新編跨文化交際英語教程復(fù)習(xí)資料U9

Unit9InterculturalAdaptationSomeIdeasRelatedtoCultureShockandAdaptationStrategiesCultureShockWhatiscultureshock?Cultureshockisacommonexperienceofpeoplewhohavebeensuddenlytransplantedabroad.Itreferstophenomenarangingfrommildirritabilitytodeeppsychologicalpanicandcrisis.Itisassociatedwithfeelingsinthepersonofestrangement(beingunfriendlyorhostiletoothers;alienation),anger,hostility,indecision,frustration,unhappiness,sadness,loneliness,homesickness,andevenphysicalillness.Thepersonundergoingcultureshockviewshisnewworldoutofresentment,andalternatesbetweenbeingangryatothersfornotunderstandinghimandbeingfilledwithself-pity.Cultureshockiscausedbytheanxietythatresultsfromlosingallourfamiliarsignsandsymbolsorsocialcontact.Thosecuesorsighsincludevariouswaysinwhichweadaptourselvestothesituationofdailylife:Whentoshakehandsandwhattosaywhenwemeetpeople,whenandhowtogivetips,howtobuythings,whentoacceptandwhentorefuseinvitations,whentotakestatementsseriouslyandwhennot.Thesecues,whichmaybewords,gestures,facialexpressions,orcustoms,areacquiredbyallofusinthecourseofgrowingupandareasmuchapartofourcultureasthelanguagewespeakorthebeliefsweaccept.Allofusdependforourpeaceofmindandourefficiencyonhundredsofthesecues,mostofwhichwedonotcarryonthelevelofconsciousawareness.Nowwhenanindividualentersastrangeculture,allormostofthesefamiliarcuesareremoved.Heorsheislikefishoutofwater.EdwardHalldescribesahypotheticalexampleofanAmericanlivingabroadforthefirsttime—atfirst,thingsinthecitieslookprettymuchalike.Therearetaxis,hotelswithhotandcoldrunningwater,theatres,neonlights,eventallbuildingswithelevatorsandafewpeoplewhocanspeakEnglish.ButprettysoontheAmericandiscoversthatunderneaththefamiliarexteriortherearevastdifferences.Whensomeonesays“yes”itoftendoesn'tmeanyesatall,andwhenpeoplesmileitdoesn'talwaysmeantheyarepleased.WhentheAmericanvisitormakesahelpfulgesturehemayberebuffed;whenhetriestobefriendlynothinghappens.Peopletellhimthattheywilldothingsanddon't.Thelongerhestays,themoreenigmatic(puzzling)thenewcountrylooks.PossiblesignsofcultureshockThefollowingsentencesdescribedifferentstagesofcultureshock.Thepersonholdsahostileandaggressiveattitudetowardthehostcountry.Thepersonbeginstoopenthewayintothenewculturalenvironment.Thepersonnowacceptsthecustomsofthecountryasjustanotherwayofliving.d.Thepersonisfascinatedbythenewenvironment.SuggestionsfoundtobehelpfulinfightingcultureshockRecognizethatyouareexperiencingcultureshock,andyourreactionsarenotfromsomeothersource.Rememberthatmanyothershavehadthesameexperience,andthatitisnormal.Understandthatyourfeelingsarepartofaresponsetolearningabouttheothercultureandconsideritapositivesign.Giveyourselfpermissiontotemporarilyindulgethesymptom:ifyouaresleepy,sleep.Findotherfromyourcultureandspendtimetogethertalkingabouthome,eating,sharingexperiences.Helpsomeonefromyourhomeculturewhohasrecentlyarrived.Youwillbesurprisedathowmuchyou'velearned.Communicatewithfamilyandfriends.Writelettersorcall.Rememberthatthoseathomemightnotrealizethatcultureshockisanormalexperience.Letthemknowitisatemporaryphaseofadjustingtolifeinadifferentculture.Becomeanexpertonsomeaspectoftheotherculture.Choosesomethingyoulike,andlearnmoreaboutpeopleinthehostculture.Maintainyoursenseofhumor.Laughatthemistakesyoumake;theyareusuallynotserious.Keepbusy.Gettoknowtheareawhereyoulivebywalkingaroundandobserving.Sayhellotoaneighborintheplaceyoulive,andperhapsstartafriendship.Becomefriendlywithclassmates.Spendsomeout-of-schooltimetogether.Dosomethingyouenjoy.Contactarelativeoracquaintancewhoseaddressyoumayhave.Browsethroughdepartmentstores.Visitamuseum.Walkthroughanewareaoftown.Seeaplayorgotoamovie.ForgetthatyourEnglishislessthanperfect,andfeelfree“toask”peopleforinformation,guidance,ordirections.Manypeoplearefriendly,andhelpful.Itisimportantnottodwellonnegativeincidents.Disappointmentsaresimplyafactoflife.Beflexible.Makeupyourmindthatyouaregoingtoenjoyyournewadventure.TwoviewsofcultureshockTwoviewsofcultureshockThediseaseviewTheculture-shockedpersonexperiencesabreakdownincommunication,isunabletocope,andfeelsisolatedandlost.Hedevelopsanumberofdefensiveattitudesandbehaviorstoprotectthemindfromtheconfusionofanentirelynewsituation.Heisahelplessvictim.Hecanexperiencemanyemotionalandmentaldifficulties.Hemaybecomeextremelyfrustrated,angry,andrejectingofthenewculture.Heconsidersthehostcountrybad,ridiculous,stupid,andhopeless.Hemaystarttoglorifyhishomecountry.Hefearsphysicalcontactwithanyoneoranythingfromthenewculture.Hemayfeelharmed,tricked,deceived,injured,orignored.Peoplecanbecomephysicallyillfromthestressofcultureshock一ulcers,headaches,stomachaches,backaches,theflu—physicalsymptoms.Theself-awarenessviewTheeducationalexperienceprovidesamirrorinwhichone'sowncultureisreflected.Exposuretonewculturesenablesthemtogainnewinsightsintotheirowncultureandsociety.Positivecross-culturallearningexperiencestypicallyinvolvechangeandmovementfromoneculturalframeofreferencetoanother.FourwaysofadaptationAssimilation（同化）Separation（隔絕）Marginalization（邊緣化）Integration（融合）ReadingIAdaptingtoaNewCultureComprehensionquestionsWhatarethetermsthatcanbeappliedtotheconceptof“cultureshock”?Termsthatcanbeappliedtotheconceptof-cultureshockareculturestress,adaptation,transitionshock,adjustment,socialization,andsoon.Whatarethesymptomsofapersonathisorher“honeymoonstage”intheprocessofadaptingtoanewculture?Inthisstage,onefeelsasenseofexcitement,pleasure,andself-satisfactionformakingthedecisiontocometothisbeautifulplace.Inhisorherview,nearlyeverythingappearswonderful.DoeseverybodyexperiencetheStageTwo?Howtocopewiththenegativefeelingsonemayhaveatthisstage?No,somepeopleneverexperiencethisstage.Inordertocopewiththenegativefeelingsonemayhaveatthisstage,oneshouldnotwithdrawfromallcontactwiththenewcultureandinsteadtrytohavemorecontactwiththehostnationals.Accordingtotheauthor,whatisthebestthingtodowhenoneisexperiencingcultureshock?Thebestthingtodowhenyouareexperiencingcultureshockistoadmitthatyouareexperiencingcultureshock,trytoidentifyyourstageofcultureshock,andworktowardbecomingmorefamiliarwiththenewculture.Whataretheproblemsthatpeopleareconfrontedwithwhentheyreturntothehomeculturefromoverseas?Upontheirfirstreturninghome,thereisasenseofreliefandexcitementaboutbeinginfamiliarsurroundings.However,asenseofdepressionandnegativeoutlookfollowstheinitialreentrycycle,forapersonmayfindthatthehomecultureisnolongerthesame.Theymayhavedifficultyreadjustingtothehomecultureandthereentryprocesshasofteninvolvedtheirsufferingquietlywithstress.WhataretheimprovementspeopleusuallymakewhentheygetintoStageThree?WhenpeoplegetintoStageThree,theybecomemoreaccustomedtothefoods,sights,sounds,smells,andnonverbalbehaviorsofthenewcultureandhavelessphysicalproblemsandlessconfusion,uncertainty,andloneliness.Theirnormal3/6contactswithhostnationalsareincreasingandnowtheycanacceptthemselvesandothersaroundthem.Whatdoyouthinkoftheauthorssuggestionofusingthenativelanguagetocomplimentpeopleinthehostculture?Itisveryimportantforonetobeabletousethenativelanguageifonehopestosurvivesuccessfullyinanewculturalenvironment,foritcannotonlycomplimentthelocalpeople,butalsogreatlyenhancemutualunderstanding.Doyouhaveanyothersuggestionsforadaptingsuccessfullytoanewculture?Apartfromthosesuggestionsgivenbytheauthor,oneshouldalsotrytolearnfromthosewhohavemuchexperienceinadaptingtoanewculture,whichmaybehelpfulinone?sefforttoovercomethedifficultiesintheprocessofculturaladaptation.ReadingIIOvercomingEthnocentrisminCommunicationComprehensionquestionsWhydopeopleinvolvedininterculturalcommunicationoftenevaluatetheother(s)negatively?Becauseininterculturalcommunicationwetendtousethecategoriesofourownculturetojudgeandinterpretthebehaviorsoftheotherswhoareculturallydifferentfromus.WhatisthebasicdifferencebetweenAmericanandJapanesecommunicationstyles?ThebasicdifferencemaybethatAmericansaremuchmoredirectwhileJapaneseareveryindirect.WhatwillhappenwhencommunicatorsengageinmutualnegativeevaluationinAmerican-Japaneseinteraction?Whencommunicatorsengageinmutualnegativeevaluation,thecommunicationeventmaydeteriorateevenfurther.TheAmerican,sensingJapanesereluctancetoconfrontaproblem,becomesevenmorepersonalandaggressive.TheJapanese,reactingtoanembarrassingsocialindiscretion,becomesevenmoreformalandindirect.WhatdoyouthinktheNigeriancommunicationstyleislike?Nigeriansareinclinedtotakethemorecontextualstyleincommunication.Theytendtoprovideasmuchcontextastheycanbeforetheygettothepoint.WhydoestheThaiemployeecontinuetousetheformaltitletoaddresshisAmericanmanagerintheirconversations?BecausetheThaipeopleusuallyconsideritquitedisrespectabletoaddressthemanagerbyhisfirstname,forintheirculture,oneshouldalwaysbeawareofone?splaceintheorganization'shierarchyandbehaveaccordingly..WhydoestheauthorsaythatthecaseofAmerican-Britishinteractiondeservescloserattention?BecausethecaseofAmerican-Britishinteractionismorecomplicated.AmericansandtheBritishemploydifferentculturalapproachesinresponsetodifferentoccasions.TheBritish,likeotherEuropeans,tendtousealow-contextapproachtointellectualconfrontationandamorehigh-contextstyleinpersonalmattersoffeelingandrelationship,whereasAmericansusuallytreatarelationshipinalow-contextmannerhandleintellectualconfrontationinahigh-contextmanner.Whatshouldwedotoovercomethetendencytostereotypeandnegativelyevaluateotherswhoareculturallydifferentfromus?Wecanovercomethetendencytostereotypeandgeneratenegativeevaluationsbyapproachingeverycross-culturalsituationasakindofexperiment.Usingavailablegeneralizationsabouttheotherculture,wecanformulateahypothesisandthentestitforaccuracy.Asmoreknowledgeofrelevantculturaldifferencesisacquired,generalizationscanbecomemorespecific,hypothesesmoreparticular,andcommunicationdifficultiesmorepredictable.Ifwecannothelpmakinggeneralizations,howtouseculturalgeneralizationseffectively?Wecanusegeneralizationstohypothesizelikelyareasofcontrastandpossiblecommunicationproblemsandthenacquirespecificculturaldifferencesthroughinterculturalpractice.CaseStudyCase33TheproblemsthatLiLihasencounteredduringherstayintheUnitedStatesaretypicallysomeofthosethatpeoplewillusuallybefacedwithwhentheyenteranewculture.ThereareobviouslydistinctstagesthatLiLihasgonethroughintheprocessofheradaptationtotheAmericanculturalenvironment:honeymoonperiod(Letter1),whenshewasfascinatedandexcitedbyalmosteverythingintheUnitedStatesandfeltelatedtobeinthenewculture;cultureshock.(Letter2),whenshewasimmersedinmanyproblemsthatshehadnotbeenpreparedforandbecameextremelyhomesick;initialadjustment(Letter3),whenshelearnedmoreaboutAmericancultureandculturaladaptationandbegantofeelmuchbetterthen;mentalisolation(Letter4),whenshefeltfrustratedandbecameevensomewhathostiletowardsAmericans;andacceptanceperiod(Letter5),whenshebegantorealizethepositiveandnegativeaspectsofthecountryandhaveamorebalancedperspectiveaboutherexperiencesthere.Whatshemeansbywritinginherfifthletterthdlave—intHinirrivedinAmericaisthatshehasfinallylearnedtoacceptthecultureverydifferentfromherownandbeguntointegrateherselfintoit.Sheisnolongerlikeafishoutofwater,anddoesnotfeelalienatedfromthenewenvironmentanymore.Inthiscase,itseemsthatKevinfailedtounderstandthatcustomsforsuchasocialgatheringwouldbeculturallydifferentandBlancawerenotproperlypreparedforexperiencingacultureshocklikethiswhenshecametoworkandliveinanewculturalenvironment.InDominicanculture,itisusuallyconsideredinappropriateforayoungunmarriedfemaletogotoasocialgatheringalonewithoutanyoneelseaccompanyingher.Achaperoneisoftenrequired,andgettingone?sparents'permissionisalsonecessary.However,allthismaybeverystrangetoNorthAmericansnowadays.KevincouldnotquiteunderstandwhyBlanca,alreadyanadultsupposedtobeindependent,hadtobringherlittlesisteralongtothegatheringsoastogetherparents'permission.AnotherthingatwhichtheydifferisthatinDominicanculture,somewhatlikeourChineseculture,peoplegoingouttogethertoeatseldompayseparately.Theelderone(s)wouldpayfortheyoungerone(s),andthemale(s)wouldpayforthefemale(s).BecauseofhavingexpectedthatKevinwouldpayfortheirmeals,Blancadidn'tbringmuchmoneywithherwhenshewasgoingtoTheBlueHat.Therefore,whenKevinsaid—separatechecks,pleasedtothewaiter,asNorthAmericanpeopleusuallydowhilegoingouttogethertoeat,hedidn'trealizethathehadputBlancainaveryembarrassingsituation.That'swhyBlancawhisperedtohersister,tellingherthatshedidn'thavemuchmoneywithherthenandjustorderedsomethingtodrinkwhenshesaidtheywerenothungryatall.TheAmerican'spersonalexperienceinRussiahastaughtusnottojumptoaconclusionaboutanyotherculture.Wemaymisinterpretthebehaviorandintentionofpeopleinothercultures,forweareeasilyinfluencedbysomepopularovergeneralizationsaboutothercultures.Wehavetobeawarethatthingsinotherculturesmaynotbewhattheyappearto