跨文化交际案例.docx

Lisa is from America and she is visiting a Chinese family. Next is a conversation between Lisa and Wang - the host of the family.Wang: Hi! Lisa, welcome! Come in. come in.Lisa: Thank you for your invitation. It s a lovely room and very warm in here.Wang: My room is very small and untidy. Please sit down and have a cup of tea. You must be tired after the long walk here.Lisa: What a strange thing to say- your room is perfectly clean and tidy! And as for the walk, I m very strong, you know. I usually walk for at least half an hour every day. Don t you think walking is a good way to keep fit?Wang: Yes, I do. Dinner is ready. Please sit here facing the door. According to the Chinese custom, this is the seat for the most distinguished guest.Lisa: Thank you. I feel most honored. Wow! So many dishes-eight! They look very tasty.Wang: I prepared the dishes myself. Im sorry that I m not a very good cook. Hereare only a few cold dishes. Please try this fish, though Im not very good at cookingfish, I m afraid.Lisa: This is delicious.Narrator: Later on in the meal, just before they finish the cold dishes, eight hot dishes are placed on the table.Lisa: Another eight!跨文化交际学概论第七章 社会交往五、宴请招待P132Case one: Setting rules for a Guest-American HospitalityWang Zhang Tao travelled in America, he lived in the home of his American friend, Bill. Once after he had traveled back, he found Bill was in a bad mood. When he asked what the problem was, Bill told Zhang Tao that his son Adam furious about the noise Zhang made when walking upstairs and also because he was using too much water in the solar powered shower and Adam had to have his shower in cold water. Bill told Zhang Tao that he should walk more softly in future, have a fast shower to save water. Zhang Tao felt uneasy. How could the host set such rules for his guest!Question: Why did Zhang Tao feel uneasy?分析：1) In China, when people host someone, they put the guest in the place of honor to show hospitality. They try to take care of the guest, and try to make the guest feel comfortable and at ease.2) In America, people tend to give the guest great freedom and treat a guest more casually, naturally and truthfully.3) Zhang Tao knew he was a guest, and thought in terms of Chinese expectations of hospitality. He thought Bill should treat him courteously instead of setting rules for him.4) Since Zhang Tao lived in American surroundings, he should have known about the customs there sooner.Case two:Lin had travelled 20 hours from Beijing to New York. He needed a good meal. His American friend, Mike, met him. But Mike only offered him a plate of roasted chicken and a glass of orange juice. Lin was used to having a main course, and asked Mike if he had any rice. Mike said he only had fried noodles, and Lin had to make do with it. Though Lin knew American s didn t care very much about what food they ate, he still felt surprised because he had taken Mike to the most famous duck restaurant in Beijing -Quanjude when he arrived in Beijing.分析：1) On the topic of hospitality, the Chinese stress on warmth and demonstrating friendship. They take the guest to a famous or luxurious restaurant to have a very good (expensive) meal to show their hospitality. And the Chinese are used to having a big meal. The more dishes they put out ， the greater the warmth and friendship they show.2) In western countries, people stress on freedom. They give the guest great freedom to choose their own foods. And westerners tend to have only one main course and some juice or dessert ， which is viewed as casual in the eyes of the Chinese.3) Lin lived in American surroundings and should have adjusted himself quickly to the mew world (lifestyle). He should have known the custom there first, and felt more at ease in Mike s home.Case three: Equality or Hospitality for Table MannersCase: Lin Hua has accompanied an American delegation to visit China. They have experienced the hospitality of the Chinese people. After returning to America, Linhua once visited them. They were so glad to meet again. Linhua offered to host the meal, but they refused. They ordered their own dish, and Linhua ordered her own. When footing the bill, they only paid their part, and no one wanted to pay for Linhua.Linhua found them so inhospitable, though she knew the Americans would usually pay for their own food.Question:Why did Linhua find them inhospitable?分析：1)In China, to show hospitality, people tend to host the meal. And if they cannot do this, they at least will struggle to pay for the guest.2) In America, people tend to pay for themselves to show equality and independence.3) Linhua knows this custom, but from a Chinese point of view, she still finds this hard to accept, and feels it a little inhospitable.Case four:I have an American friend. I have invited him several times, and at long last he invited me to his home one day. He told me to get there at 3 . I thought we could chat and have a meal together. I have him a Chinese calendar, a womans scarf anda bottle of Chinese white wine. He only took out a dish of nuts, a plate of bread and a bottle of wine. After two hours chat, I found there was no hint of a meal and said good-bye to him. He only gave me a box of chocolate as a present for the New Year.After I got home, I found the box already been opened. I was very surprised.Question: What surprised me?分析：1)In China, a visit to home always includes a meal. And the guest always brings a relatively expensive present to the host. And the present should be well wrapped or untouched.2)In the west, a visit to home only means a meeting, not necessarily including a meal. And the present is treated not as importantly as it is in China.3)I acted in a way that was based on Chinese customs, so I felt the American way was very interesting (uneasy).Case Five: Way of Entertaining Guests in China- Drink more and moreCase:Tom , an American, went to a Chinese home for the first time. He was offered some tea. Just when the first cup was about to finish, more tea was added. He drank the second cup. Then the cup was filled the third time. Then he drank it, thenuntil hewas quite full. Tom was totally confused by the way of entertaining.Question ： Why was Tom totally confused?1)Traditional Chinese custom requires that during the course of entertaining, the host has to always pour more wine or tea to the guest s glass or cup, and always adds more food to the guest s plate or bowl without asking whether it s wanted.2) Chinese guests know how to respond to this type of hospitality. They simply leave the wine, tea, or food in the container and stop having any more. But Tom, the American guest in the case didnt know this.3) He followed the politeness rule of his culture: its not good manners to leave foodin one s own plate at a dinner table. Therefore, without any knowledge of the differences between the two cultures, an American guest would very likely suffer from either drinking or eating too much in such a situation.