研究生英语中西文化之鉴

1.FromwhatyouknowoftheculturalgrammaroftheUnitedStatesoranotherEnglishspeakingcountry,giveadvicetoaChineseEnglishspeakerabouthowtomakeaspeechtoaWesternorInternationalaudience.(p24Thespeakershouldinventanewandattractivemetaphortocarrytheirmeaning.Animagefromtheirhomeculturemightbefreshertoheraudiencethantheirborrowedphrase.InChinesecultureawriterorspeakershowsherlearningbyquotingfamouspeoplefromthepast.Itisnotnecessarytoevensaywherethequotecomesfrom.Theaudiencewillknowandwillrespectyourknowledge.IntheUSpeoplerarelyquotefamouspeoplefromthepastunlessitisanespeciallysentimentalorpatrioticoccasionwhereitisunderstandthatoldandfamiliarimagesshouldberemembered.manypeopleattendsucheventswithanattitudeofamusednostalgia(乡愁、怀旧之情.Itmightbefuntohearthoseoldchichesagain.(P232.Discussthewaysthathostsinhigh-contextculturescanmeettheneedsoflow-contextculturevisitorsforlow-contextinformation.(p61WesternersappreciatethepersonalhelptheyreceivewhentheycometoChina,buttheyalsowantlow-contextinformationtohelpthemplan,actandadjusttoanewsituation.High-contextcommunicatorsneedthelow-contextmessagestheyreceive,butwithouthumanhelperstheyexperiencetheirnewculturalsituationascoldandimpersonal.Westernerswantlow-contextinformationtohelpthemplan,actandadjusttoanewsituation.Theyaremorelikelytoassumethatcertainpredictableserviceswillbeavailablesuchashotelbookingcountersandtransportationservicesandthattheycanfindtheseandusethemwithoutanyassistance.3.Discussthewaysthathostsinlow-contextculturescanmeettheneedsofhigh-contextculturevisitorsforhigh-contextinformation.(p61Westerners,aslow-contextcommunicators,lookfor,trustanduseimpersonalsourcesofinformationwhilecommunicatorsformmorehigh-contextculturespreferpersonalsourcesofinformation.High-contextcommunicatorsneedthelow-contextmessagestheyreceive,butwithouthumanhelperstheyexperiencetheirnewculturalsituationascoldandimpersonal.Thehostsneedtohelpthemreadytovariousmatters,sothattheycanquicklyadapttothenewsituation.4.ImaginethatyouareadvisingsomeonefromChinawhoisgoingonaextendedtriptoalow-contextcountry.Explaintothepersonwhatchangeshewillneedtomakeinhiscommunicationbehaviorinordertosuccessfullycommunicateinalow-contextculture.Thenadvisesomeonefromalow-contextcultureonhowheshouldchangehiscommunicationbehaviorinordertocommunicatesuccessfullyinChina.(P65Low-contextcommunicatorsthinkthatthespeakersandwritersofwordsareresponsibleforthesuccessofcommunication.Theyshouldmakemeaningsclearandunderstandablewiththeirwords.Listenersandreadersaresupposedtoaskforclarificationorfurtherinformationifthewordsdonotfullyorclearlyexplainthemeaning.Inmoreinformalsituationsspeakerswillspecificallyencouragelistenerstointerrupttoaskquestions.Low-contextlistenersandspeakershavesimilarexpectationsininformalconversation.Thespeakerattemptstobeclearandthelistenershowsthatheunderstandswithbriefcommentsandfacialexpressions.Thespeakersinterpretthisaspositivebehavior.Ifthelistenerissilentitmeansthatheorsheunderstandsandacceptsthemessage.High-contextcommunicatorsexpectlistenerstotakemoreresponsibilityforinterpretingthemeaningofmessages.Theyassumethatspeakersdonotalwaysexpresstheirmeaningfullyorpreciselyinwords.Itisuptothelistenertointerpretthemeaningofwordsbypayingattentiontothecontextinwhichtheyaresaid.Fromthepointofviewofalow-contextcommunicatorthissometimescauseshigh-contextcommunicatorstofindtoolittlemeaninginwordsandtoomuchmeaninginthesituation.Differencesinthesignificanceandreliabilityofmessagessentthroughlanguageandthroughcontextarefactorsinalmostallcross-culturalmisunderstandingsbetweenpeoplefromhigh-contextculturesandlow-contextcultures.Thewaypeoplecommunicateispartoftheirbasicculturalsoftware,andittakesconsiderableefforttomodifythisculturalprogrammingtoadjusttocommunicatingsituationsthatareculturallydifferent.Thefirststepsaretounderstandthesedifferencesandthentolookforthemineverycross-culturalcommunicationsituation.Bydoingthis,high-contextcommunicatorscanlearntouseandrespondtowordsdifferentlyandlow-contextcommunicatorscanlearntopayattentiontocontextandlearntointerpretmeaningintermsofthecontext.5.Whatisculture?Howwouldyouexplaintherelationshipbetweenlanguageandculture?Cultureisthetotalwayoflifethatagroupofpeopleshares;Cultureisasystemofsharedbeliefs,values,customs,behaviors,andartifactsthatthemembersofasocietyusetocopewiththeirworldandwithoneanother,andthataretransmittedfromgenerationtogenerationthroughlearning.Thecloserelationshipbetweenlanguageandcultureismostreadilyseeninwords.Wordsthatareintuitivelyrecognizableareisapartofcultureandplaysaveryimportantroleinit.Withoutlanguage,culturewouldnotbepossible.Ontheotherhand,languageisinfluencedandshapedbyculture,itreflectsculture.Languageisthecarrierandcontainerofculture;itisthemirrorofculture.Languageandcultureiscloselyrelated,eachinfluencingandshapingeachother.Alanguagecanneverbelearnedinaculturevacuum.6.HowdoyouunderstandindividualisminEnglishculture?Peoplefromindividualistculturesaremorelikelytoactonprinciplesthatapplytoeveryone,principlesthatareuniversalandapplytoassociatesandstrangersalike.Individualistsaremorelikelytotreatpeopletheydonotknowasiftheycanbetrusted,asifthey,too,willbehaveaccordingtothesameuniversalprinciples.Individualistsaregenerallyconcernedabouttheprocessesofdecision-making.Anybehaviorthatattemptstoseekanadvantageforonepersonoveranotherbasedonapersonalrelationshipisseenasunfairorevenascorrupt.Oftenindividualistsstronglydisapproveofattemptstogainpreference,andthepersonwhodoesthismaybeseenasdishonestorunprincipled.7.HowdoyouunderstandcollectivisminChineseculture?CollectivisminChineseculturemeanspersonbelongingtothesociety,personalinterestsshouldobeygroup,nationality,classandtheinterestsofthestate,itisakindofspirit.ThehigheststandardofCollectivismisourspeechandactionsareaccordwithpeople'scollectiveinterests;thisisthecommunistworldoutlookandtheimportantcontentoftheproletariat.Thescientificmeaningisthatwhileindividualinterestsandcollectiveinterestsinconflict,weshouldsubordinatetotheinterestsofthecollective.8.Whatdoyouthinkoftheadvantagesofindividualism-orientedvaluesandcollectivism-orientedvaluesrespectively?Individualism-orientedvaluespayattentiontoindividualvalue,freedom,andpeoplewithindividualism-orientedvaluesmaybemoreinnovative.Eachpersonisseparatefromothers;hemayspeakhisownmindandtellthetruth.Collectivism-orientedvalueshavemanyadvantages,suchasthecooperatespirit.whenmakedecisions,thecollectiviststendtogiveahigherprioritytorelationshipthanindividualistsdo,theyexpectpeoplewhoareinvolvedinagrouprelationshiptohavedutiesandobligationstooneanother.Dutiesincludebeingloyalandfurtheringtheinterestsofgroup.SoCollectivism-orientedvaluescanletusmakecontributionstogroup.9.Whatcross-culturalcontrastscanyoufindbetweenEnglishandChineseresponsestocompliments?Inthewest,peoplecaneasytoacceptcompliments,becausepeopleareconfidentandfrank.ChinesepeopleareinfluencedbyConfucianeducationforalongtime,andformedthemodestattitude.Whenpeoplepraiseandpraise,bemodestorself-denial,otherwise,heorshemaybetreatedaspride.TheChinesepeoplepayattentiontomodestincommunication,withthe"humbleyourselfandpeople",tolookatitasavirtue,itisonekindofrichChineseculturecharacteristicsofpolitephenomenon.Inotherspraiseus,wetendtoself-dispraiseatotablemodestyandpolite.Westerncountrieshavenosuchculturalhabits,whentheyarepraise,therewillalwaysbeveryhappytosaythata"yes"meanstoaccept.DuetothedifferencesbetweenChineseandwesternculture,wethinkthewesttooconfident,notmodest;WhenwesternersheardChinesepeoplesuchanegativefortheirpraiseorheartheirownnegativetheirachievements,eventhosethemselvesnaught,willfeelverysurprised.10.Whatcross-culturaldifferencescanyoufindbetweenEnglishandChinesemodesofthinking?Westerncultureaslinearcuttingstroke,clearanalysis,payattentiontoabstractreasoning,analyticalthinking,logicalthinking.Chinesecultureislikeacirclesealed,viewingwasclose,seekingintuitiveinsight,goodlongimagethinking.TheAdvantagesofEachModeofThinkingThelinearmodeofthinkingcharacterizedbyanalyticalreasoningandemphasisonclarityandprecisionisconducivetotheoreticalconstruction.Thecircularmodeofthinkingcharacterizedbysyntheticinsightandstressonfuzzinessandimplicitnesscontributestoempiricalrevelationoftruth.11.Whatsimilaritiesanddifferencesandyoufindbetween“red“and“红”?Red:inChineseculture:RedisthecolorwhichChinesepeopleworship.Theredcolorisusuallyassociatedwithcelebrationsandjoyfuloccasions.ForChinese,it’sthesymbolofluck,happiness,successandfestival.Whenfestivalcomes,wehangredlanterns,adhibitredcouplet;wearredclothes(especiallyattheweddingceremony.Inchina,“双喜”iseitherwritteninredorwrittenonapieceofredpapertosymbolizeaneventofspecialjoy,suchasaweddingoropeningabusiness.Red:inWesternculture:Onthecontrary,redhasaratherbadmeaninginwesternculture.Itassociateswithblood,fireandevil.It’sthesymbolofatrocity(残暴,danger,violence,anddebauchery(放荡.Therearemanyphrasesconcerningred,forinstance,“aredrevolution”,“redalert”,“aredadventurestory”,“aredflag”,“redbattle”,“redruin”,“aredlightdistrict”,allofwhichhavederogatorysenses.12.Whatsimilaritiesanddifferencesandyoufindbetween“white“and“白”?White:inChineseCulture:WhitehasderogatorysenseinChineseculturewhileithasacommendatoryoneinthewest.InChina,it’sthesymbolofdeath,depression,failureandthreat.Fromofold,peoplehavetowearwhiteclothesaswellasblackoneswhentheirrelativespassaway.Theyregardedthewhitetigersasdemons.Theloserswavedwhiteflagstoshowtheirsurrenderinthewars.Whiterepresentsfoolishnesswhenit’susedintheterm“白痴”.“白面书生”referstothebookmanwhoislackofexperiences.White:InWesternCulture:Inwesterners’eyes,whiteequalstochastityandnaivete.Bridewearswhitefulldressattheweddingceremony.WhiteChristmas:referstosnowatChristmastime.Whitehope:refersto“atalentedpersonwhoisthoughtlikelytobringsuccessorvictory”.Inconclusion,colortermsimplydifferentmeaningsindifferentcountries.Thepreferencestowardsdifferentcolorscanshowanation’saestheticperceptiontosomeextent.Withthedevelopmentofinterculturalcommunication,Ibelievepeoplewillknowtheculturalconnotationofcolorwordsbetter.13.Whatsimilaritiesanddifferencesandyoufindbetween“blue“and“蓝”?Blue:BluehasscarcesymbolicmeaninginChineseculture.Itdenotesgloomyemotioninthewest.(inabluemood情绪低沉feelblue不高兴ablueoutlook悲观的人生观Itisalsoregardedasthetokenofnoblenessandsternness.Blueisalsoassociatedwithhighsocialpositionorbeingaristocratic.It’salsothebadgeofbawdryandindelicacy.Bluemovie:amoviewhichcontainsobscenematerialhasexplicitreferenceorportrayalofsexualacts.14.Whatsimilaritiesanddifferencesandyoufindbetween“black”and“黑”?Black:Theconcernedmeaningsofblackinbotheasternandwesternculturearenearlythesame.Itsymbolizesferocity,seriousness,horror,deathandblackness.InChinese,oneuse“黑心肠”todescribesomeonewhoisvenomous.“黑幕”meansfrightfulsecret,insidestory.InEnglish,“blackintheface”and“tolookblackatsomeone”areusedtosaypeoplewhoareveryangry.(西方文化中的“black”既象征着死亡、罪恶和灾难,同时也象征着庄重,威严与尊贵。Westerncultureofthe"black"issymbolicofdeath,sinanddisaster,atthesametimealsosymbolizesthegrave,majestyandhonor.Blackiscolorfullofsorrow.Almostallthepeoplearoundtheworldwearblackclothesatfuneral.15.OnecoldwinterdayinaChinesecity,WangLinonhiswaytothelibrarymetanAmericanprofessorwhoknewverylittleaboutChina.Aftergreetinghim,Wangsaid:"itsrathercold.You'dbetterputonmoreclothes."Buttheprofessordidn'tappearhappyonhearingthis.Inthewest,Allpeoplearepursuittheirfreedom,Theydon'hiscase,BecausetheAmericanprofessorarenotgoodatchineseculture,HemisunderstoodWangLin’meaningandtreathimasainvadertohisownlife,sohedidn'tappearhappyonhearinghiswords.Thesystemofmeaningshapedinaparticularculturalcontextisunique.Thisisnottodenythesimilaritiesbetweeneithersystemsofmeaningorthewaysinwhichthesesystemsofmeaningarerepresented.Butasawhole,eachlanguagerepresentsauniquesystemofmeaninginuniqueways.Insomelanguages,theremaybeonlyasinglewordforacertainobject,creatureorconcept,whereasinanotherlanguage,theremaybeseveralwords,evenquitealargenumber.16.Whatdoyouthinkis/aretheessentialvalue(sintheAmericanculture?1、Thetraditionalwesternbeliefabouthumannatureisthathumansarebasicallyevil.2、Humanscontrolnature.3、Americancultureisinfuture-orientedsocietieswhichtimeislinear.4、Americancultureisoneofdoingculturewhichmuchtalkindicatesanintentiontoact.5、InAmericanculturewithindividualistvalueseachpersonisseenasautonomousandseparate.17.Whatdoyouthinkis/aretheessentialvalue(sintheChineseculture?1、InChinapeoplearebelievedtobebasicallygood.2、harmonywithnature3、Chinesecultureisoneofpast-orientedculturethatpeoplearemorelikelytoexperiencetimeascyclical.4、Chinesecultureisoneofbeingculturesthatpeopleoftenbehaveinwaysconsideredsuitabletotheirsocialroles.5、Chineseculturewithhierarchicalvaluesandgroupvalues18.Whatsimilaritiesanddifferencesandyoufindbetween“黄“and“yellow”?Similarities:Asthecolorofgoldandthesun,“yellow”isthesymbolofwealth,honorandpower.Differences:”Yellow”inChineseculture:Chinesecalledthedateswhicharegoodforholdingceremoniesas“黄道吉日”.Theemperorworeyellowrobes,wroteyellowrescript,andgavepeopleyellowjacketasareward.Yellowisakindofnoblecolor.Noonecoulduseitexcepttheemperorhimselfinthepast.Nowadays,yellowisassociatedwithsex.“Yellow”inwesternculture:Inthewest,whenitcomestoyellow,peoplewillthinkoftheyellowclothewhichJudawore.Soitimpliesabjection.19.WhatarethetopicsthatareconsideredbyEnglishspeakerstoopersonaltotalkabout?HowshouldanythingrelatedtoprivacybetreatedinconversationswithEnglishspeakers?Thepolite、theageandthesalaryareconsideredbyEnglishspeakerstoopersonaltotalkabout.1.TherelationshipbetweenpoliteandprivacyhasmanydifferencesinChineseandEnglishculture.Forexample,intheChineseview,weshowourcaretoothersbyaskingothersaboutage,marriageandsoon,itisverypolite.However,inwesterncountries,theythinktheirprivacyisinterferedbyothersglossily.2.InChina,the"old"symbolizesexperiencedandknowledgeable.However,westernsocietyiscompetitiveandastrugglingsociety.Oldmeansyouwillfrombackdownfromthestageofsocialcompetition,forwomen,"old"alsomeanscharmislost,alsosorrowandhelplessthing,sopeoplearenotwillingtoadmithisold.3.Chinesepeopleliketoaskanotherquestionis,"howmuchdoyouearn?"Butinthewest,eveninfamilymembersdonotknoweachother'ssalaryaccurately;thisisnottosayfamilyisnotunited,justmeansthisisaperson's"privacy"and"independence".20.Whatisthemaincross-culturaldifferencesbetweenChinese“龙’’andEnglish“dragon”?Asamythicalcreature,theChinese“long”hasdeeplyrootedinChineseculture.Traditionally,dragoninChinaisconsideredtogovernrainfall.Theyhavethepowertodecidewhereandwhentherainfalls.Inaddition,dragoninChinastandsfortheimperialpower.Theemperorsthoughtthattheywererealdragonsandsonsofthe“God”.Ontheotherhand,whileChinesebelievethatdragoncanbringprosperityandgoodfortune.Thismythicalisregardedquitedifferentlyinwesterncountries.IntheBible,dragonrepresentsthedevilandittendstotrickstheworld.“Westernersusuallyseedragonascold-bloodedreptiles,justresemblessnakes”,quotedfromacopyeditorfortheteens.“Theyarecruelkillers,breathingoutfireandcapturingwomen”,healsoaddsthatpeoplethinkofdragonasbeingdishonestbecauseoftheirforkedtongues.21.Doesglobalizationdomoreharmorgood?Allovertheworldistalkingaboutglobalization,somepeoplethinkthatitistheinvention;somepeopleseeitsnegativeeffects.Countiesbenefitalotfromglobalization,especiallythedevelopingcountries.Withit,thereisaglobalmarketforcompaniestotradetheirproductswhichcanmaketheproductionsectordeveloprapidly.Thisgiveslotsofoptionstothemanufacturersaswell.Besides,competitionkeepspricesrelativelylowanditcanprovideawiderrangeofoptionsforpeople,tochoosefromamongtheproductsofdifferentnations.Inaddition,thereisasoundflowofmoney,asaresult,inflationislesslikelytooccur.Butthedisadvantagesbroughtbyglobalizationcannotbeignored.GlobalizationiscausingEuropeanstolosetheirjobsasworkisbeingswervedtotheAsiancountries.ThecostoflaborintheAsiancountriesislowascomparedtoothercountrieswhichisoftenarguedthatpoorcountriesareexploitedbytherichercountrieswheretheworkforceistakenadvantageofandlowwagesareimplemented.Moreover,companiesareasopeningtheircounterpartsinothercountrieswhichcanresultintransferringthequalityoftheirproducttoothercountries,therebyincreasingthechancesofpoorquality.Simplyput,globalizationisanongoingprocessofintegrationofregionaleconomiesintoglobalnetworkofcommunicationwhichthehumanbeingcannotholdback.22.WhatisyourfavoriteEnglishorChinesefestival?Pleasesaysomethingaboutit.MyfavoriteChinesefestivalisSpringFestival,becauseitisthemostimportantholidayforChinesepeople.Throughthousandsofyears,aseriesofcustomsarespreadingfarandwide.HavingdumplingsOnNewYear’sEve,thewholefamilywillsittogethertomakedumplingsandcelebratetheSpringFestival.Sopeopleeatthemandwishformoneyandtreasure.ThetraditionofhavingdumplingsisveryimportantduringtheSpringFestival.YoucannothaveacompleteSpringFestivalwithouthavingdumplings.拜年和压岁钱NewYear'sVisitandGiftMoneyOnthefirstdayoftheChineselunaryear,everybodyputsontheirbestclothesandpaysceremonialcallsontheirrelativesandfriends,wishingthemalltheluckinthecomingyear.Juniorswillgreetseniors,wishingthemhealthandlongevity,whileseniorswillgivejuniorssomegiftmoneyasawishfortheirsafetyinthecomingyear.Whenfriendsmeet,theywillwisheachotherhappinessandprosperitywithabigsmile.Inrecentyear,itiscommontosendNewYearsgreetingsbysuchmodernmeansofcommunicationastelephones,emailsandtextmessages.Althoughsometraditionsthatseemtobefading.Thoughthe15-dayperiod,whichstartswiththefirstdayofthelunarNewYearandendsonthe15thday,isrelativelylong,itisthebusiestalsothehappiesttimeoftheyearforChinesepeople.23.Ifyouaregoingtointroduceaforeignteacher,andyousay,“Ladiesandgentleman,Iamdelightedtointroducetoyouaveryprettygirl,MissBrown.Sheisaverygoodteacherfromtheculture?Why?文化差异:中国人介绍来宾,喜欢用褒扬的话语言辞。但美国人认为,初次结识,相互介绍,不必评头论足。凡是主观性的评论,尽管是美言,也会给人唐突、强加的感觉。对以上那番话,美国女教师感到难堪的是pretty和good两个词。在那种场合,介绍应该突出背介绍人的身份、学历、职务等,而不应该是外貌和抽象的评论。相比之下,如果把pretty和good改成实际教育背景和经历,这样的介绍句比较客观,令人容易接受。Culturaldifferences:whentheChineseintroduceguests,theyliketousecomplimentrhetoric.ButtheAmericanpeoplethinkthatthefirsttimemeetingandmutualintroductiondon'tneedtofindfault.Allthesubjectivecomments,thoughsoundgood,alsocangiveapersonthefeelingofshort,impose.Totheabovethewords,thefemaleteachersfeelembarrassedthatisprettygoodandtwowords.Onthatoccasion,theintroductionshouldbeprominentreferencesbacktheidentity,qualifications,dutiesetc,andshouldnotbeappearanceandabstractcomments.Incontrast,ifchangetheprettyandgoodintoactualeducationbackgroundandexperience,theintroductionisrelativelyobjective,anditiseasytoaccept.24.Doyouthink“Hesleptlikealogandwokeupatthecrackofdawn,freshasdaisy.”isawell-writtensentencetoEnglishspeakingpeople?Why?ChineseandEnglishspeakingpeopleseemtolookdifferentlyontheuseofsetphrasesandexpressions.Thissentencewouldbefrownedasanexampleofpoorwriting.GoodEnglishwritingdiscourageswhatarecalled"clichés"or"triteexpressions".Chinese,ontheotherhand,givesitsapprovaltowell-known“four-characterexpressions'.AnativeEnglishspeakerwouldfrownonthissentence:Hesleptlikealogandwokeupatthecrackofdawn,freshasadaisy.Thereasonisthatitcontainsthreeclichés:"sleptlikealog',"atthecrackofdown,and"freshasadaisy".WhileEnglishproverbsarepartoftheoralcultureintheUnitedStates,theyarenotoftenusedinwriting.GoodwritersinChineseoftenbeginanessaywithaChineseproverb.Itshowsknowledgeofthepast,animportantChinesevalue.ButAmericansdonotvaluethepastasmuchastheChinesedo.Theythinkitismoreimportanttothinkofsomethingnewandoriginal.SoagoodwriterinEnglishwilltrytoexplainideasinanewwayandnotuseEnglishproverbsifpossible.25.WhatdoyouthinkoftheincreasingpopularityofChinglish?Ontheonehand,theincreasingpopularityofChinglishshowsapositivetrendthatglobalizationbringstous.AgreatnumberofChinesearelearningandusingEnglishintheirdailycommunication.AnincreasingnumberofnewEnglishwordsandphrasesarebeingcreatedinChina.Infact,EnglishhasalreadyabsorbedmanyChinesephrases.Atthesametime,itshowsthatourChineseculturehasbeenabsorbedbymoreforeigners;mostofthemwouldliketolearnsomeChinglishtomakefriendswithChinesepeopleandtobemorefamiliarwiththeChineseculture.Ontheotherhand,withtheChingishbecamemoreandmorepopular,itmayturnouttoaresultthattheabuseofusingbothChineseandEnglishwordsinourlearningprocess.Ifweusethemtoomuchtheywillruinourwayofthinkingandlearning.Intheend,IwouldpreferusingChinglishoccasionallyonlyforentertainmentororalcommunicate.Andlearnmoreformalgrammarandwordswhichwilldomoregoodthanharmtoourstudyandresearch.26.WhatarethemajordifferencesbetweenEnglishandChinesegiftgivingandreceiving?Peopleinwesterncountriesgivegiftsonanumberofoccasions:theynormallygivesmallgiftssuchasacardorabunchofflowers.Giftsfromcasualacquaintancesorexpensivegiftswillmakethemfeeluncomfortable.Whenreceivingagift,theyusuallyopenthegiftbeforethegiverandtellthegiverwhetherhelikesithonestly.AsforChinese,weoftenpayattentiontotheusevaluebutnotthememorableorspecialvalue.Therefore,Chineseusuallychoosesomethingexpensiveasagift.Whatismorethemoreexpensivethegiftis,theclosertherelationshipbetweenthegiverandthereceiveris.Chinesetraditiondictatesthatapersonshouldnotappeargreedy,andsoit'scustomintheChineseculturetorefuseacceptingagiftthreetimes.Thegivershouldpolitelycontinuetoofferthegift,anditwilleventuallybeaccepted.Whenreceivingagift,Chinesealwaysopenthegiftafterthegiverhasleft.Nomatterwhetherhelikeitornot,healwayssayhelikeitverymuch.ThisisbecauseinChinesecultureChinesevaluemodestmostbutinAmericanculturetheythinkhighlyofdirection.27.Whatarethebarriersyouexperiencedininterculturalcommunication?AnxietyTheveryfactthatyouarefacingsomeoneofanothercultureoftencreatesapprehension.Youworryaboutwhetheryouwillbeabletoexpressyourideascorrectly.Ifyouhappentobecommunicatinginalanguageotherthanyournativetongue,youmayhavefearsaboutgrammarandpronunciation,aswellasyourabilitytocomprehendwhattheotherpersonissaying.Thisanxietyinturnaffectsyourabilitytocommunicatewithfocusandclarity.AssumptionsWhenwedon'tpayattentiontohowotherculturesdifferfromours,itiseasytogettrappedintoassumingthateveryoneisthesamejustbecausetheyarehumanandhavethesameneeds.Thiserror,thoughinadvertent,oftenleadstodifficultiesincommunicationbecauseculturesdifferintheirattitudestowardthepursuitoftheseneeds.Whetheryouassumesimilaritiesordifferences,youaresettingupamajorbarriertocommunicationbecauseyourassumptionsmakeitdifficulttodevelopmutualunderstanding.LanguageDifferencesAlthoughpeoplefromdifferentculturesmaypickupthevocabularyofanewculture,theirculturaldifferencescanleadtomiscommunication.StereotypesWhenfacedwithanxietyaboutinteractingwithanewculture,mostpeopleresorttothefalsecomfortofstereotypes.Astereotypeisanovergeneralizedbeliefthatprovidesastartingpointforunderstandingaculture.AlthoughsomestereotypescanbepositivebelievingthattheJapanesearegoodatmath,forexample,thevastmajorityofstereotypesarenegativeandformthebiggestblocktocommunication.IfyouharborastereotypeofArabsasterrorists,forexample,youmayfindyourselfavoidinganArabclassmate.TendencytoEvaluateToreallyunderstandandcommunicateacrosscultures,itisimportanttoovercomeanytendencytobejudgmental.Whent