跨文化案例分析(共5个).

Case One About Table Manners 案例:

Sarah and Daniel are a young American couple who are teaching English at Zhejiang University. They are leaning Chinese and enjoy their new lives. They have been eager to get to know Chinese people better so were pleased when Chen' Li, their new Chinese colleague invited them to her home for dinner at one weekend: When Sarah:and Dahiel arrived, Chen Li introduced them to her husband Wang Bing, asked them to sit down at a table containing 8 plates of various cold dishes served them tea and then disappeared with her husband into the kitchen. Sarah offered to help in the kitchen but Chen Li said she didn't need any help.

A half-hour later she came back and sat down and the three began to eat. Wang Bing came in from time to time to put several hot dishes on the table. Most of the food was wonderful and there was much more than Sarah and Daniel could eat. They wanted Wang Bing to sit down so that they could talk to him. Finally he did sit down and ate a bit, but quickly he turned on the TV to show them high tech features. Soon it was time for Sarah and Daniel to go home.

Sarah and Daniel felt slightly depressed by this experience, but returned the invitation one month later. They decided to make a nice American meal and felt lucky to find olives, tomato juice, butter and even some cheese in the hotel shop. They put these out as appetizers. For the main course they prepared spaghetti and a salad with dressing made from oil, vinegar, and some spices they found in the market.

When Chen Li and Wang Bing arrived they were impressed by the apartment and the decorations, and asked about the price of the furniture, paintings, the carpet and other things. Sarah politely refused to answer their questions. They took small tastes of the appetizers and ate only a little spaghetti and didn't finish the salad on their plates. Sarah urged them to eat more but they refused. Sarah and Daniel talked about their families and

asked the Chinese couple about theirs. After a while, Daniel cleared the table and served coffee and pastries. The Chinese couple didn't drink nor eat too much.

After they left, Sarah and Daniel felt puzzled, because their Chinese guests didn't eat too much, while they themselves left Chen Li's home so full.

Question:

How does Chinese understanding of the host-guest relationship influence Chen Li and WangBing's way of entertaining Sarah and Daniel? How does Sarah and Daniel's understanding of the host-guest relationship influence their way of treating Chen Li and Wang Bing? What advicecould you give to both couples to help them further their friendship?

分析:

1 In China, it is traditional that hosts entertain guests by offering many courses of dishes to show their hospitality, and the number of courses served usually has the connotation of good luck, e. g. the number \发, which means getting rich. It is quite common, especially in cities, that the husband helps a lot in cooking and servlng food. Hosts treat guests, especially distinguished guests, very politely, and guests' offer of help in the kitchen is normally Politely refused. Besides, TV programs

often play an important role in providing entertainment at formal family dinner parties. These Chinese conventions help explain the way Chen Li and Wang Bing entertained Sarah and Daniel.

2 In the West, hosts' hospitality is not shown by the quality and quantity Of the food, but by offering their own specialty. They hope their guests would like the food and enjoy their efforts. The hospitality is also shown by the hosts' accompanying the guests and having a conversation with them. So both the host and hostess would' accompany the guests to have dinner and have a warm talk together. Guests would not ask any private

questions, such as the price of the furniture, etc. These Western 'conventions help explain the way Sarah and Daniel treated Chen Li and Wang Bing. Chen Li and Wang Bing followed the Chinese conversation habit, that's why they asked about the prices, and often Chinese guests want to show their cultivation and manners by eating limited amount of food, and this may explain why Chen Li and Wang Bing ate only a little food.

3 It is advisable for both couples to learn the other culture through experience, chatting, observing and reading. On suitable occasions, e.g. at parties, friendly and interesting conversations about their respective cuitures, such as ways of entertaining guests, normal conversation' 'topics and taboos etc, can be an effective way of understanding each other~ ' Through such interactions; their friendship will surely be enhanced.

Case Two:paying individually 案例:

Li Gang is a new Chinese student in an American university. He is very glad that one of his classmates, Peter, invites him to see a film one day. Li Gang goes to the cinema on time. When he gets there, Peter is waiting for him. Peter says, “I have bought mine. You go quickly to buy your ticket.” Li Gang gets surprised.

Question: Why does Li Gang get surprised? 分析:

1 In China, if some body invites you to see a film, he will buy the ticket for you. 2 In America, invitation is very common. And people are used to paying individually.

3 Li Gang hasn’t got used to this yet. He thought that Peter would buy the ticket for him.

Case Three:Pay in Cash 案例:

Mrs. Chen has just moved to America. Her husband is a guest professor there. She finds that a car is very necessary in America,so she decides to buy one. After she has chosen a suitable car, she takes out the cash to pay. The salesman is very glad and surprised,”Great. You pay in cash.” Mrs.Chen gets confused.

Question: Why does Mrs. Chen get confused? 分析:

1 In China, people are used to paying in cash, especially in daily life. 2 Chinese people consume within their consumptive capability.

3 The Americans are used to paying in cheque or credit card. And they like consuming in advance. But the merchants prefer to have cash.

Case Four: Meal and Present from an American Friend 案例:

I have an American friend. I have invited him several times, and at long last he invited me to his home one day. He told me to get there at 3 p m. I thought we could chat and have a meal together. I gave him a Chinese calendar, a woman’s scarf and a bottle of Chinese white wine. He only took out a dish of nuts, a plate of bread and a bottle of wine. After two hours’ chat, I found there was no hint of a meal and said good-bye to him. He only gave me a box of chocolate as a present for the New Year. After I got home, I found the box already been opened. I was very surprised, Question: What surprised me?

分析:

1 In China,a visit to home always includes a meal. And the guest always brings a relatively rich present to the host. And the present should be well wrapped or untouched.

2 In the west,a visit to home only means a meeting, not necessarily including a meal. And the present is treated not as importantly as it is in China.

3 I acted in a way that was based on Chinese customs, so I felt the American way was very interesting (unusual.

Case Five: Having meals in Amrican – Chinese and American Hospitality 案例:

Lin had traveled 20 hours from Beijing to New York. He needed a good meal. His American friend, Mike, met him. But Mike only offered him a plate of roasted chicken and a glass of orange juice. Lin was used to having a main course, and asked Mike if he had any rice. Mike said he only had fried noodles, and Lin had to make do with it. Though Lin knew Americans didn’t care very much about what food they ate, he still felt surprised because he had taken Mike to the most famous duck restaurant in Beijing -- Quanjude -- when he arrived in Beijing.

Question: Why did Lin feel surprised? Offer some advice to him about adjusting to his new environment in America.

分析:

1 0n the topic of hospitality, the Chinese stress on warmth and demonstrating friendship. They take the guest to a famous or luxurious restaurant to have a very good (expensive meal to show their hospitality. And the Chinese are used to having a big meal. The more dishes they put out,the greater the warmth and friendship they show.