中西文化差异情景案例分析.docx

中西文化差异情景案例分析.docx

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中西文化差异情景案例分析

CultureDifferenceCaseStudy

Unit1LanguageandCultureinCommunication

Theory

Communicationissomethingwedoeveryday.Ittakesplacesonaturallythatwesimplyfailtonoticeituntilithiccupsorbreaksdown.Thoughitiscommonplace,itisnoexaggerationtosaythatcommunicationislifeandlifeiscommunication.

1.Whenyoujoinasocialgathering,youmustbeawareofrulesandproceduresthatgovernthewaythingsaregoingtoproceed.Thereisatechnicaltermforsuchrulesandprocedures—schema.

2.Faceandpolitenessaretwootherareaswhichareextremelyvalue—sensitive.OneofthedistinctivefeaturesofChinesepolitenessisself—denigrationandother—elevation.

Case1

Litzisaprofessorofcross—culturalcommunicationinauniversityinFinland.SheinvitedherChinesestudentshomeforaneveningparty.

TheschemafromLitz’spointofviewincludesthefollowing:

1. Givinginvitation:

byphone/bymail

2. Prepareeverythingbeforethearrivalofguests

3. Receivingguests:

openthedoor/expresswelcome/taketheirovercoats/introduceguests/offerthemdrinks/makethemcomfortable

4. Servingfood:

setthetable/soupfirst/maincourse/desert

5. Postdinneractivities:

chat/playmusic/offermoredrinks

6. Seeingguestsoff:

thankthemforcoming/goodnight

Litz’seveningpartywasnotverysuccessful,becauseshewasupsetbyoneofherguests.HerewastheinitialconversationbetweenLitzandLin:

Litz:

（opensthedoor）Oh,Lin,howniceyoucouldcome!

Lin:

It’snotdifficulttofindyourhouse.

Litz:

Comeonin.

Lin:

（comesin）

Litz:

CanItakeyourcoat?

Lin:

No,thanks.

Litz:

Ok,thiswayplease.

Lin:

（takeoffhercoatandhangsit）

Analysis:

LitzwashurtbecauseLindidnotletherhanghercoat.Litz’sofferingtohangLin’scoatisoneofLitz’sways（it’sonLitz’sschema）.OnLin’sside,shethoughtthatLitzwashersupervisorandthatitwasinappropriatetolethersupervisorhanghercoat.Herewehaveaninstanceofoneactionattachedwithdifferentculturalvalues.

Case2

FindinganInterestedBuyer

GeorageHallwasinBeijingattendingatradefairandlookingforanopportunitytodobusinessinChina.HehadbeenverysuccessfulinhisbusinessdealingsintheUSandpridedhimselfonhisability“togetthingsmoving.”Hisfirstdaywasgoingwell.Helookedaroundatthedisplaysofsportingequipmenttogetsomeideaofwhomhemightapproach.Hewassurethathisproducts,tennisracketswithanunusualnewdesign,wouldarousesomeinterests.Ontheseconddayheapproachedthecompanywhichhefeltwouldbemostresponsivetohisproducts.Heintroducedhimselftothegeneral,aMr.Li.SincehehadreadthatChinesefindgettingdowntobusinessimmediatelytooabruptandrude,hebeganacasualconversation,eventuallyleadinguptothetopicofhisproductsandsuggestinghowMr.Li’scompanymightbenefitfromusingthem.GeorgethensuggestedthathecouldarrangetogettogetherwithMr.Liandprovidemorespecificsanddocumentationonhisproducts.

Mr.LirespondedinfairlygoodEnglish,”Thatwouldbeinteresting.”

KnowingthathehadonlyafewdaysleftinBeijing,Georgewantedtonaildownatime,”Whencanwemeet?

”askedGeorge.

“Ah.Thisweekisverybusy,”repliedMr.Li.

“Itsureis,”saidGeorge,”Howabout10o’clock?

Meetyouhere.”

“Tomorrowat10o’clock?

”askedMr.Lithoughtfully.

“Right,”saidGeorge,“I’llseeyouthen?

”

“Hmm,yes;whydon’tyoucomebytomorrow,”wasthereply.

“OK,”respondedGeorge,”Itwasnicemeetingyou.”

Thenextdayat10o’clockheapproachedMr.Li’scompany’sexhibitonlytofindthatMr.LihadsomeimportantbusinessandwasnotabletomeetwithGeorge.HecalledbacklaterinthedayandwastoldthatMr.Liwasnotavailable.

Analysis:

英美人士做事情讲究守时。

而中国人不太重视这方面。

本案列中，李先生不仅没有准时接见预约的客户，甚至放了他“鸽子”。

Case3

ProfessorLianghaswrittenabookonChinesecultureinChinese.HisbookisputondisplayinBeijingInternationalBookFair’96.ProfessorLiangwouldliketohavehisbooktranslatedintoEnglishandsubmittedtoThompsonPublishers.ProfessorLianghasaskedLiYan,whomhemeetsregularlyintheEnglishCorner,tohelphimtotalktoPeterAllright,aThompsonrepresentative.

Prof.Liang:

奥莱特先生，这是鄙人的拙作。

LiTan:

Mr.Allright,thisaclumsybookwrittenbyyourhumbleservant.

MrAllright:

No,no,no,you'renotmyhumbleservant.WedonotpublishbooksinChinese.

LiYan（toProfessorLiang）:

不，不，不，你不是我的仆人，我们不出中文书。

ProfessorLiang:

我要请李艳翻译成英文。

LiYan（toMr.Allright）:

ProfessorLiangwillaskmetotranslateitintoEnglish.

Mr.Allright:

Mmthat’sinteresting.

Analysis:

Chineseauthorsalmostalwaysbelittletheirworksbydescribingthemasclumsywritings,andtheyusethesamedescriptionwhentheypresentthemtoChinesepublishers.Butthiswillbecounter—productiveinEnglish.Instead,authors