案例分析
I.Linda Walker is a new American teacher in her fifties and has asked her new colleagues to call her Linda.She’s been invited for dinner to the home of her young Chinese colleague Xu, who is also an English teacher.When Linda arrives, she is introduced to Xu\'s 5-year old daughter.\"Hello, granny,\" said the little girl in English.\"No, not granny,\" the mother hurriedly corrected.\"This is Linda.\" ? “But why? She’s so much older than you! How can you be so impolite! “The little girl was puzzled and protested in Chinese.Then Linda\'s face flushed and didn\'t know what to say.Fortunately, Linda didn\'t understand Chinese, though she could sense something was wrong from the little girl\' s reaction.What was the reason for the awkwardne in this situation?Why did the little girl think it was impolite to call Linda by her first name?
II.Sun Yan was very happy to hear that she had been accepted by TDP Company, a well-known American company in Beijing, in which she had been looking forward to finding a position.When she came to the office on her first day and was introduced to her bo, Mr Blake, she could tell at once he was a kind of person and easy to get along with.Everything went smoothly.My Blake and Sun Yan worked together well.Mr Blake had confidence in Sun Yan and regarded her as sweet, smart and efficient.He would often discu things together with Sun Yan before making decisions.One day when she ws ordering her files in the room outside Mr Blake’s office, Sun Yan heard Mr Blake opening his door and calling her.She looked up and saw Mr Blake extending his left hand, palm up, beckoning her with the forefinger.She put her work down at once and went into Mr Blake’s office.Mr Blake then asked to hear her opinion about a new project.Later that day, Sun Yan felt a little depreed.She recalled every detail of the day and to try to recall anything which may have upset her and finally found the answer.And when she recalled that scene again, she couldn’t help viewing Mr Blake in a rather le favorable light than before.
What did Mr Blake do that made Sun Yan suddenly change her opinion about him? Why?
III.Litz, a Finnish, once told a story about her mother-in-law.Ten years ago, I met a Taiwan Chinese doctor in the States, and fell in love with him.In le than 6 months we got married.After my graduation we returned to Finland.My husband had long wished to bring his mother to stay with use for a while.Last summer, after we re-decorated out house, we invited her over.You can well imagine how happy my husband was! And I was just as happy.I know being filial(孝顺的) to parents is a great value Chinese people cherish.As wife of a Chinese, I try to be as filial as my husband.
Two days after my mother-in-law’s arrival, I talked to my husband while his mother was sitting in the garden enjoying the sunshine.Litz: Dick, how long is your mum going to stay? Dick: I don’t know.I haven’t asked her.Litz: Why not ask her? Dick: What do you mean by asking her? Litz: I mean what I said.Just ask her how long she’s going to stay.
My mother-in-law overheard out conversation, and decided to leave for Taiwan the very afternoon.I had never expected that her visit should be so short.I tried very hard to persuade her mind, but in vain.Now can you diagnose Litz’s problem by using the three types of meaning? The utterance meaning is obvious.What about the speaker’s and hearer’s meaning?
IV.Litz is a profeor of cro—cultural communication in a university in Finland.She invited her Chinese students home for an evening party.The schema from Litz’s point of view includes the following: 1.Giving invitation: by phone / by mail 2.Prepare everything before the arrival of guests 3.Receiving guests: open the door / expre welcome / take their overcoats / introduce guests / offer them drinks / make them comfortable 4.Serving food: set the table / soup first / main course / desert 5.Post dinner activities: chat / play music / offer more drinks 6.Seeing guests off: thank them for coming / good night Litz’s evening party was not very succeful, because she was upset by one of her guests.Here was the initial conversation between Litz and Lin: Litz: (opens the door) Oh, Lin, how nice you could come! Lin: It’s not difficult to find your house.Litz: Come on in.Lin: (comes in) Litz: Can I take your coat? Lin: No, thanks.Litz: Ok, this way please.Lin: (take off her coat and hangs it) Litz was hurt.Can you tell us why she was hurt ?
V.Profeor Liang has written a book on Chinese culture in Chinese.His book is put on display in Beijing International Book Fair’ 96.Profeor Liang would like to have his book translated into English and submitted to Thompson Publishers.Profeor Liang has asked Li Yan, whom he meets regularly in the English Corner, to help him to talk to Peter Allright, a Thompson representative.Prof.Liang: 奥莱特先生，这是鄙人的拙作。 Li Tan: Mr.Allright, this a clumsy book written by your humble servant.Mr Allright: No, no, no, you\'re not my humble servant.We do not publish books in Chinese.Li Yan (to Profeor Liang): 不，不，不，你不是我的仆人，我们不出中文书。 Profeor Liang: 我要请李艳翻译成英文。
Li Yan (to Mr.Allright): Profeor Liang will ask me to translate it into English.Mr.Allright: Mm that’s interesting.
Is there any problem in this bilingual communication?
VI.Lisa is from America and she is visiting a Chinese family.Next is a conversation between Lisa and Wang---- the host of the family.Wang: Hi! Lisa, welcome! Come in, come in.Lisa: Thank you for your invitation.It’s a lovely room and very warm in here.
Wang: My room is very small and untidy.Please sit down and have a cup of tea.You must be tired after the long walk here.Lisa: what a strange thing to say----- your room is perfectly clean and tidy! And as for the walk, I’m very strong, you know.I usually walk for at least half an hour every day.Don’t you think walking is a good way to keep fit? Wang: Yes, I do.Dinner is ready.Please sit here facing the door.According to the Chinese custom, this is the seat for the most distinguished guest.Lisa: Thank you.I feel most honored.Wow! So many dishes---- eight! They look very tasty.Wang: I prepared the dishes myself.I’m sorry that I’m not a very good cook.Here are only a few cold dishes.Please try this fish, though I’m not very good at cooking fish, I’m afraid.Lisa: This is delicious.Narrator: Later on in the meal, just before they finish the cold dishes, eight hot dishes are placed on thee table.Lisa: Another eight! Wang: You know, the figure ‘eight’ is a lucky number in China.So there are two sets of eight dishes for the most distinguished guests.Lisa: if I had known earlier I would have left some room for the second eight.But I’m completely full.I’m terribly sorry, but I’m afraid I couldn’t eat another mouthful.
What remarks made by Wang shortly after Lisa’s arrival seemed to surprise her? How did she react? Litz was hurt.Can you tell us why she was hurt ?
VII.An American couple came to Beijing to work as foreign teachers for the first time in their lives.The husband worked at Beijing Foreign Studies University; the wife worked at Beijing Normal University.They had a three-year-old son.Since both of them worked, they hired a Chinese housemaid, who was in her late 40s.one of her jobs was to send their son to a kindergarten in the morning and pick him up home in the afternoon.She found this the most difficult among all her tasks.Every day when it was time to send the boy, there was bound to be a fight, for she insisted on holding the boy in her arms or at least holding his hand; but the boy never liked it.He cried or fought for independence.He preferred to walk by himself.After a few days, she couldn’t bear it any more because she was nervous and worried that she could not afford the responsibility of the boy.She quit the job.Try to explain why it happened.
VIII.Tony was invited by a Chinese colleague to visit his home.After he came back, he told Bill that he had a good time there but he also felt a bit hurt.Bill: Hi, Tony.How’re you doing? Tony: Fine.Just got back from visiting the home of one of my Chinese colleagues.Bill: Oh, have a good time? Tony: Oh yes, very good.Mind you, I was bit hurt about the way they treated my present.You see, I know they like western music so I brought them back some of the latest tapes from the UK.Had them all wrapped up beautifully and gave them to them as soon as I got inside the door and what do you think happened? Bill: What? Tony: Nothing.Well, more or le, they said thank you but then just put them away in a corner.Didn’t even bother to unwrap them.I must say I felt a bit miffed after all the trouble I’d taken.Why Bill felt a bit hurt?
