Lesson5 the Link between Culture and Communication Jessica 袁 [email protected]

Lesson5 the Link between Culture and Communication

Jessica 袁[email protected]

Intercultural Business Communication

Reading test

What’s ethnocentrism in your opinion? Have you ever encountered any problem resulted from it?


Culture and communication (P21~22)

Without a culture we cannot see, but with a culture we are forever blind.

Each of us is born into a culture that teaches us a number of shared meanings and expectations.

The meanings of words are much influenced by culture. The ability and willingness to change lenses when we

look at a different culture is both the cure and the prevention for such cultural blindness.

Studying a foreign language will also learn more about one’s native tongue by comparing and contrasting the two languages as well.

Q: Since you have learned English as a foreign language for so long, what’s the most obvious difference between Chinese and English?

Mania of English study


You can talk, but what do you communicate? (P22~23)

behavior

It depends on how the receiver of the message sees, thinks, and feels

as much as on what the sender says, think and feel.

home

car

address

job

mate

clothes


Communicating Interculturally (P23)

What to sayWhom to communicateWho you areHow you communicate the messageWhy you communicate in a given situationWhen you communicateWhere you can or should communicate

ethnocentrism

Learning


Awareness (P23~24)

Preconceived ideas

Linguistic differences

Nonverbal aspects

Value judgments

Anxiety or discomfort


Developing cross-cultural awareness (P24~25)

1

Cultural similarities and differences

3

Better understanding More tolerantLess defensive

2

the ability to understand cultures – your own and others – by means of objective, non-judgmental comparisons.


Western Perspective of communication

In western cultures, communication is studied as the

means of transmitting ideas. Western cultures emphasize the instrumental function of communication; that is, effectiveness is evaluated in terms of success in the manipulation （操作） of others to achieve one’s personal goal.


Eastern perspective of communication

Definitions of communication from many Asian countries stress harmony, which is most notable in cultures with a Confucian tradition. Eastern cultures’ understanding would define communication as a process where all parties are searching to develop and maintain a social relationship.


Case study:

Read the dialogue below and see what the conflict is between the two speakers. Discuss in groups the questions following the dialogue.

In Hong Kong, a Chinese policeman (A) goes to his British superior and asks for leave to take his mother to hospital.

A ： Sir?B: Yes, what is it?A: My mother is not very well, sir.B: So?A: She has to go into hospital, sir.B: Well, get on with it. What do you want?A: On Thursday, sir.B: Bloody hell, man. What do you want?A: Nothing, sir.

Q1: What do you think the Chinese policeman wants?Q2: How do you know what he wants?Q3: What do you think of the British officer’s response?


From the previous activity, we see that meanings do not come from the verbal language alone. They are also implied from the context in which communication takes place. In other words, setting and environment help determine the words and actions we generate and the meanings we give to the words and actions of other people.


Theory study (P10)


a. International communication

International communication takes place between nations and governments rather than individuals; it is quite formal and ritualized( 仪式化 ) .

United Nations Conference


b. Interracial communication

Interracial communication occurs when the sender and the receiver exchanging messages are from different races. (Afro-American vs. White American)


c. Intracultural communication

It is defined as communication between or among members of the same culture.


d. cross-cultural communication

The comparison of cultural phenomena in different cultures.


e. intercultural communication

Face-to-face interaction among people of diverse cultures.

Focus on relationship building (not survival), deep connections, interactions, mutual gifting, respect, and learning from one another.


Mid-term test: 文化专题报告

Group Work: Introduce Chinese culture to the world Each group of students are required to give us a presentation of

manners/celebration with examples of local culture.

Requirements: 1. No reading, and everyone has to say something. 2. At least 5 minutes. 3. There are only titles/ key words/ pictures in the PPT. 4. shoot video clips to show exactly how to do it step by step

correctly.

饮茶礼仪 , 酒文化 , 婚礼 , 满月酒 , 新居入伙 , 清明 , 春节

From week6, one team one week


Assignments

Preview Unit3 Language and Culture

Documents

Lesson5 the Link between Culture and Communication Jessica 袁 [email protected]