About CCI
Li Mengyu, Michael H. Prosser
Chinese Communicating Interculturally
19.80 USD, xxxi + 349 pages, paperback, 189x246mm
published June 2014
This book is the North American edition of "Communicating Interculturally", published by Higher Education Press, Beijing, PRC. Published in agreement with Higher Education Press.
About this book
Co-authoring interculturally, Professors Li Mengyu of Ocean University of China and Michael H. Prosser, Professor Emeritus at the University of Virginia have written Chinese Communicating Interculturally especially - but not only - for Chinese students, with 11 imaginary dialogues, 10 chapters, and more than 30 short guest essays.
In his foreword, Jia Yuxin writes: “Let’s remember: the challenge of globalization will always push everyone of us in the direction of greater learning, self-refinement, self-other reciprocal orientation, and intercultural or global citizenship.’’
How to buy CCI
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About the authors
Li Mengyu is the author of five books. She has been a visiting scholar in the US at the University of Louisville and Southeast Missouri State University and at the University of Cambridge in the UK. Her major academic interests include intercultural communication and comparative literature. She has won several academic awards, has undertaken research projects, and has attended international and national conferences. She has taught more than 3,000 Chinese students.
Michael H. Prosser has taught in Canada, China, Swaziland, and the US. Author/editor of 18 books and series editor of 17 books, he is a senior coeditor at the Intercultural Institute of the Shanghai International Studies University. A founder of the field of intercultural communication, he is listed in the Marquis Who’s Who in America, Asia, and the World and is a Fellow in the International Academy for Intercultural Research. His book The Cultural Dialogue has been translated into Japanese and Chinese. He maintains the blog www.michaelprosser. His blog at www.michaelprosser.com attracts readers from all over the world.
Michael H. Prosser is coauthor of two other Dignity Press books: Finding Cross-Cultural Common Ground and Social Media in Asia.
Table of Contents
List of Guest Essays and Authors xiii
Preface to the North American Edition xvii
Foreword xix
To the Reader xxix
Chapter One: Culture 1
1.1 Dialogue 1
1.2 Culture 9
1.2.1 Definitions and the Nature of Culture 9
1.2.2 Cultural Survival 11
1.2.3 Objective and Subjective Culture 12
1.2.4 Globalism, Globalization and Cultural Universals 14
1.2.5 Cultural Stability or Cultural Change 16
1.2.6 Multiculturalism and Cultural Diversity 17
1.2.7 Popular Culture 19
1.3 Case Studies 20
1.3.1 An Intercultural Chinese and British Marriage: Striking an
Equilibrium 20
1.3.2 Korean Taekwondo Master Lee Meets Ms. Ruth 21
1.4 Summary 24
1.5 Questions for Discussion 25
1.6 Suggested Readings 26
Chapter Two: Communication and Intercultural Communication 27
2.1 Dialogue 27
2.2 Communication 34
2.2.1 Definition and Nature of Communication 34
2.2.2 Chinese Communication and the Civil Society 37
2.2.3 The Spectrum or Continuum of Intracultural, Intercultural
and Multicultural Communication 37
2.2.4 Cross-Cultural Communication 42
2.2.5 Intercultural Communication Competence (ICC) 44
2.2.6 Intercultural and International Ethical Communication 45
2.2.7 Intercultural Conflict Resolution 47
2.2.8 “Personal Motivational Persuasion” by the President of the
United States to Michael Prosser 48
2.2.9 Analysis of President Obama’s “Personal Motivational Persuasion” 49
2.2.10 Becoming Critical Thinkers 52
2.3 Case Study: The United Nations as an International
Communication Forum 53
2.4 Summary 55
2.5 Questions for Discussion 56
2.6 Suggested Readings 57
Chapter Three: Creating Our Own Cultural Stories 59
3.1 Dialogue 59
3.2 Li Mengyu’s Cultural Story 64
3.3 Michael Prosser’s Cultural Story: Monocultural to Multicultural 67
3.4 Cultural Stories of Several Young People 70
3.4.1 My Cultural Background (William Zhu, Shanghai International
Studies University) 70
3.4.2 From the Mini UN to the Real UN (Zhang Jing, the
United Nations, New York City) 74
3.4.3 The Value of Family, Education, and a Girl with a Russian Passport
(Anya Klyukanova, University of Oregon) 76
3.4.4 Open Heart and Immense Patience (Michelle Cui, Trading
Manager, Omicom Group, Chicago, Illinois) 77
3.4.5 From an Ordinary Family (David Xu, Tongji University) 78
3.4.6 The Story of My Nearly 30 Years (Jacky Zhang, Dezhou University) 79
3.4.7 Seattle and Christchurch: Twin Cities (Zizi Zhao Zhao,
Christchurch, New Zealand) 80
3.4.8 A Third Culture Child? (Nick Deng, Yunnan Normal University) 81
3.4.9 Lotus Seeds (Cindy Zhao, Shanghai) 82
3.5 Case Study: Contemporary Chinese Women 84
3.6 Summary 87
3.7 Questions for Discussion 88
3.8 Suggested Readings 90
Chapter Four: Perceptions, Beliefs, Worldviews and Values 91
4.1 Dialogue 91
4.2 Perceptions 97
4.2.1 Defining Perception 97
4.2.2 Culture and Perceptions 97
4.2.3 Perceptions and Media 99
4.2.4 Defining Belief 101
4.2.5 Stereotypes and Prejudices 102
4.2.6 Attitudes and Values 104
4.2.7 World Views 105
4.2.8 Defining Values More Fully 106
4.2.9 The Significance of Values to Intercultural Communication 107
4.2.10 Comparing Eastern and Western Values 108
4.3 Case Study: On the Traditional Chinese Value of “Harmony" 110
4.4 Summary 112
4.5 Questions for Discussion 113
4.6 Suggested Readings 114
Chapter Five: Cultural Patterns and Cross-Cultural Value Orientations 115
5.1 Dialogue 115
5.2 Understanding Cultural Patterns and Value Orientations 119
5.3 Chinese Scholars' Emphasis on Cultural Traits and Cultural
Orientations 120
5.3.1 Gu Hongming’s Study on Cutural Traits 120
5.3.2 Lin Yutang’s Study on Cultural Characteristics 121
5.3.3 Hui-ching Chang’s Study on Interpersonal Communication 122
5.3.4 Kwang-kuo Hwang’s Study on Interpersonal Relationships 122
5.4 Western Contributions 123
5.4.1 Clyde Kluckhohn’s and Fred Strodtbeck’s Value Orientations 123
5.4.2 Geert Hofstede’s National Value Dimensions 137
5.4.3 Edward T. Hall’s Value Orientations 146
5.4.4 Fons Trompenaars’s Value Dimensions 147
5.4.5 Shalom Schwartz’s Societal Orientations 149
5.5 Chinese Value Orientations 150
5.5.1 The Influence of the Traditional Chinese Value Orientations 150
5.5.2 The Contemporary Chinese Value Orientations 151
5.6 Case Study: Universal Human Rights as Universal Values 152
5.7 Summary 157
5.8 Questions for Discussion 158
5.9 Suggested Readings 159
Chapter Six: Verbal and Nonverbal Communication 161
6.1 Dialogue 161
6.2 The Nature of Language: Linguistic Aspects in Intercultural
Communication 171
6.2.1 Defining Language 171
6.2.2 The Importance of Language to Intercultural Communication 172
6.2.3 The Functions of Language and Transmitting Culture 173
6.2.4 Communicative Interaction 174
6.2.5 Language as an Expression of Identity 174
6.2.6 Meaning, Thought and Culture 174
6.2.7 Taoism’s and Confucianism’s Interpretations of Language 176
6.2.8 A Review of Some Theories on Language and Culture 176
6.3 Intercultural Nonverbal Communication 179
6.3.1 Defining Nonverbal Communication 179
6.3.2 The Importance of Nonverbal Communication 180
6.3.3 Nonverbal Communication Classifications 181
6.4 The Role of English in Chinese Education 188
6.4.1 Chinese Children and Youth Learning English 188
6.4.2 English Language Companies and Tests 189
6.4.3 English and Bilingual Teaching Reforms in Chinese Higher
Education 190
6.4.4 Social, Cultural, and Economic Boundaries in Learning English 191
6.4.5 Chinese Students Studying in the United States 191
6.4.6 Li Yang: A Crazy Talker 192
6.5 Case Study: "English is a Crazy Language" 193
6.6 Summary 199
6.7 Questions for Discussion 200
6.8 Suggested Readings 201
Chapter Seven: Contemporary Youth 203
7.1 Dialogue 203
7.2 Selected Examples of Contemporary Youth 207
7.2.1 American Contemporary Youth: The Millennials 207
7.2.2 Argentine Contemporary Youth 212
7.2.3 Belgian Youth: A Free Person with Rights and Responsibility 214
7.2.4 Chinese Contemporary Youth: The Post 1980s Generation 216
7.2.5 Egyptian Youth: Past, Present, and Future 218
7.2.6 Indian Contemporary Youth 222
7.2.7 Japanese Youth Today: The Global Generation 223
7.2.8 Youth in Modern Russia 224
7.2.9 Togo: Corridor and Smile of Western Africa 226
7.3 Case Study: Making the World Your Classroom 228
7.4 Summary 230
7.5 Questions for Discussion 231
7.6 Suggested Readings 233
Chapter Eight: Cultural Media 235
8.1 Dialogue 235
8.2 Media and Mass Communication Theories 246
8.3 Broadcasting Theory 248
8.4 International and Global Media Theories 250
8.5 Media Diplomacy 252
8.6 Cinema 254
8.6.1 Assessing Intercultural and International Cinema 254
8.6.2 Chinese Cinema: A Challenging Chinese Film: “Nanjing! Nanjing!
City of Life and Death” 255
8.7 Chinese Computer-Mediated Communication 257
8.8 Case Study: Wrangling the Media Market Place 258
8.9 Summary 260
8.10 Questions for Discussion 261
8.11 Suggested Readings 262
Chapter Nine: Intercultural Communication in Business, Training,
and Education 263
9.1 Dialogue 263
9.2 Intercultural Business and International Trade 267
9.2.1 The Importance of Intercultural Communication in Global
Financial Relations 267
9.2.2 Intercultural Business Communi-cation and International Trade 268
9.2.3 Organizational Culture 270
9.2.4 Advertising Theories 271
9.3 Intercultural Training for Global Business People 273
9.4 Intercultural Education in Urumqi 274
9.5 Practical Applications 275
9.5.1 Global Knowledge and Local Wisdom 275
9.5.2 The Rules of My Brazilian Manager—Or Brazilian Culture? 277
9.5.3 Touching the Tiger’s Tail 278
9.5.4 Multicultural Training and Teaching Business English 279
9.5.5 Abstract for an MA Thesis as an Illustration of Research Related
to Business Communication: On Managing Cultural Integration
in Cross-border Acquisitions from the Perspective of China’s
IT Industry 280
9.6 Case Study: The McDonaldization of Society 281
9.7 Summary 283
9.8 Questions for Discussion 284
9.9 Suggested Readings 286
Chapter Ten: Intercultural Theories and Research 287
10.1 Dialogue 287
10.2 Theorizing about Intercultural Communication 291
10.2.1 Intercultural Identity Theories 291
10.2.2 Intercultural Accommodation or Adaptation Theories 292
10.3 Cross-Cultural Communication 293
10.3.1 Defining Intercultural and Cross-Cultural Communication
Research 293
10.3.2 Principles or Criteria Guiding Cross-Cultural Communication
Research 294
10.3.3 Illustrative Examples of Effective Cross-Cultural
Communication Research 295
10.3.4 Illustrative Problems in Western versus Non-Western Cross-
Cultural Communication Research 296
10.4 A Researcher’s Journey: Some Issues in Intercultural
Communication 297
10.4.1 Theoretical and Methodological Diversity 297
10.4.2 Interpersonal Conflict: A Brief Demonstration 298
10.4.3 Some Implications 298
10.5 Intercultural and Cross-Cultural Research in China 299
10.6 Developing Your Own Intercultural Research 300
10.6.1 Front Matter: Title Page, Abstract and Table of Contents 300
10.6.2 The Introduction 305
10.6.3 The Literature Review 305
10.6.4 The Methodology 306
10.6.5 The Discussion of Results 307
10.6.6 The Conclusion, References and Appendices 307
10.7 Honesty and Integrity: The Hallmark of an Ethical University
Education and Research 308
10.8 Case Studies: MA Thesis Abstracts and Keywords Related to Youth 309
10.8.1 Reconsidering Schwartz’s 10 Basic Human Value Types and
Locating Chinese Young People 309
10.8.2 Psychological Adjustment of Farmer Laborers’ Children in
Yangzhou City: The Identity Conflict of Migrant Children under
the Background of the Urban-Rural Dualistic Social System 310
10.8.3 Integrating Experiential Learning Techniques into
Intercultural Communication Courses 310
10.8.4 The Influence of Ethnic Identity and Intergroup Contact on
Intercultural Communication: A Study at a Chinese University
for Minorities 312
10.8.5 Bilingual Education and Intercultural Communication Among
Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China 312
10.8.6 Chinese Students’ Acculturation in the UK and Their Use of
Xiaonei 313
10.8.7 Styles of Managing Interpersonal Conflicts Between American
and Chinese University Students 314
10.8.8 Structural Equivalence of Value Domains in China: Values Among
Migrant Workers and Local Permanent Residents in Shanghai 314
10.9 Summary 316
10.10 Questions for Discussion 316
10.11 Suggested Readings 318
Epilogue: A Final Conversation—Think Globally and Act Locally 319
References 323
Academic Biographies of Li Mengyu and Michael H. Prosser 345
Acknowledgment 349