Case 1
Xiao LI and Xiao Wang were colleagues. Xiao LI gave a lot of help to Xiao Wang financially and socially. Recently Xiao LI would get married. But he forgot inviting Xiao Wang attend his wedding. Later Xiao Wang got information about Xiao LI’ wedding and sent RMB 500 Yuan to Xiao LI.
Question: What cultural phenomenon can be reflected? Why?
In Chinese culture influenced by Confucianism, if someone does a favor for you, you should return the favor to them. This is very common for Chinese people..In the philosophy of Confucianism Reciprocity are the base of relationships. Gratitude and indebtedness are important parts of Chinese culture. If a person feels uneasy to be indebted of someone, payback is necessary to achieve balance in the relationship.
Case 2
An English guest: Each time a new dish arrived his parents would lean over and load my plate with tasty morsels. As they had taken all the trouble to cook it I just had to polish it off. As soon as my plate was empty they would put more on. Of course, I felt duty-bound to eat that too.
A Chinese guest: Can you imagine how many dishes I had? Only one -- a stew with meat and vegetables. The meat was over done and too hard to eat; g
reen vegetables were no longer green. They never put food on your plate but just ask you to help yourself. If you, as a guest, are shy or modest, waiting for the food to be put on your plate, you will remain half-starved.
Question: Are there any differences in hospitality between a Chinese and English? What are the reasons?
Yes. The Chinese student felt disappointed at British hospitality because she used the Chinese way of showing hospitality to judge the British one. In the story taking place in China, the westerner couldn't imagine that there should be sixteen dishes prepared for her. When she ate from the eight cold dishes, she couldn't eat anymore. It is because a Western meal normally severs one main course plus a starter and sweets or desserts. The fact is that different people in the world show their different hospitality in different ways.
Case 3
Li Lan had an American friend Susan. They usually had lunch together and Li Lan often asked Susan for advice on problems she faced adjusting to American society. Susan gave Li Lan a lot of advice and helped her to improve her English. Once Li Lan needed urgently a big sum of money to pay her tuition fee. Since she has no other friends in the States, she turned to Susan for help and promised that she would return the money soon.
To Li Lan’s great disappointment, this time Susan didn’t seem happy to len
d the money to her. Though Li Lan returned the money as she promised, they didn’t get along well from then on.
Question: Why did Li Lan feel unpleasant?
Li Lan asked to borrow money from her American friend Susan, which is rarely part of Western friendship. Li Lan and Susan have different expectations of friendship.
In the West, people prefer to be independent and equal rather than dependent, so they don't feel comfortable in a relationship in which one person gives more and the other person is dependent on what is given. Among friends they mostly provide emotional support to each other and spend time together, so they rarely borrow or lend money to each other. They would ask for a loan from the bank rather than from their friends.
While in China, people expect their friends to be loyal to each other, and they even take risks for their friends. So they would give not only emotional support to each other but also concrete help to each other, such as helping to find a job, solving a problem, or even giving money to help one out over a long period of time. So when a friend is in need, the first person he or she wants to ask for help is naturally his/her friend.
Case 4
In 1997, a Danish woman from Copenhagen left her 14-month-old baby girl in a stroller outside a Manhattan restaurant while she was inside. Other diners at the restaurant became concerned and called New York City Police. The woman was charged with endangering a child and was jailed for two nights. Her child was placed in foster care. The woman and the Danish consulate explained that leaving children unattended outside cafes is common in Denmark. Pictures were wired to the police showing numerous strollers parked outside cafes while parents were eating inside.
Question: What cultural phenomenon can be reflected?
This case reflects one of the barriers to the effective intercultural communication----assuming similarity instead of difference. In American culture, it is illegal for parents to leave their baby alone. Whereas it is commonplace for parents to leave their baby alone in Danish culture.The Danish woman had assumed that Copenhagen is similar to New York, that what is commonly done in Copenhagen is also commonly done in New York.
Case 5
Describing the differences of verbal communication Styles between Chinese people and American people. Take examples to explain it.
The Chinese shout be loud when talking about everything. Direct eye-
contact is rare when speaking person to person. Counting on your fingers is different. Instead of just holding out the number of fingers on two hands as in America, the Chinese have specific finger signs for numbers one to ten.
To indicate yourself, Americans tend to use their thumb or forefinger and point at or touch their chest. Chinese people usually point at their nose with their index finger to do so. Chinese people feel no compunction against staring at other people for long periods of time. Young people, both boys and girls up to the age of 21, engages in all manner of rough-housing, often hitting each other. Women often walk arm and arm down the streets. Men and men hold hands or embrace shoulders as they walk outside. Nothing is wrong with that if they are friends.
Case 6
Xie Li and Tom have been working on a scientific experiment at a British university for some months. It has not been totally successful. They are discussing the situation in the laboratory.
Xie Li: I don’t know where it went wrong!
Tom: Don’t feel so bad. Cheer up; you’ve done your job.
Xie Li: But our experiment has turned out to be a failure.
Tom: Relax for a couple of days. I’ll face the music.
Xie Li: Tom, we are not playing children’s games here. This is a scientific experiment.
Tom: I’ve never taken the experiment as child’s play and I’m playing the game.
Xie Li: You say you’re playing the game! It’s a rather important experiment!
Xie Li walks out of the laboratory angrily. Tom is puzzled.
Question: What’s the problem in this case?
Idiomatic phrases are often misinterpreted.In English, face the music means: face reality and take the consequence and play the game means: abide competition rules. Here Xie Li misinterpreted two idiomatic phrases Tom used. First he thought that Tom didn’t take the failure of the experiment seriously and wanted to escape from it, because he would “face the music”; secondly, he misinterpreted Tom’s “playing the game” as that he hadn’t done the experiment seriously, which might lead to its failure.
Case 7
A young Chinese officer, together with his wife, was meeting an American consultant at an airport. After phatic communication, the consultant
complimented him on his wife out of politeness, “Your wife is beautiful!” The officer felt embarrassed and said, “Where! Where!”（哪里！哪里！） “Where! Where!” the consultant was puzzled and had to say,“From head to foot.”
Question: What went wrong in the case and Why?
In this case, the words of the Chinese conveyed a message quite different from what was intended. The Chinese officer would be suspected of “fishing for compliments” even though the remarks might have been quite sincere because the consultant was almost forced to say “Your wife is beautiful from head to foot.” Forced compliments like this can leave a bad taste in the mouth.Because as far as the responses to praise and compliments is concerned, there are great difference between Chinese people and native English speakers. Native English speakers, especially Americans tend to verbalize their compliments and accept them, whereas the Chinese tend to efface themselves to show modest. In contrast, native English speakers, in the same situation, will say Thank you or Thank you for saying so or Thanks a lot, etc. to acknowledge and accept the thanks as a kind of recognition of their individual efforts.
Case 8
A young Chinese woman in U.S was complimented by an American woman for the lovely dress she was wearing: \"It's exquisite. The colors are so beautiful!\" she was pleased but somewhat embarrassed. In typical Chinese fashion, she replied, \"Oh, it's just an ordinary dress I bought in China.\"
Question: What went wrong in the case and Why?
Case 9
A married couple are going to visit a friend. They have been driving around for some time looking for the street. B is angry because A refuses to stop and ask direction of someone.
Question: What cultural phenomenon can be reflected?
This case reflects the masculine emphasis on maintaining autonomy and not appearing weak or incompetent. Men are less likely than women to seek directions from others. Part of the reason for this may well lie in sensitivity of men to issues of status. From the perspective to ask for information and help from others implies that the person asking is inferior. From a woman's point of view, however, sharing information is a way of cementing bonds.
Case 10
Dedrick and Melita have been dating for two years and are very serious. To celebrate their anniversary Melita wants to spend a quiet evening in her apartment where they can talk about the relationship and be alone with each other. When Dedrick arrives, he's planned to dine out and go to a concert. Melita feels hurt that he doesn't want to talk and spend the evening alone with her.
Question: could you explain the differences in communication between men and women?
Case 11
A Filipino couple was vacationing in England. While they were strolling along one of the main streets of London with a British acquaintance, they met another Filipino who had been residing there for some time. He was a good friend from the past, who has not seen for several years. They greeted each other warmly and continued their conversation in a loud and animated fashion using their native language. After a while the British became noticeably agitated, and turned his head away and sighed. The
Filipinos noticed the reaction, and then resumed their conversation but in a quieter tone.
Question: Why did the British become agitated?
Case 12 An American went to Chinese home. He was offered some tea. Just when the first cup was about to finish, more tea was added. The visitor drank the second cup. Then the cup was filled the third time. Then he drank it, then… until the visitor was quite full.
Question: Why did the American get quite full?
The culture for treating visitors varys from country to country.
In China, the Chinese host often constantly puts foot on the visitors' plate, which is an expression of hospitality. The visitors refusals are usually ignored. Westerners, on the other hand, usually leave the guest to help himself/herself and do not keep urging him/her to eat more. in China it is acceptable to leave unwanted food on the plate, whereas according to Western custom, it is impolite to do so. As result, misunderstandings occur. In this case, the American kept finishing all the tea in his cup to show his politeness. Therefore, the American got quite full.
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