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Introduction to the Course Warm-up Cases
Discussion
1、Why take Intercultural Communication? Warm-up Case Please discuss the case in groups and make a comment on it. A Case: Showing Concern In China:
Xiao Li (an interpreter): You must be very tired. You’re old…
Catherine (an elderly American lady): Oh, I’m NOT old, and I’m NOT tired. Comment
What the interpreter said is quite courteous in China. It means, “If you are tired, we can take a little rest, since you are getting on in years.”
The interpreter gave the impression that he thought the elderly lady would collapse any minute if she doesn’t rest immediately.
In the West, there is a value placed in being young that many people consciously, or subconsciously, are not willing to accept that they are growing old.
The western way of showing concern is generally different from the Chinese way. In China:
Xiao Li (an interpreter): You must be very tired. You’re old…
Catherine (an elderly American lady): Oh, I’m NOT old, and I’m NOT tired. The Chinese way of showing concern is usually expressed by statement. In the West:
A: How are you doing now? Would you like to rest? B: No, not a bit.
The western way of showing concern is mainly displayed with question. Comment
This case clearly shows that translation is an intercultural communication, which requires the translator/ interpreter to possess both English cultural knowledge and language competence.
2、Different attitudes towards the same object When one coin was lost… Englishman: Not surprised, shrugged his shoulders, going away, without being troubled by nothing.
American man: Called a policeman, gave him his telephone number, left with a chewing gum in his mouth.
German man: Made a mark within 100 miters on the ground, looking for the lost coin with a magnifying glass.
Japanese man: felt sorry for his own carelessness, still blamed him at home, swearing not to make such a silly mistake again.
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3、People are culturally different
Agricultural Culture: worship land, love land, depend upon land, staying at point with moving
Nomadic Culture: worship nature, love nature, depend upon nature, moving from one place to another, not fixed at one point.
Business Culture: ready to move farther and farther, making more profits for showing the value of life.
If only 100 people left in the global village 1. 17 speak Chinese 2. 9 speak English 3. 8 speak Dard 4. 6 speak Spanish 5. 6 speak Russian 6. 4 speak Arabic.
7. 50 speak Bengali Bangladesh, Japanese or French.
4、People are religiously different
Christianity. About 21.4 billion Christians in the world. Bible. For philanthropy and equal for everybody.
Islam. Meaning being obedient; Muslims are those who are obedient Quran.
Buddhism. Are you a Buddhist? Buddhists are taught to live for kindness rather than evils.
If only 100 people left in the global village 1.33 Christians 2.18 Moslems 3.14 Hindus 4.16 no religion 5.6 Buddhists
6.13 different religions
5、People are ideologically different
Chinese people and Asians are a bit modest, live for harmony, trying to avoid face to face conflict. Being collectivist.
Westerners are being individualist, being equal and different. It is none of my business.
6、People are racially different
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If only 100 people left in the global village 1.61 Asians 2.12 Europeans
3.8 North Americans 4.5 South Americans 5.13 Africans 6.1 Australasian
Why take Intercultural Communication?
People are different throughout the world, culturally, religiously, ideologically and racially, actually different in almost every aspect, therefore we are supposed to know about their differences as much as possible, just for a smooth communication among the Homo sapiens, the people in the global village. You will make it by coming to Intercultural Communication. The Purpose
The general purpose of this course is to understand the ways in which culture interrelates with and effects communication processes. Intercultural learning involves affective and behavioral processes, as well as cognitive ones. Throughout this course, you will have the opportunity to gain knowledge, skills and attitudes that will increase your intercultural communication competence. The Objectives
1) To explore cultural self-awareness, other culture awareness and the dynamics that arise in interactions between the two.
2) To understand how communication processes differ among cultures.
3) To identify challenges that arise from these differences in intercultural interactions and learn ways to creatively address them.
4) To acquire knowledge and develop skills that increase intercultural competence. 5) To have an understanding of the meaning of the cultures understood by the westerners and the easterners or the Chinese and Americans. The Reasons
1) Development of Science &Technology 2) Globalization of Economy 3)Widespread Immigration
4) Development of Multiculturalism 5) International Communication
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6) Interracial Communication
7) Interethnic Communication or minority communication
Assignments
Case Study —— To Be Direct or Not
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