跨文化交际考试复习题新

1、跨文化交际课程期末考试复习资料 I. Give a brief definitions of the following terms(名词解释)1. intercultural communication. （参考课本P8.）2.verbal communication communication done both orally and in written languageEasier to use words to represent ones experiences within the same culture because people share many similar ex

2、periences.More troublesome in verbal communication across cultures because peoples experiences, beliefs, values, customs, traditions and the like are different.3. Non-verbal communicationIt refers to communication through a whole variety of different types of signal come into play, including the way

3、 we move, the gestures we employ, the posture we adopt, the facial expression we wear, the direction of our gaze, to the extent to which we touch and the distance we stand from each other.4. culture shock It is a psychological phenomenon that is experienced most often by those who, whether voluntari

4、ly or involuntarily, in the process of adjusting themselves to a new culture.II. Answer the following questions(简答题)1. Whats the relationship between language and culture ？Language is a reflection of culture, and culture is a reflection of language.Culture influences language by way of symbols and r

5、ules for using those symbols, as well as our perceptions of the universe (the meaning associated with the symbols).Language, on the other hand, would seem to have a major impact on the way an individual perceives and conceptualizes the world.2. Describe the different ways in showing hospitality betw

6、een Chinese culture and western culture Chinese guests always refuse offer of drinks or food to demonstrate politeness in seeming not to wish to put their host to any trouble. Sometimes an offer is not a real offer but a polite remark. After we say 'no', we usually wait for the second and th

7、ird offer. If the host just brings the food or drink and ignores 'no', we ill accept it. Chinese like to press their guests to drink or eat to show their hospitality. While westerners always accept or refuse offer of drinks or food very genuinely. Their refusal is accepted as genuine. Wester

8、ners dont press. To press people to have food or drink after they have refused is frowned upon and can cause embarrassments.3. What are the differences on receiving gifts between Chinese and westerner? In the West, it is regarded as polite to open gifts as soon as they are given to express appreciat

9、ion. In China, the situation is quite the reverse. Normally we Chinese feel that if you open the gift as soon as it is given, you might embarrass the person who gives the gift and you might be thought greedy. Therefore, Chinese people tend to open the gifts after the visitors have left. In China, ma

10、ny people send gifts without wrapping them, and if they wrap them, they usually tell the receiver what is inside, and the receiver will thank the sender and put the gift aside without unwrapping them since they already know what is inside. English receivers open the gifts in front of the senders of

11、the gifts.4. Explain the term “intercultural communication competence” and its three components. The intercultural competence refers to the ability to understand and adapt the target culture. Intercultural communicative competence involves cognitive, affective and operational aspects, which are inse

12、parable in reality. The interrelatedness of cognitive, affective, and operational components is very important in the improvement of the communicators intercultural communication competence. There are also three aspects in terms of affective components: adaptation motivation, Identity flexibility an

13、d esthetic co-orientation, the cognitive aspects of intercultural communication competence are the mental capacities of comprehension and ability to understand the meanings of various verbal and nonverbal codes. Operational components are that Individuals capacity to express cognitive and affective

14、experiences outwardly is shown through specific behaviors.5. Why do many Chinese people tend to ask about age, martial status, and even salary when first meeting one another? To them, these are open conversational topics. Knowing a persons age helps them use appropriate terms of address. And Chinese

15、 people pay a lot of attention to family life, so naturally talk of family members features as a common topic. As to salary, since there is a national system of salaries, people usually dont consider it a secret and they talk about it openly.6. How to address people in both Chinese and English?（参考课本

16、P22-24.） 7. What are the differences between Chinese and English Kin Terms? In Chinese culture, people refer to people strictly according to the kin terms. It is completely unacceptable to refer to one's parents by using the names. When children address relatives, Chinese kin terms tell whether

17、they are older or younger than their father or mother. Chinese kin terms tell whether the relatives are from the mother' or father's side and whether one's brother, sister or cousin is older or younger than he/she. Chinese kin terms are also to other people who are not one's relative

18、s; kin terms are widely used to address known or unknown people While in English culture, in some families in Western countries, some children address their parents directly by their first names. In Britain, children are expected to address the parents' brother and sisters with the title of Uncl

19、e or Aunt plus their names and sometimes simply address them by first name without a title. English kin terms dont tell whether the relatives are from the mother' or father's side ,and there are not distinct kin terms for elder brother or younger brother. Kin terms are not as frequently used

20、 as in Chinese. In all kinds of social situations, either formally or informally, people won't use kin terms to address each other if they are not relatives.8. State six principles for effective cross-gender communication.8. What is the significance of Nonverbal Communication? Nonverbal behavior

21、 is a significant area of communication study for at least three reasons. Nonverbal behavior accounts for much of the meaning we get from conversations. Nonverbal behavior spontaneously reflects the subconsciousness. We cannot avoid communicating through nonverbal signals. Besides, nonverbal behavio

22、r is significant because nonverbal communication can be open to many interpretations.9. Why do we need to study intercultural communication?(1). Technological development The development of new transportation and information technologies has connected all nations in ways that were possible before th

23、is century only in the imagination. (2). Widespread population Migrations (3). The changes in the international business community have compelled China to reexamine her business. (4). Development of Multiculturalism. Cultural diversity or multiculturalism will become the norm; not the exception. The

24、 public must acknowledge and adjust to difference but build on commonality.10. what are meanings in communication?Utterance meaning : what it normally meansSpeakers meaning: the speaker has intended to convey by way of utterance meaning .Hearers meaning: the hearer has understood on the basis of the

25、 utterance meaningCase:A Chinese student had just arrived at the States. One day, when he was reading in his room, he heard someone shouting outside: “ Watch out!” So he went to the window and stretched out his head and tried to find out whats going on outside. Just then, his head was right poured b

26、y the water from above Question: Would you please analyze the saying “ Watch out” with the three meanings in communication?Key to the question:1. Utterance meaning: Be careful!2. Speakers meaning: Dont pull out !3. Hearers meaning: Something is happening! Look out!11.How to determine genius inviting

27、 or false one ?1). Please read the dialogue; try to understand its function.A: It was nice talking to you. I have to run to class.B: OK, maybe we can meet sometime soon.A: Yeah, Id love to. Why dont you drop by my house?B: Great. Got to go. See you soon. It is very common dialogue among Americans. I

28、t functions as a signal for ending an interaction or for an indication of friendliness. It will not lead to definite future meeting. In American culture, however, a genuine invitation is always made with clear indication of activity, time and place or the meeting. There is usually a negotiation abou

29、t the time and place and a definite reply is expected. 2). Now study the following statements and think how you would respond to each of them. Discuss in small groups.1. Lets get together soon.2. I havent seen you for a long time. You must come round for dinner sometime.3. Its good seeing you. Ill i

30、nvite you to tea later.4. Im going to give a party this weekend. Come if you like.5. How about joining us for dinner this Friday night?Keys to Question 1, 2, and 3, are unreal invitations, because the speaker doesnt give the specific time and place for the get-together. Youd better reply like “Thank

31、 you.” “Id love to very much.” Dont question about “when” or “where”, for the speaker doesnt really mean to do any invitation. Statements4 and 5 are invitation as they give specific time. But they may sound uncertain to a Chinese ear because of the tone of the verbal invitation. Easterners (Chinese)

32、 would most likely say something. Like: “Do come. Please do come.”3). Summary Pay more attention to the features of “false” invitation.1. Indefinite reference of time, place.2. No inquiry or immediate reply or decision.3. Adverbs indicating the uncertainty of time like:“One day”,” Someday”, “soon” e

33、tc.Part III Case Analysis (You are required to state cultural phenomenon in each case)Case 1 Xiao LI and Xiao Wang were colleagues. Xiao LI gave a lot of help to Xiao Wang financially and socially. Recently Xiao LI would get married. But he forgot inviting Xiao Wang attend his wedding. Later Xiao Wa

34、ng got information about Xiao LI wedding and sent RMB 500 Yuan to Xiao LI. Question: What cultural phenomenon can be reflected? Why? In Chinese culture influenced by Confucianism, if someone does a favor for you, you should return the favor to them. This is very common for Chinese people. In the phi

35、losophy of Confucianism Reciprocity are the base of relationships. Gratitude and indebtedness are important parts of Chinese culture. If a person feels uneasy to be indebted of someone, payback is necessary to achieve balance in the relationship.Case 2 An English guest: Each time a new dish arrived

36、his parents would lean over and load my plate with tasty morsels. As they had taken all the trouble to cook it I just had to polish it off. As soon as my plate was empty they would put more on. Of course, I felt duty-bound to eat that too. A Chinese guest: Can you imagine how many dishes I had? Only

37、 one - a stew with meat and vegetables. The meat was over done and too hard to eat; green vegetables were no longer green. They never put food on your plate but just ask you to help yourself. If you, as a guest, are shy or modest, waiting for the food to be put on your plate, you will remain half-st

38、arved.Question: Are there any differences in hospitality between a Chinese and English? What are the reasons?Yes. The Chinese student felt disappointed at British hospitality because she used the Chinese way of showing hospitality to judge the British one. In the story taking place in China, the wes

39、terner couldn't imagine that there should be sixteen dishes prepared for her. When she ate from the eight cold dishes, she couldn't eat anymore. It is because a Western meal normally severs one main course plus a starter and sweets or desserts. The fact is that different people in the world

40、show their different hospitality in different ways. Case 3Li Lan had an American friend Susan. They usually had lunch together and Li Lan often asked Susan for advice on problems she faced adjusting to American society. Susan gave Li Lan a lot of advice and helped her to improve her English. Once Li

41、 Lan needed urgently a big sum of money to pay her tuition fee. Since she has no other friends in the States, she turned to Susan for help and promised that she would return the money soon. To Li Lans great disappointment, this time Susan didnt seem happy to lend the money to her. Though Li Lan retu

42、rned the money as she promised, they didnt get along well from then on. Question: Why did Li Lan feel unpleasant?Li Lan asked to borrow money from her American friend Susan, which is rarely part of Western friendship. Li Lan and Susan have different expectations of friendship.In the West, people pre

43、fer to be independent and equal rather than dependent, so they don't feel comfortable in a relationship in which one person gives more and the other person is dependent on what is given. Among friends they mostly provide emotional support to each other and spend time together, so they rarely bor

44、row or lend money to each other. They would ask for a loan from the bank rather than from their friends. While in China, people expect their friends to be loyal to each other, and they even take risks for their friends. So they would give not only emotional support to each other but also concrete he

45、lp to each other, such as helping to find a job, solving a problem, or even giving money to help one out over a long period of time. So when a friend is in need, the first person he or she wants to ask for help is naturally his/her friend. Case 4 In 1997, a Danish woman from Copenhagen left her 14-m

46、onth-old baby girl in a stroller outside a Manhattan restaurant while she was inside. Other diners at the restaurant became concerned and called New York City Police. The woman was charged with endangering a child and was jailed for two nights. Her child was placed in foster care. The woman and the

47、Danish consulate explained that leaving children unattended outside cafes is common in Denmark. Pictures were wired to the police showing numerous strollers parked outside cafes while parents were eating inside.Question: What cultural phenomenon can be reflected?This case reflects one of the barrier

48、s to the effective intercultural communication-assuming similarity instead of difference. In American culture, it is illegal for parents to leave their baby alone. Whereas it is commonplace for parents to leave their baby alone in Danish culture. The Danish woman had assumed that Copenhagen is simil

49、ar to New York, that what is commonly done in Copenhagen is also commonly done in New York. Case 5 Describing the differences of verbal communication Styles between Chinese people and American people. Take examples to explain it. The Chinese shout aloud when talking about everything. Direct eye-cont

50、act is rare when speaking person to person. Counting on your fingers is different. Instead of just holding out the number of fingers on two hands as in America, the Chinese have specific finger signs for numbers one to ten.To indicate yourself, Americans tend to use their thumb or forefinger and poi

51、nt at or touch their chest. Chinese people usually point at their nose with their index finger to do so. Chinese people feel no compunction against staring at other people for long periods of time. Young people, both boys and girls up to the age of 21, engages in all manner of rough-housing, often h

52、itting each other. Women often walk arm and arm down the streets. Men and men hold hands or embrace shoulders as they walk outside. Nothing is wrong with that if they are friends.Case 6Xie Li and Tom have been working on a scientific experiment at a British university for some months. It has not bee

53、n totally successful. They are discussing the situation in the laboratory.Xie Li: I dont know where it went wrong!Tom: Dont feel so bad. Cheer up; youve done your job.Xie Li: But our experiment has turned out to be a failure.Tom: Relax for a couple of days. Ill face the music.Xie Li: Tom, we are not

54、 playing childrens games here. This is a scientific experiment.Tom: Ive never taken the experiment as childs play and Im playing the game.Xie Li: You say youre playing the game! Its a rather important experiment! Xie Li walks out of the laboratory angrily. Tom is puzzled. Question: Whats the problem

55、 in this case?Idiomatic phrases are often misinterpreted. In English, face the music means: face reality and take the consequence and play the game means: abide competition rules. Here Xie Li misinterpreted two idiomatic phrases Tom used. First he thought that Tom didnt take the failure of the exper

56、iment seriously and wanted to escape from it, because he would “face the music”; secondly, he misinterpreted Toms “playing the game” as that he hadnt done the experiment seriously, which might lead to its failure.Case 7 A young Chinese officer, together with his wife, was meeting an American consult

57、ant at an airport. After phatic communication, the consultant complimented him on his wife out of politeness, “Your wife is beautiful!” The officer felt embarrassed and said, “Where! Where!”（哪里！哪里！） “Where! Where!” the consultant was puzzled and had to say,“From head to foot.” Question: What went wr

58、ong in the case and Why?In this case, the words of the Chinese conveyed a message quite different from what was intended. The Chinese officer would be suspected of “fishing for compliments” even though the remarks might have been quite sincere because the consultant was almost forced to say “Your wi

59、fe is beautiful from head to foot.” Forced compliments like this can leave a bad taste in the mouth.Because as far as the responses to praise and compliments is concerned, there are great difference between Chinese people and native English speakers. Native English speakers, especially Americans tend to verbalize their complime