跨文化交际英语思考题目(9)

C．Bill is the Managing Director of an American company in China. Recently, Gang Wang, one of the Chinese managers made a mistake at work that caused some financial loss. He was very upset about what had happened, and came to Bill‘s office to make a formal apology.

Entering the office, he smiled before speaking. ―Bill, I‘ve been feeling terribly sorry for the loss. I am here to make a sincere apology and promise that it will never happen again,‖ he said, wearing the smile all the time.

But Bill found it hard to accept the apology and looking at him, asked, ―Are you sure?‖

Gang Wang gave a good yes while smiling.

Still, Bill did not accept his apology and said angrily, ―You don‘t look sorry at all. If you‘re really sorry, how can you still smile?‖

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Gang Wang‘s face turned quite red, standing there dumbfounded.

D. Guihua, a Chinese student, and Jenny, an American student studying Chinese in China were on their way to the department store. As they got to the store, they saw a young boy walking down a flight of stairs. In his hurry, the boy missed the last two steps, and fell on the ground. He struggles to get back to his feet while people around him laughed. Luckily, he seemed to be OK.

Jenny was worried but found Guihua smiling a little. Curiously, she asked, ―How could people laugh when he fell like that? Why didn‘t they come up and ask him whether he was hurt?‖

Guihua said, ―They knew he wasn‘t hurt too much.‖ Still, Jenny couldn‘t understand. She said. ―A fall is a fall. In my culture, people would do anything but laugh!‖

2. Read the story ( from 邓炎昌，刘润清，1989) and discuss in small groups whether the principal‘s judgment is correct, and why. Next, think how Chinese people have eye contact in communication.

A teenage Puerto Rican girl in a New York high school was taken with a number of other girls to the principal for suspected smoking. Although there was no proof of any wrongdoing and although she had a good record, the principal decide she was guilty and suspected her. ―There was something sly and suspicious about her,‖ he said in his report. ―She just wouldn‘t meet my eye. She wouldn‘t look at me.‖

3. Work in small groups and find out what messages smiles and laughter usually convey. Study the following three cases and explain why the people in each case smiled or laughed.

A. In a Chinese classroom a girl was asked to answer a question. She stood up and

smiled, without making any sound.

B. When an American is parking his bicycle and the bicycle accidentally falls over, he feels embarrassed at his awkwardness, and is quite angered and humiliated when Chinese onlookers laugh.

C. In the dining room, when an American drops a plate quite by accident and feels bad, and Chinese onlookers laugh, compounding his discomfort and causing anger and bad feeling

4. Discuss in small groups whether the following phenomena are acceptable in China and in other parts of the world:

Handholding between members of the same sex and between members of different sexes in public; kissing, hugging and embracing in public; and fondling other people‘s babies and small children.

二、分析、解答题

1. Since silence can send messages, it should be paid adequate attention to when communicating. Discuss why silence should not be neglected in communication. What messages can silence convey? Do Chinese audiences usually ask questions after

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