跨文化交际的障碍及克服策略
跨文化交际中的语言与文化冲突解决策略

跨文化交际中的语言与文化冲突解决策略随着全球化的加速发展,跨文化交际变得越来越普遍。
不同国家、地区的人们经常面对语言和文化上的差异,这就导致了跨文化交际中的语言与文化冲突。
如何有效地解决这些冲突成为了日益重要的课题。
本文将探讨一些跨文化交际中的语言与文化冲突解决策略。
一、培养跨文化意识及相互尊重跨文化交际中,了解对方的语言和文化差异是解决冲突的首要步骤。
了解对方的语言习惯、礼节和价值观能够减少误解和冲突的发生。
此外,培养跨文化意识也能够使我们更加包容,尊重他人的差异,减少文化冲突的发生。
二、善于倾听与沟通在跨文化交际中,倾听和沟通是解决冲突的关键。
我们应该注重倾听对方的观点和意见,尊重他人的表达方式。
在沟通过程中,我们可以使用非语言交际方式,比如肢体语言和面部表情等,来更好地理解对方的意图和情感。
此外,使用简单清晰的语言表达自己的意思,避免使用复杂难懂的词汇,有助于有效沟通和解决冲突。
三、灵活运用语言策略在跨文化交际中,我们也需要灵活运用语言策略来解决冲突。
首先,我们可以使用直接表达方式,明确地表达自己的观点和需求,避免产生误解和隐含的冲突。
其次,我们可以使用委婉的语言方式来化解冲突,避免伤害对方的感情。
最后,对于文化禁忌和敏感话题,我们应该避免谈论或使用相关词汇,以免引发冲突。
四、增强文化适应能力在跨文化交际中,增强自己的文化适应能力也是解决冲突的关键。
我们应该积极学习目标文化的语言、价值观和行为准则,尽可能地适应对方的文化背景。
此外,在处理冲突时,我们应该注重尊重对方的文化习惯,避免强加自己的观点和要求。
五、寻求第三方帮助在某些情况下,如果无法自行解决语言与文化冲突,我们可以寻求第三方的帮助。
第三方可以是一个熟悉双方文化背景的人,或者一位专业的翻译和解决冲突的咨询师。
他们可以提供中立的观点和建议,帮助双方更好地解决冲突。
六、培养跨文化交际能力最后,要解决跨文化交际中的语言与文化冲突,我们需要不断培养自己的跨文化交际能力。
跨文化交际中的语言障碍与沟通策略

跨文化交际中的语言障碍与沟通策略跨文化交际是指不同文化背景下的人们之间进行交流和互动的过程。
在这个过程中,语言障碍经常成为一个重要的阻碍因素,影响着沟通的效果和交流的质量。
本文将探讨跨文化交际中的语言障碍产生的原因,并提出一些有效的沟通策略,以帮助人们更好地进行跨文化交际。
一、语言障碍的原因语言障碍是指由于不同文化背景下使用的语言差异、语音、发音和语法规则等方面的差异而导致的交流困难。
具体原因可以分为以下几点:1. 词汇和语法差异:不同语言之间的词汇和语法规则的差异是产生语言障碍的最主要原因之一。
例如,在英语中,形容词通常出现在名词的前面,而在中文中则相反。
这种差异容易导致双方的理解和表达存在困难。
2. 语音和发音差异:不同语言之间的语音和发音差异也是造成语言障碍的原因之一。
例如,英语中的/θ/(“th”音)在一些非英语母语者中发音困难,这可能导致双方之间的交流困难和误解。
3. 文化认知差异:不同文化对于某些事物的认知和理解也可能导致语言障碍。
具体表现在不同文化背景下,某些词汇、习惯用语以及象征性语言的理解和运用有所差异。
二、沟通策略为了克服跨文化交际中的语言障碍,改善沟通效果,我们可以采取以下策略:1. 学习对方语言和文化:为了更好地进行跨文化交际,学习对方的语言和文化是至关重要的。
通过学习对方的语言,我们可以更好地理解对方的意思,并提高自己的表达能力。
对于文化方面的理解,可以帮助我们更好地把握对方的思维方式和交流习惯。
2. 明确表达意图:在进行跨文化交际时,应尽量使用简单、清晰、直接的语言表达自己的意图。
避免使用过于复杂或隐晦的表达方式,以减少误解的发生。
3. 倾听和询问:倾听对方的意见和观点是很重要的,这样可以更好地了解对方的想法,并及时纠正自己可能存在的偏差或误解。
同时,在不确定对方意图时,可以恰当地提出询问以确保自己的理解准确。
4. 使用非语言交流手段:在跨文化交际中,除了语言表达外,还可以借助非语言交流手段增加沟通效果。
跨文化交际中的文化差异及应对策略

跨文化交际中的文化差异及应对策略跨文化交际是指在不同国家、不同文化背景下进行沟通交流的过程,是现代社会中越来越普遍的社交方式。
然而,由于不同文化背景下的价值观、信仰、习惯等因素的不同,跨文化交际中常常出现文化差异,这些文化差异会对交流的效果产生影响。
因此,如何正确地应对跨文化交际中的文化差异成为了跨文化交际者需要熟悉和掌握的重要技能。
一、文化差异对跨文化交际的影响跨文化交际中的文化差异主要表现在以下几个方面:1. 语言差异。
不同文化之间的语言差异是跨文化交际中最直观、最普遍的差异之一,常常因为语言语法的不同导致交流效果不佳。
2. 习惯差异。
不同文化之间的习惯差异包括饮食习惯、礼仪习惯、礼节习惯等,常常容易给彼此带来不便和尴尬。
3. 信仰差异。
不同文化之间的信仰差异包括宗教信仰、精神信仰等,可能会导致在文化储备不足的情况下出现误解和冲突。
4. 价值观差异。
不同文化之间的价值观差异主要体现在思想观念、道德观念、法律和政治制度等方面,如果不了解对方的价值观,可能会导致交流中出现障碍。
文化差异对跨文化交际的影响主要表现在以下几个方面:1. 误解和冲突。
由于对方文化的不了解,可能会导致误解和冲突。
2. 沟通效果不佳。
由于文化差异导致语言和意图的误解,暂时性的交流效果可能不够理想。
3. 没有文化共鸣。
由于文化差异,可能会导致交流双方没有文化共鸣,不懂对方的文化,难以建立友谊。
4. 破坏商业合作。
不同文化之间的商业合作如果不了解对方文化,可能会导致商业交流中的文化冲突和误解,从而破坏了商业合作。
二、跨文化交际中的应对策略跨文化交际中最重要的任务就是如何正确地应对不同文化之间的差异,以下是几种常用的应对策略:1. 了解对方的文化背景。
在进行跨文化交际之前,了解对方的文化背景是非常有意义的,可以帮助交流双方更好地了解对方,避免不必要的交流误解。
2. 听取对方的意见。
在进行跨文化交际时,要注重倾听对方的意见,避免一味的表达自己的观点,而忽视对方文化的影响。
跨文化交际的挑战和策略

跨文化交际的挑战和策略1. 引言跨文化交际是当今全球化时代中必不可少的一项能力。
由于全球化的加速发展,人们跨越国界、语言、文化进行交流成为一种常态。
然而,跨文化交际中也存在许多挑战,尤其是不同文化之间的沟通、理解和尊重。
本文将探讨跨文化交际的挑战,并提出相应的策略以应对这些挑战。
2. 跨文化交际的挑战2.1 语言障碍语言是跨文化交际中最常见的挑战之一。
不同国家和民族有着独特的语言和口音,并且在语法、发音、词汇等方面存在差异。
这导致在交际过程中经常出现交流不畅、误解甚至冲突的情况。
2.2 礼貌与行为差异不同文化对礼貌和行为的定义和要求也不尽相同。
例如,一些西方国家认为直接表达观点是诚实而恰当的,而一些亚洲国家则更注重避免造成尴尬和冲突,更倾向于间接表达。
2.3 价值观冲突不同文化对于道德、伦理和价值观有不同的理解和重视。
例如,西方文化强调个人权利和自由,而东方文化则更强调集体和家庭关系的重要性。
这样的差异往往导致在交际中出现误解和矛盾。
3. 应对跨文化交际的策略3.1 学习对方语言和文化知识学习对方的语言和文化,尽可能地了解他们的习俗、价值观念和社会准则。
这有助于我们更好地理解并尊重对方的差异,进一步促进交流和沟通。
3.2 提升跨文化沟通能力跨文化交际需要更高水平的沟通能力。
我们需要学会倾听、观察、理解和应对他人的观点和意见。
此外,还应学会适当地使用非语言交际,如面部表情、手势和眼神等,以增加沟通的准确性和清晰度。
3.3 尊重和包容多元文化我们应该尊重和欣赏不同的文化,对差异保持开放的心态。
不同的文化背景带来了丰富多样的经验和观点,正是这种多样性推动了人类社会的进步和发展。
3.4 适应与调整当我们参与跨文化交际时,可能需要适应新的环境和文化,主动调整自己的言行举止以适应对方文化的特点。
这并不意味着我们要完全放弃自己的文化和价值观,而是要灵活、开放地应对变化。
4. 结论跨文化交际的挑战是不可避免的,但通过采取适当的策略,我们可以有效地应对这些挑战。
中美跨文化交际中的文化障碍与沟通策略探讨

中美跨文化交际中的文化障碍与沟通策略探讨随着全球化的不断推进,中美两个大国之间的文化交流越来越频繁,但随之而来的是跨文化交际中文化障碍的出现。
本文旨在探讨中美跨文化交际中的文化障碍与沟通策略,以期能够减轻由此带来的影响。
一、文化障碍的类型与原因中美两国有许多为人津津乐道的文化差异,如社交礼仪的不同、思维方式的差异、人际关系的处理方式等等。
这些文化差异给跨文化交际带来了许多挑战,并可能导致文化障碍的出现。
1. 语言障碍中美两国之间有显著的语言差异,双方的语言表达方式、口音和习惯用语都不尽相同。
例如,在英语中,“okay”是一种表示同意或确认的词汇,而在中文中则没有这样的用法。
这种语言障碍可能会导致双方的意思无法传达清晰,进而可能产生误解或者冲突。
2. 社交礼仪不同中美两国的社交礼仪也有很大的不同,例如在美国,人们更加讲究直白和个人的表达,而在中国,则更加看重尊重礼仪和人际关系。
在跨文化交际中,如果不理解对方的社交礼仪,可能造成尴尬和误解,甚至会引发冲突。
3. 价值观不同在中美两国的文化中,人们的价值观也有很大差异。
例如,在中国,重视集体利益和家庭传统;而在美国,则更加强调个人的独立思考和自主选择。
这种差异可能会在思维方式、决策方式和处理方式等方面产生误解和分歧。
4. 思维方式差异中美两国的文化背景、历史和环境等方面的差异,也使得两国人的思维方式有所不同。
例如,在中国文化中,人们更加强调细节和整体之间的联系;而在美国文化中,人们更加注重个体和集体之间的平衡。
这种思维方式的差异也会产生跨文化交际中的障碍。
二、沟通策略的探讨中美两国之间的文化障碍在跨文化交际中是一种普遍存在的问题。
因此,需要通过合适的沟通策略来缓解这种文化障碍,避免误解和冲突。
1. 学习对方的文化了解对方的文化背景和价值观是减少文化冲突的关键。
在跨文化交际中,了解对方文化的方法包括学习对方的语言、文化礼仪、思维方式和价值观等。
这样一来,就能更好地理解对方的行为和表达,并避免产生误解和冲突。
跨文化交际中的主要障碍及对策

跨文化交际中的主要障碍及对策摘要:随着经济全球化的发展,中国与外界的交往日益频繁,跨文化交际问题受到了外语界乃至整个社会前所未有的重视。
不同的民族有着不同的文化,不同的文化必然存在有文化的差异,因此可能会导致种种的交际失误。
所以,研究跨文化交际中的障碍问题,以及如何有效地解决,清除这种障碍对于中国的外语教学和社会经济文化生活具有极为重要的现实意义。
本文从跨文化交际的内涵和意义入手,分析和探讨了跨文化交际中存在的主要障碍,并通过对跨文化交际实例的分析,阐述了障碍产生的原因和消极影响,最后提出了如何克服这些障碍,实现有效的跨文化沟通的基本策略。
通过掌握这些策略,可以逐步提高我们的跨文化意识,成功地进行跨文化交际。
关键词:跨文化交际;障碍;策略CONTENTSIntroduction: (1)1.Intercultural Communication (1)1.1 Communication (1)1.1.1 Definition of Communication (1)1.1.2 Components of Communication (1)1.1.3 Characteristics of Communication (2)1.2 Culture (3)1.2.1 Definition of Culture (3)1.2.2 Components of Culture (3)1.2.3 Characteristics of Culture (3)1.3 Intercultural Communication (4)1.3.1 Definition of Intercultural Communication (4)1.3.2 The Development of Intercultural Communication (5)1.3.3 The Study of Intercultural Communication (5)2. Obstacles to Intercultural Communication (6)2.1 Assuming Similarity (7)2.1.1 Definition of Assuming Similarity (7)2.1.2 The Performance of Assuming Similarity (7)2.1.3 The Forming Reason of Assuming Similarity (8)2.2 Stereotypes (9)2.2.1 Definition of Stereotypes (9)2.2.2 The Performance of Stereotypes (9)2.2.3 The Impact of Stereotypes (10)2.3 Ethnocentrism (11)2.3.1 Definition of Ethnocentrism (11)2.3.2 The Performance of Ethnocentrism (11)2.3.3 The Impact of Ethnocentrism (13)3. Strategies for Coping With The Obstacles (14)3.1 Knowing Yourself (14)3.1.1 Know Your Culture (14)3.1.2 Know Your Personal Attitudes (15)3.1.3 Know Your Communication Style (15)3.2 Knowing the Cultural Settings (16)3.2.1 Timing (16)3.2.2 Physical Setting (17)3.2.3 Customs (17)3.3 Developing Empathy (18)3.3.1 Definition of Empathy (18)3.3.2 Hindrances to Empathy (18)3.3.3 Improving Empathy (19)4. Conclusion (20)Bibliography (22)IntroductionWe are now in a world, which is sometimes referred to as a “global village”. With the rapid development of international trade, improved technologies of communication and the tendency of globalization,more and more exchanges are taking place internationally in almost every line, which may call for a better study on intercultural communication in order to help those intercultural activities result in better effects.I. Intercultural Communicationmunication1.1.1. Definition of CommunicationIt is difficult to find a single definition of human communication. Being concerned with the intercultural dimensions of communication, we assent to the definition advanced by Rubin and Stewart:”Human communication is the process through which individuals—in relationships, groups, organizations, and societies—respond to and create messages to adapt to the environment and one another (Rubin and Stewart 1998).”Communication—our ability to share our ideas and feelings—is the basis of all human contacts. Whether we live in a city in the USA, a village in India, a commune in Israel, we all participate in the same activity when we communicate. The results and the methods might be different, but the process is the same.1.1.2. Components of CommunicationAll communication contains six basic components. First is the source. A source is a sender of information. He or she could send a message with or without knowing his or her actions were communication.The second component is encoding, which describes the producing of a symbolic message. Encoding is an internal activity in which verbal and nonverbal symbols are selected and arranged. It is the process of translating an already conceived idea into a message appropriate for transmission to a receiver.The third component, a message, is the production of encoding. The message is aset of verbal and nonverbal symbols that represents the feelings and ideas of the sender. It also includes symbolic messages that the sender is totally unaware of having sent.Channel is the fourth communication component. The channel provides that necessary connection between the communication participants. The primary channels are sound and sight. The degree to which an individual relies on one channel or another is often a product of culture.Receiver is the fifth component. The receiver is the person or persons who come into contact with the message. Receivers may be those for whom the sender intended or they may be others who, for whatever reasons, come into contact with the message.Decoding is the sixth component. In the decoding process, the receiver interprets what he or she believes the source meant by the message transmitted. This operation is akin to the source’s act of encoding since it is also an internal activity—an activity often referred to as information processing.1.1.3. Characteristics of CommunicationCommunication is a dynamic process. It means that communication is an ongoing activity. It is like a motion picture, not a single snapshot. A single word or action does not stay frozen when we communicate; it is immediately replaced with yet another word or action. Once a word or an action is employed, it cannot be retracted. What is said cannot be unsaid. And what is done cannot be undone.Communication is symbolic. Humans are symbol-making creatures. We are able to generate, receive, store, and manipulate symbols. We employ symbols to share our internal states. Our words and actions are other sets of symbols through which we convey our messages, ideas and feelings to other people.Communication has a consequence. This characteristic implies that when we receive a message, something happens to us. It also means that all of our messages, in one degree or another does something to someone else. We cannot send messages without influencing other people. This is not a philosophical or metaphysical theory but a biological fact. It is impossible not to respond to the sounds and actions of others.1.2.Culture1.2.1.Definition of CultureThere are more than one hundred definitions of the English word culture offered by researchers from different perspectives. Samovar and Porter evolved a definition from the perspective of intercultural communication:Culture is the deposit of knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, attitudes, meanings, hierarchies, religion, notion of time, roles, spatial relations, concepts of the universe, and material objects and possessions acquired by a group of people in the course of generations through individual and group striving (Samovar and Porter 1991).Culture is mental programming, it tells us from early childhood what matters, what to prefer, what to avoid, and what to do. It gives us assumptions about the ideal beyond what individuals may experience. It establishes codes for behavior and provides justification and legitimization for that behavior.ponents of CultureIn spite of the lack of agreement on one definition on culture, most scholars, Chinese and foreign, seem to agree that culture includes three major aspects. Almaney and Alwan submitted three categories of culture elements:Cultures may be classified by three large categories of elements: artifacts (which include items ranging from arrowheads to hydrogen bombs, magic charms to antibiotic, torches to electric lights, and chariots to jet planes); concepts (which include such beliefs or value systems as right or wrong, God and man, ethics, and the general meaning of life); and behaviors (which refer to the actual practice of concepts or beliefs) (Rogers and Steinfatt 1999).There is an excellent example of how these three aspects might be reflected within a culture. Whereas money is considered an artifact, the value placed upon it is a concept, but the actual spending and saving of money is behavior.1.2.3.Characteristics of CultureCulture is learned. Culture is not something we are born with. From infancy on, members of a culture learn their patterns of behavior and ways of thinking until they have become internalized. People learn to think, act, feel and believe what their culture considers proper. For instance, humans need food. But what to eat, when, where and how to eat is learned. That’s why we use chopsticks while westerners prefer knife and fork, and why we like rice while Americans prefer bread.Culture is subject to change. Cultures, once formed, are stable, but are at the same time changing with the development of human society. It seldom remains constant. It is not difficult at all for us to think of examples of how social and historical events bring changes in our culture. The founding of new China, the implementation of the policy of opening to the outside world and China’s WTO entry, are all good examples.Culture is interrelated. It means that culture is composed of interrelated facets. When you touch one place of a culture, everything else is affected. The outbreak of SARS in spring 2003 in China is an illustrative example. It made its effects felt in medical systems, tourism, lifestyle, family life, government policies, environment protection and many others.Culture is invisible. Most of culture is hidden, like the part of the iceberg under water. Culture exists in the subconscious mind of people. People not only learn the cultural behaviors below the level of consciousness but also perform them almost habitually. Therefore they aren’t aware of the fact that their actions are governed by their own culture, or cultural rules.1.3.Intercultural Communication1.3.1. Definition of Intercultural CommunicationIn general terms, intercultural communication occurs when a member of one culture produces a message for consumption by a member of another culture. The formal definition given by Rogers and Steinfatt is that intercultural communication is the exchange of information between individuals who are unalike culturally(Rogers and Steinfatt 1999).This is a very broad definition, involving any type of cultural differences betweencommunication participants. They may differ in nationality, region, race, religion, status, occupation, gender, age, and many others. However, my priority of this paper is given to communication across different national cultures.1.3.2. The Development of Intercultural CommunicationIntercultural communication studies arose in the United States around the corner of the late 1950s. As an interdisciplinary subject, it has been significantly influenced by anthropology, linguistics, communication, psychology and other disciplines. In recent years, it has extended its study range from writing to thinking, from family to society, from myth to religion, from behaviors to values.In China, intercultural communication began to be seen as an independent discipline for study in the early 1980s. It was first introduced into China by some English teachers and has made remarkable progress over the years. The main reason for the university English teachers’enthusiasm in the study of intercultural communication is the shift from traditional methodology to the communicative approach in EFL in China in the late 1970s and early 1980s.As a matter of fact, intercultural communication is not a new thing, but something that has always taken place. A typical example is the famous “Silk Road” in Chinese history through which peoples of Asia, Africa and Europe interacted with each other.Nowadays, we don’t have to go abroad to interact with people of other cultures. Even at home, we can watch overseas movies, attract overseas tourists, and employ overseas teachers, and so on. Intercultural communication has become more frequent, more abundant and, therefore, more significant than ever before.1.3.3. The Study of Intercultural CommunicationIntercultural communication is becoming an important part of our daily work and life. We will conduct more and more intercultural communication, the problem we are facing is how to do it, and how to do it well. A good knowledge of a foreign language, mainly English—the most widely used language in the world today, is of course indispensable. But only the language does not ensure successful interculturalcommunication. Therefore, intercultural communication competence has become an important quality for successful individuals in today’s China.In the process of studying intercultural communication, we can understand Chinese culture better from new perspectives and learn to be aware of many cultural differences of other countries.If we are better intercultural communicators, we might do things cross culture more confidently. If each of us can better understand others who are culturally different, it will be more productive under circumstances concerned. If individuals can attain a higher degree of intercultural communication competence, they will presumably become better government officials, entrepreneurs, teachers and so forth when they are having intercultural communication activities.We study intercultural communication to communicate effectively with people from different cultures. Through the study of intercultural communication we can gain insight into different cultures. Meanwhile, it can broaden our horizons and open our minds to different perspectives and experiences. The study of intercultural communication can also awaken our cultural sensitivity and help the cultivation of an open attitude and the development of a healthy personality.II.Obstacles To Intercultural CommunicationAs we mentioned in Part One, communication is the exchange of information. The understanding of the message, verbal or nonverbal, is largely based on the communication participant’s cultural background and varies accordingly for each person.However, due to different social backgrounds, social systems, ways of thinking, norms of behaviors and customs, people may have difficulties and obstacles in communicating successfully with each other. Identification of these problems will help us to avoid or to reduce obstacles in intercultural communication. Here in this part some major obstacles to successful intercultural communication are to be discussed.There are many obstacles to intercultural communication indeed. From HuWenzhong’s point of view, who is a famous scholar in intercultural communication, the following three seem to be the most outstanding ones. They are assuming similarity, stereotypes and ethnocentrism. We are going to discuss about them in the following writing.2.1 Assuming Similarity2.1.1. Definition of Assuming SimilarityThe assumption of similarity is one of the biggest barriers in intercultural communication. It refers to the assumption that people are more similar to you than they actually are or that another person’s situation is more similar to your own situation than it in fact is (Alder 1996). For instance, a Chinese assumes his or her Japanese colleagues are more like Chinese than they actually are. Based on this assumed similarity, people often act inappropriately and ineffectively in intercultural communication.When you assume similarity between cultures you can be caught unaware of important differences. When you have no information about a different culture, you might assume there are no differences so you behave as you would in your own culture. However, each culture is different and unique to some degree.2.1.2. The Performance of Assuming SimilarityIn The Art of Crossing Cultures,Craig Storti (1990)thinks that in the process of intercultural communication, people generally experience several stages:1) Expecting others the same as themselves2) Facing gap between reality and expectation, thus resulting in cultural conflicts3) Feeling anger and fear4) Deciding to turn backThe following is an example to illustrate it. Li Ying, a Chinese student who went abroad for the first time was invited to attend a party by his American friends. He arrived on time, only to find that many people were late and dressed in a very casual way. At the party, there was only some drink and simple food, but no decent dishes.Few people there knew him, and he at last found Mark, his friend, and began to talk with him. They talked about only ten minutes before Mark said that he had to talk with another friend and left. Li Ying was very disappointed. Then, the host introduced him to a couple of people and left too. Two hours later, Li Ying left the party. When he was back at home, he was still hungry, so he had to cook some noodles himself. He decided not to take part in this kind of party again.This party was an unsuccessful intercultural communication for Li Ying. Why did he fail? It has something to do with his original ideas. In his opinion, people should arrive on time at party and should wear formal clothes, the host should prepare a lot of food and make a good arrangement for him, and Mark should talk with him all the time. Li Ying had a typical Chinese expectation for a western party. At a western party, the friends and the host, have their own things to do. Li Ying thought it was the same situation as in China and did not see the difference between Chinese and American styles in social intercourses. The lack of intercultural communication awareness and experience resulted in the failure.2.1.3. The Forming Reason of Assuming SimilarityWhen communicating with people from other cultures, the individual, assuming similarity when differences exist, is likely to treat them as” my people” and assume there is only way of doing things: that is “my” way.It is understandable that people would think the others should have roughly the same ideas as they have. As a matter of fact, each member of a society is culture bound and culture specific. Everyone in a society is unconsciously socialized into his or her society, influenced unconsciously by his or her own cultural values, world views and norms. We think the way we do, we behave the way we do, we feel the way we do. However, we must accept the facts that as cultures differ, we are unalike, and being unalike, we seldom know how people of different cultures think, behave, and feel.As we naively assume that people of other cultures are like us, we tend to automatically use the norms or rules underlying our thinking, behaving and feeling as standards to judge, evaluate and interpret the behavior or message, both verbal andnonverbal, of people of different cultures, and in doing so, misunderstanding is inevitable.People should constantly remind themselves of different cultural backgrounds and different customs. We must learn to observe the different cultures and compare the new culture with our own; only by doing so, we can gradually improve our intercultural awareness.2.2 Stereotypes2.2.1. Definition of StereotypesStereotypes are also one of the major obstacles to effective intercultural communication. The word “stereotyping” was first used by journalist Walter Lippman in 1922 to describe judgments made about others on the basis of their ethnic group membership. Today, the term is more broadly used to refer to judgments made on the basis of any group membership.Stereotypes are the perceptions or beliefs we hold about groups or individuals based on previously formed opinions and attitudes. Rapport and Overing underscore this point when they note that “stereotypes allow simplistic and fantastic claims to be made about a group’s manifold memberships, claims which are all more ambiguous and gross the higher the societal level to which the collective label is applied(Rapport and Overing 2000).”2.2.2. The Performance of StereotypesThe world we confront is too big, too complex, and too transitory to know it in all its detail. Therefore, human beings have a psychological need to categorize and classify. Stereotypes, because they tend to be convenient and expeditious, help us with classification.In stereotyping people, it is believed that all the people of a given group share the same characteristics. They simplify perception of people from different cultures. Therefore, differences existing between or among people of that group is minimized or ignored.We often meet people from different cultures, about whom we have very little knowledge. It is easy to take the short cut and employ stereotypes. For instance, if we perceive all the Chinese as polite, Americans as generous, British as cold and standoffish, or blacks as athletic, sportsmen as dimwits, blondes as empty-headed and Japanese women as best caretakers, we are stereotyping.In this manner,people tend to say, “A ll Chinese are…” or “He is an English man; therefore he must…” Such conclusions take little energy, and are free from any further serious thinking about that specific character. That may lead people to ignore the specific characteristics of an individual with a different cultural background. This is a kind of communication trap we should avoid.A tragedy in US history resulted from the stereotypes. During World War II , anti-Japanese propaganda convinced many people in the United States that the Japanese were cunning, tricky and willing to fight to the death to win. The negative stereotype was mainly formed by news accounts carried by the media about the war. However, it created an atmosphere in 1942 in which the US federal government put 110,000 citizens of Japanese ancestry into internment camps. Japanese-Americans were forced to leave their homes, with their businesses, and their possessions behind because the stereotype portrayed them as threats to their own country(Rogers and Steinfatt 1999).2.2.2. The Impact of StereotypesAdler reminds us of the harmful effect that stereotypes have on intercultural communication when she notes:”Stereotypes become counterproductive when we place people in the wrong groups, when we incorrectly describe the group norm, when we inappropriately evaluate the group or category, when we confuse the stereotype with the description of a particular individual, and when we fail to modify the stereotype based on our actual observations and experience (Alder 1996).”Stereotypes are harmful because they impede intercultural communication in at least four ways:First, stereotypes fail to specify individual characteristics. That is to say,stereotypes assume that all members of a group have exactly the same traits. As Atkinson, Morten, and Sue note,” They are rigid preconceptions which are applied to all members of a group or to an individual over a period of time, regardless of individual variations(Atkinson,Morten and Wing Su 1982).”In other words, they don’t recognize internal differences within a group, and do not recognize exceptions to its general rules or principles.Second, stereotypes also keep us from being successful as communicators because they are over-simplified, over-generalized, and exaggerated. They are based on half-truths, distortions, and often untrue premises. Therefore, they create inaccurate pictures of the people with whom we are interacting. As Guirdham posits,” Stereotype distort intercultural communication because they lead people to base their messages, their way of transmitting them, and their reception of them on false assumptions (Guirdham 1999).”Third, stereotypes tend to impede intercultural communication in that they repeat and reinforce beliefs until they often become taken for “truth.”The stereotype of women as “homemakers”often keeps women from advancing in the workplace. Women were stereotypes as a rather one dimensional group for many years.Finally, stereotypes can serve as “self-fulfilling prophecies.” Gudykunst reiterates this idea when he notes,” Stereotype can create self-fulfilling prophecies. Individuals tend to see behavior that confirms their expectations, even when it is absent (Gudykunst 2001).”Once the stereotype is in place, there is a tendency to perceive the stereotyped person engaging in behavior that corroborates your stereotype—even when the behavior is not present.2.3 Ethnocentrism2.3.1. Definition of EthnocentrismThe third major obstacle to effective intercultural communication to be discussed here is ethnocentrism. The word “ethnocentrism”is derived from two Greek words: ethnos, or “nation”; and kentron, or “center.”Sumner,used to be credited with introducing the term to the study of culture, defined ethnocentrism as “the technicalname for the view of things in which ones own group is the center of everything, and all others are scaled and rated with reference to it (Sumner 1940).”In other words, ethnocentrism refers to understanding and measuring other culture according to its own cultural concepts and standards, including people’s behavior, communication, social customs, values and other management models. Because of ethnocentrism, we tend to view our own cultural values and ways of doing things as more real, or as the “right”.2.3.2. The Performance of EthnocentrismPeople communicate to have an effect on others. They want people to believe as they believe, to look at the world as they do, to know things as they want others to know. Many of these communication objectives involve intent to influence the behaviors of others, to persuade them to a certain point of view. When some members of a culture negatively judge another culture by using standards of their own culture, believing that their own culture is superior, the members are thought to be ethnocentric.The existence of ethnocentrism is not limited to recent historic times. The early Greeks used the term barbarians to refer to those people living around them who did not speak Greek. Because they did not speak Greek, the ancient Persians and Egyptians were considered by the Greeks to be inferior.In today’s world, people will not openly claim that their own culture is superior to other cultures. But people unconsciously tend to make judgments based on their own value systems. All cultures seem to have a tendency to be superior. For instance, ethnocentrism is often expressed in the way people draw their maps. The Chinese were convinced that China was the center of the world. The British drew the Prime Meridian of longitude to run through Greenwich, near London. Europeans drew maps of the world with Europe at the center, and North Americans with the New World at the center.As a major obstacle to intercultural communication, ethnocentrism may take one form or another. “The Generalized Ethnocentrism Scale” by Neuliep and McCroskeyin Intercultural Communication by Rogers and Steinfatt lists twelve forms of ethnocentrism:1)Most other cultures are backward compared to my culture.2)My culture should be the role model for other cultures.3)Other cultures should try to be more like my culture.4)Most people from other cultures just don’t know what’s good for them.5)I have little respect for the values and customs of other cultures.6)Most people would be happier if they lived like people in my culture.7)People in my culture have just about the best lifestyles of anywhere.8)Lifestyles in other cultures are not as valid as those in my culture.9)I do not cooperate with people who are different.10)I do not trust people who are different.11)I dislike interacting with people from different cultures.12)Other cultures are smart to look up to my culture(Rogers and Steinfatt 1999)2.3.3. The Impact of EthnocentrismOne culture teaches its members, in a variety of ways, how to judge others and what to use as criteria for those judgments. The danger of such evaluation is that they are often false, misleading, and arbitrary. It is truly a naive view of the world to believe and behave as if the members of the culture and the very culture have discovered the true and only set of norms.It is natural to look at things from one’s own point of view and to read an event as if it were the same everywhere in the word. And it is easy to feel proud of one’s own culture, country, organization or group. But many problems arise if one simply thinks one’s way is the best way, or the only way in intercultural communication. Because of its habitual nature, ethnocentrism is hard to overcome and often causes miscommunication in intercultural contacts.The more ethnocentric the communicators are, the less they are able to realize and accept the cultural variables. Extreme ethnocentrism leads to rejection of the richness。
跨文化交际中的语言障碍与解决策略研究

跨文化交际中的语言障碍与解决策略研究跨文化交际是当今全球化时代的必然产物,它有助于增进不同国家和文化之间的相互了解与合作。
然而,在跨文化交际过程中,语言障碍常常成为一道阻碍沟通的障碍。
本文将探讨跨文化交际中常见的语言障碍,并提出解决这些障碍的有效策略。
一、语言障碍的类型1. 词汇障碍词汇障碍是跨文化交际中最常见的问题之一。
由于不同语言体系的存在,同一事物在不同文化中可能对应着不同的词汇。
这使得在交流过程中,词汇的理解和表达成为一大挑战。
解决策略:- 注重词汇的学习和积累,提高词汇量和灵活运用能力;- 掌握跨文化交际中常用的基础词汇,如问候语、礼貌用语等;- 多利用网络资源和电子词典等工具进行词汇查询和学习。
2. 语法障碍不同语言的语法结构各异,语法障碍是跨文化交际中常见的问题之一。
在交流过程中,语法错误可能导致误解或产生反感情绪,影响交流效果。
解决策略:- 学习目标语言的基本语法知识,掌握常用语法规则;- 避免直译,理解并适应目标语言的表达方式;- 多读多写,提高语感和语法运用能力。
3. 发音障碍不同语言对发音的要求不同,发音障碍是跨文化交际中常见的障碍之一。
不准确的发音可能导致对方难以理解,进而影响沟通效果。
解决策略:- 学习目标语言的发音规则并进行模仿练习;- 加强口语训练,参与语言角色扮演活动;- 多听多读,提高对目标语言的听力理解能力。
二、解决语言障碍的策略1. 学习目标语言和文化要解决跨文化交际中的语言障碍,最根本的方法是学习目标语言和文化。
只有了解他国的语言和文化,才能更好地理解他们的思维方式,避免不必要的误解和冲突。
2. 倾听和尊重在跨文化交际中,倾听和尊重对方是有效解决语言障碍的重要策略。
要摒弃对自己文化的优越感,虚心聆听对方的观点和意见,尊重他们的语言和文化差异。
3. 使用非语言交流手段除了语言表达外,非语言交流也是跨文化交际中重要的沟通手段。
通过肢体语言、面部表情和眼神等方式来传递信息,可以帮助弥补语言障碍带来的困难。
跨文化沟通技巧:突破语言交流的障碍!

跨文化沟通技巧:突破语言交流的障碍!1. 引言1.1 概述跨文化沟通是指在不同文化背景下进行有效交流的能力。
由于全球化的加速推动和信息技术的发展,人们越来越需要跨文化沟通技巧来突破语言交流的障碍。
在如今的社会中,各种形式的跨文化交际变得更加频繁,无论是在商务领域、学术界还是日常生活中,我们都需要与来自不同国家和地区的人进行交流。
然而,由于语言、价值观念、礼仪等方面的差异,跨文化沟通往往面临一系列挑战和障碍。
1.2 文章结构本文旨在向读者提供一些有关跨文化沟通的技巧和策略。
首先我们将探讨跨文化沟通的重要性及其对沟通的影响,并通过相关案例分析加深理解;接着将详细介绍一些跨文化沟通技巧,并提供一些建议和实践方法以应对语言交流中遇到的难题;此外,我们还将重点介绍克服语言障碍所需的有效策略,包括学习对方语言与文化知识、使用辅助工具与技术资源以及建立信任和尊重关系的重要性。
最后,我们将总结本文的主要观点和技巧的应用价值,并对未来跨文化沟通提出展望和建议。
1.3 目的本篇长文旨在帮助读者了解并掌握跨文化沟通所需的关键技巧,以便更好地与不同文化背景下的人进行交流。
通过提供相关理论知识、实例分析和实用建议,我们希望读者能够认识到跨文化沟通的重要性,并具备应对语言障碍和其他挑战的能力。
最终目标是加强不同文化间的理解与合作,促进各种领域的有效交流与发展。
2. 跨文化沟通的重要性2.1 文化差异对沟通的影响在不同的文化背景下进行沟通,文化差异对沟通起着至关重要的作用。
每个文化都有其独特的价值观、信念、习俗和行为规范,这些因素会影响人们对待沟通的态度和方式。
当不同文化之间进行交流时,可能会出现误解、偏见、甚至冲突。
首先,语言是跨文化交流中最明显且常见的挑战之一。
语言不仅仅是一种工具,更是承载着特定文化背景、历史和思维方式等方面信息的媒介。
因此,即使使用相同语言的人,在不同文化背景下也可能出现理解上的障碍。
其次,社交礼节在跨文化沟通中也扮演着重要角色。
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跨文化交际的障碍及克服策略
1.跨文化交际的障碍
经济全球化是人类社会发展的必然趋势,并且逐渐由经济层面发展到政治、文化层面。
目前迅猛发展的经济全球化看似如洪水猛兽,其实正真让我们招架不住的却并不是经济的因素,而是席卷而来的文化冲击。
正如洪水恐怖的并不是它无坚不摧的力量,而是它之于我们掌控一切的震慑之威。
可以说,文化全球化是经济全球化在文化邻域的延伸,也是未来世界发展的主导趋势,由于它同时包含着知识的传播和价值的渗透,因此不同的国家和民族对于文化全球化的趋势采取了不同的态度。
以美国为首的西方发达国家试图在世界重建自己的势力范围,凭借自己的雄厚的经济实力、发达的科技水平以及强大的政治力量,大肆积极地向全世界输出自己的生活方式以及价值观,而“第三世界”的许多国家却对这种具有浓重的“西方中心论”色彩的文化全球化趋势采取了一种保留的态度。
当一种文化超出了另一种文化群体的接受程度,势必会引起文化冲突。
文化作为人类精神财富的结晶,具有鲜明的多元性和民族性特点,不同文化的矛盾、冲突体现在不同国家的政治制度、价值观念、文学艺术、风俗习惯、哲学思想、伦理道德、宗教信仰等各个方面。
这种文化上的多元性及其所导致的排他性和不宽容性,成为当前国际冲突的深层原因之一。
⑨
但是,无论我们个人如何排斥其他民族的文化,但是我们始终无法阻挡全球化这一趋势的出现。
于是,建立在彼此尊重和相互平等基础之上的文化融合产生了萌芽。
但是,我们始终无法完全抛弃自己所处的身份地位,也始终无法忘却自己是谁。
我们看似是接受了外来的文化,但是我们所接受的那一部分却是最表层的那一部分。
文化冰山模式是最为人们熟知的文化模式之一,其主要研究焦点是组成文化的要素以及这些要素中显性的部分和隐性的部分。
这一理论把文化比喻成冰山:露出水面的只不过是冰山的一小部分,且这一部分需要隐藏于水下的部分作为支撑,而这一隐藏部分往往是重要的基础。
事实上,文化中存在某些显性的部分,例如:建筑、艺术、烹饪、音乐、语言等。
但是文化中更为重要的基础部分则不易被察觉,例如:代表某一群体文化的历史、习俗、价值观以及对于空间、自然和时间的态度等。
文化冰山模式认为文化的隐性部分通过显性部分展现出来,并且这一理论也告诉我们有时去了解来自不同文化的人难度有多大,因为我们往往能够发现其它文化的文化冰山中的显性部分,但却不能立即发现支撑显性部分的隐性基础。
所以,即使不同文化之间的森严壁垒发生了松动,我们的这种认同也只是停留在文化宽容的层面上,我们并没有深入到文化的底层中去。
而想要达到文化间的相互理解,我们必须首先摒弃心中的猜疑和偏见,坚持贵和尚中的原理与方法论。
坚决抵制过分的民族中心主义,克服掉那种理所当然地认为自己民族的价值观、社会习俗、思维方式、伦理规范比其他民族的更加合情、道义、理性、正确,对本民族文化持宽容、认同、嘉许的态度,而对其他民族文化则持怀疑、躲避、排距的倾向的这种狭隘的观点。
其实适中的民族中心主义有利于抵制外来文化的强势入侵,保护和推动本民族文化的发展。
但是过度的民族中心主义就可能发展成为一种文化封闭主义。
当他族文化里优秀的部分,并且如果我们在充分利用了之后能够促进我们自身的发展,我们何不有针对性,有目的性地借鉴呢?
2.跨文化交际的发展方向
“贵和”之“和”我们也可以将其理解为“和合”。
“和合”二字,意指和谐、和睦、和平、联合、结合、合作等。
“和合”是在多种并存的、矛盾的、甚至是对立事物中的协调与
结合、统一与发展,进而达到平衡协调的一种境界。
⑩当今中国综合国力不断增强,开放程度日益加大,在逐渐加深的对外交往中,我们也正遭受着来自世界各地的不同文化的冲击。
在这个过程中,坚持自我尤其重要。
始终明白到底什么是我们需要的,什么是我们不需要的。
我们想要自己处在一个什么样的文化氛围中,是多元的,还是一元的。
是拒绝对外交往,闭关锁国,还是积极发展对外交往,对外开放。
是仅仅进行浅层次的单一的对外交往,还是深层次、多角度、全方位的对外交往。
首先,我们必须清醒地认识到,优秀的传统文化是国家宝贵的精神财富,是一个民族的胎记,是我们的根本所在,灵魂所在,维护我们的传统文化就是在维护我们的国家利益。
但是,如果我们只是满足于现在,不把眼光放向世界,给我们的传统文化注入新的活力,那么最终我们的传统文化也会面临危机的。
每一种有着悠久历史传统和强大生命力的民族文化都具有以自己的独特方式来同化外来文化的能力,而且惟有这种在接收外来文化的同时保持自身特色的同化方式才是使一种文化真正实现自我更新的方式。
(11)这也恰恰体现了“贵和尚中”的原则,既要促进不同文化之间的联系,但又不能过分推崇,还要坚持自我,保持自身的特色。
使其他民族的文化与本民族的文化能和谐共处,相互丰富,相互完善。
3跨文化交际的过程中应做到贵和尚中
跨文化交际的过程必定是一个多元文化碰撞和摩擦的过程,是21世纪世界变化的一个重要趋势。
多元文化是文化发展、繁荣的表征,是不以人的意志为转移的历史必然。
中华民族自古以来就是一个多元文化共生发展的民族,并且当代中国仍然呈现出多元文化的格局。
文化的异质性和个性,决定了文化之间的冲突是不可避免的,随着改革开放和市场经济体制的建立以及全球化的冲击,我国的文化冲突更加突出。
如何化解文化之间的冲突,如何缓和文化之间的紧张局势,如何促进文化的和谐发展,中国古已有之的处理人际关系的“和而不同”“贵和尚中”的理念,既可以成为多元文化背景下文化和谐发展的理想境界,亦可为文化和谐发展之理想选择。
我们在对待自己的文化和与自己的文化迥然不同的文化时,们该采取什么样的态度。
既不能妄自尊大,也不能妄自菲薄,既不能全盘接受,也不能一概否决。
而是吸收对方文化中的长处,从而丰富自己的文化,促进共同发展。
首先,要承认“不同”。
正如这世界上没有两片相同的树叶一样,人类的每一种文化都是其自身在不断地认识自然,改造自然的过程中的经验和智慧的累积因此它都有存在于这个世界上的理由和意义,应当受到每个人的尊重和宽容。
正是由于我们的世界上存在着这些丰富多彩,性格各异的文化,我们的世界才不会变得如此单调。
如果我们的每个民族都只将自己的文化视为真理正道,而将其他民族的文化视为异端邪说,那么我们的眼界将会永远被局限在一个狭小的范围里,不会有所进步。
其次,要进行文化交往。
文化的发展并不是闭门造车就可以的,各种文化只有在相互接触中才会有所发展,有所启发。
不同的元素与成分在相互碰撞与摩擦中才会产生火花。
只有进行不断地对外交往,我们才能以别族文化为参照系,从而了解自身,克服自身的消极因素,发扬积极因素,创造出新鲜的事物,从而增强本族文化的生命力和创造力。
最后,我们需要开展和谐对话。
要在平等的基础上不断朝着文化宽容与文化理解的方向迈进,同时还要秉持中和之道,学会文化选择、文化批判,从而达到文化兼容与文化创新的目的。
而这整个过程,就是“贵和尚中”的具体运用。