文化差异

文化差异(Culture Difference):

种族 National race

The whole question of the changing role of Blacks in American society as been the subject of newspaper articles around the world so frequently that visitors to the United States do not know what to expect when they arrive. They may be surprised when they see that Blacks and Whites work side by side in offices , factories , and schools across the country . The majority of Blacks in the United States, however, live in and around only a small number of American cities.

Many dark-skinned visitors arrive in the United States fearing personal attack or expecting various degrees of racial prejudice. Some forms of discrimination still exist ,unfortunately, especially in the areas of the housing , schools , and jobs . The school equality is still more a dream than a reality. There are still too many areas of the country where Black Americans do not enjoy the same full opportunities as White Americans . However, the vast majority of American s are working, studying, and sharing public places together. This was not true even a few years ago in some parts of the country, but progress is steadily being made. You will be able to observe the improvement in race relations as soon as your plane lands . You will see it in the airport, in public buses and trains , in theaters , restaurants , rest room, in sops and libraries , in offices and factories . Close personal friendships between Blacks and Whites , full trust and social relationships are still not common , except in certain areas, However, even in this - the slowest area of progress-there has been change , especially among young people.

文化差异(Culture Difference):

财富与特权 Wealth and Privilege

Owning cars , large houses , or swimming pools mean different things in different cultures and may confuse a visitor to the United States . In many nations , only the rich have such things as cars and swimming pools ; the poor have very little.

By contrast, this is not true in the United States . The cost of certain things that only the rich can afford in other countries is relatively low. This means that laborers , farmers , and people who are not usually regarded as rich nevertheless have many possessions tat only the rich have in other nations . Understandably a visitor may assume that all Americans who own cars are as rich as people in his own country who own cars . Actually , this is not the cases ; secretaries, university students , factory workers or farmers can and do buy cars and many other \"expensive \" things . Generally , they pay for these possessions gradually , during a period of many months , or even years , so that the cost each most is not too high in relation to their monthly wages .

文化差异(Culture Difference):

个人的进步 Personal Progress

In many parts of the world , personal influence is essential in achieving success.

This is not true in the United States, where success usually results from hard work , education, skill, and personal initiative , America is truly a \"do-it-yourself\" society ; success is not dependent on family origins or the help of an influential person . Personal progress is the result of individual effort.

Because effort and initiative are so important in America , there are many customs that may be different from those practiced in other countries. For example , it is not considered dishonorable to quit a job, even if you have had it for only a short time . Moving from job-to -job , or \"job-hopping \quite acceptable in the United States. Frequently , the opportunity to change jobs offers workers a chance to move up to a better position. Americans like to move from place to place trying new jobs, meeting new people and living in different parts of the country. \"Job-hopping\" also gives employers a chance to benefit from the new ideas and skills that different people bring to their jobs even if such people are employed for only a short time.

文化差异(Culture Difference):

真实还是礼貌？ Truth or Courtesy ?

Just as the degree of individual freedom that exists in America seems loose and therefore uncomfortable to many visitors . In many countries , people will tell you what they think you want to here , whether or not it is true. To them , this is the polite thing to do. To Americans it is considered confusing -even dishonest -to avoid telling the true facts. even if avoiding the truth is done only to be polite . It is

helpful to remember that different cultures consider some matters more important than others . Wit Americans , however, trust and truth are most important. One of the worst tings that can be said about someone in America is that \" you cannot trust him\"

Considering such differences in values among the many cultures of the world, it is natural that misunderstandings [1] will occur. \"How far is it to the next town?\" an American asks a man standing by the edge of a road. In some countries , because the man realizes the traveler is tired and eager to reach the next village, he will politely say , ' Just down the road \". He thinks this is more encouraging, gentler, and therefore the answer the traveler wants to hear. So the American drives alone for many more hours before he comes to the village. The traveler is angry, feeling \"tricked\". He thinks that the man has purposely lied to him because he must have know quite will well what the distance was.

If a visitor to the United States asked an American standing at the edge of a road how far the next town was, the American would think it dishonest if he said it was near when he knew it was really 24 miles away. Although he, too, would be sympathetic with the tired traveler , he would say, \"You have a long way to go yet ; it is at least 24 miles more. \" The traveler might be disappointed , but he would know what to expect, and there would be no misunderstanding.

文化差异(Culture Difference):

美国社会正在该变 American Society is Changing

In many nations , everyday activities are done in a planned , orderly manner. For example , formal relationships among people may be determined according to customs and habits that have existed for a long time . People visiting an informal country , such as the United States , may find that the American belief in personal initiative or freedom (including the freedom to disagree with those in authority ), and the whole economic system is quits confusing and uncontrolled . To some visitors such freedoms are too \"loose\" and too disorganized to be comfortable.

Today , the United States is experiencing great change in every part of society ;therefore life in America may indeed seem confused . Social attitudes are being questioned . Americans are wondering: \"Is there any morality ?\" \"Why has the nation never given all of its citizens full opportunity ?\"\"What courses should be taught in school?\" \"What is the role of women in society ? \"As visitors , you will notice that some Americans are beginning to leave the cities and make their homes in small cities and towns where life is quieter and slower . Political beliefs are changing . The kinds of skills needed by workers today differ from those in demand several years ago.

文化差异(Culture Difference):

权威 Authority

In many countries , authority is seldom , if ever, questioned , either because it is highly respected , or because it is feared . Sometimes , too, Because rank has been important in certain societies for a long time, people have been trained

never to question those in authority .. For example , children are not expected to question their teachers in school .It may be considered improper for young businessmen to suggest ideas that differ from those of older, more experienced members of the business.

In other countries, including America, children are trained to question and search for answers . When a child asks a question, he will often be told to go to the library and find the answer for himself. By the time students reach the age of 14 or 15, they may be developing exciting new ideas in all fields of science and the arts . To encourage such creativity [1] , there are many national prizes offered to students , every year for their scientific discoveries and artistic accomplishments.

This interest in questioning and searching may be considered by some people as bad for young people's manners , that young people lack respect for authority . This impression may be created when visitors notice young Americans asking questions and arguing with older people . However , this is because many Americans have a different attitude toward authority than may exist in other areas of the world . In a work or business situation, ideas are freely and openly discussed and argued. It is important to remember tat it is the person's ideas that are being questioned, not the individual himself.. The two are quite separate. The purpose of the searching , questioning , and arguing is to find the facts in a particular situation, and therefore a solution, so that the work of the business can progress in the most effective manner possible.

As was mentioned earlier, you may notice the some questioning in social

conversations . Although some individuals may think that Americans are rude because of their direct manner with people, they are merely trying to learn more about your ideas.

文化差异(Culture Difference):

Table Manners: a Cultural Difference

For many Westerners, the Chinese dinner table is terra incognita([拉]未发现的地域). There are no forks or knives for the Westerners to use. The Chinese host makes great, sweeping（大范围的）arm movements that go over large sections of the table passing over both food and friends alike. The scene is fantastic（非常好的）, but it leaves many foreigners at a loss（让……迷惑）for what to do. In most Western restaurants and homes there are rules about how to talk, eat and sit that are highly restrictive（受限制的）, and they create an atmosphere（气氛）that is completely different from what we find here in China. In my childhood home, dinner was enjoyed with hushed(压低声音的) voices, and the topics open for discussion were very much restricted. We were not allowed to bring up anything that was potentially unappetizing（倒胃口的）; body functions（上洗手间）, bugs, murder and mayhem（使人肢体伤残的行为）in general were all strictly forbidden topics. If I had to leave the table to use the toilet, I had to verbally excuse myself without mentioning what it was that I was going to do. \"May I be excused, please? I need to wash my hands.\" I would say.

My mother would say, \"Sure.\" My father would often play a joke on us by

saying, \"Your hands don't look dirty to me!\"

As for eating, we did it quietly. No eating noises were allowed.

Everything must be done as quietly as possible. Therefore, we had to eat with our mouths closed. To make a \"smacking\" noise was, perhaps, the worst offence possible. While drinking soup or coffee or wine \"slurping\"（咕嘟咕嘟地喝）was also forbidden. If any sound whatever was created by our intake of food or beverage（饮料）, it constituted（构成）bad manners! With that in mind, it was, of course, unthinkable to speak with one's mouth full of food, so speaking only occurred（发生）before or after one had taken in food and swallowed（吞咽）it.

How one sits at the table is also prescribed（被规定的）. One is to sit up straight with the recessive（非主导的，隐性的）hand (usually the left) in one's lap holding a napkin（餐巾）while the dominant hand (usually the right) holds the fork or spoon. The only time one is allowed to have both hands on the table is when one is using a knife to cut something, but as soon as the cutting is done, the recessive hand goes back to the lap. Also, elbows（肘）are not allowed on the table. Therefore, one props（撑着）the arm against the edge of the table just below the elbow. One should never reach for（伸手拿）any food on the table; one should ask someone sitting near it to give it to you. \"Would you please pass the potatoes?\" \"May I trouble you for the salt?\" These are phrases that you are likely to hear on any given night of the week at a family dinner.

When a guest comes from the West to enjoy a meal with you, it would be a

good idea for you to explain to your guest what will happen at dinner and to find out if a fork would be easier to use than chopsticks（筷子）. In my time in China, I have come to enjoy Chinese table manners far more than those prescribed by my own culture, but for many it is impossible to adjust（适应）. The best policy is to ask your guest questions to find out what he or she is comfortable with.

文化差异(Culture Difference):

社会 Society

The United States, like other countries has its rich and poor people , its rich and poor neighborhoods.

Americans love --- and many are themselves living examples of ---the \"self -made man. \"You will hear this expression often. But for every person who is successful. They are usually better educated tan their parents and therefore more likely to have good, well paying jobs.

In addition to the fact that the United States includes people whose families originally came from many other parts of the world , Americans move across the nation in great numbers. One study reported that one of every five families in the United States moves every three years. This continuous mixing of people into new communities is an important observation to consider when trying to understand the meaning of class in America. We have already discussed the questioning, \"do-it -yourself\" American personality that is another important consideration.

In many countries, a man's social class is determined at birth . That is , his social class or position is shared with his family , his wider group of relatives . In the United States , position in society is , to a large degree, personal rather than related to family or group.

Before World War Two, family ties were more important America than they are now. Uncles, aunts grandparents , and children vacationed together, spent holidays together, and saw much of each other. But as the American economy developed more rapidly after the war, social customs began to change. With the rapidly growing economy, there were new employment opportunities, many of them in scientific fields. These opportunities were often located in other parts of the country. The younger members of many families who were will educated began to move away from the towns where their families lived to tale these new jobs. As these young people became successful, they often moved into a new social stratum [1], consisting of others who, like themselves, moved away from home to follow job opportunities.

These same changes are already happening in most new countries around the world. Today, a man who can read or fix a machine may become the new leader of his community in place of an older person. Often young people can better understand the new sciences and modern skills ; as these young people learn and advance , their wages rise and they become increasingly successful.

Frequently, it is just one member of a family that becomes very successful. Other members continue working at their average jobs and salaries, without much

chance of becoming as successful as the son or daughter. When this happens, people sometimes become separated from their family. Many return to visit, but others move away never to return to their relatives and old friends.

To many people, success means having more power than one possessed before. It can be won through skill, knowledge , leadership, or sometimes just by hard work . In America, \"success\" has normally bee accompanied by an increase in wealth. As a result, an individual 's social position is determined both by a person's job and by the kinds of possessions he owns .

As we said , however, young people are in the process of developing different values and different ways to measure success.

[1] stratum n. [地] 地层, [生](组织的)层, 社会阶层