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Using words

Using words. The Westerner in China: wants everything to be translated: the college president welcomes them to the college a local official welcomes them to the city other organisations they visit welcome them discovers that all these speeches sound very similar

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Using words

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  1. Using words The Westerner in China: • wants everything to be translated: • the college president welcomes them to the college • a local official welcomes them to the city • other organisations they visit welcome them • discovers that all these speeches sound very similar • …and do not contain much specific information

  2. Explanation High-context culture: • the meaning is in the situation • the situation determines the words • may use many fixed phrases • “Welcome you to come again.” • …people often just say what they should say in that situation

  3. Explanation Low-context culture: • less fixed phrases • speeches should contain some new information

  4. Formal language and behaviour Hi! G’day! (Australian) Americans: • often call people by their first name • may be embarrassed by polite rituals Some cultures are more formal: • German: Sie/du • Thai: 12 words for “you”!

  5. Sincerity • Is American informality rude? Lazy? • Americans value informality • personal, spontaneous conversation is more sincere • like two friends chatting • Chinese culture: • carefully follow etiquette to show your sincerity

  6. Question You meet somebody at work, and invite her and her husband to your house for dinner. • In Chinese culture… • How should the host behave? • How should the guest behave?

  7. Case study: “Dinner with Friends” • Janice & George (American) • Liu Lingling & Yang Feng (Chinese)

  8. Liu Lingling and Yang Feng were busy in the kitchen • Liu invited Janice and George to look at their new CD player and colour TV • half an hour later, she sat down and the three of them started eating dinner • Yang Feng kept bringing out dish after dish • there was more food than George and Janice could eat • they wished that Yang Feng would sit down so that they could talk to him • afterwards, they were unhappy that they had no chance to talk • Janice and George prepared spaghetti and salad (they were lucky to find the ingredients in hotel shops) • Liu Lingling and Yang Feng asked the price of the TV, video player, vacuum cleaner, etc • they took small tastes of the appetizers • they seemed surprised when Janice and George sat down • they only ate a little spaghetti and salad • Janice and George talked about their families and jobs • “They’re going to have to eat again when they get home!”

  9. American host-guest roles A good host: • provides enough food, but not too much (that would be wasteful) • makes sure everybody is involved in conversation A good guest: • is not greedy • eats everything on their plate, if possible • compliments the food (but not more than once or twice)

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