Using words The Westerner in China: n wants everything to be translated: –the college president welcomes them to the college –a local official welcomes them to the city –other organisations they visit welcome them n discovers that all these speeches sound very similar … and do not contain much specific information

Explanation High-context culture: n the meaning is in the situation n the situation determines the words n may use many fixed phrases –“ Welcome you to come again. ” … people often just say what they should say in that situation

Explanation Low-context culture: n less fixed phrases n speeches should contain some new information

Formal language and behaviour Hi!G ’ day! (Australian) Americans: n often call people by their first name n may be embarrassed by polite rituals Some cultures are more formal: n German: Sie/du Thai: 12 words for “ you ” !

Sincerity n Is American informality rude? Lazy? n Americans value informality –personal, spontaneous conversation is more sincere –like two friends chatting n Chinese culture: –carefully follow etiquette to show your sincerity

Question You meet somebody at work, and invite her and her husband to your house for dinner. In Chinese culture … n How should the host behave? n How should the guest behave?

Case study: “Dinner with Friends” n Janice & George (American) n Liu Lingling & Yang Feng (Chinese)

Liu Lingling and Yang Feng were busy in the kitchen Liu invited Janice and George to look at their new CD player and colour TV half an hour later, she sat down and the three of them started eating dinner Yang Feng kept bringing out dish after dish there was more food than George and Janice could eat they wished that Yang Feng would sit down so that they could talk to him afterwards, they were unhappy that they had no chance to talk Janice and George prepared spaghetti and salad (they were lucky to find the ingredients in hotel shops) Liu Lingling and Yang Feng asked the price of the TV, video player, vacuum cleaner, etc they took small tastes of the appetizers they seemed surprised when Janice and George sat down they only ate a little spaghetti and salad Janice and George talked about their families and jobs “ They ’ re going to have to eat again when they get home! ”

American host-guest roles A good host: n provides enough food, but not too much (that would be wasteful) n makes sure everybody is involved in conversation A good guest: n is not greedy n eats everything on their plate, if possible n compliments the food (but not more than once or twice)