Text B Language and Culture
Word differences are obvious in various languages. The relation between word and its meaning is arbitrary. For example, in Chinese, we live
Language and Culture
Verbal Communication
Stylemmunication
Language as a Reflection of the
Environment
Language as a Reflection of Values
大学英语 跨文化交际
Chapter 5 Verbal Intercultural
Communication
黑龙江大学外语部
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES
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Chapter Outline
Verbal Intercultural Communication
Significance of Verbal Communication
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Chapter 5 Verbal Intercultural Communication
3. Language as a Reflection of Values
Language reflects cultural values. Eg. Time does not play a role in Navajo life. As a result, the
The Meaning of Words
Direct / Indirect
Self-enhancement / Selfeffacement
Elaborate / Exacting / Succinct
Personal / Contextual
Instrumental / Affective
jorgon
Navajo do not have the differentiated vocabulary connected with time and clocks.
One of the problems in dealing with people from other cultures is that we translate concepts from a foreign language and culture with words that fit our expectations. Eg. For Americans “tomorrow” means midnight to midnight,
linguistic determinist interpretation---Language structure controls thoughts and cultural norms.
linguistic relativity interpretation---Culture is controlled by and controls language.
in a 房子. In English, we live in a house. In Spanish,
we live in a casa. In Thai, we live in a ban.
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Chapter 5 Verbal Intercultural Communication
1. Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
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Chapter 5 Verbal Intercultural Communication
Text A Significance of Verbal Communication
Verbal intercultural communication
Verbal intercultural communication happens when people from different cultural backgrounds communicate with each other by using language.
Dialect and Sociolect
Pidgin and Lingua Franca
Taboo and Euphemism
Direct Plan Indirect Plan
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Chapter 5 Verbal Intercultural Communication
Lead-in case: Success Story
Eg. In Arabic, the camel plays significant roles in people’s life, so there are more than 40 words for “camel”. Nothing is more important than rice to the Chinese, so we have expressions like “人是铁，饭是钢” and “铁饭碗”.
Eg. In the Amazon area snow is not a part of the environment; therefore, people in that region do not have a word for snow. Most Americans use terms such as snow, powder snow, sleet, slush, blizzard, and ice.
We use words to
➢ communicate with the outside world. ➢ share the past. ➢ exercise some control over the present. ➢ form images of the future.
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Chapter 5 Verbal Intercultural Communication
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2. Language as a Reflection of the Chapter 5 Verbal Intercultural Communication Environment
The environment influences the appropriate vocabulary.
Language reflects the environment in which we live.