《新編跨文化交際英語(yǔ)教程》復(fù)習(xí)資料U1

1、新編跨文化交際英語(yǔ)教程期中考試復(fù)習(xí)資料Unit 1 Communication across CulturesSome Ideas Related to Globalization and Intercultural Communication 1. What is globalization?Globalization refers to the increasing unification of the worlds economic order through reduction of such barriers to international trade as tariffs, ex

2、port fees, and import quotas. The goal is to increase material wealth, goods, and services through an international division of labor by efficiencies catalyzed by international relations, specialization and competition. It describes the process by which regional economies, societies, and cultures ha

3、ve become integrated through communication, transportation, and trade. The term is most closely associated with the term economic globalization: the integration of national economies into the international economy through trade, foreign direct investment, capital flows, migration, the spread of tech

4、nology, and military presence. However, globalization is usually recognized as being driven by a combination of economic, technological, sociocultural, political, and biological factors. The term can also refer to the transnational circulation of ideas, languages, or popular culture through accultur

5、ation. An aspect of the world which has gone through the process can be said to be globalized.2. The Challenge of Globalization1) Globalization poses four major challenges that will have to be addressed by governments, civil society, and other policy actors. 2) The second is to deal with the fear th

6、at globalization leads to instability, which is particularly marked in the developing world. 3) The third challenge is to address the very real fear in the industrial world that increased global competition will lead inexorably to a race to the bottom in wages, labor rights, employment practices, an

7、d the environment. 4) And finally, globalization and all of the complicated problems related to it must not be used as excuses to avoid searching for new ways to cooperate in the overall interest of countries and people. Several implications for civil society, for governments and for multinational i

8、nstitutions stem from the challenges of globalization. 3. What Makes Intercultural Communication a Common Phenomenon? 1) New technology, in the form of transportation and communication systems, has accelerated intercultural contact. Trips once taking days, weeks, or even months are now measured in h

9、ours. Supersonic transports now make it possible for tourists, business executives, or government officials to enjoy breakfast in San Francisco and dinner in Paris all on the same day.2) Innovative communication systems have also encouraged and facilitated cultural interaction. Communication satelli

10、tes, sophisticated television transmission equipment, and digital switching networks now allow people throughout the world to share information and ideas instantaneously. Whether via the Internet, the World Wide Web, or a CNN news broadcast, electronic devices have increased cultural contact. 3) Glo

11、balization of the economy has further brought people together. This expansion in globalization has resulted in multinational corporations participating in various international business arrangements such as joint ventures and licensing agreements. These and countless other economic ties mean that it

12、 would not be unusual for someone to work for an organization that does business in many countries.4) Changes in immigration patterns have also contributed to the development of expanded intercultural contact. Within the boundaries of the United States, people are now redefining and rethinking the m

13、eaning of the word American. Neither the word nor the reality can any longer be used to describe a somewhat homogeneous group of people sharing a European heritage.4. Six Blocks in Intercultural CommunicationAssumption of similarities One answer to the question of why misunderstanding and/or rejecti

14、on occurs is that many people naively assume there are sufficient similarities among peoples of the world to make communication easy. They expect that simply being human and having common requirements of food, shelter, security, and so on makes everyone alike. Unfortunately, they overlook the fact t

15、hat the forms of adaptation to these common biological and social needs and the values, beliefs, and attitudes surrounding them are vastly different from culture to culture. The biological commonalties are not much help when it comes to communication, where we need to exchange ideas and information,

16、 find ways to live and work together, or just make the kind of impression we want to make. Language differences The second stumbling block language difference will surprise no one. Vocabulary, syntax, idioms, slang, dialects, and so on all cause difficulty, but the person struggling with a different

17、 language is at least aware of being in trouble. A greater language problem is the tenacity with which some people will cling to just one meaning of a word or phrase in the new language, regardless of connotation or context. The variations in possible meaning, especially when inflection and tone are

18、 varied, are so difficult to cope with that they are often waved aside. This complacency will stop a search for understanding. Even “yes” and “no” cause trouble. There are other language problems, including the different styles of using language such as direct, indirect; expansive, succinct; argumen

19、tative, conciliatory; instrumental, harmonizing; and so on. These different styles can lead to wrong interpretations of intent and evaluations of insincerity, aggressiveness, deviousness, or arrogance, among others.Nonverbal misinterpretations Learning the language, which most visitors to foreign co

20、untries consider their only barrier to understanding, is actually only the beginning. To enter into a culture is to be able to hear its special “hum and buzz of implication.” This suggests the third stumbling block, nonverbal misinterpretations. People from different cultures inhabit different senso

21、ry realities. They see, hear, feel, and smell only that which has some meaning or importance for them. They abstract whatever fits into their personal world of recognition and then interpret it through the frame of reference of their own culture. The misinterpretation of observable nonverbal signs a

22、nd symbols such as gestures, postures, and other body movements is a definite communication barrier. But it is possible to learn the meanings of these observable messages, usually in informal rather than formal ways. It is more difficult to understand the less obvious unspoken codes of the other cul

23、tures, such as the handling of time and spatial relationships and the subtle signs of respect of formality.Preconceptions and stereotypes The fourth stumbling block is the presence of preconceptions and stereotypes. If the label “inscrutable” has preceded the Japanese guests, their behaviors (includ

24、ing the constant and seemingly inappropriate smile) will probably be seen as such. The stereotype that Arabs are “inflammable” may cause U.S. students to keep their distance or even alert authorities when an animated and noisy group from the Middle East gathers. A professor who expects everyone from

25、 Indonesia, Mexico, and many other countries to “bargain” may unfairly interpret a hesitation or request from an international student as a move to get preferential treatment.Stereotypes are over-generalized, secondhand beliefs that provide conceptual bases from which we make sense out of what goes

26、on around us, whether or not they are accurate or fit the circumstances. In a foreign land their use increases our feeling of security. But stereotypes are stumbling blocks for communicators because they interfere with objective viewing of other people. They are not easy to overcome in ourselves or

27、to correct in others, even with the presentation of evidence. Stereotypes persist because they are firmly established as myths or truisms by ones own culture and because they sometimes rationalize prejudices. They are also sustained and fed by the tendency to perceive selectively only those pieces o

28、f new information that correspond to the images we hold. Tendency to evaluate The fifth stumbling block to understanding between persons of differing cultures is the tendency to evaluate, to approve or disapprove, the statements and actions of the other person or group. Rather than try to comprehend

29、 thoughts and feelings from the worldview of the other, we assume our own culture or way of life is the most natural. This bias prevents the open-mindedness needed to examine attitudes and behaviors from the others point of view.The miscommunication caused by immediate evaluation is heightened when

30、feelings and emotions are deeply involved; yet this is just the time when listening with understanding is most needed. The admonition to resist the tendency to immediately evaluate does not mean that one should not develop ones own sense of right and wrong. The goal is to look and listen empathetica

31、lly rather than through the thick screen of value judgments that impede a fair and total understanding. Once comprehension is complete, it can be determined whether or not there is a clash in values or ideology. If so, some form of adjustment or conflict resolution can be put into place.High anxiety

32、 High anxiety or tension, also known as stress, is common in Cross-cultural experiences due to the number of uncertainties present. The two words, anxiety and tension, are linked because one cannot be mentally anxious without also being physically tense. Moderate tension and positive attitudes prepa

33、re one to meet challenges with energy. Too much anxiety or tension requires some form of relief, which too often comes in the form of defenses, such as the skewing of perceptions, withdrawal, or hostility. Thats why it is considered a serious stumbling block.Anxious feelings usually permeate both pa

34、rties in an intercultural dialogue. The host national is uncomfortable when talking with a foreigner because he or she cannot maintain the normal flow of verbal and nonverbal interaction. There are language and perception barriers; silences are too long or too short; and some other norms may be viol

35、ated. He or she is also threatened by the others unknown knowledge, experience and evaluation.Reading IIntercultural Communication：An IntroductionComprehension questions1. Is it still often the case that “everyones quick to blame the alien” in the contemporary world? This is still powerful in todays

36、 social and political rhetoric. For instance, it is not uncommon in todays society to hear people say that most, if not all, of the social and economic problems are caused by minorities and immigrants.2. Whats the difference between todays intercultural contact and that of any time in the past? Toda

37、ys intercultural encounters are far more numerous and of greater importance than in any time in history.3. What have made intercultural contact a very common phenomenon in our life today? New technology, in the form of transportation and communication systems, has accelerated intercultural contact;

38、innovative communication systems have encouraged and facilitated cultural interaction; globalization of the economy has brought people together; changes in immigration patterns have also contributed to intercultural encounter.4. How do you understand the sentence “culture is everything and everywher

39、e”? Culture supplies us with the answers to questions about what the world looks like and how we live and communicate within that world. Culture teaches us how to behave in our life from the instant of birth. It is omnipresent.5. What are the major elements that directly influence our perception and

40、 communication? The three major socio-cultural elements that directly influence perception and communication are cultural values, worldview (religion), and social organizations (family and state).6. What does ones family teach him or her while he or she grows up in it? The family teaches the child w

41、hat the world looks like and his or her place in that world.7. Why is it impossible to separate our use of language from our culture? Because language is not only a form of preserving culture but also a means of sharing culture. Language is an organized, generally agreed-upon, learned symbol system

42、that is used to represent the experiences within a cultural community.8. What are the nonverbal behaviors that people can attach meaning to? People can attach meaning to nonverbal behaviors such as gestures, postures, facial expressions, eye contact and gaze, touch, etc.9. How can a free, culturally

43、 diverse society exist? A free, culturally diverse society can exist only if diversity is permitted to flourish without prejudice and discrimination, both of which harm all members of the society.Reading IIThe Challenge of GlobalizationComprehension questions1. Why does the author say that our under

44、standing of the world has changed? Many things, such as political changes and technological advances, have changed the world very rapidly. In the past most human beings were born, lived, and died within a limited geographical area, never encountering people of other cultural backgrounds. Such an exi

45、stence, however, no longer prevails in the world. Thus, all people are faced with the challenge of understanding this changed and still fast changing world in which we live.2. What a “global village” is like? As our world shrinks and its inhabitants become interdependent, people from remote cultures

46、 increasingly come into contact on a daily basis. In a global village, members of once isolated groups of people have to communicate with members of other cultural groups. Those people may live thousands of miles away or right next door to each other.3. What is considered as the major driving force

47、of the post-1945 globalization? Technology, particularly telecommunications and computers are considered to be the major driving force.4. What does the author mean by saying that “the global may be more local than the local”? The increasing global mobility of people and the impact of new electronic

48、media on human communications make the world seem smaller. We may communicate more with people of other countries than with our neighbors, and we may be more informed of the international events than of the local events. In this sense, “the globalmay be more local than the local”5. Why is it importa

49、nt for businesspeople to know diverse cultures in the world? Effective communication may be the most important competitive advantage that firms have to meet diverse customer needs on a global basis. Succeeding in the global market today requires theability to communicate sensitively with people from

50、 other cultures, a sensitivity that is based on an understanding of cross-cultural differences.6. What are the serious problems that countries throughout the world are confronted with? Countries throughout the world are confronted with serious problems such as volatile international economy, shrinki

51、ng resources, mounting environmental contamination, and epidemics that know no boundaries.7. What implications can we draw from the case of Michael Fay? This case shows that in a world of international interdependence, the ability to understand and communicate effectively with people from other cult

52、ures takes on extreme urgency. If we are unaware of the significant role culture plays in communication, we may place the blame for communication failure on people of other cultures.8. What attitudes are favored by the author towards globalization? Globalization, for better or for worse, has changed

53、 the world greatly. Whether we like it or not, globalization is all but unstoppable. It is already here to stay. It is both a fact and an opportunity. The challenges are not insurmountable. Solutions exist, and are waiting to be identified and implemented. From a globalistic point of view, there is

54、hope and faith in humanity.Case StudyCase 1In this case, there seemed to be problems in communicating with people of different cultures in spite of the efforts made to achieve understanding. We should know that in Egypt as in many cultures, the human relationship is valued so highly that it is not e

55、xpressed in an objective and impersonal way. While Americans certainly value human relationships, they are more likely to speak of them in less personal, more objective terms. In this case, Richards mistake might be that he chose to praise the food itself rather than the total evening, for which the

56、 food was simply the setting or excuse. For his host and hostess it was as if he had attended an art exhibit and complimented the artist by saying, What beautiful frames your pictures are in. In Japan the situation may be more complicated. Japanese people value order and harmony among persons in a g

57、roup, and that the organization itselfbe it a family or a vast corporationis more valued than the characteristics of any particular member. In contrast, Americans stress individuality as a value and are apt to assert individual differences when they seem justifiably in conflict with the goals or val

58、ues of the group. In this case: Richards mistake was in making great efforts to defend himself. Let the others assume that the errors were not intentional, but it is not right to defend yourself, even when your unstated intent is to assist the group by warning others of similar mistakes. A simple ap

59、ology and acceptance of the blame would have been appropriate. But for poor Richard to have merely apologized would have seemed to him to be subservient, unmanly. When it comes to England, we expect fewer problems between Americans and Englishmen than between Americans and almost any other group. In th