Intercultural Communication 中美文化差异之十六

　　　　学习和运用外语必须了解与这种外语有密切关

　　系的文化。如果掌握语法知识有助于保证外语句子

　　结构正确，那么熟悉有关文化则有助于保证使用外

　　语得当，这一点更为重要。今天要谈的正是跨文化

　　交际的问题。

　　　Intercultural communication is an interdisciplinary field of study which incorporates research from disciplines such as social psychology, sociology, cultural anthropology, sociolinguistics, and, of course, communication. One of the most important areas of research addressed by intercultural scholars is how misunderstandings can be minimized when people communicate with others from different cultures.

　　　First, context is very important to understanding intercultural communication. There are two ways individuals use context in communication: one is low-context and the other is high-context.

　　　Low-context communication is like a computer program; everything must be specified in the coded message or the computer program will not run. In a low-context culture like the United States, individuals must express themselves as explicitly as possible for effective communication to occur. High-context communication, in contrast, is like communication between twins who were raised together. Twins intuitively understand each other and use shortened sentences and words when they talk.

　　　If Chinese do not understand the low-context system used in the United States and Americans do not understand the high-context system used in China, misunderstandings will occur.

　　　Understanding cultural norms and rules such as the way we are expected to greet others, the way we are expected to dress, the way we are expected to eat, and the way we are expected to answer questions also are important in improving communication with people from other cultures. For example, if you greet an American by asking him or her "where are you going?" or "have you eaten yet?" the American might feel very uncomfortable because asking these questions could be interpreted as an invasion of privacy. But in the Chinese culture, these are appropriate greetings which do not invade the other person's privacy.

　　　These examples do illustrate the importance of studying the influence of culture on communication if we are to overcome culture barriers to effective communication.

不同文化之间的交流　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

　　不同文化之间的交流是一门跨学科的研究科目，它综合研究社会心理学、社会学、人文人类学、社会语言学以及传播学等学科。研究不同文化之间交流的学问，最重要的研究课题之一就是不同文化背景的人交往的时候，如何尽可能减少误解。

　　首先，了解背景情况对不同文化之间的交流非常重要。人与人之间的交往有两种情况：一种是外向的，另一种是含蓄的。

　　外向的就象是计算机的程序，一切都按照编好的程序进行，否则就运转不了。美国的文化是外向型的，美国人表达自己思想的时候尽可能简单明了，以有利于传播或交流。与此相反的是同含蓄的人交流，这种交流就象是在一起的孪生兄弟姐妹之间的交往。因为他们心领神会，谈话时只需简短的句子和言词。

　　中国人如果不了解美国人的坦率习惯，或美国人不了解中国人含蓄的表达方式，那么，就不可避免地要产生误解了。

　　了解其他民族或国家的风俗习惯，对促进相互的交往也很重要。如，如何打招呼、穿衣、吃饭，以及如何回答问题等等。再比如，你和美国人打招呼时说，"上哪儿去？""吃了吗？"他们可能会感到很不舒服。因为问这种问题对美国人来说可以理解为干涉人家的私事，但是在中国，这是十分恰当的打招呼用语。

　　这些例子说明，我们若想克服不同文化之间的隔阂，在今后的有效地、更好地沟通，研究文化对思想交流的影响是很重要的。
关键字:欧美文化
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