跨文化视野下中美时间观念的研究分析英文版

AbstractBecauseofthedifferencesingeographicallocation,dailyhabbitsandhistory,avarietyinChineseandWesterncultures,especiallyinChineseandAmericancultureshaveevolved.TimeconceptdifferencesofChineseandAmericanaredirectlycausedbythetworegions’peopleholdingmanydifferentvaluesintheirdailylives,studies,andwork.Somepeoplearebornwithanimpatientpersonality,whileotherswithaslowtemperament.Somepeoplearealwaysverypunctual,whileothersmaybefrequentlylatetoappointments.ThesedifferencesarereflectedinChineseandAmericandifferenttimeconcepts.Inthefollowingpaper,supportedbyscientificsourcesandresearches,theauthorwilldiscussthetimeconceptofChineseandAmericanincross-culturalcommunication,andtrytoavoidculturalconflicts.Keywords:ChineseandAmericancultures;timeconcept;cross-culturalcommunication摘要由于地域、日常习惯和历史的差异，孕育出了多样化的中西方文化，尤其是中美文化。中美时间观念的差异就是由两地的人们在日常生活、学习或工作中许许多多不同的价值观念所产生的。有的人天生就是急性子，而有的人却从小就是慢脾气。有的人守时，可有的人常迟到。这些都反映出中美人们不同的时间观念。在下文中，笔者将结合一些科学的研究资料探讨跨文化交际中的中美时间观以避免文化冲突。关键词：中美文化；时间观念；跨文化交际Contents1.Introduction...............................................................................................................................12.Literaturereview.......................................................................................................................12.1Thedefinitionoftimeconcept...........................................................................................12.2Theimportanceoftimeconceptincross-culturalcommunication....................................13.ThedifferencesinChineseandAmericantimeconcept........................................................23.1Theline-typetimeoutlookandtheround-typetimeoutlook.............................................23.1.1Americans’line-typetimeoutlook...........................................................................23.1.2Chinese’sround-typetimeoutlook..........................................................................33.2Mono-chronictimeandpoly-chronictime.........................................................................43.2.1Americans’mono-chronictimeconcept...................................................................53.2.2Chinese’spoly-chronictimeconcept.......................................................................73.3Chinese’spast-timeorientationandAmericans’future-timeorientation...........................83.3.1Chinese’spast-timeorientation................................................................................83.3.2Americans’future-timeorientation........................................................................104.ThecrasisofChineseandAmericantimeconcept...............................................................124.1People’sconsciousnessoftimethriftisstrengthening.....................................................124.2Past-timeorientationisturningintofuture-timeorientation............................................135.Conclusion................................................................................................................................14References....................................................................................................................................151.IntroductionThispaperaimstoexploredifferencesinChineseandAmericantimeconceptsandculture.Theauthorhopesthispapercan,toacertaindegree,givethereadersaclearunderstandingaboutthepeople’sconceptoftimeinthetworegions.Thestudyontheconceptoftimeistohelpustounderstandculturaldifferencesandhelpuscarryouteffectiveinternationalcommunication,improvecross-culturalawareness,reducebarrierstocross-culturalcommunicationandthemisunderstandingresultingfromthedifferentconceptoftimeasmuchaspossible,andavoid“culturalconflict”or“timeconflict”incross-culturalcommunication.2.Literaturereview2.1ThedefinitionoftimeconceptTimeconceptisevolvedfromtheprocessofpeopleunderstandingandtransformingtheworld.Timeconceptwillremainrelativelystableforafairlylongperiod.AccordingtoLiuXifang(2009),timeconceptreferstothedifferentawarenessandunderstandingtowardstime.Itisnotonlyabasicfactorintheenvironmentofhumanactivity,butalsoadeep-seatedculturalpartofthesocialsrtucture.Itisshapednaturallythroughthelong-periodpracticeofhumanbeingandthelong-periodhistoricalprogress.Itreflectstheattitudeofpeopletowardstime.Atthesametime,italsoreflectsthewaythatpeopledealwithtimeandutilizetime.Everyonehashisorherownconceptoftime.Therefore,differentpeople,especiallythepeopleinChinaandAmericahavedifferentconceptsoftime.2.2Theimportanceoftimeconceptincross-culturalcommunicationAsglobaleconomicintegrationmoveson,Chinese-Americanculturalcommunicationandintegrationbecomemorefrequent.Understandingdifferentculturalconceptsoftimeimprovescross-culturalawarenessandreducesbarrierstocross-culturalcommunication.Avoiding“culturalconflict”or“timeconflict”becomemoreandmoreimportant.Ifpeopleonlyrecognizeandadheretotheirownconceptoftimeandneglectunderstandingandrespecttothetimeconceptofothercultures,therewouldarisemanymisunderstandings.WeshouldacknowlegdethatpeoplefromChineseandAmericancultu