跨文化交际interculturalcommunicationchapter2

1、Lecture 2 Verbal communication Language Compliments Taboos Thought patternsWhat is verbal communication Verbal: connected with words and their use Verbal communication: communication done both orally and in written language Easier to use words to represent ones experiences within the same culture be

2、cause people share many similar experiences. More troublesome in verbal communication across cultures because peoples experiences, beliefs, values, customs, traditions and the like are different.Verbal Communicationcase Two Japanese who knew some Chinese were one day at a Beijing subway station. The

3、y saw a warning sign which read: Xiaoxin di hua! (小心地滑）They were very much surprised to see that nobody around them was skating, though the floor was really very smooth. In a laundry, when a man saw the sign “when light flashes, remove clothes”, he took off all his clothes.What sets humankind apart

4、from other animals is_人类区别于动物的最大特征是创造和使用语言的能力。 symbolic codesWhat is language? Language is a set of symbols and the rules for combining those symbols that are used and understood by a large community to people. A language is a symbolic code of communication consisting of a set of sounds (phonetics)

5、with understood meanings and a set of rules (grammar) for constructing messages. 语言是人类特有的用来表情达意的工具，有语音、词汇和语法构成。Cultural Literacy: Turkey(Case study)An American magazine editor was hosting a group of Chinese when one of them said, “Please explain what is a turkey.”The editor launched into a lengthy e

6、xplanation of the ungainly American bird that has become the centerpiece at American Thanksgiving tables. Then, of course, he had to explain about the American holiday, Thanksgiving.The Chinese waited patiently and then replied, “Well, I still dont understand what is meant when you Americans say Com

7、e on, . Lets get moving.”bird/a person considered inept or undesirableTurkey1 （a a） C large bird reared to be eaten, esp at Christmas 吐绶鸡; 火鸡. （b b） U its flesh as food （食用的）火鸡肉: a slice of roast turkey 一片烤火鸡肉. 2 C (US sl 俚) failure; flop 失败; 失败的人或事物: His last movie was a real turkey. 他最后的那部影片一塌糊涂.T

8、urkey talk turkey (infml 口 esp US) talk frankly and bluntly 说话坦率.cold turkey (sl 俚 esp US) （a） way of treating a drug addict by suddenly stopping all his doses of the drug instead of gradually reducing them 使有毒瘾者突然停用毒品而不是逐渐减少剂量的处理方法. （b） frank statement of the truth, often about sth unpleasant 直言不讳;

9、 照实说: talk cold turkey to/with sb 对与某人直言不讳.Items with different cultural meanings Items with different cultural meanings knock uparouse, awaken (US); make a woman pregnant (BR)Joke appreciationA British old lady went to an American hotel for her holiday. She called the receptionist to arrange a morn

10、ing call.“Could you please wake me up at 6:00 tomorrow morning?”“Sure, I will then.”The woman ran into rage and shouted, “I beg your pardon?”Why did the woman take such a reaction?Why so? You Americans do not even know who your grandfather is!Short historyRomantic countryRed flag red flag 【1】 flag u

11、sed as a symbol of danger, eg on roads, railways, etc （表示危险的）红色信号旗（如用于公路、 铁路等） . 【2】 symbol of revolution or communism （象征革命或共产主义的）红旗.“猫头鹰”（owl） /aUl; aJl/ n【1】 bird of prey that flies at night and feeds on small animals, eg mice, and is traditionally regarded as a symbol of wisdom 鸮, 猫头鹰（传统上认为是聪明的象

12、征）. 【2】 (idm 习语) wise as an owl.Are they the same?2. Pragmatic Rules(语用规则) and Culture*先生、小姐、同志、师傅先生、小姐、同志、师傅Mr. Mrs. Miss Ms. “Excuse me.”*“Old Zhang” “Little Li”Cf. 在英语国家，用姓作称谓只限于很少的几种情况，例在英语国家，用姓作称谓只限于很少的几种情况，例如：在小学里教师对学生，教练对球员，监狱看守对如：在小学里教师对学生，教练对球员，监狱看守对于囚犯。于囚犯。*“Wang Ju” “Senior Engineer”*Laos

13、hi “We must get together soon.”(我们一定得聚我们一定得聚聚。聚。) “Come over for dinner next Saturday night.” A: Hi, B. B: Hi. A: When are we going to get together? B: We really should. A: You know my office number. Just give me a call. B: Okay. A: Good. So long. B: Bye. Whats the difference for Chinese people and

14、American people to receive a phone? “我们首先发现的是在我们首先发现的是在 电话电话 谈话的开头有一连串的谈话的开头有一连串的hellohello，双方都不说明自己的身份。在第二个来回当中，打电，双方都不说明自己的身份。在第二个来回当中，打电话的人要求接电话的人说明身份，这一要求遭到对方拒绝。反话的人要求接电话的人说明身份，这一要求遭到对方拒绝。反过来，接电话的人问打电话的人的身份，而打电话的人并不回过来，接电话的人问打电话的人的身份，而打电话的人并不回答这一问题，相反却开始猜对方的身份。接电话的人也试图猜答这一问题，相反却开始猜对方的身份。接电话的人也试图

15、猜出对方是谁。在双方的猜测被证实以后，谈话通过一系列问候出对方是谁。在双方的猜测被证实以后，谈话通过一系列问候和答问进行，直到六个来回之后才正式提出谈话的主题，或者和答问进行，直到六个来回之后才正式提出谈话的主题，或者至少打电话一方表示他有问题需要提出。住在埃及的外国人普至少打电话一方表示他有问题需要提出。住在埃及的外国人普遍反应是电话谈话毫无规律可循。遍反应是电话谈话毫无规律可循。” （社会语言学家（社会语言学家Schmidt对埃及人的对埃及人的215次电话谈话作出研究）次电话谈话作出研究）In Japan, Richard, an engineer from the United Stat

16、es, has an unpleasant experience though he thought he had handled it well. A number of serious mistakes had occurred in a project he was supervising. While the fault did not lie with any one person, he was a supervisor and at least partly to blame. At a special meeting called to discuss the problem,

17、 poor Richard made an effort to explain in detail why he had done what he had done. He wanted to show that anybody in the same situation could have made the same mistake and to tacitly suggest that he should not be blamed unduly. He even went to the trouble of distributing materials which explained

18、the situation rather clearly. And yet, even during his explanation, he sensed that something he was saying or doing was wrong.3.Thinking patterns and cultureSome people tend to adopt thinking patterns. They tend to analyze and dissect things into elements in order to understand them properly. Their

19、emphasis is upon the parts rather than the whole of things.Some people employ thinking patterns. They tend to synthesize elements into a unit, with the emphasis on the “whole”.if an analyst met with a synthesizer, the communication may turn out to be a disaster.How different thinking patterns affect

20、 our life?Western medicine Vs traditional Chinese medicineWestern cookingDifferent views on contracts- Westerners value objectivity, specificity and precision and make sense of the world by reasoning and analyzing.- Chinese are more subjective and value intuition a lot, through which they get an ins

21、ight into things around them.4. Communication Styles and Culture Because most of our production is done in China now, and its not really certain how Hong Kong will be like after 1997, and since I think a certain amount of caution in committing to TV advertisement is necessary because of the expense. So, I suggest that we delay making our decision until after Legco makes its decision.Inductive pattern (topic delayed)Which is given by a Chinese? Which by an American?B. I suggest that we delay making our decision until after Legco makes its dec