跨文化交际案例分析(共7个)

跨文化交际案例分析(共7个)

《跨文化交际学概论》第七章 社会交往 五、宴请招待p132

Case One: Setting Rules for a Guest – American Hospitality 案例：

When Zhang Tao traveled 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 got 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, and 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: 案例：

Lin had traveled 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 Americans 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.

Question: Why did Lin feel surprised? Offer some advice to him about

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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 (unusual).

Case Five: Way of Entertaining Guests in China ---- Drink more and more 案例：

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, then ? until he was quite full. Tom was totally confused by the way of entertaining.

Question: Why was Tom totally confused?

分析：

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 didn’t know this.

3) He followed the politeness rule of his culture: it’s not good manners to leave food in 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.

Case Six

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As a foreign student at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Keiko Ihara (Japanese) was on a strict budget. She had all her tuition and books paid for by scholarships and grants and until recently was comfortably housed in the dormitory. Wanting to live in the community rather than in the dormitory, she found a small apartment to share with a friend. Her college friends, knowing of her situation, offered to round up some of the necessary items for apartment living. Keiko politely declined, saying she could manage. Wanting to help out her friends found some old but still usable household appliances and furniture. Mary had an old desk that was in her garage. Ed had some chairs from his uncle, and Joe and Marion had a few extra dishes. They cheerfully brought them over one day. Keiko seemed very embarrassed, but gracefully accepted them, sincerely and profusely thanked them.

The following week they were each presented with a gift from Keiko. Mary got an ornate jewelry box, Ed a volume of woodcuts by a famous Japanese artist, and Joe and Marion a beautiful Japanese vase, all of which were of considerable worth and value, much more than the old things they had donated to her. They all protested that she could not afford to give such elaborate gifts; they really expected nothing as the household items were not really being used and they would rather have her use them. Keiko, however, insisted that they take the gifts. In the end, they accepted the gifts, although they all felt uncomfortable as they knew she was really sacrificing to give them.

Questions:

1. What do you think of Keiko insisting on giving valuable gifts to her college friends?

2. Why did Keiko’s friends feel very uncomfortable when they received valuable gifts in return?

分析：

Keiko insists on giving valuable gifts to her college friends, because in countries like Japan, exchanging gifts is a strongly rooted social tradition. Should you receive a gift, and don’t have one to offer in return, you will probably create a crisis. If not as serious as a crisis, one who doesn’t offer a gift in return may be considered rude or impolite. Therefore, in Japan, gifts are a symbolic way to show appreciation, respect, gratitude and further relationship. Keiko obviously has taken those used items from Mary, Ed and Marion as gifts, for she probably doesn’t know that Americans frequently donate their used household items to church or to the community. Mary, Ed and Marion would never consider those used household items given to Keiko as gifts. No wonder they felt very uncomfortable when they received valuable gifts in return.

Case Seven

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