3. What is culture?
Culture is the total accumulation of beliefs, customs,
values, behaviors, institutions and communication
patterns that are shared, learned and passed down
through the generations in an identifiable group of
people.
Generally speaking, culture is the way of life.
4. A metaphor of culture
We compare culture to iceberg.
It suggests that only small part of it is visible while
most of it lies concealed.
Habits, dress and manners are visible.
Worldview, value system, ways of thinking, national
character and any other deep concepts are
foundation of visible part.
5. “Where are you going?”
In china, we give a general answer to this question.
Chinese culture emphasizes on social relationship and
the heavy interdependence between Chinese People.
In western counties, it may be interpreted as an
intrusion into one’s privacy.
The underlying dependent and interdependent
culture is the invisible part of the iceberg which need
our attention.
6. What is intercultural Communication?
“Intercultural communication is contact between
persons who communication is contact between
persons who identify themselves as distinct from one
another in cultural terms” (Collier & Thomas, 1998)
Intercultural communication refers to any
communication between two members of any
cultural communities. (Samovar & Porter)
8. One case study
It was a hot day. Since it was still too early to use the
air – conditioner, according to the regulations of the
university, every class kept its door open to make the
classroom cooler. While a teacher was lecturing
Chinese grammar in Class 4, waves of laughter came
from the neighboring class 5. A German student
named Stephen raised his hand and said, “the
laughter from Class 5 is bothering us. I think we
should go to their class to protest~~~`
9. Think for a little while about these
questions
1How many different solutions did Class 4 propose?
What is the mode of communication favored by
Asians? What cultural values under it ?
What is the mode of communication favored by
Westerners? What cultural values underlie it?
10. Please discuss those questions on the discussion
board, It is one of the assignment for the first week!