跨文化交際unit2课件.docVIP

Unit 2.Comparison of Chinese and Western cultural values Section 1. Definition of values What are values？ Values are broad, abstract concepts which provide the foundation that underlies a people’s entire way of life. Values are a learned organization of rules for making choices and for resolving conflicts. These rules and guideposts are normative and teach us what is useful, good, right, wrong, what to strive for, how to live our life, and even what to die for. Types of values 1. Universal values 2. culture-specific values 3. individual values Exercise: point out the values reflected in the following proverbs 1. Blood is thicker than water. (origin: Scotland) (the bonds of family and common ancestry are stronger than those bonds between unrelated people ,such as friendship) family, loyalty 2. Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. (origin: England) (if a particular type of behavior is acceptable for one person, it should also be acceptable for another person ) fairness 3. Too many cooks spoil the broth. (origin: England) (The combined efforts of the group end up with something that is not so pleasant to eat) the individual4. The early bird catches the worm. (origin: England) (Success comes to those who prepare well and put in effort.) action 5. God helps those who help themselves. (origin: Greece) (We can rely on nobody but ourselves) self-help Caution Two noteworthy features of values 1. Contradictory values are found in a particular cultue. E.g.All people are created equal. E.g Sweep the snow in front of his door, and not bother about the frost on his neighbor’s roof. A gulf between the values that are articulated (idealism) and the values that are acted out (reality) 2. Values of a culture change with time. Values Five orientations proposed by American anthropologist, Florence Kluckhohn Human Nature Chinese value on human nature Man, by nature, is good; people’s inborn characters are similar, but learning makes them differe