Comparison between the Chinese time view and the western view

Comparison between the Chinese time view and the western

view

（蔡桢桢，0956110213 ，Foreign Languages Department）

Abstract:Differences in the traditional cultures of Eastern countries and Western countries result in people’s different time view. With the development of social economy and cultural communication,the time Views of Chinese culture and western culture have impacts on each other and are gradually integrated with each Other. But when different time views met in crosscultural communication,conflicts and obstacles of interpersonal communication may arise. This article analyses the differences of Chinese time view and Western time view from three aspects in hopes that it will be helpful for cross-cultural communication.

Key words:concept of time；cultural difference；cross-cultural communication

1.Introduction

Time is a cognitive concept shared by the human society,but because the social practice of

people from different cultures and their historical and geographical environments are different,and also their values,world views and life views are different,people may differ in meanings they give to time and the way they make use of time. Then different people have dissimilar understanding between “on time” and “not punctual”.And their approaches of arranging time,notifying activities beforehand are different. If people insist on their own concept of time,misunderstanding and disregarding different time view from other cultures,there should be some conflicts. Therefore,when people from different cultures carry out communication,time as an invisible guide has great effect on people?s words and deeds, which prevents communication from realizing its intended purpose. We should be aware of different country people?s attitude of time and the way of using time.The Culture-centrism should be conquered. Different time orientation under every kind of culture should be respected and approved. When people have conflict on time view each other,we can?t simply judge them by correctness or wrongness. This paper tries to discuss the difference of time attitudes and time behaviors of Chinese cultures and western cultures,and analyze their impact on cross-cultural communication.

2.Difference

2.1 Cyclical time vs. Linear time

The oriental society formed the cyclical time outlook that is “time is like a circle” ，and all the things in the world returns to its original state after a cycle of time.For example，the alteration of day and night，the come and go of the four seasons，the timing of the twelve months，the increase of the age and the growing of plants．In China, when a teacher has not finished an important point in his class，he can prolong his class．At the Chinese wedding feast，few people will conform to the time on the invitation paper．If a friend who you have never met says he will

visit you this weekend，you have to stay at home for the whole day to wait for him．

The western culture usually considers time is moving on and passing．It is very precious．Once it has passed，we can not get it back．They also think that time has its beginning and end and can be measured by the clock and calendar.In the west,people split the entire time into smaller part,and arrange doing various activities in every period of time to improve efficiency.As we known,Americans pay attention to time and efficiency.They have plan and the concept of time.They consider the issue of present and future,not the past.So Western have fast-paced life which is full of stress.

The vagueness of Chinese and the exactness of western often leads to misunderstandings in cross-cultural communication.There is a case following:

Kevin has taught in a Chinese university for about 3 months. He has had a hard time developing new friendships and starting a new life in China .While he keeps busy during the week with his job,weekends are difficult times for him. He would make plans for all the weekends so that he would not feel lonely.

On one Thursday,Kevin was told that the Foreign Affairs Office would organize an excurision for international faculty on the coming Saturday to visit a nearby garden and teahouse. However,Kevin said\few friends.

\didn't you tell us that you wanted to be able to find interesting things to do on weekends?\

\\

\

As a result,Kevin could not make the trip that he would have liked to. From Chinese perspective :

Getting organized is not always an easy thing to do in China. Whenever one tries to plan something well in advance,something unexpected often comes up and plans have to be changed. On one hand,they usually wait until the time comes very near to the day when the plan is supposed to carry out,so that there will not be any changes once the announcement is made. On the other hand, when someone has agreed to attend an event,it does not mean that this person is necessarily going to do it.

From American perspective:

Foreign Affairs Office should have given the international faculty more time to plan for the excursion. Unless there was something unusual that suddenly became possible,there seems to be no reason why the Foreign Affairs Office could not have announced the excursion to the potential guests of a couple of weeks in advance. Providing advance notice helps international visitors better schedule their time,and is considered to be a simple matter of courtesy.

2.2 Polychromic time vs. Monochromic time Different cultures have different concept of time.

The Chinese time view belongs to polychromic time.They use time casually and flexibly.To a certain extent,chinese are the masters of time,they can dominate time optionally.And Chinese are less sure the time when they have an appointment. Their time always can be delayed.

The westerners follow the monochromic time.They compare time to river,because the river only flows from one side to the other side,and not turn back.It prosecutes to the end forever.Thus it

develops the Western stronger concept of time and habits of treasuring time.Westerners regard “time is money,effciency is life.”as the working standard.They go out of their way to gain greatest profits in shortest time.If they do some work without profits,they will stop it,because it wastes time.

2.3 Waiting vs. On time

The attitude of the time and how to control it, there are great differences between chinese and western.

In Western society, waiting is waste of time. They do not have patience to wait. In the Western view, the long waiting is a kind of personal insult. Thus, in the United States, waiting is a expression of rejection. but Chinese people face this problem friendly. Because waiting is the traditional virtue and a manifestation of closed relationship. For example, a busy businessman or a important leader is late for a long time,it is understandable. We have the patience to wait, and it is the opposite of the West.

Westerners learned to treat time seriously, on time is mandatory. Such as participating in family party, Chinese people usually arrive earlier or on time. Because Chinese people are used to helping the host preparing dinner in advance. Conversely, if Americans were invited to the party, in order not to disturb the host?s well-arranged, they will not arrive in advance.Western concept of time is clearly different from chinese. So Americans can not understand the Chinese idiom \there or be square\

3. Conclusion

Concept of time is a deep-stage cultural, hidden deeply in thought ─ ─ invisible, intangible. but it always affect people's thinking and actions, and build people?s communication, life style,mode of thinking,and national character. Thus, in some cross-cultural life, if people only consist of their concept of time,some misunderstood may occur,communication is likely to fail.in order to try to advoid the cross-cultural communication barriers,we must do these things following:

First, understand the different concept of time of different cultures, to enhance cross-cultural awareness. Second, learn thinking from different angles, keep an open mind, to avoid the Culture-centrism.Respect other cultures.Once hit by the conflict, to use negotiation to solve the problems, If it?s necessary, be appropriate to make some concessions. Third, cross-cultural communication must adhere to the principle of \different culture gave birth to different concept of time and time behavior.

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