英語畢業(yè)論文及超聲波測距儀的設(shè)計

作者聲明我鄭重聲明：本人恪守學術(shù)道德，崇尚嚴謹學風。所呈交的學位論文，是本人在導師的指導下，獨立進行研究工作所取得的結(jié)果。除文中明確注明和引用的內(nèi)容外，本論文不包含任何他人已經(jīng)發(fā)表或撰寫過的內(nèi)容。論文為本人親自撰寫，并對所寫內(nèi)容負責。論文作者簽名：20年5月31日題目ConflictandBlendingbetweenAmericanDaughtersandTheirChineseMothers院系外國語學院英語系專業(yè)班級英語學號姓名院長系主任教學科研組主任教研組(研究室)主任指導教師課題來源自選課題的目的、意義本論文基于美國和中國地理、文化等差異對子女教育的深刻影響，探討了譚恩美的小說《喜福會》中的文化沖突，分析在文化差異的影響下如何平衡兩種文化、兩代人之間的矛盾。如今，全球化不斷加速，最新調(diào)查顯示亞裔已經(jīng)成為美國最大移民組成部分，中美不同的教育方式孰優(yōu)孰劣成為議論的焦點。譚恩美在《喜福會》中已經(jīng)發(fā)表了自己對中美文化沖突的一些獨特見解，今天再來梳理、解讀她的觀點，具有一定的實際價值和現(xiàn)實意義。要求認真閱讀小說原著，廣泛查找、閱讀參考資料和書籍，在領(lǐng)會理解的基礎(chǔ)上形成自己的觀點，并清晰、有邏輯性地闡釋自己的觀點。語言正確地道，行文通順流暢。課題主要內(nèi)容及進度本論文探討了談恩美小說《喜福會》中四對移民母親和美國化的女兒之間的矛盾背景、矛盾表現(xiàn)、矛盾原因、以及矛盾解決方案。這是探討解決與文化差異有關(guān)的文化沖突的一次頗有意義的嘗試。進度：20**年1月**日——1月22日 撰寫開題報告20**年1月22日 交開題報告20**年1月23日——3月6日 閱讀、整理文獻20**年3月7日——4月20日 撰寫論文初稿20**年4月21日——5月31日 修改論文初稿/二稿/定稿等20**年6月1日——6月9日 評閱及盲審20**年6月10日 論文答辯注：以上各項由指導教師填寫注：以上各項由指導教師填寫ConflictandBlendingbetweenAmericandaughtersandTheirChineseMothersAStudyofAmyTan’sTheJoyLuckClubByWangXiaonanUndertheSupervisionofAssoc.Prof.ChenLiAThesisSubmittedtoTheEnglishDepartmentofSchoolofForeignLanguagesEastInPartialFulfillmentoftheRequirementsFortheDegreeofBachelorofArtsJune20**AbstractDifferencebetweenChineseandWesterncultureshasalwaysbeenamainsourceofconflictbetweenlocalpeopleandcitizensofChineseorigin.InTheJoyLuckClub,AmyTandescribestheconflictsbetweenthemothersanddaughterstoshowusdifferentculturetraditions,perceptionsoflife,etc.betweenAmericanandChineseculture.Intheend,thetwodifferentculturesmergetogether.Nowadays,withthedevelopmentofglobalization,morecontactsrequireaneffectivewayofcommunicationtonarrowthegapbetweendifferentcultures.So,inthisthesis,throughsystematicstudyofTheJoyLuckClubbyanalyzingwhataretheconflicts,andwhytheyhaveconflicts,theauthorwouldliketodissectthemainreasonsofculturalconflictsandfindproperwaysinblendingcultures.Keywords:TheJoyLuckClub;Culture;Conflicts;Communication

摘要西方的中國移民和當?shù)厝说拿芎艽蟪潭壬显从跂|西方文化的差異。在小說《喜福會》中，作者譚恩美在描寫母女矛盾時表達了不同的文化傳統(tǒng)、意識形態(tài)等的重要影響作用。在小說的結(jié)尾，母女的矛盾化解了，而原因大致可以歸納為：母親與生俱來的母愛和有效的溝通交流。如今，全球化加速，不同文化背景的人與人之間的接觸更多了,在這種情況下，尋找一種有效的交流方式就顯得格外重要。在這篇論文中，我將系統(tǒng)地對小說《喜福會》進行研究分析。母女間矛盾是什么？為什么會有矛盾？同時，我將試圖通過以上分析為文化沖突最終找到合適的解決方法。關(guān)鍵詞：《喜福會》;文化;矛盾;交流

ContentsTOC\o"1-3"\h\uAbstract I摘要 IIChapterOneIntroduction 1ChapterTwoTheMothers'Sufferings 22.1TheSufferingsofJuneWoo'sMother-SuyuanWoo 22.2TheSufferingsofRose'sMother-An-meiHsu 22.3TheSufferingsofWaverly'sMother-LindoJong 22.4TheSufferingsofLena'sMother-YingYingGu 3ChapterThreeConflicts 43.1ConflictsbetweenSuyuanWooandJune 43.2ConflictsbetweenAn-meiHsuandRose 53.3ConflictsbetweenLindoJongandWaverly 63.4ConflictsbetweenYingYingGuandLenaSt.Clair 6ChapterFourCausesoftheConflicts 84.1DifferentFormsofSocialOrganization 84.2DifferentNaturalConditions 94.3DifferentWaysofExpression 10ChapterFiveBlending 125.1MaternalLoveinTheJoyLuckClub 125.2DialogueandEffectiveCommunicationinTheJoyLuckClub 13ChapterSixConclusion 15Bibliography 16Acknowledgements 17-PAGE28-ChapterOneIntroductionTheJoyLuckClub(1989)waswrittenbyAmyTan.IttellstheconflictsandblendingoffourpairsofmothersofChinaoriginanddaughterswhogrewupinAmerica.Themothersstartaclubknownas"theJoyLuckClub,"playingtheChinesegame-mahjongforfun.Thisbookhasfourpartsdividedintofoursectionscreatingsixteenchapters.Thisthesiswhichconsistsofsixmainchapters,willanalyzetheconflictsandblendingbetweenAmericanandChineseculturesinTheJoyLuckClub.Inthefirstchapter,IwillbrieflyintroducetherelationshipnetworksandthemainexperienceinChinaoftheimmigrantmothers.Inthesecondchapter,Iwillsummarizetheconflictsbetweenmothersanddaughtersrespectivelywiththefollowingkeywords:expectation,confidence,interference,andmisunderstanding.Inthefollowingchapter,I'dliketoanalyzethereasonsoftheconflictsbetweenmothersanddaughters,includingthedifferentculturaltraditions,differentnaturalconditions,differentsocialorganization,anddifferentwaysofexpression.Inthelastbutonechapter,thewayhowtheyconfronttheconflictsandgetalongwitheachotherfinallywillbemyfocus.Inthelastchapter,Iwillmakeasummary.ThereasonwhyIchoosethisnovelandthistopicisontheonehand,withtheglobalizationgoingfarandfast,nowadaysmoreandmorepeoplegetthechancetoliveabroad.Accordingtothelatestfigurereleaseofthe"20**AmericanStudyofPopulationDynamics"theChineseAmericansbecomethelargestAsianAmericanethnicgroups,andinthepast10years,Chinese-Americanpopulationincreasedbyonethird.SoIbelievemythesishasarealisticsignificancewhenmoreandmoreChinesecomeacrosscultureshocksintheforeigncountries.Ontheotherhand,thestyleofeducationbetweenChinaandAmericadiffersalot.Mythesisalsotriestosummarizethesolutionsinsolvingtheconflictswhichareofferedbytheauthorbyanalyzingthespecificconflictsoffourpairsofmothersanddaughtersinthenovel.

ChapterTwo

TheMothers'SufferingsThenovelhasabalancedstructure.Therearefoursections,andfourtaleswithineachsection.Tomakemythesiseasytofollow,I’dliketointroducethesufferingsofthefourmothersfirst,whichactuallylaythefoundationforsomeoftheconflictsandtheflowsoftheplots.2.1TheSufferingsofJuneWoo'sMother-SuyuanWooJuneWoo'sChinesenamewasJing-meiWoo,andshewasanunmarriedwriterwhodecidedtotraveltoChinatomeetthehalf—sistersshehadneverknown．SuyuanWoowashermother．DuringtheWorldWarⅡ,SuyuantookthekidstoGuangxitoseeksafershelter,wheresheandtheotherthreewomenorganizedaJoyLuckClubwhichrelievedthemofcaresandworries.BeforelongnewscamethattheJapanesearmywouldinvadeKweilin,andthenSuyuanWoohadtofleetoChongqingwithhertwindaughterswithnovehiclesatall.Howevershewassoexhaustedthatshedroppedhertwindaughtersonthesideoftheroaddesperately.Fortunately,shehadanarrowescapewiththehelpofanAmericanmissionary,whotookhertothehospital,inwhichshemetLuningWooandmarriedhiminAmerica.2.2TheSufferingsofRose'sMother-An-meiHsuAn-meiHsuwasthemotherofRose．Shewasthelastoffourbestfriends，whocametotheUSafterseeingherownmotherbecomethemistreated4thwifeofanabusiveChinesebusinessman.Whenshewasyoung,shewasforcedtofollowhermotherasaconcubinetoTianjinfromNingbo.UndertheoldruleofpatriarchalideologyinChinesesociety,ifawomanremarried,itwouldbeagreatshametoherandherfamily.Therefore,hermother'sstatusinthemansionwasmuchlowerthantheotherthreewives.An-meiHsudeeplyfeltthepainoflivingoffothers.Althoughfinallyshewasrelievedofjealousyandstruggleofthelargehouse,thefreewasatthecostofthelifeofhermother.2.3TheSufferingsofWaverly'sMother-LindoJongWaverlywasadivorcedaccountantandshehadanewboyfriend,Rich.Lindowashermother.ShecametotheUnitedStatesafterhavingescapedfromahorriblearrangedmarriagewitha10-years-oldboywhenshewas13．ShelivedinthenorthofChina,wheretheyhadsufferednaturaldisastersforseveralyears,soherparentshadtolethergetmarriedearly,whiletheotherfamilymembersgotawayfromthefamine-strickenarea.LindoJongmarriedauselessrichkidbyamatchmaker.Unfortunately,shewasnotinthatfamilyahostess,butachildbride,sufferingavarietyofinsults.Inordertopreservethesecrets-sexualdysfunction-oftheirson,herparents-in-lawgavemoneyandsetherfree.2.4TheSufferingsofLena'sMother-YingYingGuLenawasadepressedandnewlymarriedwomanwhosehusband,Harold,wasanAmericanguy．YingYing,motherofLena,wasSuyuan'sanotherfriendwhocametotheUnitedStatesafterhavingbeenmarriedtoacruelChineseman．YingYingGucamefromaprosperousfamily.Herhusbandwasaplayboy,andgavehersuchgreatphysicalandpsychologicaldamagethatshekilledherunbornchildindesperation,anddepartedfromherhusbanduntilhehaddied.Later,shemarriedanAmericansoldierandbegananewlife.

ChapterThree

Conflicts3.1ConflictsbetweenSuyuanWooandJuneThemainconflictbetweenSuyuanWooandherdaughterliesinthatthemotherhadtoomuchexpectationforherdaughter,whilethedaughtercouldnotstandthegreatpressure.Iextractthefollowingtwotypicalparagraphstoillustrateit:"YoucouldbeanythingyouwantedtobeinAmerica.Youcouldopenarestaurant.Youcouldworkforthegovernmentandgetgoodretirement.Youcouldbuyahousewithalmostnomoneydown.Youcouldbecomerich.Youcouldbecomeinstantlyfamous."(TheJoyLuckClubp.132)“Ofcourseyoucanbeprodigy.Youcanbebestanything."(TheJoyLuckClubp.132)SuyuanWoohopedthatherdaughtercouldliveuptoherexpectations.HerdaughterbecomingaChineseShirleyTemplewasherfirstdream.Shetookherdaughtertotheimagedesignsalon,butunfortunately,itdidn'twork.Latershebegantofindothergiftsfromherdaughter,everynightshetriedtofindherdaughter’sextraordinarycharacterfromtheoldmagazinesabandonedbyothers.Whenthesefailed,Suyuanwantedtoshapeherdaughtertobeafamouspianist,althoughshewastoopoortoaffordapiano.Finallyshemanagedtodosomecleaningforaretiredpianoteacherandgottheopportunityforherdaughter.Butherdaughterwasnotpleased;shewantedtobeherself,tobeanordinaryperson.Shedefiedhermothermanytimes.Wecouldreadhergrievancefromthefollowingparagraph:"Whydon'tyoulikemethewayIam?Iamnotagenius!Ican'tplaythepiano.AndevenifIcould,Iwouldn'tgoonTVifyoupaymeamilliondollars!"(TheJoyLuckClubp.136)InthetraditionalChineseculture,parentswantedthebestfortheirchildren.Theybelievedthatchildren'ssuccesswastheirsuccess,andtheywouldbeveryproud.Theparentshadtherighttoarrangetheirlife,futureandmarriage,andchildrenhadtorespecttheirparents.Jing-meiWoowaslookingforwardtothefreedomoftheWesternwayoflife,whilehermotherinsistedtoimposethetraditiononher."Onlytheobedientdaughtercanstayinthishouse(TheJoyLuckClubp.100)."Butherdaughterdidnotthinkso,shebelievedshewasnotaslavetohermother,andthiswasnotChina,shehadtherighttoenjoyasmuchdemocracyandequalityasotherwhitechildren.AfterthePianoconflicts,theirdifferentmodesofthinkingcausedbydifferentculturalbackgroundhadlastedfortwentyyears.Theylivedwiththeirownvalues,untilJing-meicamebacktoChina,whenshebegantounderstandhermother.3.2ConflictsbetweenAn-meiHsuandRoseThemainconflictbetweenAn-meiHsuandherdaughterliesinconfidence.Themothertendedtobemoreconfidentandself-esteemedasaChinese.Thedaughter,however,sufferedasenseofinferioritybeingaChinese.ShedisdainedtheChinesewisdomandalwaysneglectedhermother’sopinions.Roseneverbelievedinherownideas,sowheneverherAmericanhusbandaskedforheropinion,shewouldreply,“Youdecide,”or“Idon’tcare,”or“Eitherwayisfinewithme.”withthebeliefthatChinesepeoplehadtheviewsoftheChinesepeople;AmericanshadtheviewsofAmericans;thelatterseemedtobebetterthantheformer.However,herhusbandTedwasnothappywiththis.Hecriticizedthatrefusingtomakedecisionsmeantfirstlyshehadnopersonality,andsecondlyshewouldshouldernoneoftheresponsibilitiestoavoidanyblame.HermotherAn-meiHsuhadexperiencedamiserablechildhood,shehopedtoeducateherdaughterwithherownlesson.Whenshewasyoung,shewasverytimidanddependentonherstepfather,anditwashermother’sdeaththatawakenedher,andthenshenoticedbeingindependentwithgreatcouragecountsmoreandrefusingtobedictatedbyotherswouldwinmorerespectfromothers.SoAn-meitoldRosethatsheshouldstandupbravelyandlearntocontrolthedestinyofherownmarriage.Besides,beingaChinesewasnotashame,andeachmanwasirreplaceable.ButRoseturnedadeafeartoheratthebeginning.WiththisprejudicetoChinese,whenRose’smarriagecameacrossdifficulties,shepreferredtoconfidethemtoherfriends,andevenapsychiatristratherthanhermother,whichmadehermotherverysadanddepressed.Andtheyhadaheatquarrelonthisissue.Althoughatfirst,Roselookeddownuponhermother’sopinionandwouldnottakeheradviceintoconsideration.Butintheend,fortunately,Roseadoptedhermother’sadvice.Shemadeherfirstowndecisionduringhermarriagespanandrefusedtosignthedivorceagreement.ItwasabigshocktoTed,andhediscoveredRose’spersonalityandconfidencefromherrejectionanddecidednottodivorceher.3.3ConflictsbetweenLindoJongandWaverlyThemainconflictbetweenLindoJongandherdaughterfirstliesinshowingoffherdaughter'sachievementstoothers,whichbroughtgreataversiontoherdaughter.Andthesecondoneiswhatistheproperdegreeofinterferingchildren’sprivateaffairs.TogetridofthetortureofoldChina,LindocametotheUnitedStatestoseekabettermateriallife,andmoreopportunitiesforherkids.LindoJonghopedherchildrentobeaperfectcombinationandsheneverexpectedthatblendingwasimpossible.LindoJonghopedthatherdaughtercouldbeoutstanding,andshetriedtotrainherdaughtertobeachessmaster.Proudofherdaughter'sachievements,sheoftenshoweditofftotheoutsiders,whichbroughtstrongaversiontoWaverly.Afteraheatedquarrel,theirrelationshipbegantotenseup.Althoughafterthe"ChessConflicts"LindoJongdidnotinterveneinherdaughter'slifedirectly,stillinherdaughter'smarriage,shewouldnotstandby.IntheChinesetradition,parentshaverightstointerferewiththismatterforthegoodoftheirkids.WhenLindoJongknewthatWaverlywasolderthanherboyfriend,shefeltnegativetohimbecausetherewasaChinesesaying"wouldratherfindamaletenyearsoldertofemaleoneyearolder(TheJoyLuckClubp.146)".Besides,hewasawhiteAmerican,towhichshewasinstinctivelyoffensiveasaChinese-American,whocouldnotreallyintegrateintothemainstreamculture.ShestucktotheancientChinesecustomsandideas,andshepreferredteatocoffee.WhenWaverlytookherfirstboyfriendhome,withtheso-calleduniqueinsighthermotherfoundthathelackedfamilyresponsibility,fickleinlove,talkedbig,anddidnotcareabouthiswife,etc.Sheeventhrewshoestohimtoshowherdislike.However,Waverlycouldnotunderstandhermotheratall.Shebelieveditwashermotherwhoruinedherfirstmarriage,sothistimeshewasafraidthatshemightonceagaindestroyedhermarriage.Fordecades,sheneverunderstoodhermother,andsheevenmixedupTaiyuan,thebirthplaceofhermother,withTaiwan,becauseshehadverylittleknowledgeofChina,andsheherselfhadbeencompletelywesternized.Therearesometypicaldetailstoillustrateit:Firstly,shetriedherbesttogetridofhermother'sinterferenceinthefreelove.Secondly,shehadacceptedtheWesternwayoflifeandcohabitedwithtwoboys.Thirdly,sheaskedherparentstorespectherprivatelife,callingherisamustbeforevisitingherhouse.3.4ConflictsbetweenYingYingGuandLenaSt.ClairThemainconflictsbetweenYingYingGuandherdaughterLenaSt.ClairishermisunderstandingofChinesepeople.Ontheonehand,sheknewlittleabouthermother,andlookeddownuponherwiththeprejudicethatalloftheChineseareimpoverished.Forexample,inastore,hermotherwasshoutedrudelybyothers,whichmadeLenaveryembarrassed,andsheliedtohermotherwhocouldnotspeekEnglish:"Chinesepeoplewerenotallowedtoshopthere(TheJoyLuckClubp.106)."Ontheotherhand,shewasafraidofChinesesuperstition.Hermotheroncetoldherthathergreat-grandfatherpunishedapersonandsufferedretaliationforhisdeed.Sincethen,Chinainhermindhadbecomeaprettysavageplace,andsheevenaskedhermother:“Didtheysliceoffhisskinfirst?Didtheyuseacleavertochopuphisbones?Didhescreamandfeelallonethousandcuts(TheJoyLuckClubp.102)?"Hermotherwasveryangrywithhermisunderstandingofhergreat-grandfather.Theconflictsvariedamongfourpairsofmothersanddaughters.SuyuanWooexpectedtoomuchforherdaughter,whichimposedbreathlesspressureonher.An-meiHsutriedtoteachherdaughtertobemoreconfidentandself-esteemedasaChinese,however,herdaughterfeltinferiortothoseAmericansandshealwaysfollowedherhusband'sadvicewithoutregardtoherownpersonality.TheconflictbetweenLindoJongandherdaughter,whointerpretedtheso-calledmaternalloveassuperfluousaction,liedinwhatwasanacceptabledegreeofinterferingwithherprivateaffairs.Besides,thedaughterwasnegativetohermother'sshowingoff.YingYingGu'sdaughtermisunderstoodtheChinesepeoplewiththeprejudicethattheyweresavageanduncivilized.

ChapterFour

CausesoftheConflictsWhytherearesomanyconflictsbetweenmothersanddaughtersinTheJoyLuckClub?AsfarasIamconcerned,thefollowingreasonscanberesponsible:4.1DifferentFormsofSocialOrganizationChinaisanagriculturalcountrywithalonghistory,andtheareasuitableforfarminghasbeendevelopedveryearly,butthenever-endingpopulationgrowthmakescompetitiontosurvivecruelandfierce.Sothepowerofonepersonisveryweak,whilethefamilyholdsthegreateramountoflabourpowerandinstrumentstowork.Sothismakesfamilyvaluesbecomethemostimportantsocialandculturalcharacteristics.Thisconceptisreflectedinthreeaspects:First,itdemandsstrictorderwithinthefamily:theobedienceofthewifetoherhusband,theyoungerstotheirelders;Second,itemphasizesthefamilyunityagainsttheenemy'scompetition;Third,thewholefamilymustsharewealandwoe.Inthissense,familyvalueshaveadeepimprintonmotherswhogrewupundertheinfluenceofChineseculture.Theyaskedtheirchildrentoobeythemunconditionallywithastrictwarntodaughters,"inmyhouse,onlyobedientdaughterscanstayhere.”Nomatterwhenthefamilymembersfacedfiercecompetition,themotherwouldaskthewholefamilytouniteasonetofightandwin.InordertocreateagoodenvironmentforherdaughterWaverlysothatshecouldconcentrateonthechesscontest,Lindotriedtodoeverythingtoheradvantage:hertwobrothersshouldassumeherresponsibility;whenWaverlycomplaineditwastoonoisytosharethesamebedroomwithhertwobrothers,theboys"wereimmediatelymovedtothelivingroomfacingthestreet."Ofcourse,ifsuccessachieved,mothersalsobelievedthatthiswasgloryofthewholefamily.AfterWaverlywonthenationalchesschampion,Lindoboastedittotheneighbors:'ThisisWaverlyGong,mydaughter.Thechesschampionwinner."TheseimplystrongfamilylinksofChina.Onthecontrary,inAmericanculture,individualismisregardedasasymboloffreedomandequality.Waverlydefiedhermother'sshowingoff:"Whydoyouhavetousemetoshowoff?Ifyouwanttoshowoff,thenwhydon'tyoulearntoplaychess?(TheJoyLuckClubp.99)"Fromhercomplaint,wecanseedifferentformsofsocialorganizationcountalotinthecultureconflicts.Onthecontrary,theAmericansareindifferenttotheconceptofextendedfamily,andtheyrespectpersonalindependence,personaldevelopmentandindividualsuccess.Besides,theyspokehighlyofmaterialcomforts.Whenchildrengrowup,theyautomaticallyleavetheirparentstoassumetheirresponsibilitiesandobligations.Relativelyspeaking,theywouldliketobealone.4.2DifferentNaturalConditionsInTheJoyLuckClub,thepursuitandexpressionoflovebetweenmotheranddaughterhavestrongconnectionwiththedifferentnaturalandgeographicalenvironment.Differentnaturalandgeographicalconditionswouldshapeadifferentculture.AlthoughChinahasavastterritory,thequantitypercapitaofagricultureandmineralreservescannotmatchtheUnitedStatesatall.Inlong-termstruggleforsurvival,Chinesepeoplebelievethatmakingalivingistheonlywaytokeepthemalive.Onthecontrary,theAmericanscastedofftheburdenoflivingverylongago,sotheycouldpaymoreattentiontothespiritualenrichment.Thisdifferenceisreflectedononehandintheexpressionofmaternallove,andontheotherhand,thedifferentattitudestowardsmaterial.Americanmothersandchildrenareaccustomedto"hugandkiss",whiletheChinesemothersshowtheirlovebyfirmlycontinuingtogivetheirsteameddumplings,cookedduck,steamedcrabs...However,whatthedaughtersneedisspiritualandemotionalcommunication.ThosedaughtersgrowupintheUnitedStates,theyhope,justliketheotherchildren;theycansharehappinessandsadnesswiththeirmotherwhichisoftenignoredbytheChinesemother.Thiscontradictionresultsinthelackofcommunicationbetweenthetwogenerations,althoughthemotheranddaughterloveeachother.Forexample,whenRosecameacrossproblems,shewouldpreferturntofriendsandpsychologistsforhelpratherthanhermother.AnotherexampleisYingYingGu.Sheconcealedherpastfromherdaughter,whichcausedagapbetweenthem:"Whenshewasborn,shesprangawayfrommelikeaslipperyfishandhasbeenswimmingawayeversince.Allherlife,Ihavewatchedherfromanothershore(TheJoyLuckClubp.242)."Besides,theyhavedifferentattitudestowardsmateriallife.Jing-MeidescribedAuntieAn-mei'shomelikethis:IhavenotbeentotheHsu'shouseinmanyyears,butthelivingroomisexactlythesameasIrememberit.WhenAuntieAn-meianduncleGorgemovedtotheSunsetdistrictfromChinatowntwentyfiveyearsago,theyboughtnewfurniture.It'sallthere,stilllookingmostlynewunderyellowedplastic...onlythescrolllengthcalendar,freefromtheBankofCanton,changeseveryyear.(TheJoyLuckClubp.28)ThissectiondescribestheimmigrantlivingenvironmentofAn-mei.InJing-Mei'seyes,allthefurnishingswereallthesamekindforafewyears,soshefeltitwasverydifficulttounderstandorappreciatesuchkindofthrift.Americansarematerialistic,andtheyarewillingtomaintainahighstandardofliving.WhileformostoftheChinese,theculturetraditiontellsthemthattheirsavingsisearningstosomeextent.4.3DifferentWaysofExpressionInthispart,I'dliketodiscusstheconflictbetweentheChinese-stylemodestyandtheU.S.styleofstraightforwardness,whichwecanattributetothehighandlowcontextculture.Highcontextcultureandthecontrasting\o"Lowcontextculture"lowcontextculturearetermspresentedbytheanthropologist\o"EdwardT.Hall"EdwardT.Hallinhis1976book\o"BeyondCulture"BeyondCulture.Itreferstoaculture'stendencytousehighcontextmessagesoverlowcontextmessagesinroutinecommunication.Thischoiceofcommunicationstylestranslatesintoaculturethatwillcatertoin-groups,anin-groupbeingagroupthathassimilarexperiencesandexpectations,fromwhichinferencesaredrawn.Inahighcontextculture,manythingsareleftunsaid,lettingthecultureexplain.Wordsandwordchoicebecomeveryimportantinhighercontextcommunication,sinceafewwordscancommunicateacomplexmessageveryeffectivelytoanin-group(butlesseffectivelyoutsidethatgroup),whileinalowercontextculture,thecommunicatorneedstobemuchmoreexplicitandthevalueofasinglewordislessimportant.Thecommunicationproblemsthatarisewhenonespeakerisfromahigh-contextcultureandtheotherisfromalow-contextculturecanbeseenintheconversationsofJuneandSuyuan,"MymotherandIneverreallyunderstoodoneanother.Wetranslatedeachother'smeaningsandIseemedtohearlessthanwhatwassaid,whilemymotherheardmore"(TheJoyLuckClubp.27).Junelooksformeaninginwhatisstatedanddoesnotunderstandthathermotheromitsimportantinformationbecausesheassumesherdaughterknowsitandcaninferit;hermother,ontheotherhand,looksformeaninginwhathasnotbeenstatedandsoaddstowhathasbeenstatedexplicitlyandcomesupwithmeaningsthatsurpriseherdaughter.TheconflictbetweenLindoandherdaughter'shusbandisanothertypicalexample.Althoughthisisnotadirectconflictbetweenmotheranddaughter,stillasanAmericanizedperson,thedaughteralsohadexperiencedthesimilarkindofconflicts.WhenWaverlyinvitedhernewboyfriendRich,anAmerican,todinner,motherLindopreparedabigdinner,includingherfavoritesteamedporkandpreservedvegetabledish.AstheChinesecook'scustom,themotheralwaysmadedisparagingremarksaboutherowncooking."Ai!Thisdishnotsaltyenough,noflavor,"Shecomplains,"It'stoobadtoeat."WeChinesepeopleunderstandthatactuallyshewasencouragingthegueststohaveataste,andthenpraisehercookingskills.ButRichsays:"Youknow,allitneedsisalittlesoysauce"(TheJoyLuckClubp.178).Thenhepouredariverfulofthesaltyblackstaffontheplatter,whichmadehermotherveryembarrassedandangry.Actually,weChinesepeopletakemodestyasavirtue,thepraiseofothersisofteneuphemisticallydenied,andprefernottoshowoffourownaccomplishments;Onthecontrary,theAmericansadvocatepersonalendeavor,theyarewillingtoacceptpraiseandgratitude.Rich,whogrewupundertheinfluenceoflowcontextculture,messeditup,buthehimselfwasstillkeptinthedark,becausehecouldnotunderstandtheChinesemodesty,whichhidessomemeaningsunderthehighcontextculture.

ChapterFive

BlendingThankstothematernalloveandeffectivecommunication,theJoyLuckClubmothersfinallymaketheirdaughtersunderstandthemandtheChineseculture.5.1MaternalLoveinTheJoyLuckClubEverymotherlovesherchild.TheJoyLuckClubmotherswereverystrictwiththeirdaughters,buttheystilllovedtheirdaughters