跨文化交际作业

1. Then try to explain why people in countries like Japan and China often refuse to say “ no” directly. In the English language,“yes”may mean very differently in different situations. Both Japan and China are regarded as cultures in which people tend to convey messagesin an implicit way. The most conspicuous case is the way they say —no II . People from Japan and China often refuse to say —no II directly. The reasons can be accounted in many ways. Firstly, Japan and China are humble cultures which teach their people to be modest and mild. They always keep off expressing strong emotions against the other party; instead, they prefer to issue disapprovals tactfully by implication. Besides, in Japanese and Chinese cultures, —face I is highly valued in the course of communication. People are bound to protect their own face from threatening; meanwhile, they feel obliged not to threaten the other party ‘fasce. Still, harmony has been attached great importance to in Japanese and Chinese cultures. People are expected to make every effort to keep a harmonious relationship with each other. They have to try their best to avoid being aggressive which may result in direct conflict.

2. Different meanings of the color terms in Chinese and English culture RED/ 红色

Chinese: ① festive, jubilant, celebrate e.g. 红娘，红火② advancing,

bright e.g. 红军，红色政权③ successful, smooth e.g. 红人，走红④beautiful, nice e.g.红颜，红妆

English:① violent, cruel e.g. red revenge; a red battle ② armed revoluti on e.g.: a red revolutio n; ③ dan ger, tension e.g. a red adventure story; red alert; a red flag ③ profligate, immoral e.g. a red waste of his youth; GREEN/绿色

Chin ese:①you ng, e.g.绿窗（指少女闺阁）;红男绿女②kni ghtly, chivalrous, feral e.g.绿林好汉；绿林大盗③ low-classified, shameful

e.g.:戴绿帽子

English:① young e.g. in the green; a green ole age ② fresh, new e.g. a gree n wound; gree n recollecti on; keep the memory gree n ③ lack of experience e.g.: a green hand; green recruits ④ wealth, money e.g.: In America n political electi ons the can didates that win are usually the ones who have green power backing them ⑤ jealous, envy e.g.: gree n-eyed

Y ELLOW/ 黄色

Chinese:① royalty, power e.g.黄袍，黄马褂，黄榜② erotic, base, sen sual e.g.黄色书干刊

English:① erotic, sensual, base e.g. yellow journalism; yellow back; yellow press ② funk, sneak, spiritless e.g. yellow lived; yellow dog; WHITE/白色

Chi nese:

WHITE/ 白色① funeral, sadness e.g.红白喜事② failure, unvalued, foolish e.g.白干，白旗，白搭，白痴③tricky, crafty e.g.白脸④ politically reacti onary e.g.:白专道路，白匪

English:① pure, bright, happy, cleanness e.g. whit soul; a white wedding ② faithful, honest e.g. a white spirit; white hand white man ③ good luck, fortune e.g. a white day; days marked with a white stone ④ legal, no harmful e.g. white market; white list a white lit

BLACK/黑色

Chi nese:

① sadness, funeral e.g.葬礼上所佩带的黑纱② serious, solemn e.g. “黑脸”包公③ secretly, tricky e.g.黑幕，黑名单④ illegal, crimes, evil e.g.黑手，黑店，黑市，黑货

English:① death, disaster, unfortunate e.g.: Black Mass; black world black death ② evil, crimes e.g. black deed; Black Man black guard; B-hands ③ angry, depressed e.g. black dog; a black look PURPLE/紫色

Chinese:① nobility, dignity e.g.紫气东来，紫禁城

English:① nobility, dignity e.g. be born in the purple; marry in the purple; be raised to the purple

PINK/粉红