Contents

Verbal Communication:
Culturally loaded words
Cultural reflections on proverbs and taboos

Nonverbal Communication:
Time language Space language Body language Paralanguage
Warm-up cases (verbal communication)
Case 1
It is said that in Rome, in front of a shoe store, there was such a sign to attract English-speaking customers: Shoes for street walking. Come in and have a fit. The sign caught the attention of many English-speaking tourists, but not to look at the shoes displayed in the windows, but to read the sign and then break out into laughter. The Italian shop owner did not realize that "a street walker" means a prostitute, while "to have a fit" does not mean to have a try, but to become suddenly and violently angry or upset. No wonder the amusement and laughter!
While in English, “social sciences” cover a smaller area of learning. It includes political science, economics, history (often classified under the humanities) and sociology.
4.社会科学
Social Sciences in Chinese covers all the fields except the ones in the natural science and applied sciences. Same as “the humanities” in English.
During the party, Rosalita said to Roger, "I'd like to introduce you to one of my good friends. She is a very capable woman and is presently thinking of working in a joint venture so she can provide a better living for her large family. She is very much interested in your company." Hearing that, Roger smiled and replied, "Ok, but I just hope I don't get hustled." Unfortunately, Roger's replay made Rosalita quite upset. Very soon she excused herself as politely as she could, and did not speak with Roger for the rest of the evening. Question for discussion: Roger was confused by Rosalita's behavior. Could you give him an explanation ?
Can you find the equivalent words in English for these Chinese words?
龙----- dragon
干部---- cadre 社会科学---- social science or the humanities
Interpretationoblem resulted from the misunderstanding of the word "hustle". In colloquial American English, there are at least two meanings for the word "hustle". As a Personnel Executive of a large American multinational firm, Roger must have attended many parties. At these parties, he will always encounter people eager to get a job from him in his company, so he often gets hustled. This is just what Roger was implying to Rosalita regarding her friend. However the word "hustle" has another meaning in which romance or sex is hinted. Rosalita must have thought Roger was referring to this and considered it as an insult to her friend.
2.干部
In Chinese culture, it represents a small group of people who are specially chosen and trained for a particular purpose.
In English culture, many people don’t know what it means. It is not a common word. There are Some other substitutes like official, functionary, administrator, etc.
Questions for discussion

What makes the different understandings of the words that are considered the same in surface? How can we define the word "meaning" ? According to Semantics, the meaning of one content word is composed of "connotation meaning" and "denotation meaning" Connotation meaning is literal meaning while denotation meaning is associated with some social factors, such as "culture".
Question:
Why did the Italian shop owner make such a mistake ?
Case 2
Roger was the Personnel Executive (人事执行员) of a large American multinational firm. In 1996, Roger was working in Brazil to help promote their business. One evening, there was a party, attended by both his employees from the United States and many Brazilian business people. At the party, Roger bumped into Rosalita, a Brazilian woman he had known for some time. Roger generally had a very good impression of Rosalita and always felt at ease with her, so that he felt free to tell jokes and share personal thoughts, and talk about Brazil and Brazilian life without having the worries of offending Rosalita.

Proverbs
The proverbs that we can find the equal version both in Chinese and English

Man proposes, God disposes 尽人事，听天命。/ 谋事在人，成事在天

It is a sin to steal a pin



Compliments ( W h a t a r e t h e d i f f e r e n t w a y s of com pl im e nt s bet ween t he Ch in ese and t he westerners ?) Partings