Contents
Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………….i
Abstract……………………………………………………………………………I
Chapter One Background of Intercultural Communication………1
- 1 The Prevalence of Intercultural Communication ……………………………..1
- 2 The Development of Intercultural Communication …………………………..2
- 3The Necessity of Studying Intercultural Communication ……………………………..….4
Chapter Two A Brief Introduction of Intercultural Communication …………….……………………………………….6
2.1 Culture ……………………………………………………………….…….….6
2.1.1 The Definition of Culture………………..…………………………..…….6
2.1.2Characteristics of Culture………………..…………….……………….….7
2.1.2.1 Culture Is Coherent……………..….………………..…………………..8
2.1.2.2 Culture Is Learned……………………..………………………..…..…..8
2.1.2.3 Culture Is a Symbol System……………………………………..………9
2.1.2.4 Culture Is the View of a Group of People……………..…………….….9
2.1.2.5 Culture Is Subject to Change……………………………………………9
2.2 Communication …………………………………………………..…….…….10
2.2.1Definitions of Communication..…………………………………….10 2.2.2 Patterns of Communication ………………………………….…….……12
2.2.3 Components of Communication………………………..………..………13
2.2.4 Criteria for Effective Communication………………………………..….17
2.3 Intercultural Communication …………………………………………….….18
2.3.1 Definition of intercultural Communication ………………………….….18
2.3.2 An Intercultural Communication Model………………………..…….…20
Chapter Three Differences Between Chinese and Western Social Interaction Customs …………………………………….…………22
3.1 Forms of Address……………………………………………………………..23
3.2 Greetings …………………………………………………………………… .24
3.3 Farewells……………………………………………………………..……….25
3.4 Compliments and Responses…………………………………………….……27
3.5 Gift Giving，Gratitude and Thanks………………………………………….29
3.6 Invitations……………………………………………………………..………30
3.7 Hospitality……………………………………………………………….……32
3.8 Time Concept ……………………………………………………………..…33
3.9 Privacy …………………………………………………………………….…35
3.10 Seating ………………………………………………………………………36
Chapter Four Other Barriers to Intercultural Communication and Intercultural Adaptation Process ………………….…….…..38
4.1 Barriers to Intercultural Communication………………………..……………38
4.1.1 Misinterpretations………………………………………………..……….39
4.1.2 Ethnocentrism …………………………………………………..…….….39
4.1.3 Stereotypes ……………………………………………………………….41
4.1.4 Prejudices……………………………………………………………..….42
4.2 Process of Intercultural Adaptation ………………………………….…..…..43
4.2.1 Culture Shock…………………………………….…………………..….44
4.2.2 The Adjustment Curve……………………………………….……………44
Chapter Five Improving Intercultural Communication Competence………………………………………………………….47
5.1 Knowing Ourselves …………………………………………………..47
5.2 Developing Empathy ……………………………………….……..………….48
5.3 Developing Communication Flexibility………………………………….…..50
5.4 Appreciating Similarities …………………………………………………..…51
5.5 Respect Differences………………………………………………….…….….52
Conclusion…………………………,……………………….………54
Bibliography………………………………………………………..55
Acknowledgements
I would like to avail myself of this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to all those who offered me guidance and help in my preparing and writing this thesis.
First and foremost, substantial acknowledgements go to Professor Luo Guoliang, who, as my tutor, offered me valuable suggestions and opinions concerning my outline organization and thesis writing.
As a prestigious professor, Mr. Luo has been patient and ready to answer any of my problems in my two and a half years’ study at this graduate college. Thanks to his guidance and warm help, I have greatly widened my knowledge and set up a sound and optimistic philosophy of life towards the future.
My thanks also go to all those dedicated teachers and professors at the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade, who have spared no effort to enrich my knowledge. Without their dedication to the cause of education, I would have achieved much less than I did during the past two years.
I feel grateful to the leaders of the Language School and the postgraduate Administration Office of SIFT for their efforts in minimizing external distractions and helping me tide over my difficulties.
Last but not least, I would like to thank my beloved parents and my fiancé, who have offered me constant encouragement and unceasing assistance in every aspect of my life, for which I am almost unable to find any words to express my immense gratitude.
Abstract
“Everything flows, nothing stays still.” (Heraclitus)[1][1] In modern society, the rapid development of economy, science and technology and the tendency of global cooperation have brought us into direct and indirect contact with other people, who, because of their cultural diversity, often behave in such different ways that we do not understand them. In international contacts, a symbolic relationship ties all people together. No nation, group, or culture could remain aloof or autonomous. As a result, intercultural communication becomes more axiomatic and pervasive. It can be seen in such diverse arenas as international business, international education, tourism, and cultural blending.
However, because of different social backgrounds, social systems, ways of thinking, norms of behaviors and customs, people have many difficulties and obstacles understanding one another and communicating with one another. Thus it is very important and meaningful for us both to pay more attention to and to be better aware of intercultural communication.
Beginning with the profound influence of intercultural communication in the business world, this thesis describes the role that customs play in intercultural communication and points out the significance of custom awareness.
In order to give a definition of intercultural communication, Chapter Two first analyzes culture and provides some characteristics of culture. Then it describes communication and lists some of its components. Chapter Two also offers the criteria of effective communication.
Chapter Three is the core of this thesis. It analyses the customs of social interaction between Chinese and Americans by contrast, namely, forms of address, greetings, farewells, compliments and responses, gratitude and thanks, invitations, appointments, visiting and hospitality. Then it points out that what result in the differences are different histories and values.
Chapter Four discusses some other barriers to intercultural communication and points out that cultural conflicts occur as a result of misinterpretations, ethnocentrism, stereotypes, and even prejudices. Faced with culture shock, people would have different reactions to cope with them, and there is an intercultural adaptation process, which is also provided in this chapter.
Chapter Five, the last chapter, offers some methods for the development of intercultural communication and for the reduction of cultural conflicts. First, we should know ourselves, then we should develop empathy and communication flexibility. Last but not least, we should appreciate similarities and respect differences.
内 容 提 要
“一切皆流，无物常驻”。现代社会中，经济和科技的飞速发展以及全球化合作使我们和其他民族进行着直接或间接的交流。由于文化的不同，其他民族的表现和我们也大不相同，这有时让我们迷惑不解。跨文化沟通将人们连接在了一起。没有任何国家、任何组织或者任何文化可以置身事外，不受影响。由此，跨文化沟通日益明显，日益频繁。它更多的体现在国际商务、国际教育、旅游和文化融合中。
然而，由于社会背景、社会体制、思维方式和行为准则的不同，人们在交往时会碰到各种各样问题，妨碍了相互理解和交流。因此，我们必需更加关注跨文化沟通、增强跨文化沟通意识。
本文从论述跨文化沟通对商务方面的深刻影响说起，描述了社会交往风俗习惯在跨文化沟通中的作用并指出沟通中需要有风俗习惯的意识。
为了给跨文化沟通下定义，第二章首先分析了文化并给出了文化的一些特征。继而分析沟通及其要素。该章亦给出了有效沟通的标准。
第三章为本文的核心。 分析了中西方社交风俗习惯在称呼、打招呼和再见、夸奖与回答、谢意表达、邀请和拜访以及热情好客表达的不同。然后总结出不同的根源在于不同的历史发展和价值观形成过程。
第四章讨论了跨文化沟通的其他障碍并指出误解、种族优劣、陈规陋习和偏见皆可导致文化冲突。面对文化冲击，人们的反应有所不同，对于冲击的适应也会有一个过程。该章亦分析了这一点。
第五章作为最后一章，提供了改进跨文化沟通、减少文化冲突的方法。首先必需了解自己，然后才可以移情并在跨文化沟通中游刃有余。最后，我们在跨文化沟通中还需要寻求共性，尊重差异。
