新编跨文化交际英语Unit5课后答案

Isitstilloftenthecasethat“everyone/squicktoblamethealien”inthecontemporaryworldThisisstillpowerfulintoday’ssocialandpoliticalrhetoric.Forinstance,itisnotuncommonintoday‘ssocietytohearpeoplesaythatmost,ifnotall,ofthesocialandeconomicproblemsarecausedbyminoritiesandimmigrants.What’sthedifferencebetweentoday’sinterculturalcontactandthatofanytimeinthepastToday‘sinterculturalencountersarefarmorenumerousandofgreaterimportancethaninanytimeinhistory.WhathavemadeinterculturalcontactaverycommonphenomenoninourlifetodayNewtechnology,intheformoftransportationandcommunicationsystems,hasacceleratedinterculturalcontact;innovativecommunicationsystemshaveencouragedandfacilitatedculturalinteraction;globalizationoftheeconomyhasbroughtpeopletogether;changesinimmigrationpatternshavealsocontributedtointerculturalencounter.Howdoyouunderstandthesentence“cultureiseverythingandeverywhere”Culturesuppliesuswiththeanswerstoquestionsaboutwhattheworldlookslikeandhowweliveandcommunicatewithinthatworld.Cultureteachesushowtobehaveinourlifefromtheinstantofbirth.Itisomnipresent.WhatarethemajorelementsthatdirectlyinfluenceourperceptionandcommunicationThethreemajorsocio-culturalelementsthatdirectlyinfluenceperceptionandcommunicationareculturalvalues,worldview(religion),andsocialorganizations(familyandstate).Whatdoesone’sfamilyteachhimorherwhileheorshegrowsupinitThefamilyteachesthechildwhattheworldlookslikeandhisorherplaceinthatworld.WhyisitimpossibletoseparateouruseoflanguagefromourcultureBecauselanguageisnotonlyaformofpreservingculturebutalsoameansofsharingculture.Languageisanorganized,generallyagreed-upon,learnedsymbolsystemthatisusedtorepresenttheexperienceswithinaculturalcommunity.WhatarethenonverbalbehaviorsthatpeoplecanattachmeaningtoPeoplecanattachmeaningtononverbalbehaviorssuchasgestures,postures,facialexpressions,eyecontactandgaze,touch,etc.Howcanafree,culturallydiversesocietyexistAfree,culturallydiversesocietycanexistonlyifdiversityispermittedtoflourishwithoutprejudiceanddiscrimination,bothofwhichharmallmembersofthesociety.1.WhichofthedefinitionsgivenabovedoyoupreferWhySomemaypreferashortdefinition,suchastheonegivenbyE.SapirorR.Benedict,foritishighlygeneralizedandeasytoremember.Somemaypreferalongerone,suchasEdwardT.Hall‘sdefinitionofculture,becauseitprovidesuswithamorecomprehensiveunderstandingofcultureandpointsouttheall-pervasiveimpactofcultureonhumanlifeindifferentdimensions.haveyoulearnedfromthosedefinitionsaboutcultureManythingscanbelearnedfromthosedefinitions,foreachdefinition,thoughnotwithoutitslimitations,tellsussomethingveryimportantaboutcultureorcertainaspect(s)ofculture.DoyouagreethatourlowerneedsalwayshavetobesatisfiedbeforewecantrytosatisfythehigherneedsEventhoughthisisgenerallythecase,therewillstillbesomeexceptions.Sometimespeoplemightprefertosatisfyhigherneeds,forinstance,esteemneeds,beforetheirlowerneeds,suchascertainphysiologicalneedsorsafetyneeds,aresatisfied.WhatexamplescanyougiveabouthowpeopleofdifferentculturesachievethesameendsbytakingdifferentroadsForexample,everyonehastoeatinordertoliveandthisisuniversallytrue.However,tosatisfythisbasicneed,peopleofvariousculturesmaydoitinverydifferentways:whattoeatandhowtoeatitvaryfromculturetoculture.WhatbehaviorsofoursarebornwithandwhatarelearnedintheculturalenvironmentInstinctivebehaviorsarebehaviorsthatwearebornwithandwaysofdoingthingsindailylife,suchaswaysofeating,drinking,dressing,findingshelter,makingfriends,marrying,anddealingwithdeatharelearnedintheculturalenvironment.WhatotherculturaldifferencesdoyouknowinthewaypeopledothingsintheireverydaylifeWecanalsofindculturaldifferencesinwaysofbringingupchildren,treatingtheelderly,greetingeachother,savingandspendingmoney,andmanyotherthingspeopledoineverydaylife.InwhatwaysaretheChineseeatinghabitsdifferentfromthoseoftheEnglish-speakingcountriesWeChinesemayenjoysomethingthatisnotusuallyconsideredasediblebytheEnglish-speakingpeople.Generallyweprefertohavethingshotandlaymuchemphasisontastes.Wetendtosharethingswitheachotherwhenweareeatingwithothers.1.WhyisitcomparativelyeasytomakefriendsintheUnitedStatesBecausefewAmericansstayputforalifetime.Witheachmove,formingnewfriendshipbecomesanecessityandpartoftheirnewlife.peoplefromdifferentcountriesusuallyhavedifferentexpectationsaboutwhatconstitutesfriendshipandhowitcomesintobeingYes.Thedifficultywhenstrangersfromtwocountriesmeetistheirdifferentexpectationsaboutwhatconstitutesfriendshipandhowitcomesintobeing.HowisfriendshipinAmericadifferentfromfriendshipinWestEuropeInWestEurope,friendshipisquitesharplydistinguishedfromother,morecasualrelationships,isusuallymoreparticularizedandcarriesaheavierburdenofcommitment,whileinAmericatheword-friendcanbeappliedtoawiderangeofrelationshipandafriendshipmaybesuperficial,casual,situationalordeepandenduring.Inwhatcountrydoesfriendshiphavemuchtodowithone’sfamilyAndinwhatcountrydoesitnotInGermany,friendshiphasmuchtodowithone‘sfamilyasfriendsareusuallybroughtintothefamily,whileinFranceitdoesn‘tas,forinstance,twomenmayhavebeenfriendsforalongtimewithoutknowingeachother‘spersonallife.WhatisfriendshiplikewhenitiscompartmentalizedForinstance,amanmayplaychesswithafriendforthirtyyearswithoutknowinghispoliticalopinions,orhemaytalkpoliticswithhimforaslongatimewithoutknowingabouthispersonallife.Differentfriendsfilldifferentnichesineachperson’slife.WhatarefriendshipsusuallybasedoninEnglandEnglishfriendshipsarebasedonsharedactivity.Activitiesatdifferentstagesoflifemaybeofverydifferentkinds.Inthemidstoftheactivity,whateveritmaybe,peoplefallintostepsandfindthattheyparticipateintheactivitywiththesameeasyanticipationofwhateachwilldodaybydayorinsomecriticalsituation.DoyouthinkfriendshipsharessomecommonelementsindifferentculturesIfyoudo,whataretheyYes.Thereistherecognitionthatfriendship,incontrastwithkinship,invokesfreedomofchoice.Afriendissomeonewhochoosesandischosen.Relatedtothisisthesenseeachfriendgivestheotherofbeingaspecialindividual,onwhatevergroundsthisrecognitionisbased.Andbetweenfriendsthereisinevitablyakindofequalityofgive-and-take.WhatdoyouthinkisthetypicalChineseconceptoffriendshipIsitsimilartoordifferentfromanyoftheWesternfriendshipsItseemsthatthetypicalChineseconceptoffriendshiplaysgreatemphasisonpersonalloyaltyandalsohasmuchtodowithfamily.ItmaybesimilartoGermanyfriendshiptosomeextentandquitedifferentfromotherWesternfriendships.WhatisyourfamilylikeInwhataspectsisitthesameasordifferentfromthetraditionalWhatproblemsmayarisewhenpeoplefromdifferentfamilybackgroundscommunicatewithoneanotherAsweallknow,manyculturaldifferencesexistinfamilystructuresandvalues.Insomecultures,thefamilyisthecenteroflifeandthemainframeofreferencefordecisions;whileinothers,theindividual,notthefamily,isprimary.ManyChinesefamiliesarestillquitetraditional.Theyareoftenextendedfamilies,withthreeorevenfourgenerationslivingunderthesameroof.Insuchfamilies,peoplemaycarealotaboutfamilies,welfare,reputationandhonor.Nomatterwhattheydo,theytendtoputtheinterestofthewholefamilyasthetoppriority.Forthem,thefamilyasawholealwayscomesfirst,anditsindividualmembersaresecond.However,therearealsomanyChinesefamiliesnowinwhichindividualneedsaregivenmorestressthaneverbeforeandtherelationshipbetweenparentsandchildrenaremoreegalitarianthanhierarchical.Therefore,communicationbetweenpeoplefromdifferentfamilybackgroundsmaybeinterculturaltosomeextent.Whatoneconsidersasappropriatemayberegardedasimproperbytheother,andsometimesitwouldbeverydifficultforthemtounderstandeachotherinthewayeachofthempreferstobeunderstood.WhatcanwedotoavoidattributingaverydifferentmeaningtothephraseorinterpretitmuchmoreliterallyWehavetobeawareoftheculturalimplicationsofthephrase.WhataretheotherfunctionsofusingquestionformsapartfromaskingforinformationItservesasalubricanttomovetheconversationforward.Aquestionthathasthisfunctioncanbecalleda-socialquestion.WhyarethoseGermansgettingstifferandmorereservedallthetimewhenvisitingIngridZerbeTheyareconfusedabouthowtoaddressher,forsheintroducesherselfbyfirstandlastnameratherthanbylastnameandprofessionaltitle.HowdoestheenvironmentinfluencetheuseoflanguageLanguagereflectstheenvironmentinwhichwelive.Weuselanguagetolabelthethingsthatarearoundus.DoestheauthorthinkthereareexactequivalentsindictionariesthathavethesamemeaningsindifferentculturesNo.Accordingtotheauthor,therearenosuchequivalentsbetweenlanguages;therefore,tocommunicateconceptseffectively,culturalknowledgeisasimportantaslinguisticknowledge.HowdoesthelanguagechangeovertimeWordsandphrasesthatareusedcommonlyatonetimemaybediscontinuedortheirmeaningmaychangeovertime.DoestheauthorthinkitispossibleforcountriessuchasFranceandIcelandtokeeptheirlanguagepurebyimplementinglanguagepolicytoensuretheuseofstandardizedlanguageTheauthordoesnotthinkso,because,forinstance,theAcademieFrancaisemayinsistoncertainrules,butotherFrench-speakinggroupsmaymaketheirownrulesandconsidertheirFrenchjustascorrect.WhatarethepossiblelanguagebarriersinclassroomteachingInsomecasestheprofessorsactuallymayhaveapoorcommandofthelanguage;however,inmostcasestheproblemisnotthelanguagebutdifferentintonationpatternsanddifferentculturalsignals.WhatarethemajordifferencesbetweenChineseandEnglishincategorizingkinfolkWhatotherexamplesofconnotativedifferencescanyougivebetweenthetwolanguagesIncategorizingkinfolk,whattheChineselanguagefindssignificantaretheperson‘ssex,age,andwhetherheorsheiscloselyrelatedtoone‘sfatherormother.Allthesethings,however,arenotsignificantintheEnglishlanguage.WhatmadetheauthorfeellearningtoconverseinMexicoCitywaseasierforhim/herinoneway,moredifficultinanotherIt'seasierbecauseMexicansservicetherelationshipandtheycareabouteveryoneintheconversation.Buttheirconversationdoesn‘tmoveinastraightline,driftingaroundbothinthetopicandinthewaytheyusewords.WhydidtheMexicancustomerslideintothetopicofthefulleclipseofthesunFortheMexican,theconversationstartswithonetopic,butifanotherinterestingtopicseepsinheorshewillrideitaroundforawhile.Stickingtothefirsttopicislessimportantthanhavinganinterestingconversation.WhatdidtheAmericanbusinessmanfeelabouttheMexicanswayofconversationFortheAmerican,aconversationshouldhaveatopic,andhewantstotakeastraightlinethroughitfrombeginningtoend.SohefeltveryimpatientabouttheMexican‘swayofconversation.What“conversationalideal”wasrepresentedbytheexampleofachampionshipskierwhowasinterviewedonTVTheSwedishconversationalidealistoresponseinaconcisemannerwithoutelaboratingspecificdetails,especiallythoseforself-promotion..WhatproblemsarelikelytooccurifanAmericantalkswithaSwedeTheAmericanmayfeeltotallylostintheconversationsinceheorshewouldnotgetasmuchinformationfromtheSwedeasheorshehasexpected.WhatarethedifferencesbetweenAnglosandAthabaskansinconversationTherearealotdifferencesbetweenthem.Forinstance,atthebeginningofaconversation,Anglosalmostalwaysspeakfirst.Athabaskansthinkitisimportanttoknowwhatthesocialrelationshipisbeforetheytalkwithsomeone.Thereisanotherdifferenceinhowlongoneshouldtalk.Athabaskanstendtohavelongerturnswhentheytalkwitheachother,butAnglosexpectshorterturns.IsitenoughjusttolearntospeakingrammaticallycorrectmannerswhenonelearnsaforeignlanguageWhatelsedoesheorshealsoneedtoknowItisfarfromenoughjusttolearntospeakingrammaticallycorrectmannerswhenonelearnsaforeignlanguage.Onealsohastoknowaboutthecultureofusingthelanguageinsociallife,thingslikewhotalksfirst,whotalksnext,whoopensandclosesconversationsandhowtheydoit,inordertobeabletousethelanguageinculturallyappropriatemanners.InwhatwaysareChinesesimilartoordifferentfromtheAmericans,MexicansandSwedesItseemsthatweChinesearesomewhatsimilartoMexicansinthewaywearehavingaconversation.UnlikeAmericans,wedonotusuallymoveinastraightlineinaconversationandmayalsocaremuchabouttheother‘sfeeling.DoyouthinktherehasbeensomechangeinthewayweChineserespondtocomplimentsinthelastdecadeortwoWhatbasicdifferencescanwestillfindbetweentheEnglish-speakingpeopleandtheChinesepeopleintheuseofcomplimentandresponseThereseemstohavebeensomechangeinthewayweChineserespondtocomplimentsinthelastdecadeortwo.Forexample,liketheEnglish-speakingpeople,moreandmoreChinese,particularlyyoungpeople,nowadaystendtouseWW(Thankyou)torespondtoacompliment.However,weChinesearestilldifferentfromtheEnglish-speakingpeopleintheuseofcomplimentandresponsetoit.Forinstance,implicitcompliments(隐性恭维语)aremorelikelytobefoundintheChinesesociety.•纵观历史，我们可以清楚地看到，人们由于彼此所处地域、意识形态、容貌服饰和行为举止上存在的差异，而长久无法互相理解、无法和睦相处。在这种情况下，跨文化交际作为一个特定的研究领域得以形成和发展。值得注意的是，人类文明在发展过程中所遭受的许多挫折，既是个人的，又是全球性的；人类历史进程总是充满了个人间的直接冲突和民族间的误解一一从骂骂咧咧到孤立主义直至到武装冲突，大大小小争端不绝。很显然，文化间以及亚文化间的交往比以前多了，这迫切要求我们共同努力，去理解有着不同信仰和文化背景的人们，并与之和睦相处。通过加深认识和理解，我们能够与生活方式、价值观念不同的人们和平共处；这不但有益于我们周遭环境的安定，也是维护世界和平的决定性因素。•文化有时候被称为我们的心智程序，我们“头脑的软件”。但是，我们可以进一步引申这个用电脑所做的类比，把文化看作是支持运行的操作环境。文化就像电脑使用的DOS或者Unix或者“视窗”(Windows)等操作系统一样，使我们能在各种各样的实际应用中处理信息。用“视窗”这个比喻来描述文化似乎也很有吸引力。文化就是我们心灵的视窗，透过它我们审视生活的方方面面。一个社会中不同个体的视窗是不大一样的，但都有着一些重要的共同特征。文化就好像是鱼畅游于其中的水一般，人们想当然地把文化看成是客观存在的事实，因而很少去研究它。文化存在于我们所呼吸的空气之中，文化对于我们了解我们自身之为何物是必不可少的，就正如生命离不开空气一样。文化是特定群体的共有财产，而不单是个体的特征。社会按照文化设定的程序运作，这种程序来自于相似的生活体验以及对这种生活体验之含义的相似阐释。如果文化是一种心智程序，那么它也是现实的心灵地图。从我们很小的时候开始，文化就告诉我们应该看重什么、偏好什么、规避什么和做些什么，文化还告诉我们事物应该是什么样。文化为我们提供超越个体经验可能的理想典范，帮助我们决定应该优先考虑的人或事。文化为我们建立起行为准则，并视遵守这些准则的行为为正当、合法。•由于在性别、年龄、种族或文化群体、教育、国家或城市的地域、收入或职业群体、个人经历等各方面的差异，人们分属不同的语言群体，这些差异使我们很难完全领会另一个群体成员所表达的意思。在当今世界的跨文化交际中，人们之间的差异是相当大的。人们每天要与来自世界各地不同文化背景、不同群体的人交往，成功交际的关键在于尽可能地共享对话语意义的推定。当我们与迥然不同的人打交道时，我们往往不知道该怎样推导出他们的语句意义。因此，在交际过程中，就很难依靠共享的知识和背景来有把握地诠释他人表达的意义。就是来自相同文化、甚至相同家庭中的男性和女性也会经常误解对方的意思，原因是男性和女性对交际目的有不同的预期。为了让女人高兴，男人要送她一件她真正想要的礼物。他问女人想要什么礼物——哪怕是上天摘星星。糟糕的是，女人最想要的却是男人可以凭直觉就知道她想要的是什么。至少在北美社会中，男性和女性对于表达的看法往往不同：前者倾向于直接明了，后者则倾向于间接委婉。女性觉得不用直接问就知道她想要什么是很重要的。男性则觉得，如果女性能爽快地告诉他怎样做才能让她高兴就再好不过了。thiscase,thereseemedtobeproblemsincommunicatingwithpeopleofdifferentculturesinspiteoftheeffortsmadetoachieveunderstanding.WeshouldknowthatinEgyptasinmanycultures,thehumanrelationshipisvaluedsohighlythatitisnotexpressedinanobjectiveandimpersonalway.WhileAmericanscertainlyvaluehumanrelationships,theyaremorelikelytospeakoftheminlesspersonal,moreobjectiveterms.Inthiscase,Richard‘smistakemightbethathechosetopraisethefooditselfratherthanthetotalevening,forwhichthefoodwassimplythesettingorexcuse.Forhishostandhostessitwasasifhehadattendedanartexhibitandcomplimentedtheartistbysaying,-Whatbeautifulframesyourpicturesarein.InJapanthesituationmaybemorecomplicated.Japanesepeoplevalueorderandharmonyamongpersonsinagroup,andthattheorganizationitself—beitafamilyoravastcorporation—ismorevaluedthanthecharacteristicsofanyparticularmember.Incontrast,Americansstressindividualityasavalueandareapttoassertindividualdifferenceswhentheyseemjustifiablyinconflictwiththegoalsorvaluesofthegroup.Inthiscase:Richard‘smistakewasinmakinggreateffortstodefendhimself.Lettheothersassumethattheerrorswerenotintentional,butitisnotrighttodefendyourself,evenwhenyourunstatedintentistoassistthegroupbywarningothersofsimilarmistakes.Asimpleapologyandacceptanceoftheblamewouldhavebeenappropriate.ButforpoorRichardtohavemerelyapologizedwouldhaveseemedtohimtobesubservient,unmanly.WhenitcomestoEngland,weexpectfewerproblemsbetweenAmericansandEnglishmenthanbetweenAmericansandalmostanyothergroup.Inthiscasewemightlookbeyondthegestureoftakingsugarorcreamtothevaluesexpressedinthisgesture:forAmericans,―Helpyourself;fortheEnglishcounterpart,—Bemyguest.AmericanandEnglishpeopleequallyenjoyentertainingandbeingentertainedbuttheydiffersomewhatinthevalueofthedistinction.Typically,theidealguestatanAmericanpartyisonewho-makeshimselfathome,eventothepointofansweringthedoororfixinghisowndrink.Forpersonsinmanyothersocieties,includingatleastthishypotheticalEnglishhost,suchguestbehaviorispresumptuousorrude.Acommonculturalmisunderstandinginclassesinvolvesconflictsbetweenwhatissaidtobedirectcommunicationstyleandindirectcommunicationstyle.InAmericanculture,peopletendtosaywhatisontheirmindsandtomeanwhattheysay.Therefore,studentsinclassareexpectedtoaskquestionswhentheyneedclarification.MexicanculturesharesthispreferenceofstylewithAmericancultureinsomesituations,andthat‘swhythestudentsfromMexicoreadilyadoptedthetechniquesofaskingquestionsinclass.However,Koreanpeoplegenerallypreferindirectcommunicationstyle,andthereforetheytendtonotsaywhatisontheirmindsandtorelymoreonimplicationsandinference,soastobepoliteandrespectfulandavoidlosingfacethroughanyimproperverbalbehavior.Asismentionedinthecase,tomanyKoreans,numerousquestionswouldshowadisrespectfortheteacher,andwouldalsoreflectthatthestudenthasnotstudiedhardenough.Theconflicthereisadifferenceinculturalvaluesandbeliefs.Inthebeginning,Marydidn‘trealizethatherDominicansistersawherasamemberofthefamily,literally.IntheDominicanview,familypossessionsaresharedbyeveryoneofthefamily.LuzwasactingasmostDominicansisterswoulddoinborrowingwithoutaskingeverytime.OnceMaryunderstoodthattherewasadifferentwayoflookingatthis,shewouldbecomemoreaccepting.However,shemightstillexperiencethesamefrustrationwhenthishappenedagain.Shehadtofindwaystocopewithherownemotionalculturalreactionaswellasherpracticalproblem(thebatteriesrunningout).Itmightbesimplyaquestionofdifferentrhythms.Americanshaveonerhythmintheirpersonalandfamilyrelations,intheirfriendlinessandtheircharities.Peoplefromothercultureshavedifferentrhythms.TheAmericanrhythmisfast.Itischaracterizedbyarapidacceptanceofothers.However,itisseldomthatAmericansengagethemselvesentirelyinafriendship.Theirfriendshipsarewarm,butcasual,andspecialized.Forexample,youhaveaneighborwhodropsbyinthemorningforcoffee.Youseeherfrequently,butyouneverinviteherfordinner--notbecauseyoudon‘tthinkshecouldhandleaforkandaknife,butbecauseyouhaveseenherthatmorning.Therefore,youreserveyourmoreformalinvitationtodinnerforsomeonewholivesinamoredistantpartofthecityandwhomyouwouldnotseeunlessyouextendedaninvitationforaspecialoccasion.Now,ifthefirstfriendmovesawayandthesecondonemovesnearby,youarelikelytoreversethis--seethesecondfriendinthemorningsforinformalcoffeemeetings,andthefirstoneyouwillinvitemoreformallytodinner.Americansare,inotherwords,guidedveryoftenbytheirownconvenience.Theytendtomakefriendseasily,andtheydon’tfeelitnecessarytogotoagreatamountoftroubletoseefriendsoftenwhenitbecomesinconvenienttodoso,andusuallynooneishurt.Butinsimilarcircumstancespeoplefrommanyothercultureswouldbehurtverydeeply.InChina,itisoftennotpolitetoacceptafirstofferandHepingwasbeingmodest,politeandwell-behavedandhadeveryintentionofacceptingthebeeratthesecondorthirdoffer.Buthehadanyone.Apersonmaynotdrinkforreligiousreasons,hemaybeareformedalcoholic,orhemaybeallergic.Whateverthereasonbehindtherule,youdonotinsistinofferingalcohol.SounconsciousandsostrongaretheirculturalrulesthattheAmericansequallypolitelynevermadeasecondofferofbeertoHepingwhoprobablythoughtNorthAmericansmostuncouth.However,instanceforallpeopleandtherearealwaysindividualdifferences.ProbablythisyoungChinesenursewasverydifferentfromHepingor,unlikeHeping,shemayhaveknownsomethingabouttheAmericanculturalrulesandwasjusttryingtobehavelikeanAmericanwhenshewasinanAmericanfamily.Whenaspeakersayssomethingtoahearer,thereareatleastthreekindsofmeaningsinvolved:utterancemeaning,speaker‘smeaningandhearer’smeaning.Inthedialogue,whenLitzsaidHowlongisshegoingtostay‘shemeanttosaythatifsheknewhowlonghermother-in-lawwasgoingtostayinFinland,shewouldbeabletomakeproperarrangementsforher,suchastakingherouttodosomesightseeing.However,hermother-in-lawoverheardtheconversation,andtookLitz'squestiontomean-Litzdoesnotwantmetostayforlong.FromtheChinesepointofview,itseemstobeinappropriateforLitztoasksuchaquestionjusttwodaysafterhermother-in-law‘sarrival.Ifshefeelsshehastoaskthequestion,itwouldbebettertoasksometimelaterandsheshouldnotlethermother-in-lawhearit.Keikoinsistsongivingvaluablegiftstohercollegefriends,becauseincountrieslikeJapan,exchanginggiftsisastronglyrootedsocialtradition.Shouldyoureceiveagift,anddon’thaveonetoofferinreturn,youwillprobablycreateacrisis.Ifnotasseriousasacrisis,onewhodoesn’tofferagiftinreturnmaybeconsideredrudeorimpolite.Therefore,inJapan,giftsareasymbolicwaytoshowappreciation,respect,gratitudeandfurtherrelationship.KeikoobviouslyhastakenthoseuseditemsfromMary,EdandMarionasgifts,forsheprobablydoesn’tknowthatAmericansfrequentlydonatetheirusedhouseholditemstochurchortothecommunity.Mary,EdandMarionwouldneverconsiderthoseusedhouseholditemsgiventoKeikoasgifts.Nowondertheyfeltveryuncomfortablewhentheyreceivedvaluablegiftsinreturn.AstheChinesegirlAmyfellinlovewithanAmericanboyatthattime,itseemsthatshepreferredtocelebrateChristmasintheAmericanway,forshewantedverymuchtoappearthesameasotherAmericangirl.Shedidnotliketoseeherboyfriendfeeldisappointedatthe—shabbyIIChineseChristmas.That,swhyshecriedwhenshefoundoutherparentshadinvitedtheminister'sfamilyoverfortheChristmasEvedinner.ShethoughtthemenufortheChristmasmealcreatedbyhermotherastrangeonebecausetherewerenoroastturkeyandsweetpotatoesbutonlyChinesefood.HowcouldshenoticethenthefoodschosenbyhermotherwereallherfavoritesFromthiscase,wecanfindalotofdifferencesbetweentheChineseandWesternculturesinwhatisappropriatefoodforabanquet,whataregoodtablemanners,andhowoneshouldbehavetobehospitable.However,oneshouldneverfeelshamefuljustbecauseone'scultureisdifferentfromothers'.AsAmy'smothertoldher,youmustbeproudtobedifferent,andyouronlyshameistohaveshame.HierarchyissignificantintheJapaneseculture.ThisstructureisreflectedeverywhereinJapaneselife,athome,school,community,organizations,andtraditionalinstitutionssuchasmartialartsorflowerarrangements.Inthiscase,theyoungchairmanmusthavehadhisownideasabouthowtomanagethecompany;however,whenencounteredwithhisgrandfather'sdissentingopinions,hedarednottotakeastandagainsthim.ThismaymanifesttherigidhierarchicalstructureintheJapanesesociety.IntheJapanesesociety,howhierarchyisformeddependsmainlyonseniority,socialroles,andgender.Asarespectableseniormemberofthefamilyandtheformerleaderofthecompany,thegrandfatherobviouslyoverpoweredtheinexperiencedyoungchairman.Inotherwords,thegrandfatherseemedtobeanabsoluteauthorityfortheyoungchairman.InJapaneseculture,challengingordisagreeingwithelders'opinionswouldbedeemedasbeingdisrespectfulandisoftencondemned.Peopleinlowerpositionsareexpectedtobeloyalandobedienttoauthority.That'swhytheyoungchairmandidn'tsayanythingbutjustnoddedandagreedwithhisgrandfather.ButPhilseemedtoknowlittleabouttheJapanesecultureinthisaspect.InmanyWesterncultures,particularlyAmericanculture,seniorityseldommattersverymuchinsuchsituations,andyoungpeopleareusuallyencouragedtochallengeauthorityandvoicetheirownopinions.Unfortunately,hisoutspokenprotestcouldeasilyoffendthegrandfatherandhemightberegardedasarudeandill-bredpersonbyotherJapanese.InJapan,acompanyisoftenverymuchlikeabigfamily,inwhichthemanger(s)willtakegoodcareoftheemployeesandtheemployeesareexpectedtodevotethemselvestothedevelopmentofthecompanyand,ifitisnecessary,tosacrificetheirownindividualinterestsfortheinterestsofthecompany,fromwhich,inthelongrun,theemployeeswillbenefitgreatly.ButfortheFrench,acompanyisjustaloosely-knitsocialorganizationwhereinindividualsaresupposedto