Unit Four: Social Interaction

1
Unit Four Social Interaction
2
Objectives

• By the end of this unit, you should be able to
• ? have a better understanding of the conventions
  and expectations of English in areas such as
  inviting family members
• ? settling on a time , paying for a meal ,
  dealing with gifts , offering and accepting
  drinks and food, complimenting and responding
  disagreeing
• ? be more aware of your own behavior patterns and
  how they are shaped by Chinese culture
• ? know how to avoid or lessen misunderstanding in
  cross-cultural communication and be able to
  convey your ideas more successfully

3
Contents
4
1.What is social interaction?

• ? ????,????,??????????????,???????????????

5
1.What is social interaction?

• ? Culture differences can cause misunderstanding,
  unsatisfactory interaction and even unpleasant
  physical reactions.
• ? Different expectations exist, governing what is
  considered appropriate, polite and respectful.
• ? Expectations can also differ regarding privacy,
  and the directness and indirectness with which
  people should express themselves.

6
2. Inviting

• ?What is an invitation?
• An invitation is a spoken or written request
  for someones presence or participation.
  (?????????????????).

7
2. Inviting
8
2. Inviting

• ?How do English speakers negotiate a time to
  meet?
• Their way to settling on a time is quite
  similar to our own, that is, normally one gives
  or suggests a time, then the other may find it
  not suitable and suggest another time and finally
  a time is fixed which suits both.
• ?What if a person who is invited doesnt want to
  accept the invitation?
• An English native speakers explanation for
  not being able to go is usually short and not
  detailed, simply by saying Im sorry, I cant
  get away or Im tied up the whole week or Ive
  got something fixed up for then.
• A Chinese speakers explanation tends to be
  more detailed and longer to assure the person who
  invites that hes really got something important
  to do and he usually makes clear what he is going
  to do. The purpose of doing so is , as we say to
  give the other person face, to reassure the
  other person of our esteem for them.

9
3?Footing the Bill

• ?foot the bill pay the bill
• ?go Ducth share the cost of the meal equally
  between friends.
• ?pool their money put together the right amount
  of money to pay the bill
• ?pick up the tab grab the bill to pay
• ?buy his round ask everyone what they would like
  and then go to the bar to get the drink.

10
3?Footing the Bill
11
4?Gifts
12
4?Gifts

• Flowers occupy a uniquely acceptable place in the
  spectrum of gifts. The transitory nature of cut
  flowers makes them an ideal present They cannot
  be mistaken for a bribe, and can be given on a
  regular basis. However, flowers also have
  specific cultural associations which differ in
  each country.
• There are two typical situations in which flowers
  can be useful to businesspeople. One is to help
  establish a good relationship with a secretary.
  The other is when an executive is invited to
  someone's house. It is still more customary - all
  over the world - to give flowers to women rather
  than men, who in most cultures only receive
  flowers when ill.

13
5?Showing Hospitality in Different Ways
14
6?Compliments
15
7?Disagreeing agreeably
16
8.Case studies

• Case Too modest?When No doesnt mean no .
  Please read the case on P156 and write a letter
  to Rod to explain this phenomenon and give him
  some advice on such crosscultural communication.
• Analysis we Chinese usually say no when
  somebody offers something, because sometimes an
  offer is not a real offer but a polite remark.
  After we say no, we usually wait for the second
  or third offer before we accept it, but that
  never happens in a foreigners home.

17
Thank you !