Cross—culture on Business English context
2017-11-08金哲
金哲
Abstract:With the increasing use of English, this paper discusses the use of Communicative English in different cultural backgrounds.
Key word:Cross culture;Communicative English;Difference
中圖分类号:G648 文献标识码:B 文章编号:1672-1578(2017)10-0016-01
1.Introduction
In recent years, with the accelerated paces of reforming and opening, the foreign contacts are more and more extensive and diverse, especially the improved social informationization and the internet makes more people stay indoors and involve cross-cultural communication. In the cross-cultural communication, really have a great actual meaning to our Chinese. In this paper, the writer is trying to discuss general culture difference between Chinese and westerners.
2.Responses to compliments, apologies and thanks.
To compliment is to praise the addressee's virtues, ability, behavior, appearance, clothing, personality and belongs. Appropriate compliments can serve as effective supplementary means in inter-personal communication. Western and Chinese culture are at polar opposites about compliment. An western hostess, if she is complimented for her cooking skill, is likely to say," Oh, I am so glad that you liked it. I cook it especially for you." Not so is a Chinese hostess, who will instead apologize for giving you "Nothing". They would say " sui bian zuo ji ge cai - 随便做几个菜".If translate this into English" I just made some dishes casually and they are not very tasty. Perhaps the foreigner will think why you invite me to you family and have the untasty food. You aren't respect me. The English-speaking people are more active to praise others and to be praise than Chinese people. For example, the Americans are "straight forwardness", the Chinese take pride in "modes.
That modesty has left many a Chinese hungry at an Americans table, for Chinese politeness calls for three refusals before one accepts an offer and the Americans hosts take "no "to mean "no ", whether it is the first, second or third time. Still bigger differences exist in people's attitude towards compliments, i.e., in the response to compliments. Chinese are tend to efface themselves in words or refuse it, although they do feel comfortable about the compliments. So many westerners simply feel puzzled or even upset when their Chinese friends refused their compliments. The Chinese people are not intending to be modest with the sacrifice of friendship in so doing, but it is rather due to the traditional Chinese philosophy, that of modesty.endprint
3.Business English research in China
Up to now, no clear definition has been fixed on BE yet, despite the end purpose being specific by ESP researchers and BE institutors, is one in the same: employment. BE is largely concerned with the practical issues of teaching, rather than with analysis of the features of its language. This state of affairs has been brought about largely by the fact that most Business English teaching remains outside the university environment. This has shown whereas studies of EAP have been more common, the language schools or training institutions that teach Business English often don't have the time or resources to work on research. And they usually use their own experience as a competitive edge over rivals. BE teaching is a business, not an academic pursuit in China. Moreover, any research done and got are only in-door or on-net because gaining access to raw material or data, which is from companies themselves, is pinned by the desire for secrecy on their side. This has meant that it is more difficult to research further on Business English.
4.Conclusion
The writer has discussed the awareness of cultures influence the cross--cultural communication in business English business. With different context Chinese and western cultures, the speaker would consider this point to communicate each other, and respect the natural different between two sides of cultures, and build up the reasonable communication based on it.
Bibliography
[1] Robert N. Bellah and others, Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1985
[2] Samovar, L.A., et al. Communication between Cultures Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, 2004
[3] Wallace E. Adams and others, eds., The Western World To 1770, I New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1968endprint