BEC高级口语素材

Identify the Differences -- Five Fundamental Patterns of Cultural Differences
了解不同：中西文化差异的五种基本模式

1. Different Communication Styles 不同的交流风格
The way people communicate varies widely between, and even within, cultures. One aspect of communication style is language usage. Across cultures, some words and phrases are used in different ways. For example, even in countries that share the English language, the meaning of "yes" varies from "maybe, I'll consider it" to "definitely so," with many shades in between.
Another major aspect of communication style is the degree of importance given to non-verbal（口头的，言语的） communication. Non-verbal communication includes not only facial expressions（面部表情） and gestures; it also involves seating arrangements, personal distance, and sense of time. In addition, different norms（标准，规范） regarding the appropriate degree of assertiveness¹（魄力，自信） in communicating can add to cultural misunderstandings. For instance, some white Americans typically consider raised voices to be a sign that a fight has begun, while some Asian, African, Jewish and Italian Americans often feel that an increase in volume is a sign of an exciting conversation among friends. Thus, some white Americans may react with greater alarm to a loud discussion than would members of some American ethnic²（种族的，人种的） or non-white racial groups.

2. Different Approaches to Completing Tasks 采用不同方法去完成任务
From culture to culture, there are different ways that people move toward completing tasks. Some reasons include different access to resources, different judgments³ of the rewards associated with task completion, different notions of time, and varied⁴ ideas about how relationship-building and task-oriented work should go together.
When it comes to working together effectively on a task, cultures differ with respect to the importance placed on establishing relationships early on in the collaboration⁵. A case in point, Asian and Hispanic cultures tend to attach more value to developing relationships at the beginning of a shared project and more emphasis on task completion toward the end as compared with Americans. Americans tend to focus immediately on the task at hand, and let relationships develop as they work on the task. This does not mean that people from any one of these cultural backgrounds are more or less committed to accomplishing the task, or value relationships more or less; it means they may pursue（从事，追赶） them differently.

3. Different Attitudes Toward Conflict 对待冲突的态度不同
Some cultures view conflict as a positive（确定的，肯定的） thing, while others view it as something to be avoided. In the U.S., conflict is not usually desirable; but people often are encouraged to deal directly with conflicts that do arise. In fact, face-to-face meetings customarily are recommended as the way to work through whatever problems exist. In contrast, in many Eastern countries, open conflict is experienced as embarrassing or demeaning（降低身份的，有损人格的） ; as a rule, differences are best worked out quietly. A written exchange might be the favored means to address the conflict.

4. Different Attitudes Toward Disclosure 对待披露/曝光的态度不同
In some cultures, it is not appropriate to be frank about emotions, about the reasons behind a conflict or a misunderstanding, or about personal information. Keep this in mind when you are in a dialogue or when you are working with others. When you are dealing⁶ with a conflict, be mindful that people may differ in what they feel comfortable revealing. Questions that may seem natural to you -- What was the conflict about? What was your role in the conflict? What was the sequence of events? -- may seem intrusive⁷（打扰的，侵入的） to others. The variation among cultures in attitudes toward disclosure is also something to consider before you conclude that you have an accurate reading of the views, experiences, and goals of the people with whom you are working.

5. Different Decision-Making Styles 不同的做决定的风格
The roles individuals play in decision-making vary widely from culture to culture. For example, in the U.S., decisions are frequently delegated -- that is, an official assigns responsibility for a particular matter to a subordinate（下属，下级） . In many Southern European and Latin American countries, there is a strong value placed on holding decision-making responsibilities oneself. When decisions are made by groups of people, majority rule is a common approach in the U.S.; in Asia consensus⁸（一致，舆论） is the preferred mode. Be aware that individuals' expectations about their own roles in shaping a decision may be influenced by their cultural frame of reference.