跨文化交际案例case study 6

Chapter 5 Verbal and Non-verbal Communication

Case 1

Two strangers have been chatting.

A: So you’re been here for a year?

B: Yes. One more year to go, then I’ll go back to china.

A: What will you do back home?

B: It’s hard to know. There’s a lot change at the moment.

A: Yeah.Everything’s changing, everythere. Sometimes it’s difficult to keep up.

B: That’s true. Maybe I’ll…

(A’s mobile phone rings.)

A: Excuse me, I’d better answer this. It’s probably work.

B: Sure. Take your time.

分析：有时在与人交谈中，难免要有什么原因要离开一会儿，或是去接一个电话，或要去洗手间。礼貌再此被提出来。出于礼貌起见，要记住做一些恰当解释再离开。不管理由是什么，即便是要接一个手机电话，在打开电话回话前，向对方说声对不起。

如果只离开几分钟，没有必要找一个理由。你说了对不起，就表明你确实是有事要离开一会儿。

Case 2

One cold winter day in a Chinese city, Wang Lin on his way to the library met an American pro fessor who knew very little about China. After greeting him, Wang said: “It’s rather cold. You’d better put on more clothes.” But the professor didn’t appear happy on hearing this.

分析：美国人以及大部分西方国家的人们不喜欢被告知要怎么做怎么做，他们比较喜欢独立，然而中国人则习惯关心别人，这个案例中王林的建议表达的就是一种对他人的关心，可是美国教授却不习惯这样的表达。

Case 3

Li Ping is calling his colleague and friend Tony. Tony lives in the student dormitory. Someone else answers the phone.

Student: Hi, Student Dormitory.

Li: Hello. I’d like to speak to Tony please.

Student: Okay, just a moment. I’ll see if he’s in.

Li: Thanks.

Student: He’s on his way. Won’t be long.

Li: Thanks for your help.

Tony: Hello? Tony is here.

Li: Hello, it’s Li Ping.

Tony: Hi. Is everything okay?

Li: Yes, fine. I wanted to call you to see if you’d like to come over for dinner tonight. I’m cooking a Chinese meal.

Tony: That’s fine. By the way, how is your major essay coming along? Have you finished all the reading?

Li: Almost. I have to finish the reading by next Sunday. Then I can start writing the

essay. What about you?

Tony: Still plowing my way through.

Li: Well maybe we can share some ideas over dinner.

Tony: Good idea.

Li: Well, I’d better go. I’ve got lots to do.

Tony: Okay. I’ll see you tonight at 6. I’ll bring something to drink.

Li: See you then. Bye.

Tony: See you.

分析：拿起话筒给朋友，同事，家人拨一个电话，有什么规矩可言哪？不要马虎，还是遵照以下规矩行事为好：简单打招呼语问候对方，对对方的信息做恰当的答复，开门见山说明要谈的事，结束电话。由于身体语言的被排除，最大程度地使用或理解一些暗示语，即通过声音线索去抓住对方的支持、赞同或反对的态度、感情很重要。用好电话能帮助你保持与人的联系，建立新的友谊，是涉外生活、学习和工作不可多得的法宝。

Case 4

Liu Huang is calling his friend Steven at his home.

Person: Hello. John is speaking.

Liu: Hello? I’m looking for Steven.

Person: Sorry, there’s no one here called Steven.

Liu: Is that 6577 8868?

Person: No. I think you’ve got the wrong number. This is 6578 8868.

Liu: Oh, I’m sorry.

Person: No problem. Good luck.

Liu: Thanks.

分析：失手拨错号码是常有的事。如果在国外，即便有语言障碍，害怕说英语，也还是要先与对方核对是不是拨错了，然后再道歉。如果发现拨错了号码就马上挂电话，是不礼貌的行为。

Case 5

Practicing English

One night a Chinese student majoring in English sat on the steps of the foreign students’ residence and talked with two young male foreign students, one German and one American. They did not speak a word to her on their own initiative, but she asked many questions to get a conversation started. Every time they answered her with only one or two words. But she was determined to practice her English so she tried to keep the conversation going.

“How do you spend your weekend?” she asked.

The German boy answered immediately, “Fishing,” and the two boys looked at each other meaningfully.

“Fishing?” She was really confused. “But where do you fish?” she ask ed.

“Fishing has two meaning. One is the literal meaning. The other is just sitting here or walking on the street and waiting for some girls to come up to us.” Then they both burst out laughing.

She was annoyed. She sat there silently and then suddenly stood up and walked away without saying goodbye.

分析：某些英语词汇在英美国家有特殊的含义，如本案列中，“fishing” 一词除钓鱼