首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
外语
Culture As a Barrier to Communication Our culture will prevent us getting our message across and receiving the full message inte
Culture As a Barrier to Communication Our culture will prevent us getting our message across and receiving the full message inte
admin
2017-04-25
36
问题
Culture As a Barrier to Communication
Our culture will prevent us getting our message across and receiving the full message intended by others. That’s why we need to overcome the cultural barriers in the communication.
I. Three levels of culture
A. Outward manifestations
— Examples: food, art,【T1】_____, etc.【T1】______
B.【T2】_____【T2】______
— Invisible rules
C.【T3】_____ cultural assumptions【T3】______
— Characteristics of American culture: individualism, equality, competition, etc.
II. Main causes for cross-cultural misunderstanding
A. The in-group/out-group distinction
— It allows individuals to find an【T4】_____【T4】______
— Tendency to blame out-groups for troubles
— Tendency to【T5】_____ other groups【T5】______
B. Stereotyping
— It is a(n)【T6】_____to reduce anxiety【T6】______
C. Other causes
— Lack of trust
— Lack of empathy
— The【T7】_____【T7】______
III. Skills for cross-cultural communication
A.【T8】_____【T8】______
— Identify your attitudes, opinions, biases, etc.
B.【T9】_____【T9】______
— Listen to others
— Don’t jump to conclusions
— Periods of silence and【T10】_____ are allowed in some cultures【T10】______
C. Encourage feedback
— Feedback allows to correct and adjust messages
— Feedback can help us reach【T11】_____【T11】______
—【T12】_____ could be appropriate feedback【T12】______
D.【T13】_____ empathy【T13】______
— Put ourselves in the other person’s shoes
— Become more sensitive to others’ needs,【T14】_____【T14】______
E. Seek the【T15】_____ among cultures【T15】______
— Establish a bond despite cultural differences
【T1】
Culture As a Barrier to Communication
Good morning, everyone. In this lecture, I am going to lead you to the discussion of cultural barriers and their solutions. I am sure that each of us is exposed to people from other cultures on a regular basis, in the workplace, in our social activities, at school, or even within our families. Our culture hinders us from getting our message across as well as receiving the full message that others want to convey to us. This talk expounds on three aspects: what culture is, the main causes for cross-cultural misunderstandings, and the attitudes and skills that we need to communicate cross-culturally.
First of all, let’s talk about what culture is. When we think about culture we first think about a country,[1]and particularly about its food, art, customs, and patterns of behavior. These are the outward manifestations of a system of values, assumptions, and deeply rooted beliefs. Culture emerges as a group of people meet and then react to the challenges of life. The responses to those challenges that are successful are taught and shared among members of the group and are passed on from the older to the younger members. Culture is then learned through experience.
You can think of culture as having three levels: first, the top level is the outward manifestations, the artifacts:[1]visible behavior, art, clothing and so on;[2]second, in the middle level are the values. These are invisible rules that cause the artifacts; thirdly, the most powerful dimension of culture is the implicit cultural assumptions. These assumptions lie so deep that they are never questioned, stated or defended.
[3]Culture also exists among Americans, but what are the implicit cultural assumptions of Americans? Some of the most distinctive characteristics of the American culture are: individualism, equality, competition, personal control of the environment, self-help concept, action orientation, informality, directness, practicality, materialism, and problem-solving orientation. These American values and deeply rooted beliefs are very different from other country’s values and beliefs. The implicit cultural assumptions of Americans are often opposed to those of other cultures. When individuals from different cultures run into each other’s values and beliefs, cross-cultural misunderstandings take place.
Now, let’s talk about the main causes for cross-cultural misunderstandings. People constantly interact with people who have similar views and who reinforce their beliefs.[4]To be able to distinguish between the in-group and the out-group is of central importance for individuals because it allows them to find who they are and who they are not. In the book entitled Cross Cultural Encounters, Brislim states: "If individuals have out-groups whom they can blame for troubles, the in-group is then solidified since there is a common goal around which to rally." Later on he says: "Individuals become accustomed to reacting in terms of in-group and out-group. They continue to use such distinctions when interacting with people from other cultures whom they do not know."
This in-group/out-group distinction provides us with the basis for ethnocentrism,[5]which is the tendency to interpret and to judge all other groups, their environment, and their communication according to the categories and values of our own culture. We are guilty of ethnocentrism when we hold that our view of the world is the right one, the correct one, and the only one.
We are all familiar with stereotyping, which is one of the most serious problems in intercultural communication.[6]Our tendency to hold beliefs about groups of individuals based on previously formed opinions, perceptions, and attitudes is often a defense mechanism, a way of reducing anxiety.
[7]There are many other causes of cross-cultural misunderstanding: lack of trust, lack of empathy, and the misuse of power. All of us know what they are about and the turmoil that they cause. But, how can we do a better job at communicating among cultures?
This is actually the last part of my talk. The same skills that we need to communicate in general apply to cross-cultural communication. Let’s look at some of those skills:
1.[8]Know yourself: Identify your attitudes, your opinions, and the biases that we all carry around. Identify your likes, your dislikes, your prejudices, and your degree of personal ethnocentrism.
2.[9]Take time: Listen to the other person and allow him or her to accomplish their purpose. Don’t jump to conclusions. Sometimes we finish the thoughts and ideas of the other person before he or she has finished talking.[10]In some cultures, non-verbal styles call for periods of silence and long pauses.
3. Encourage feedback: Feedback allows communicators to correct and adjust messages.[11]Without feedback we cannot have agreement. First we must create an atmosphere where others are encouraged to give us feedback.[12]Again, don’t be afraid of silence. It could be the appropriate feedback at times.
4.[13]Develop empathy: The greater the difference between us and others, the harder it is to empathize. To develop empathy we must put ourselves in the other person’s place.[14]By becoming more sensitive to the needs, values, and goals of the other person, we overcome our ethnocentric tendencies.
5.[15]Seek the commonalities among diverse cultures: Despite our cultural differences we are all alike in many ways.[15]We need to seek that common ground to establish a bond between ourselves and the rest of humanity.
All right. I think I have covered the three main parts of my talk. Finally, I would like to reiterate that although our own ethnocentrism might have hindered us from getting to know people from other cultures, let us be more than ever committed to helping ourselves and others overcome the barrier that culture creates. Let us endeavor to minimize the occurrences of cross-cultural misunderstandings as we develop the attitudes and the skills that are needed to communicate cross-culturally.
选项
答案
customs//patterns of behaviors//clothing//visible behaviors
解析
本题考查文化第一层次外部表征的例子。讲座中有两处提到这些外部表征的例子,只要任选其一填入即可。
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/pBsK777K
0
专业英语八级
相关试题推荐
WhichofthefollowingisNOTapartofCanadianConstitution?
我在山坡的小屋里,悄悄掀起窗帘,窥见园中大干世界,一片喧闹。(2003年真题)
除了读书之外,同知心的朋友通信,有时也教我感到一点兴奋。因为写信时可以上天下地的无所不谈,谈的话虽然都不关重要,而且大都是杂乱无章,然而不必像对社会说话时要打起什么腔调。也不必像做学术论文时必须严密地构思。有什么话便说什么,想到那里,笔便写到那里,正是个性
人类文明迄今已经历了原始文明、农业文明和工业文明,目前,人类社会正处在由工业文明向生态文明的转型期。工业文明是以经济快速发展、社会财富不断快速增长为标志,极大地满足人们对物质的需求。由于工业文明的快速发展,中国已成为世界制造业大国,随之而来的是资源的过度开
我若为王,我的姓名就会改作:“万岁”,我的每一句话都成为:“圣旨”。我的意欲,我的贪念,乃至每一个幻想,都可竭尽全体臣民的力量去实现,即使是无法实现的。我将没有任何过失,因为没有人敢说它是过失;我将没有任何罪行,因为没有人敢说它是罪行。没有人敢呵斥我,指摘
春秋时期,楚文王垂涎息国国君夫人息妫的天生丽质,派兵灭了息国,霸占了息妫。他们一起生活了好多年,甚至还养了孩子,然而息夫人从来不愿开口跟楚文王说一句话。在所谓的“强者”面前,弱者的权利被践踏,被侮辱,被损害,但他们并没有屈服。虽然他们没有力量来抗
生活远非尽是乐事。
中国古代思想家孔子说:“40而不惑,50而知天命。”一个人有了几十年的生活经历,就可以更好地理解世事之变迁,更坚定地去实现自己的志向和理想。今天,在庆祝联合国50诞辰之际,人们自然更加殷切地希望联合国遵循宪章的宗旨和原则,倾听各国人民的呼声,跟上时代的步伐
这种结论怎么站得住脚?
我想有必要在这里先谈一谈德国的与博士论文有关的制度。当我在德国学习的时候,德国并没有规定学习的年限,只要你有钱,你可以无限期地学习下去。德国有一个词儿是别的国家没有的,这就是“永恒的大学生”。德国大学没有空洞的“毕业”这个概念,只有博士论文写成,口试通过,
随机试题
A、心尖部有舒张期杂音B、胸骨左缘第2、3肋间连续性杂音C、胸骨左缘第2肋间舒张期杂音D、胸骨左缘第2、3、4肋间收缩期杂音E、胸骨左缘第3、4肋间全收缩期杂音法洛四联症的心脏杂音是()
患者,男,34岁,因房屋倒塌压在上半身30分钟,呼吸困难,体格检查见患者神志清,血压18/14kPa,脉搏100次/分钟,呼吸310次/分钟,两眼结膜充血,颈静脉怒张,前胸皮肤淤斑,腹软,无压痛,尿常规正常。最可能的诊断是
一产妇孕37周,产前检查时出现下列何种情况医生正确地决定应该作进一步检查,因为还不能提示是否有胎儿宫内缺氧(储备能力下降)( )
经产妇,26岁。妊娠27周前正常,随后腹部迅速膨隆,出现腹部胀痛、呼吸困难和下肢水肿,于妊娠28周来院。查宫底在剑突下3横指,腹围104cm胎位触不清,胎心听不清,隐约触到胎动。估计在分娩过程中不会发生的产科异常情况为
下列有关当事人和解的公诉案件诉讼程序的适用范围说法正确的是:()
喷射水泥砂浆保护层施工时的要求正确的是:()。
汉字输出码又被称为汉字()。
(2007年考试真题)某外资企业的组织形式为有限责任公司,该外资企业依法解散时,根据外资企业法律制度的规定,下列人员中,不得担任清算委员会成员的是()。
已知f(2)=f’(2)=0及∫02f(x)dx=1,求∫01x2f’’(2x)dx。
GaspricewarningascoldMarchleadstoshortsuppliesA)ThecoldsnapinMarchcouldleadtoBritain’sgassuppliesrunningou
最新回复
(
0
)