1. Chapter 4 Intercultural Communication Barriers 第四章 跨文化交际障碍

2. Intercultural Communication Barriers
Chapter 4
Intercultural Communication Barriers
What sets us against one another is not our aims—they all come to the same thing—but our methods.
—Antoine de Saint-Exupery

3. Text A: Emotional Problems as Barriers to Intercultural Communication
1. Anxiety and Uncertainty
2. Assuming similarity instead of difference

4.  Anxiety / Uncertainty
Anxiety refers to the feeling of not knowing what one is expected to do, and focusing on that feeling and not being totally present in the communication transaction. Uncertainty refers to our cognitive inability to explain our own or others’ feelings and behaviors in interactions because of an ambiguous situation that evokes anxiety. Strategies to overcome anxiety and uncertainty: uncertainty reduction theory

5.  Assuming similarity instead of difference
Assuming that a culture is similar to your own can cause you to ignore important differences and react in a negative way, thus causing conflict.

7. Chapter Outline Intercultural Communication Barriers
Assuming Similarity Instead of Difference
Ethnocentrism
Vocabulary Equivalence
Stereotyping
Intercultural Communication Barriers
Translation Problems
Anxiety and Uncertainty
Emotional Problems
Prejudice
Racism
Reasons for the Persistence of Ethnocentrism, Stereotyping, Prejudice and Racism
Idiomatic Equivalence
Grammatical-Syntactical Equivalence
Experiential Equivalence
Conceptual Equivalence
Attitudinal Problems

8. Attitudinal Problems as Barriers to Intercultural Communication
Text B
Attitudinal Problems as Barriers
to Intercultural Communication
1. Ethnocentrism
2. Stereotyping
3. Prejudice
4. Racism 8

9. Ethnocentrism
Ethnocentrism refers to negatively judging aspects of another culture by the standards of one’s own culture.

10. Stereotyping
Stereotyping refers to the negative or positive judgments made about individuals based on any observable or believed group membership

11. Americans 美国人 All Americans own a gun and would use it
Americans 美国人 All Americans own a gun and would use it. Society is plagued with violence and crime. Americans are all fat; they love McDonald's and KFC. Americans are not modest. They are conceited and smug about their wealth and power. They appreciate assertiveness and ambition.

12. British 英国人 polite, formal, conservative, reserved, proper, love tea always go to the pub after work talk about the weather drink lots of beer when they watch football.

13.  French romantic and drink wine constantly fond of good food artistic tasty in fashion  Germans serious diligent drink beer

14. Prejudice
Prejudice refers to the irrational dislike, suspicion, or hatred of a particular group, race, religion, or sexual orientation.

15. Racism Activity: Reflection
Have you ever avoided physical contact with people from other races? If yes, why do you do so? 15

16. Racism
Racism is any policy, practice, belief, or attitude that attributes characteristics or status to individuals based on their race.

17. Reasons for the persistence of ethnocentrism, stereotyping, prejudice and racism
Ethnocentrism, stereotypes, racism, prejudice continue to exist because of socialization and the apparent social, economic, and psychological benefits that come from it.

18. Chapter Outline Intercultural Communication Barriers
Assuming Similarity Instead of Difference
Ethnocentrism
Vocabulary Equivalence
Stereotyping
Intercultural Communication Barriers
Translation Problems
Anxiety and Uncertainty
Emotional Problems
Prejudice
Racism
Reasons for the Persistence of Ethnocentrism, Stereotyping, Prejudice and Racism
Idiomatic Equivalence
Grammatical-Syntactical Equivalence
Experiential Equivalence
Conceptual Equivalence
Attitudinal Problems

19. Text C Translation Problems as Language Barriers

20. ▲ Pre-reading Task:
Please translate the following items into Chinese or English and then compare your translations to the exact meanings conferred by the original expressions in either Chinese or English. Then discuss what problems you have in translating them.
motel
lucky dog
landlord
as wise as an owl
狗仗人势
集体主义
四小龙
嫦娥奔月 20

21. Electrolux
Nothing sucks like an Electrolux

22. Translation Problems Include:
Lack Of
Idiomatic Equivalence
Grammatical-Syntactical Equivalence
Experiential Equivalence
Conceptual Equivalence
Vocabulary Equivalence 22

23. Lack of Vocabulary Equivalence
yellow-bellied / yellow streak vs
yellow movies 23

24. Lack of idiomatic equivalence
The old man kicked the bucket.
Break a leg!
The money is just a drop in the ocean.
Hold your horses.
It’s raining cats and dogs.
Read between the lines.

25. Lack of grammatical-syntactical equivalence
plan a table / table a plan
book a place / place a book
lift a thumb / thumb a lift

26. Lack of experiential equivalence
motel parliament Thanksgiving 炕 太极

27. Lack of conceptual equivalence
freedom 自由 corruption pup’ae

28. Thank you!