1、.页眉.页脚On Different Values and Beliefs between the Chinese and American in GuashaAbstractIntercultural communication plays an important part in peoples daily life. Nevertheless, the great differences of beliefs and values between cultures greatly restrict peoples effective communication. Through the
2、analyses of different values and beliefs between the Chinese and American in Guasha, this view can be highlighted. The solutions which can help people appreciate similarities and accept differences in an intercultural communication are as follows: Know Yourself; Know the Communication Context; Seek
3、to Understand Diverse Message Systems; Develop Empathy; Encourage Feedback; Learn about Cultural Adaptation.Key words: IntroductionIntercultural communication is not new. Wandering nomads, religious missionaries, and conquering warriors have encountered people different from themselves since the beg
4、inning of the time. Obviously, the quantity and quality of intercultural communication are very important, because it is closely related to social development and world communication. Since our global has already become an “Earth Village”, improving communication between cultures becomes emergent.Ch
5、apter One Definitions of Beliefs and Values1.1 Definition of Beliefs As the Spanish poet Antonio Machado reminds us, “Under all that we think, lives all we believe, like the ultimate veil of our spirits.”Belief systems are significant to the study of intercultural communication, because they are at
6、the core of our thoughts and actions. They are our conviction in the truth of something. They tell us how the world operates. 1.页眉.页脚1.2 Definition of Values One of the most important functions of the belief systems is that they are the basis of our values. According to Rokeach, “Values are a learne
7、d organization of rules for making choices and for resolving conflicts.” 11Therefore, values can tell us what is good or bad, what is useful or useless, what is right or wrong, what to strive for, what to do in the life. As Albert says, a value system “represents what is expected or helped for, requ
8、ired or forbidden. It is not a report of actual conduct but is the system of criteria by which conduct is judged and sanctions applied.”12Chapter Two Different Values and Beliefs between the Chinese and American in Guasha2.1 Attitude to the ChildrenThe single most important pattern inn the United St
9、ates is individualism. While in China, it is collectivism and group consciousness. The Americans seek for individual freedom, free thinking and choice and the Children need to accept “Independence Education” in the childhood. In the parents eyes, although they are very young, they are equal to the a
10、dults and they also have rights to choose things by themselves. In China, parents often subject to design an easy way for their children to help them become successful. There are several settings in Guasha have highlighted that point. Setting One: Both Datong and his wife Janey speak to their son De
11、nnis in English. Just in order to make him pass the examination. There is no doubt that its very important to pass the examination, but its unfair for the little child. When Denniss grandpa tries to teach him how to speak “chopsticks” in Chinese, he shows great interests in it. Anyhow, Dennis is a C
12、hinese, why cannot he also learn to speak Chinese?Setting Two: The two boys had some conflicts so that Dennis hit Kunlans son, then Datong hit his own son Dennis before asking anything, just to show great respect .页眉.页脚to his boss Kunlan. He said that: “I hit a child is to show respect for you, whic
13、h is for your face.” But the reason why Dennis hit Kunlans son is understandable, and what he has done is just for his father. Obviously, the behavior that Datong hit his son doesnt show respect to the child, and he even break the childs inner heart.In China, children are regarded as parents own pri
14、vate wealth, they can hit them whenever they like. They think that its good for the children to hit them. There is a Chinese saying, “To hit is to be intimate, to blame is to love”. This value is greatly affected by Chinese traditional culture. From the Americans point of view, hitting a child is co
15、mmitting the crime. Because children is equal to parents and should be treated as equals. So parents have no rights o hit children.2.2 Reason and EmotionIn the history, there has been tension between those who believe in fate of mystic powers and those who believe that the intellect can solve any pr
16、oblem and discover any truth. Generally speaking, people in the western countries subject to believe in the power of reasoning. In fact, according to the English philosophers Hobbes and Bacon, Westerners have held that reasoning is humankinds “highest faculty and achievement.” There is also a strong
17、 reliance on “facts.” For Americans, facts are more reliable and dependable than subjective evaluations based on “feelings” and “intuition.” In a word, these “facts” for Westerners, represent the most effective way to find truth.2.2.1 Attitude to the TroubleDenniss grandpa used Guasha which is a Chi
18、nese traditional treatment to help Dennis keep fit. The trace is regarded as an evidence of maltreating a child. Therefore, poor Dennis was taken away by Child Welfare Bureau, which makes Datong and his wife feel very sorrowful. Apparently, they all love Dennis very much, including his grandpa. But
19、Datong and his wife dont have evidence to prove that it is a misunderstanding that they have ill-treated their child. What Datong can do is just talking about how he loves his son, and what he has done for him. Obviously, its useless in Americans eyes in a reasonable country like American. Whats mor
20、e, Datong was enraged by the man in Court Child Welfare Bureau so that he cant help .页眉.页脚becoming unreasonable.On the contrary, the man in Court Child Welfare Bureau can list a series of evidences to prove that Xu Datong has possibilities to abuse his child. Although his evidence is illusion and th
21、e three witnesses are invalid, people can see that the people in Court Child Welfare Bureau do everything according to evidence. And even the royal judge needs evidence to prove everything.Finally, Datongs boss came to Chinatown to experience the treatment of Guasha and managed to prove the existenc
22、e of Chinese traditional treatment Guasha. He used a fact to rescue Datong successfully, rather than beg the judge to let Dennis to go back home. What he did is within Datongs capability in that Datong has lived in America for eight years, why he didnt find a solution like what Kunlan did.It is a re
23、flection that the Americans do everything based on fact, while Chinese mostly pay attention to personal feelings.2.2.2 Attitude to Friends Moreover, in American, friendship means two people can attract each other naturally. In their heart, honesty is the most important quality. Therefore, while face
24、d with the choice between friendship and integrity, they may choose the latter. While in China, people often regard friends as very important ones. When friends have difficulties, people wont hesitate to do everything to help them, even give up their lives and commit the crime. When Kunlan pointed o
25、ut that Datong indeed hit his son, he just told the fact. While Datong thinks that Kunlan has betrayed him and he doesnt want to make friends with him any more. Finally, Datongs father came to find Kunlan and told him that it was him not Datong who did Guasha for Dennis. Kunlan tried to find evidenc
26、e for Guasha without hesitation. In his heart, Datong is still his friend and he needs to help him. So he came to find the woman officer and the judge on Christmas Eve and told them the truth of Guasha.Anyhow, in American, everything should be done based on fact and reason. On the contrary, in China
27、, people often pay more attention to personal emotion or feeling. 2.3 Attitude to Superiors/ Power DistanceIn Guasha, Datong and his boss Kunlan are good friends. According to Hofstede, .页眉.页脚its a reflection of low power distance. People in these cultures believe they are close to power and should
28、have access to that power. People in power often interact with their workers and try to look less powerful than they really are. They usually look very humble and easy-going. The powerful and the powerless try to live in concert and become good friends, they can point out mistakes for each other.2.4
29、 Attitude to Family and ParentsIn Guasha, Datong respects his father very much. Even his wife shows great respect to his father-in-law. Because of Chinese traditional virtue, he is very filial. One day, fathers old friend passed away suddenly, he felt very sorrowful. And Datong tried his best to com
30、fort his old father. Furthermore, when Dennis was taken away by the Court Child Welfare Bureau, Datong kept it a secret in that he doesnt want his father worry about it. He feels very helpless, but he conceals the truth by using kind lies. In Chinese culture, people often pay much attention to famil
31、y, especially parents and emphasize the family concept and emotions between families.In American, people emphasize more about personal free development and parents often ask their children to be independent. So the family concept in the USA is light, to some degree. Chapter Three Causes for the Diff
32、erencesCulture strongly influences our subjective reality and that there are direct links among culture and behavior. Different cultures make people have different beliefs and values. For example, in the United States, there is a culture that “teaches” the value of youth and rejects growing old. Whi
33、le in some other countries like Arab, China, old people are perceived in a very positive light.In China, the characteristics of Chinese philosophy are the “nature and humanity“ which is to explore the relationship between nature and humans. Confucian moral tries to teach us how to be a good person.
34、The evolution of the Taoist talks about the universe, and tries to teach a person to adapt to nature. In American, people seek for individual freedom, free development. And they advocate reason, so they mostly .页眉.页脚choose things according to their reason, rather than emotion.Chapter Four How to App
35、reciate Similarities and Accept Differences in the Intercultural CommunicationThere is no doubt that a good intercultural communicator can appreciate similarities and accept differences in an intercultural communication. But how to improve communication between cultures? There are some suggestive so
36、lutions in the following, which may help you become a more competent communicator:4.1 Know YourselfThere is a Chinese saying that “Know yourself and know your opponents, you wont fail forever.” Therefore, its very significant to know about yourself.Firstly, you need to focus on your own culture. Sin
37、ce human beings are the products of our culture, knowing about your own culture can help you control your communication. Just as Stewart and Bennett wrote, “An awareness of American culture along with examples of contrasting cultures contributes to the individuals understanding of her- or himself as
38、 a cultural being.”28Secondly, you may know your attitude, which means you need to identify those attitudes, prejudices, and opinions that bias the way the world appears to usThirdly, you can ask yourself “How do I communicate and how do others perceive me?” If we want to improve our intercultural c
39、ommunication, we need to consider in which way we express or present ourselves is better for the receiver.4.2 Consider the Physical and Human SettingsFirstly, we need to consider the condition of timing. A competent and effective communicator will be clear about when certain topics can be talked app
40、ropriately. For example, at 12 oclock pm, a student calls his headmaster to apologize for his being late for school in the morning. Even though his attitude is good, he has interrupted the headmasters sleeping. Thus, the headmaster will become angry at him.Secondly, physical setting plays an importa
41、nt role in the communication between cultures. For example, in the United States, the two business negotiation teams usually sit facing each other. However, in many other cultures, this setting may mean .页眉.页脚they are competing for something.Thirdly, different cultures have different customs, so a c
42、ompetent communicator needs try his or her best to adapt to the customs of each culture. There is a Chinese saying, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”. For example, in Japan, people often bow to each other to show their politeness, you cannot shake hands instead of bowing. 4.3 Seek to Understand Di
43、verse Message SystemsIn an effective intercultural communication, the interlocutors have a common code. But its quite difficult for them who speak different languages to have a common code while communicating. So a good communicator needs to spend some time to learn the language from other cultures.
44、4.4 Develop EmpathyA famous Native American proverb tells us “We should not judge anther person until we have walked two moons in his moccasins.” That means an effective communicator needs to view things from the angle of others and you cannot appraise things just from your own point of view. A cons
45、tant self-focus is the most common barrier, and its difficult to gather information about others. So trying to make the involved person take about himself much more is a very good way to improve communication. How to improve empathy? As Trenholm and Jensen tell us, “The single most important thing y
46、ou do is remind yourself to pay attention to the spontaneous emotional expressions of others.” 454.5 Encourage Feedback Feedback can reflect the effectiveness of communication, and it has two main functions: One is to monitor the communication process, the other is to exercise some control over it.
47、So we must learn to create an atmosphere that encourages other people to offer us feedback through which we can adjust our own behavior. There are the following ways to inspire others to respond to us honestly: nonverbal actions, positive verbal behavior and sometimes silence instead of words can al
48、so inspire feedback.4.6 Learn About Cultural AdaptationHow do you adapt to a new culture if exposure to that culture will take place for an extended period of time? These people need to cope with the cultural changes .页眉.页脚brought about by continuous firsthand contact with another culture.Firstly, t
49、he communicator needs to acquire knowledge about the host culture. As Chen and Starosta note, “Culture awareness refers to an understanding of ones own and others cultures that affect how people think and behave. This includes understanding commonalities of human behavior and differences in cultural patterns.”53 If you cannot learn the language of the host culture, you can at least try to master some of the basics that you can use for exchanging greetings and shopping.Secondly, you can learn to be open and flexible. According to Kim, it can help “facilit
