Signs in Another Language
When traveling to San Francisco and then visiting its Chinatown, you can find there are lots ofsigns in Chinese and people there speaking Chinese.And also many street signs in other U.S. citiessuch as New York, Miami, or Honolulu, are in another language in addition to English.
另一种语言的符号
当你去旧金山，然后参观唐人街时，你会发现那里有很多中文标志和说中文的人。此外，纽约、迈阿密或檀香山等美国其他城市的许多路标除了英语外，还有另一种语言。
Please discuss what kinds of qualities a competent intercultural communicator should have in groups. And also talk about what kinds of qualities we usually neglect in our daily communication.
The Forms ofIntercultural Communication
Once we understand the meanings of communication and culture it becomes clear that intercultural communication refers to the communication between people from two different cultures. lf A is an Afghan and B is a Brazilian, the interaction between the two persons is intercul-tural communication. However, because we are destined to carry our cultural baggage whenever and wherever we go, when A and B are from two different nations rather than from the same national culture, communication is often more complicated. (However, two groups from a single national culture, such as Israeli Jews and Arabs, Indian Hindus and Muslims, or African and European Americans, can also experience major diffculties in communication.) The potential for miscommunication and disagreement is great because ofcultural differences. Thus, the study ofthe intercultural communication aims to understand the infuence ofculture on our attitudes beliefs, and behaviors in order to reduce misunderstandings that result from cultural variations.
Successful intercultural communication is based on three factors:
(1) the positive feeling we possess at the affective level, including afirmation, self-esteem, comfort, trust, and safety;
(2) the beliefs we bring into the intercultural encounter at the cognitive level, including expectations, stereotypes, uncertainties, and misunderstanding of rules or procedures; and
(3) the action or skills we possess at the behavioral level, including verbal and nonverbal communication skills in intercultural settings.
Here we consider the forms ofintercultural communication from a new perspective. Three potential forms of intercultural communication can take place, depending on the interactants intentions: self-centered dialogue, dominant dialogue, or equal dialogue. The self-centered inter-cultural communication takes the form of ethnocentrism, In this form of intercultural communication, A and B completely use their own cultural standards to judge and interact with each other. The outcomes of this type of intercultural communication always lead to misunderstandings. A main reason for this kind of problem is the lack ofcultural understanding between A and B.
In dominant intercultural communication, A is well aware of B's cultural traits and differences, and uses this advantage to control B to achieve his or her personal goals. This problem may happen at the interpersonal or international communication level, as illustrated, for example, by the colonization and cultural imperialism imposed by Western cultures on the remaining nations in contemporary times. Further, within a single nation, patterns of gender and ethnic domination may proliferate.
Finally, equal dialogue between A and B represents an ideal form of intercultural communication. This type ofintercultural communication is based on mutual understanding of cultural similarities and differences. Both parties make sincere and empathic efforts to overcome their differences on an equal basis.
