commucation across culture

Reading : p. 41

Questions:

---Do you know Maslow’s theory?

---Do human beings realize all these needs at the same time?

---Do people all over the world share the same basic needs described by Maslow? ---Do people realize these needs in the same ways?

---Is culture conscious or subconscious?

2.1 Instinctive behavior

—innate and universal

2.2 Cultural behavior—learned and transmitted from generation to generation through the use of symbols

People in different cultures satisfy these needs in different ways.

Examples:

Different ways of eating p.43;

Difference in treating visitors. p. 38 (Warm Up)

Difference in ending the meals. p. 59 (Group Work)

Case Analysis

Case 5 p. 60

Difference in taking offers

Case 7 p.62

Difference in the view of gifts

Case 8 p.62-63

Difference in food for banquet, table manners

Analysis

In China, it is often not polite to accept a first offer and Heping was being modest, polite and well-behaved and had every intention of accepting the beer at the second or third offer. But he did not know the North American rules which firmly say that you do not pull alcoholic beverages on anyone. A person may not drink for religious reasons, he may be a reformed alcoholic, or he may be allergic.

Whatever the reason, you do not insist on offering alcohol. So the Americans didn’t make a second offer of beer to Heping, who probably thought North Americans not hospitable. However, there are always individual differences between people from even the same culture. Probably the young Chinese nurse had known something about the American culture and was just trying to behave like an American when she was in an American family.

Case 7 p.62

What do you think of Keiko insisting on giving valuable gifts to her college friends?

How would you feel if Keiko presented you with a gift for your help?

Analysis

Keiko insists on giving valuable gifts to her college friends, because in countries like Japan, exchanging gifts is a strongly rooted social tradition. Should you receive a gift, and don’t have one to offer in return, you will probably create a crisis. If not as serious as a crisis, one who doesn’t offer a gift in return may be considered rude or impolite.

Therefore, in Japan, gifts are a symbolic way to show appreciation, respect, gratitude and further relationship.