Intercultural-Communication

InterculturalCommunicationLecture2MajorissuesinthestudyofinterculturalcommunicationWhatdifferencesarethereinthebehaviorsofpeoplefromdifferentculturalbackgrounds?Whydothedifferencesexist?Howshouldthecommunicatorsdealwiththedifferencessoastocommunicatewitheachothersuccessfully?TheChallengeofGlobalizationComprehensionquestionsOurunderstandingoftheworldhaschangedInthepast,peoplewereborn,livedanddiedinonegeographicalarea,nevermeetingpeoplefromotherculturalbackgrounds.Nowpeoplehavemoreopportunitiestoencounterpeoplefromadifferentculturalbackgroundotherthantheirown.The“GlobalVillage”Theworldisnowbecomingaplacewherepeoplefromremoteculturescomeintocontactonadailybasis.Membersofonceisolatedgroupsofpeoplehavetocommunicatewithmembersofotherculturalgroups.Peoplewholivefarawayornextdoorhavetocommunicate.Thepost-1945globalizationTheglobalizationaftertheyear1945hasbeencharacterizedbythedrivingforceoftechnology,particularlytelecommunicationtechnologyandcomputers.The‘global’ismorelocalthanthe‘local’Theworldseemstobesmallerduetotheincreasingglobalmobilityofpeopleandtheimpactofnewelectronicmediaonhumancommunications.Peoplecommunicatemorewithfar-awaycountriesthantheneighborsandaremoreinformedoftheinternationaleventsthanthelocalevents.BusinesspeopleneedtoknowdiverseculturesFirmsneedeffectivecommunicationskillstomeetdiversecustomerneedsonaglobalbasis.Successfulglobalmarketingrequiresbusinesspeopletohavetheabilitytocommunicatesensitivelywithpeoplefromothercultures,asensitivitywhichisbasedonanunderstandingofcross-culturaldifferences.ProblemsweareconfrontedwithtodayVolatileinternationaleconomyShrinkingresourcesEnvironmentalcontaminationepidemicsImplicationsfromthecaseofMichaelFayItisextremelyurgentthatwehavetheabilitytounderstandandcommunicateeffectivelywithpeoplefromothercultures.Ifweareunawareoftheimportantrolecultureplaysincommunication,wemayblameforcommunicationfailureonpeopleofothercultures.AttitudestowardsglobalizationGlobalization,forbetterorworse,haschangedtheworldgreatly.Whetherwelikeitornot,globalizationisallbutunstoppable.Itisalreadyheretostay.Itisbothafactandanopportunity.Thechallengesarenotinsurmountable.Solutionsexist,andarewaitingtobeidentifiedandimplemented.Fromaglobalisticpointofview,thereishopeandfaithinhumanity.PreparingforworkingandlivinginanewculturalenvironmentThingstorememberLearnthelanguagetobeusedLearnthehistoryandpresentsocialsituationLearnthedominantreligiousbeliefandsocialcustomsLearntheculturalusesofnonverbalmeansforcommunicationLearntolookatthingsandpeopleDevelopamoretolerantattitudetowardsanyunfamiliarphenomenaBecomeawarethatproblemsandmisunderstandingsareinevitableininterculturalcommunicationLearnabouthowforeignersareusuallyperceivedandtreatedbythelocalpeopleCulturaldifferencesinspeechbehaviorsGreetings‘Haveyoueaten?’‘Whereareyougoing?’‘Whatareyoudoing?’‘Hello’‘Goodmorning’‘Nicetomeetyou’‘Howdoyoudo?’ApologizingSaying‘sorry’notsooftenSayingsorryonlywhenonethinkssomethingreallymattersSayingsorryveryoftenSayingsorryevenwhensomethingisreallytrivialMakingrequestInindirectwaysMoredirectifthetwopartiesareonintimaterelationshipDirectlyOpenlyExpressinggratitudeNotjustbywhattheysay,butalsobywhattheydoGiveotherssomethingwhohavedonethemafavorMoreverballyExpressingdisapprovalReluctanttoexpressdisapprovalopenlyforfearofmakingotherslosefacePrefertodoitinanindirectwayFreelyDirectlyLeave-takingLeavingbysaying‘Youmustbetired/busy’ShowingconsiderationfortheotherpartyToleavebyusingexcusesthatarerelatedtothemselvesSomedifficultiesincommunicatingwithEnglishnativespeakersExampleOneCallingtheforeignteacher“Teacher…”(firstnamepreferred)Treatingtheteacherasanauthoritativeperson(asafriendpreferred)Someforeignteachersprefertobecalled“Professorxxx”or“Drxx”becausetheywanttoberespectedinChina.AnotherexampleAnAmericanwomanreceivedaletterfromarecentlymarriedJapanesefriend.TheJapanesewomanwroteinherletter:“Myhusbandisnotveryhandsome.Yourhusbandismuchmorehandsomethanmine.”TheAmericanwomanwasverysurprisedatwhatherfriendwrote.WhydoyouthinktheAmericanwassurprised?a)TheAmericanwomansawapictureofherfriend’shusbandandthoughtthathewasveryhandsome.b)TheAmericanwomandidn’tthinkherownhusbandwashandsome.c)IntheU.S.,itisdisrespectfultosaythatone’shusbandisnothandsome.a)No.evenifthiswastrue,shewouldn’texpectawifetosaythisaboutherownhusband.Toher,theJapanesewomaninsultedherownhusband.b)No.Evenifthiswastrue,shewouldn’texpecttheJapanesewomantocomparetheirhusbands’appearance.c)Yes,astatementlikethisaboutone’sspouseintheU.S.wouldbeconsideredverydisrespectful.IfanAmericanwomansaidthisabouthehusband,peoplemightthinkthattheydidn’thaveagoodrelationship.Translation纵观历史，我们可以清楚地看到，各民族与文化由于彼此所处地域、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----从骂骂咧咧到孤立主义甚至到武装冲突，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。CasestudiesC