2015年BEC高级口语素材
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Identify the Differences ：Five FundamentalPatterns of Cultural Differences 了解不同：中西文化差异的五种基本模式 1.Different Communication Styles 不同的交流风格 The way people communicate varies widely between,and even within, cultures. One aspect ofcommunication style is language usage. Acrosscultures, some words and phrases are used indifferent ways. For example, even in countries thatshare the English language, the meaning of "yes" varies from "maybe, I’ll consider it" to"definitely so," with many shades in between. Another major aspect of communication style is the degree of importance given to non-verbalcommunication. Non-verbal communication includes not only facial expressions andgestures; it also involves seating arrangements, personal distance, and sense of time. Inaddition, different norms regarding the appropriate degree of assertiveness incommunicating can add to cultural misunderstandings. For instance, some white Americanstypically consider raised voices to be a sign that a fight has begun, while some Asian, African,Jewish and Italian Americans often feel that an increase in volume is a sign of an excitingconversation among friends. Thus, some white Americans may react with greater alarm to aloud discussion than would members of some American ethnic or non-white racial groups. 2.Different Attitudes Toward Conflict 对待冲突的态度不同 Some cultures view conflict as a positive thing, while others view it as something to be avoided.In the U.S., conflict is not usually desirable; but people often are encouraged to deal directlywith conflicts that do arise. In fact, face-to-face meetings customarily are recommended as theway to work through whatever problems exist. In contrast, in many Eastern countries, openconflict is experienced as embarrassing or demeaning; as a rule, differences are best workedout quietly. A written exchange might be the favored means to address the conflict. 3.Different Approaches to Completing Tasks 采用不同方法去完成任务 From culture to culture, there are different ways that people move toward completing tasks.Some reasons include different access to resources, different judgments of the rewardsassociated with task completion, different notions of time, and varied ideas about howrelationship-building and task-oriented work should go together. When it comes to working together effectively on a task, cultures differ with respect to theimportance placed on establishing relationships early on in the collaboration. A case in point,Asian and Hispanic cultures tend to attach more value to developing relationships at thebeginning of a shared project and more emphasis on task completion toward the end ascompared with Americans. Americans tend to focus immediately on the task at hand, and letrelationships develop as they work on the task. This does not mean that people from any oneof these cultural backgrounds are more or less committed to accomplishing the task, or valuerelationships more or less; it means they may pursue them differently. 4.Different Decision-Making Styles 不同的做决定的风格 The roles individuals play in decision-making vary widely from culture to culture. For example,in the U.S., decisions are frequently delegated -- that is, an official assigns responsibility for aparticular matter to a subordinate. In many Southern European and Latin American countries,there is a strong value placed on holding decision-making responsibilities oneself. Whendecisions are made by groups of people, majority rule is a common approach in the U.S.; inAsia consensus is the preferred mode. Be aware that individuals’ expectations about their ownroles in shaping a decision may be influenced by their cultural frame of reference. 5.Different Attitudes Toward Disclosure 对待披露/曝光的态度不同 In some cultures, it is not appropriate to be frank about emotions, about the reasons behinda conflict or a misunderstanding, or about personal information. Keep this in mind when youare in a dialogue or when you are working with others. When you are dealing with a conflict,be mindful that people may differ in what they feel comfortable revealing. Questions that mayseem natural to you -- What was the conflict about? What was your role in the conflict? Whatwas the sequence of events? -- may seem intrusive to others. The variation among culturesin attitudes toward disclosure is also something to consider before you conclude that youhave an accurate reading of the views, experiences, and goals of the people with whom you areworking. 相关资料 |
