“Yes, can I help you in any way?” Kathy tried to be polite, but she could not help feeling uncomfortable. 3
Case 2
During a lunch buffet at a conference in China, Fa Wu, the interpreter of the conference, sat with four foreign participants. They were having a good time talking. When Fa Wu stood up for more food, she asked whether she could bring anything back for them.
Again, the four others said, “No”.
“Oh, please take something. I can’t eat this much food myself.”
The foreigners hrugged and one or two of them even frowned a little.
Everyone thanked her and said “no”. A while later, Fa Wu came back with a plate full of food, and asked whether the others would like to have something from her plate.
Before long, people started calling them at home. David was sometimes away on business trips for a few days, and if someone looked for him, Kathy often would find the conversation awkward.
Understanding; Adaptation; Adjustment) Intercultural Sensitivity, etc.
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The main forms of Intercultural Communication
Interracial Communication
when the source and the receiver exchanging messages are from different races
Words are what hold society together. Stuart Chase
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Case 1
Kathy and David, a couple from the US, signed a oneyear contract to work in China. Both were extroverted and soon made some Chinese friends.
“Where did he go?” The caller typically would ask.
“Can I pass on any message?” Kathy asked politely, trying to avoid the question.
“Is he out of town?” The caller was usually very persistent.
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Three special questions:
1） What is intercultural communication ?
2）Why should we study this course? 3) How should we study this course?
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1） What is intercultural communication ?
Definition
Communication between people whose cultural perceptions and symbol systems are distinct enough to alter the communication event.（指文化知觉和符号系统的不同足以改变交际
Welcome to
Lecture 1 An Introduction of the Course
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Our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this planet. John F.Kennedy
Human beings draw close to one another by their common nature, but habits and customs keep them apart. Confucian
Interethnic Communication
Ethnic groups usu form their own communities in a country or culture.
Interregional Communication
事物中人们之间的交际）
Communication among people with different cultural backgrounds.（具有不同文化背景的人
从事交际的过程，胡文仲1999）
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The scope of Intercultural Communication
Culture and Communication; Cultural Differences; Language and Culture; Verbal/ Nonverbal Communication; Time and Space; Intercultural Competence (Perception;