who had been captivated by Luca'sstories of Italian coffee culture. As they exchanged perspectives, they discovered unexpected similarities in the ways their respective cultures celebrated the social aspects of shared beverages.The sixth cup was shared by Hiroshi and Amina, two individuals who had met by chance at the tea shop and had quickly forged a connection. Hiroshi, a Japanese businessman, and Amina, a Sudanese artist, found themselves drawn to each other's stories and the unique ways in which tea was woven into the tapestry of their lives.As they sipped their tea, they engaged in a lively exchange, each sharing the nuances of their cultural traditions and the profound impact tea had on their daily lives. Their conversation soon blossomed into a deep appreciation for the diversity that surrounded them.The seventh cup was savored by Sophia, a young woman whose family had roots in Greece. As she held the delicate porcelain in her hands, she recalled the rich, aromatic brews that had been a staple in her grandparents' home, where the ritual of tea drinking was often accompanied by lively discussions and the sharing of family stories.Beside her sat Ahmed, a local community leader who had long been fascinated by the diverse cultural traditions that made up his city. As Sophia shared the significance of tea in Greek culture, Ahmedlistened intently, his own understanding of the beverage's global reach expanding with each passing moment.The eighth cup was poured for Tomas, a Colombian expatriate who had discovered a newfound appreciation for the art of tea drinking since moving to the city. As he savored the delicate flavors, he couldn't help but draw parallels to the vibrant coffee culture of his homeland, where the sharing of a cup was often a catalyst for deep and meaningful conversations.Across the table sat Mei, who had been delighted to learn about Tomas's cultural background. As they exchanged stories and perspectives, they discovered unexpected commonalities in the ways their respective cultures celebrated the social aspects of shared beverages.The ninth cup was shared by Fatima and Luca, who had found themselves drawn to each other's stories and the unique ways in which tea was woven into the tapestry of their lives. As they sipped their tea, they engaged in a lively exchange, each sharing the nuances of their cultural traditions and the profound impact tea had on their daily lives.Their conversation soon blossomed into a deep appreciation for the diversity that surrounded them, and they marveled at the ways inwhich a simple cup of tea could serve as a bridge between cultures.The tenth cup was savored by Hiroshi and Amina, who had discovered a shared passion for the art of tea brewing. As they exchanged tips and techniques, they found themselves captivated by the subtle differences in their respective traditions, each bringing a unique perspective to the table.Their discussion soon expanded to include the entire group, as each member shared their own unique insights and experiences. The air was filled with a sense of camaraderie and mutual understanding, as the group collectively celebrated the diversity that had brought them together.The eleventh cup was poured for Sophia and Ahmed, who had forged a deep connection over their shared fascination with the cultural traditions surrounding tea. As they sipped their tea, they engaged in a thought-provoking discussion, exploring the ways in which the beverage had shaped the social and political landscapes of their respective homelands.Their conversation soon turned to the role of tea in fostering cross-cultural understanding, and they marveled at the power of a simple cup to bring people from diverse backgrounds together, to share stories, and to forge new connections.The twelfth and final cup was shared by the entire group, a symbolic gesture of the bonds they had forged throughout their shared journey. As they raised their cups in a toast, they reflected on the richness of the experiences they had shared, the insights they had gained, and the deep appreciation they had developed for the diverse cultures that made up their community.In that moment, the twelve cups of tea had become more than just a ritual – they had become a testament to the power of cross-cultural exchange, a reminder that the simple act of sharing a cup can transcend boundaries and foster a deeper understanding of the world around us.。
跨文化交际案例和解析(英文)汇编

Case:In July of this year, the American CNN announced that, the preserved egg is the most lousy food. That made the Chinese people very angry, because the preserved egg is good food for most of Chinese people. Then Chinese people made a survey and declared that cheese is the most lousy food. Chinese people can't accept that the preserved egg is regarded as the most lousy food, on the other hand, the cheese is the food which is favoured by most of American people. But Chinese people think that cheese is too irritative. Both side cannot accept the food they selected. At the end of this case, the CNN reporters said sorry to Chinese people, but he said he would not eat the preserved egg.Analyses:This is a typical case reflects that different culture influences different people, and when they have to communicate, they have conflict.As we all know, different food depends on different place,different habits, different climate, and some other factors.For western people, eating is a kind of rational concept, they should getenough nutrition from the food they eat every day. They don't care the taste too much. From Los Angeles to New York, the beefsteak has only one kind of taste. But for perceptual Chinese people, eating is not only a process to get nutrition, but also is a kind of art to get satisfaction. They would make the food not only beautiful, but also very delicious.For Chinese people, maybe they can accept the taste of the cheese, but they can't like it, because they don't like this kind of food in their deep heart. Also, they can't accept that foreign people said the preserved egg is the most lousy food. In their mind, the preserved egg, like other foods they like, has nutrition and beautiful image together. For western people, the cheese, is also this kind of good food for them. So, this case happened in their communications. This conflict showed that, different countries have different culture. We should try to accept these differences, do our favours.By susan。
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Case 1 Girl-nessAs a visiting professor in an American university, Zhang Hua was invited to give a lecture to a group of American students. He talked about university students in China. During the question-and-answer period after the lecture, one female student asked a question that surprised Zhang Hua. “When you talked about female students, you referred to them as girls. Why?”“Because they are girls. That’s what they are called,” Zhang Hua tried to answer, but he knew he did not really understand the intent of the question. “ I don’t quite understand your question, I’m afraid.”“In the States, we call ourselves ‘ women’ if we’re old enough to go to the university. Calling us ‘girls’ is insulting.”Do Chinese female college students prefer to be called women?Case 2Many years ago, a Chinese man showed a photo of his wife to some American visitors. Out of courtesy, they all said,” She is very beautiful.” Also out of courtesy, the man replied with what he would have done in Chinese under the circumstance,” Where! Where!” Quite taken aback, nobody said anything for a moment, until the most ingenious one among the visitors, taking another look at the photo, said, “Oh, everywhere!”What did the Chinese intend to mean by replying with “ Where! Where!”?Case 1 Girl-nessAs a visiting professor in an American university, Zhang Hua was invited to give a lecture to a group of American students. He talked about university students in China. During the question-and-answer period after the lecture, one female student asked a question that surprised Zhang Hua. “When you talked about female students, you referred to them as girls. Why?”“Because they are girls. That’s what they are called,” Zhang Hua tried to answer, but he knew he did not really understand the intent of the question. “I don’t quite understand your question, I’m afraid.”“In the States, we call ourselves ‘women’if we’re old enough to go to the university. Calling us ‘girls’ is insulting.”Do Chinese female college students prefer to be called women?Case 2Many years ago, a Chinese man showed a photo of his wife to some American visitors. Out of courtesy, they all said,” She is very beautiful.” Also out of courtesy, the man replied with what he would have done in Chinese under the circumstance,”Where! Where!”Quite taken aback, nobody said anything for a moment, until the most ingenious one among the visitors, taking another look at the photo, said, “Oh, everywhere!”What did the Chinese intend to mean by replying with “ Where! Where!”?Case 3 “I Just Wanted to Talk”.Wu tong was a graduate student in a Chinese university. Like many students these days, he was very keen on learning English. He would talk with English speakers as often as he could.One day, he saw a new foreigner on campus, Leonard Ramsay, and overheard him speaking English. When Mr. Ramsay finished speaking with the other person, he turned to go, but Wu Tong stopped him. He went up and said, “ You speak English, is that right?”“Yes, why?”“I’d like to practise my English with you, if you don’t mind.”Mr. Ramsay looked a little annoyed. “ I prefer not to, if you don’t mind.”Case 4 An Unwanted Food ServiceDuring a lunch buffet at a conference in China, Wu Fa, the interpreter of the conference, sat with four foreign participants. They were having a good time talking. When Wu Fa stood up for more food, she asked whether she could bring anything back for them.Everyone thanked her and said “no”. A while later, Wu Fa came back with a plate full of food, and asked whether the others would like to have something from her plate.Again, the four others said , “No”.“ Oh, please take something, I can’t eat this much food myself.”The foreigners shrugged and one or two of them even frowned a little.Case 5 Simple Can Be SpecialWen Hong had an American professor in her economics class in China. She had given the professor a lot of help during the course. At the end of the semester,the professor and his wife invited her to their home for dinner. They said they were going to cook her an American meal.Wen Hong felt very flattered and excited,since McDonald,KFC and Pizza Hut had been her only exposure to Western cooking.They had salad to start with,then steak with potatoes,followed by ice cream. Wen Hong had expected more courses but the meal came to an end. She knew the professor and his wife were being kind to her,but somehow she was a little disappointed. She wondered whether Americans do eat like that at home.Case 6 Chinese Coffee CustomsWhile studying in the United States, Lin Jun made a few American friends. One day he invited two of them to his apartment and cooked them a meal. When his friendssaid they would like some coffee, he started boiling some water. Without asking them any questions, he made three cups of 3-in-1 coffee, the way he usually took it.Both friends tasted the coffee and frowned. One said she always took coffee black,the other said he preferred to have less sugar in his coffee. They also told him that the spoon is for stirring the coffee,not to drink from like he did. Lin Jun was embarrassed. He had thought that everyone drank coffee the same way as he did. Case 7 Noise from NoodlesJane and Peter were Chen Dong’s landlord and landlady when he was in the States. They had bee good friends by the end of his one-year stay. They kept in touch with each other after Chen Dong returned to China. Jane and Peter decided to visit China soon after Chen Dong left the States.They made a special stop in Guangzhou where Chen Dong lives. Chen Dong had promised to show them around the city and let them try some authentic Cantonese food. One thing,in particular,he wanted them to try was noodles. He knew several restaurants that served good noodles and took the couple to one of them for lunch one day.Noodles typically e in soup in Cantonese cooking. Chen Dong started eating the noodles with chopsticks,while Jane and Peter exchanged a look at the noise that came with his eating. After a little hesitation,they asked for forks. A waitress told them that they did not have forks,and Chen Dong explained that noodle restaurants do not usually keep forks because no one would think of using forks for noodles.In the next half an hour,Jane and Peter had a hard time trying to roll the long noodles onto their chopsticks. Chen Dong said,“that’s not the way we eat noodles. You put the noodles directly to your mouth with your chopsticks.”“But that’s not the way we eat noodles,” Jane and Peter said, frowning. Case 8 Dinner in a Chinese HomeBesides taking Peter and Jane to restaurants, Dong Chen also invited them to his home for dinner once. Dong Chen ‘s mother is a nice wife, and made eight courses for four of them.“I'm sorry there isn’t much for dinner, she said.”“God this is much more than enough food,” Jane said. Peter was too overwhelmed to even respond to Dong Chen‘ motherDong Chen was a little embarrassed. “This is what we usually say to guests,even though there’s plenty of food” he explained.What bewildered Jane and Peter most was that though Dong Chen’s mother kept saying that the food was not good,she constantly served helpings to Jane and Peter.Peter did not like two of the courses very much,and felt bad that his plate was full with whatever he would not be able to eat. At seeing Dong Chen's mother’s next move to serve him food,he said in a begging voice,“Please don’t give me any more food.Let me do it myself.Case 9A Not-sociable DrinkMartin was sent by an American pany to work in a special economic development zone in China for a year. He became very friendly with a few Chinese colleagues. Soon, he started to go out with them. He noticed that Chinese like to have something , such as peanuts, when they have beer, instead of just drinking beer without anything to eat as many North Americans do.One day he was invited to a dinner party to celebrate a colleague’s birthday. They ordered alcoholic beverages and toasted the guest of honor frequently. Soon Martin realized that the plan was to get their friend drunk. Each colleague would offer a toast, concluding with a cheery “ gan bei!” and tried to get Martin to join in, even though he was unwilling to do it. Martin didn’t think it a good idea, and tried to talk them out of the game. However, he was accused of not being a good friend for not co-operating.Martin remained an outsider during the rest of the dinner. He was getting increasingly worried as he watched the poor guest bee increasingly inebriated.Case 10 A Misunderstanding at a Dinner TableRoger was a student majoring in East Asia Studies in an American university. He started an correspondence with Zhang Li, a sociology major in China, who was introduced to him through a mutual friend.Upon graduation, Roger got a big gift from his grandfather. Grandpa would pay for a round-trip ticket to China. He told Zhang Li the good news, and the two decided to meet.Zhang Li decided to give Roger a very special wele: she and the three women students in her dormitory would cook him an authentic Chinese meal, as Roger had told her that he loved Chinese food.However, when Roger was presented the dinner, he was almost terrified by some of the food: pork stomach soup, pig liver with ginger and spring onion, chicken with mushrooms in which the chicken had been cut to pieces with bones attached to the meal.Fortunately , there were courses like tofu, stirred fried beef, steamed fish and vegetables that Roger loved. He tried to stick to them but Zhang Li kept putting food he did not like on his plate. When she asked how he liked the liver, Roger said, “ It’s very unusual…and interesting. “ This seemed to make Zhang Li happy. And she gave him more liver. Roger tried to stop her, but she would not be stopped. Roger was so frustrated that he told her that he did not really like it that much. “ But you said it was unusual and interesting!”Zhang Li said. “ Well, they both mean something less than positive,” Roger said carefully, trying not to hurt their feelings.Zhang Li and her friends became concerned at this.”“So you don’t like the food?” I’m not used to eating liver, that’s all. But I do like the chicken, the beef, the tofu, and the vegetables. I have had more than enough to eat. I never make this much food at home,” Roger was eager to let them know how much he appreciated their effort. “Trust me, I’m enjoying the food. I know what I like.”Having said that, he found a piece of chicken that was less bony, held it in his hand to eat it, and then licked his fingers. Zhang Li and her friends looked at each other in shock.It was not a perfect first meeting for either Zhang Li or Roger.Case 11 Over-dressed TouristsAs a van stopped in front of Niagara Falls, a group of Chinese officials streamed out. They were dressed in suits and ties, wearing leather shoes. Many of the men also had left the manufacture’s tag on the sleeve of their suit jacket. As they wandered around Niagara Falls, some of them started to smoke. Their attire drew the stares of North American tourists, some of whom quietly laughed with their friends and pointed at the Chinese visitors. Others frowned at seeing the smoking and shook their heads in disapproval.Case 12 Tie CultureJane was a tourist and spent some time staying with a Chinese friend at her home. They watched a children’s porgram while having breakfast one morning. A young man, the host of the program, gave instructions of a game to a few children, and then joined them running in a circle.“My, he’s wearing a tie and running crazy with the children!” Jane exclaimed.The Chinese friend shrugged,”Is this very unusual?”Case 13 An American in ChinaProfessor Smith and his assistant,Chen Ming,were doing fieldwork in a small city in China. It was hot and humid, and both were casually dressed. One evening as they were leaving for dinner,a local administrator told them that the mayor of the city, who was interested in the type of research they were doing, would like to say hello to Professor Smith. As luck would have it,the Mayor was dining in the same restaurant as Smith and Chen Ming.Professor Smith said he had to go back to his room to change.“You look fine,e on,the mayor is waiting,”the administrator said.“No, I can’t meet the mayor in my shorts”Case 14 The Generosity of a Chinese StudentMatt was invited to a Chinese university to give a few lectures. During his short stay there, a graduate student volunteered to show him around the city. Matt accepted the offer gratefully. It was summer and soon both Matt and the graduate student began to get quite hot. While Matt took some pictures, the graduate student went to buy some drinks.“Thank you. How much do I owe you?” Matt asked.“Nothing.” The student smiled.“ Are you sure?”“Yes.”At lunchtime, Matt suggested they have a quick meal. They stopped by a McDonald. Again, the graduate student tried to pay for Matt.“No, this is my treat. You’re a student, I’m a professor. You’ve given me the time to show me around. You already paid for my drink. I can’t let you pay for my lunch again.”Case 15 A Gift from a Chinese StudentXie Dong did his graduate study in an American university. He came back to China for summer vacation. When he went back to his program, he paid his supervisor a visit and presented him a gift.The professor opened the gift. It was a ginseng with its many tiny roots spreading out in a very artistic pattern. It clearly was an expensive gift.The professor’s eyes shone at the ginseng, but he then began to feel uneasy. “Xie Dong, I appreciate your kindness, but I can’t take this as a gift.”“ Why? Don’t you like it?” It was Xie Dong’s turn to be uneasy now.“ Oh, sure, I love it. But I can’t accept it.”“Why?”“ Because I didn’t do anything to deserve such a gift.”Case 16 Telephone CourtesyKathy and David, a couple from the US, signed a one-year contract to work in China. Both were extroverted and soon made some Chinese friends.Before long, people started calling them at home. David was sometimes away on business trips for a few days, and if someone looked for him, Kathy often would find the conversation awkward.“ Where did he go?” The caller typically would ask.“Can I pass on any message?” Kathy asked politely, trying to avoid the question.“Is he out of town?” The caller was usually very persistent.“Yes, can I help you in any way?” Kathy tried to be polite, but she could not help feeling unfortable.Case 17 “Not So Close, Please”He Jia had lived in the United States for 7 years before she came back to work in China. She found that she had bee accustomed to social habits in North America and that some Chinese behaviours now caused her some disfort. For example, one day, back in China, she was in a queue to use an ATM. She had noticed that people were standing very close to each other. In fact, the person behind her could, if she or he wanted, to see her enter the PIN of her ATM card. He Jia wanted to make people aware of the disfort of the user by keeping her distance from the person in front of her. However, the people behind her pushed her to move forward.Case 18 The Privacy of the PageSimon and Cheng Feng often studied together to prepare for exams. One day, in the middle of a study session, Simon said he wanted to get a coffee. He asked Cheng Feng if he wanted any, but he said, “No”. When he came back, he found Cheng Feng reading his notes. He was upset and, although he didn’t say anything at the time, he never studied with Cheng Feng again. Cheng Feng noticed the change and wondered what had happened.Case19 The Privacy of PhotographsRose invited Lili to her home one day. While they were having coffee, Rose showed Lili a few pictures of her boyfriend in a photo album. Lili casually turned to other pages after that.Rose stopped her, “I’d rather you not look at other pictures.”Lili was embarrassed, and apologized, “I’m sorry.”Case 20 The Privacy of PriceAfter living in the States for some time, Ping Li observed that Americans like to ment on each other’s looks and clothes. So when she saw a fellow graduatestudent wearing a nice dress at a party, she plimented her by saying. “This is a very beautiful dress.”“Oh thank you , I bought it last year before Christmas ,”the student very pleased. “How much was it?” Ping Li asked.“Well I don’t quite remember,” the student seemed unprepared for thequestion, and answered a little hesitatingly.Case 21 The Privacy of the PersonZou Qing and Nancy became friends after they met in a course they both took.Nancy had had gray hair much earlier than people of the same age,and had been dyeing her hair for several years.While they were having a break one day in between two classes, and Zou Qing noticed that Nancy had some invisible gray hair on her. She told her so, but Nancy changed the topic right away.When everyone else left,Nancy said to Zou Qing,“Please don’t mention my gray hair while there were men around.”Case 22 Unacceptable CuriosityMr and Mrs Peterson came to China with a tour group. One evening, they decided to take a walk outside their hotel. They soon noticed that quite a few people stared at them. One man even quickly walked past them and then turned back to look at them several times. Both Mr and Mrs Peterson felt unfortable about the staring and went back to the hotel sooner than they had planned.Case 23 Confusion in municating LoveLe, a Chinese woman, and Bill, an American man, were very much in love. Their relationship started with their shared interest in photography. As time went on, however, Le became dependent on Bill whenever she wanted to take a picture, because she felt that Bill was a much better photographer than she was. Whenever she noticed a scene that would make a good image, she would ask Bill to take the picture for her. Bill was not very pleased but did not say anything for a while. However, Le soon got to a point where she began to ask Bill to load and unload the film. Bill decided that it was too much for him to bear. He exploded, “What’s the matter with you? Don’t you know how to load and unload a film? Can’t you take a picture any more?”Le was so shocked that she burst into tears. “I ask you to do things only because you do it better than me. What’s wrong with that?”Case24 Unwanted AttentionTeresa is a Chinese American teaching English temporarily at a Chinese university. She is very easy going, and soon the students got to know her well enough to invite her out regularly.Crossing the very busy and wide streets in the city was a scary experience for Teresa, and she plained of it repeatedly. As a result, the female students began to try to help her by taking her hand or grasping her arm while the male students seemed to be shy about protecting her.Teresa was unfortable with her female students touching her, and told the women they did not need to do it. Her female students thought she was being polite and continued to take care of her the same way. Teresa became so unfortable that she tried to move away from her female students whenever they had to cross the road.Case 25 Holding HandsChris was a visiting professor in China. On one day, one of his students, Sun Hui, showed him around the city. Sun Hui soon noticed that Chris was interested in taking pictures of men that were walking arm-in-arm or touching each other when they talked.“ I don’t see anything special about those men,” Sun Hui said curiously.“ Well, we don’t see much of that in men in the States,” Chris said,“ They’re gay, aren’t they?”Case 26 Friendship MisunderstoodYan Hong was a Chinese painter who immigrated to the United States. She met Jenny, an American physician in a club one day. They soon became friends, and sometimes went out for coffee and lunch together.One day, Jenny gave Yan Hong a very beautiful vase. Yan Hong loved the vase very much, and felt she should give Jenny something in return. So she gave Jenny a painting she brought from China. Jenny was very pleased.A few days later, Jenny invited Yan Hong to her home for the first time. They made dinner together and enjoyed the meal a lot. Then they sat down to watch TV. When Jenny tentatively held Yan Hong’s hand, Yan Hong was not aware of anything unusual. However, when Jenny sat closer to her and kissed her, Yan Hong was terrified. She pushed Jenny away and cried, “ I’m not a lesbian!”Jenny was in shock, and asked accusingly, “ Then why didn’t you tell me earlier?”Case 27 Learning about FlirtingChen Qing was a visiting scholar in an American university. He had made some friends with professors and students there. One day he went to a party where the atmosphere became less and less inhibited. Chen Qing noticed that men and womentouched each other a lot more than he was used to. At the end of the party, most people hugged each other good-bye. One woman came to hug Chen Qing, but he stiffened as she attempted to give him a hug. He had never hugged any women except his wife in his life. Other women noticed this, and no one else tried to hug him.However, Chen Qing felt left out when people hugged each other but not him. He found himself in a very awkward situation: he didn’t want to be hugged, neither did he want to be left out. He did not know what he wanted or how to resolve his conflicting emotions.Case28 Lost in LoveLi Ying fell in love with an American man in her second year in the United States. They spent a lot of time together. After they had been to all the places of interest in the city, they had to decide where to go or what to do for the next date. John typically would ask Li Ying, “ What do you want to do today?” , or “ Where shall we go?”Li Ying would sometimes tell what she wanted, but more often than not, she would say “It’s up to you”, or “ Whatever you want to do”, or “ Wherever you want to go.”John frowned at such responses several times until one day when Li Ying said “ up to you” again. “For God’s sake, tell me what you want to do!” He cried out loud.Li Ying was shocked at his reaction. “ Isn’t it clear to you? I’ll do what you want to do.”“ No, it isn’t clear at all. I want to know what you want to do!” John was almost angry. “ Don’t you realize that sometimes I want to do what you want to do, too?”Case 29 Lovers Bee StrangersXiao Xin and Peter are newly-weds. Though they spent a lot of time with each other before getting married, they never really lived together. Not surprisingly, their marriage was followed by a series of minor problems while they tried to adjust to each other’s ways of life. One difficult issue came up about two months after their new life, when Peter came home from work looking unhappy.“ What happened?” Xiao Xin asked.“Nothing much, I’m just very tired,” Peter said.“I can tell that it’s more than that.”Peter gave Xiao Xin a quiet look, went into the bedroom, and threw himself to bed. Xiao Xin followed him in. “Don’t you want to talk about it?”“No, I don’t.”“Perhaps I can help?” Xiao Xin suggested.“ Xiao Xin, sometimes you just have to give me some space. All I need now is some privacy!” Peter yelled.Xiao Xin was in shock. “Don’t you trust me?”“Geez, it’s not a matter of trust! Can’t you accept the fact that talking to you isn’t the solution to every one of my problems?” Peter was being frustrated and impatient.Xiao Xin was in tears. Her husband seemed to have bee a stranger to her.Case 30 A Gift of SelfZhang Ge and Simon were head over heels in love with each other. They decided to go away to spend a major holiday somewhere. It was winter time, so they flew south in search of sunshine and warm water.However, Simon developed diarrhea soon after they settled in a hotel. He felt weak and had to lie down for a rest. Zhang Ge was worried and stayed him in the room. Outside the window, the sun was shining, and they could hear the surf. The sun and beach is what they had dreamed about for months during the winter back home.“Go and have some fun,” Simon said to Zhang Ge.“ How can I go and have fun while you’re sick in bed?”“Why not, it’s not your fault that I’m sick. Besides, there’s nothing you can do here.”“Nonsense! I can keep your pany, and you’ll feel better with me around you.”“Are you sure you want to do this instead of going out?”“Yes, I’m sure. I won’t go without you.”“Oh, you’re so special. I love you so much!” Simon drew Zhang Ge near and kissed her.Case 31 A Close GirlfriendLiu Hong and Wu Xin have been good friends since they were young girls. Both eventually had the opportunity to study in the United States, although they ended up in two different cities. After their first year of hard work, they decided to do some traveling together. Liu Hong went to stay with Wu Xin for two days before they set off. Then they visited three cities over the next 10 days.Liu Hong came back from the trip and told her American friends about the trip. She casually mentioned that they had to share one bed in one particular motel.“ Oh, did you?” , said one of the friends in a tone that made Liu Hong feel unfortable.Case 32 Interpreting a Smile. Peter is the general manager of an American pany in China. Recently, Chen Jun, one of the Chinese managers made a mistake at work that caused some difficulties that required a lot of effort to fix. Chen Jun was very upset about what had happened, and came to Peter’s office to make a formal apology.Chen Jun went into Peter’s office after being told to, smiling before he spoke. “ Peter, I’ve been feeling very upset about the trouble I’ve caused for the pany. I’m here to apologize for the mistake. I’m terribly sorry about it and I want you to know that it will never happen again.” Chen Jun said, looking at Peter with the smile he had been wearing since he walked into the office.Peter found it hard to accept the apology. He looked at Chen Jun, and asked, “ are you sure?”“ Yes, I’m very sorry and I promise this won’t happen again,” Chen Jun said, with a smile even broader than before.“I’m sorry I just can’t take your apology. You don’t look sorry at all!” Peter said angrily.Chen Jun’s face turned very red. He did not in the least expect Peter to take it negatively. He was desperate to make himself understood. “ Peter, ” he managed to smile again, “ trust me, no one can feel any more sorry than I do about it.”Peter was almost furious by now, “ if you’re that sorry, how can you still smile?”Case33 Interpreting a LaughHuihua, a Chinese student, and Mary , an American student studying Chinese in China, were on their way to a bookstore. As they got to the bookstore, they saw a young man walking down a flight of stairs. In his hurry, he missed the last two steps, and fell on the ground. He struggled to get back to his feet while people around him laughed. Fortunately, he seemed to be O.K.Mary was worried. She found Huihua smiling a little and was not fortable about it. Tell me, Huihua, how could people laugh when someone fell like that? Do they care at all? Shouldn’t they go up and ask the young man whether he was hurt?”Huihua said, “ they knew he wasn’t hurt too much.”-“ But I still don’t understand. A fall is a fall. In my culture, people would do anything but laugh!”Case 34 Different Lunch BoxesPeter was one of the American technicians who came to China to help set up a coffee plant. He was in China for six months.Before leaving for home,one of his Chinese colleagues took him out to dinner. Peter decided to ask him a question that had puzzled him for as long as he worked in the plant.Why is it that the Chinese workers have stainless boxes for their lunch,while us foreigners have lunch put in the disposable plastic boxes?”The Chinese colleague smiled,“It’s because the plastic boxes are more convenient;they are disposable.With the stainless boxes, you have to wash them after every meal.”But Peter was not convinced.“I don’t think so.Stainless boxes are much better than plastic boxes.They look more professional, they are more durable, and they protect your lunch better.可修编。