從時(shí)間取向看中美文化差異

1、AcknowledgementsHow time flies! My four years study at Xianyang Normal University will soon be over. Here, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the people who have helped me during my college years.My deepest gratitude goes first to Zhang Shasha, my supervisor, for her valuable sugges

2、tions and constant guidance on my thesis throughout all the stages. Without her patient assistance and friendly encouragement, it would not be possible for me to complete this thesis in such a short period of time.In addition, my thanks would go to our school library, which provides me with so many

3、useful reference books and collected data.Last, I deeply appreciate the contribution to this thesis made in many ways by my friends and classmates.AbstractNowadays, with the formation of global integration and the acceleration of economic globalization, intercultural communication has become an unav

4、oidable situation. As one of the significant aspects of nonverbal communication, time orientation plays a more and more important role in intercultural communication. Diverse cultures shape different time orientations. Different understanding of the time will inevitably lead to the barriers of peopl

5、es communication. Therefore, it has practical significance and utilitarian value to study on time orientation. The paper aims at a better understanding of different time orientations, which can enhance the ability of intercultural communication.This paper is mainly studied through the methods of doc

6、umentary analysis and qualitative analysis. The paper lists, compares and analyzes the differences and causes of different time orientations between China and America. Besides, the paper gives us some feasible strategies focused on the differences and points out learning different time orientations

7、not only help to reduce conflicts but also absorb mutual beneficial components to complement each other.Key Words: intercultural communication; cultural differences; time orientations摘 要 HYPERLINK javascript:; 當(dāng)今世界，隨著經(jīng)濟(jì)一體化的形成和經(jīng)濟(jì)全球化的加快，跨文化交際已經(jīng)成為不可避免的局勢(shì)。 HYPERLINK javascript:; 時(shí)間取向作為非語(yǔ)言交際的重要方面，它在跨文化交際

8、中起著舉足輕重的作用。 HYPERLINK javascript:; 不同的文化形成了不同的時(shí)間取向，人們對(duì)時(shí)間的不同認(rèn)識(shí)不可避免地會(huì)造成交際障礙。因此，對(duì)時(shí)間取向差異的研究具有實(shí)際意義和實(shí)用價(jià)值。 HYPERLINK javascript:; 本文旨在讓人們對(duì)不同的時(shí)間取向有較好的認(rèn)識(shí)以便促進(jìn)人們跨文化交流的能力。該文主要運(yùn)用了文獻(xiàn)分析法和定性分析法。本文通過(guò)列舉、對(duì)比和分析的方法指出了中美兩國(guó)不同時(shí)間取向的差異及成因，并基于差異給出了一些可行性策略。此外，文章還指出學(xué)習(xí)差異不僅可以減少矛盾，還可以相互取長(zhǎng)補(bǔ)短。 HYPERLINK javascript:; 關(guān)鍵詞：跨文化交際；文化差異；時(shí)

9、間取向Contents TOC o 1-3 h z u1. Introduction 12. The Brief Introduction of Time Orientation 22.1The Definition of Time Orientation 22.2 Chinese Time Orientation 32.2.1 The Past Time Orientation 32.2.2 Circular Time Orientation 42.2.3 Polychronic Time Orientation 42.3 American Time Orientations 42.3.1

10、Future Time Orientation 52.3.2 Linear Time Orientation 52.3.3 Monochronic Time Orientation 62.4. Contrasts in Time Orientation between Chinese and Americans 62.4.1 Punctuality 62.4.2 Appointments and Schedules 72.4.3 Office Time and Private Time 82.4.4 Different Understanding of Time in Language 92.

11、4.5 Reflection in social life 113. Factors of Different Time Orientations 123.1 Different Historical Background 133.2 Different Religions and Beliefs 143.3 Different Cultural Background 143.4 National Character 154. Strategies for the Differences 174.1 Paying attention to the Effect of Differences 1

12、74.2 Maintaining Cultural Openness 184.3 Referencing to others Beneficial Ingredients 194.4 Observing the Differences in Further Eyes 204.5 Constructing the Consciousness of Time Management 205. Conclusion: 21Bibliography 23On the Cultural Differences between China and America from the Perspective o

13、f Time Orientation1. Introduction HYPERLINK javascript:; With the acceleration of economic globalization and the formation of global integration, China is taking an increasingly active part in the world business activities. In such a situation, intercultural communication has become an unavoidable t

14、opic and reality. It is therefore necessary and inevitable for domestic enterprises to cooperate with foreign enterprises. As an important factor of nonverbal communication, time orientation is playing a significant role in our daily life and works, for people with different languages and cultures c

15、ommunicate a lot. But like everything else, intercultural communication is a mixed blessing, for merits and demerits usually come together. People with different culture may misunderstand and have conflicts with others if they dont know about others time orientations when they are working together.

16、Time orientation is such an important element that can affect peoples thinking modes and behaviors in the intercultural communication. In the current world, with the comprehensive national strength becoming increasingly fierce, time orientation is increasingly becoming the source of national cohesio

17、n and creativity and an important factor in the competition and comprehensive national strength.China is a culture-flourished country with a long history. Why is China still a developing country while America has developed into a developed country? Americans cherish time very much and always make ri

18、gorous schedules, which is worthy to be learned by Chinese. The paper mainly takes China and America as an example and shows their different time orientations. The paper analyzes linear and circular time views, past and future orientations, and polychromic and monochromic time orientations. By contr

19、asting their differences, the author also analyzes the main factors that lead to the distinctions. The purpose of the study is to help us understand these two kinds of cultural mainstream tendency better, overcome the communicative barriers and misunderstandings in cross-cultural communication, lear

20、n from each other and seek mutual promotion and accommodation. Moreover, it helps to avoid conflicts and misunderstandings and cooperate with other countries appropriately, so we should understand these two kinds of cultural mainstream tendency better. From the paper we can see, knowing others cultu

21、re and adopting their differences can develop a good relationship of the two countries. HYPERLINK javascript:; This paper contains five parts. The first part is a total introduction of the paper. The second part is the definition of time orientation, and then discussed the two different kinds of tim

22、e orientations between Chinese and American. The third part is an analysis of various factors that leads to the differences. In the fourth part, the author gives some ideas and suggestions about how to face the differences and lists some aspects that we Chinese should learn from Americans. The fifth

23、 part is the conclusion which summarizes the paper.2. The Brief Introduction of Time OrientationAs one of the key elements of nonverbal communication，the time orientation has a profound influence on intercultural communication. The time orientation is to study how people of different cultural backgr

24、ounds communicate and understand the time in communication (Chen 297). The American anthropologist Hocking thinks that time will not only speak, but also more straightforward than sound for message is much louder and clear. Because it is not like a verbal language that controls of consciousness, it

25、can expose peoples lie. Different cultures have different ideas about time. In the United States, most of the members of dominant culture followed Benjamin Franklins idea that time is money. But Chinese are familiar with Confuciuss words like that “l(fā)ook before you leap”. Thus it can be described tha

26、t the time orientation is the different understandings of time for different nations. HYPERLINK javascript:; It is the basic factor of human activity environment and is also a part of deep structure of the national culture. It can be seen, there is a world of difference of cultural attitudes towards

27、 time.2.1The Definition of Time OrientationTime is the basic form of the existence of objective material, which is gradually formed in the process of recognizing and reforming the objective world. Time has its unique communicative function. Time orientation is the fundamental attitude towards time.

28、“Time orientation is a kind of stable cultural difference” (Chen 297).2.2 Chinese Time OrientationThis chapter mainly discusses the Chinese time orientation. In short，there are three kinds of Chinese time orientations: past time orientation, circular time orientation and polychromic time orientation

29、. The detailed introduction to the three time orientations is as follows:2.2.1 The Past Time OrientationChinese have a tendency to attach importance to the past, although it has changed to some extent until now. When doing some things, Chinese often use past experience as an important reference for

30、the success of the things today. It has become an obedient social norm. In Chinese culture, age and experience are the signs of authority because theyre all about the past. Chinese people value the past, history and tradition very much. They are not good at changing, as they think the past can help

31、us make right decisions.When it comes to history, Chinese people will certainly say that learn from history. Chinese people pay much attention to history. Chinas spirit has always taken the historical education and historical records as a national event to do. HYPERLINK javascript:; To a certain ext

32、ent, history is equivalent to the worship of God and the belief in religion for Chinese people. It can be said that China is the worlds largest historical date. Confucius attached great importance to the history and wrote the famous book Spring and Autumn春秋. The well-known historian and editor named

33、 Sima Qian wrote a biographical history book Records of the Historian史記, which helped to establish some theoretical systems to analyze the history. Tang Taizong, an emperor of Tang Dynasty, once said “l(fā)earn from history, we can know the rise and fall (以史為鑒，可以知興衰)”. Sima Guang, a famous person in Nor

34、thern Song Dynasty, wrote the book History as a Mirror資治通鑒. The book History as Mirror is the Pinnacle of Development of historical Narration in Chronological History Writing. In this book, the editor summed up a lot of lessons learned from the rulers. Similarly, The Four Categories四庫(kù)全書(shū), written by

35、the official codification and approved by the emperor of Qing Dynasty, also has a lot of historical information.2.2.2 Circular Time OrientationChinese time orientation is circular. “According to the observation of Orientals operations of natural cycles, such as diurnal changes, periodic rotations of

36、 the month and season, life and agricultural growth cycle, and the changes of work and rest, easterners summed up that time itself can return as time is a cycle that moving around all the time” (Jia 133). In the traditional Chinese culture, peoples understanding of time is mainly based on the tradit

37、ional agricultural culture and Taoism. In ancient China, it was an agricultural society with the gathering of peasants. People relied on agriculture and cultivated for their living. They considered the human being and the nature to be interrelated and interactive. From the cycle of the seasons to th

38、e cycles of the moon, the rhythms of nature shape their perceptions. People learn to adapt to changes in the environment than Americans, so they are more likely to depend on situations and respond to resilience. The influence of circular time orientation can also be clearly seen from the pace of Chi

39、nese peoples life. The Chinese peoples pace of life is significantly slower than that of Americans. Its a universal phenomenon that Americans always walk in the street very hastily and it is difficult to see them walk slowly in the street.2.2.3 Polychronic Time OrientationChinese view of time also b

40、elongs to polychromic time orientation. It refers to not doing a specific thing in a period of time. People with this idea can do many things at the same time. They think that time is scattered and can be controlled at any time. So people at work are easily distracted by unexpected trifles, but they

41、 will not bother. They also set time, but time is often a goal and not necessary to complete and abide by. They will not be punished if they have not finished tasks at the appointed time. They also make plans, but they are easy to change. “Planning is not as fast as change” is a common attitude. In

42、their work, they are more likely to establish long-term relationships, so they pay more attention to people and interpersonal relationships than the work itself.2.3 American Time OrientationsCompared with Chinese time orientation, Americans also has three different time orientations: future time ori

43、entation, linear time orientation and monochromic time orientation. The three time orientations are described as follows:2.3.1 Future Time OrientationIn the mainstream culture of the United States, people look at the time in a straight line. They realize that time is made up of past, present and fut

44、ure, but they focus on the future. They think that the past is gone and the present is elapsing, so only the future can be planned and endeavored. They emphasize and look forward to a more promising future. Although they value future, their future is not far away but foreseeable and it is in the con

45、trol of the individual. The future for Americans means several weeks, several months or up to 20 years. Contrary to the easterners time orientation, westerners, especially Americans, focus on the future and seldom look back on the past, which is determined by their history and the creed of success.

46、As a result, every American citizen will make detailed plans for the future. In America, it is hard to believe that a man who has no detailed plan will be able to spend the rest of his life. Americans think the present and the future are more important than the past, HYPERLINK javascript:; so they s

47、eize the opportunity to strive for the future, which is why most Americans can hardly understand the phenomena of wasting time.2.3.2 Linear Time OrientationCorresponding to the Chinese farming culture，the west belongs to the developed industrial culture. This culture is usually regarded as a straigh

48、t line or a linear single continuous movement. HYPERLINK javascript:; Time is like a river flowing straight from the source to the mouth of the sea. Once it is gone, it will not be restored. Thus, to the outside world, Americans seem to rely heavily on the clock. “Influenced by the linear view of ti

49、me, Americans view time as a path to the future. Americans divide time to arrange their own activities, and look forward to the future” (Jia134) .They like to keep their plans in place. Americans claim to be “slaves of time”. They see time as a tangible entity that can be divided, bought, sold, save

50、d, wasted, and killed. Therefore, Americans have a strong sense of time shortage, fast pace of life, work efficiency, and they strive to do everything on time. Time is money for Americans. In the pursuit of profit oriented society, time is a precious and even rare commodity. Time goes by like a moun

51、tain stream. If you want to achieve something, you must race against time. Americans are doers who cant stand doing nothing. In the United States, you have to learn to make money or you will be eliminated by society.2.3.3 Monochronic Time OrientationThe monochromic time orientation considers the tim

52、e to be linear and divisible, like a road and a belt stretching forward to the future. Americans who hold such a time orientation tend to think of time as something that can be saved, spent, earned, or even bought and sold as commodity. Their time orientations emphasize the schedule and punctuality

53、and strictly follow the schedule to do everything. Americans tend to do one thing in a certain time and let nothing bother them.2.4. Contrasts in Time Orientation between Chinese and AmericansIt is not difficult to find that China and United States have great differences in time orientation, which w

54、e can truly feel from some special events. The following examples can well reflect the different time values between Chinese people and Americans.2.4.1 PunctualityThere is a big difference between Chinese and American attitudes towards punctuality.In the west, the long-term wait is considered an ins

55、ult to others personality. So in America waiting is another way of refusing. In America, waiting is considered a waste of time and they do not have the patience to wait for a long time.“To Americans, punctuality is a way of showing respect for other peoples time” (Jin 52 ). Americans learn to be pun

56、ctual when they are young. Americans have a strong sense of time as time is money for them. Americans cherish time very much, so they hate those who dont know their behavior is a waste of others time. American life style show how much people respect others time. In the United States, you must arrive

57、 on time in a formal date or not be late more than five minutes. If you are late for ten minutes, you should apologize to others and explain the reason. People who know they are going to be late often call others in advance. On formal occasions, you will be thought irresponsible if you are late for

58、no reason. Of course, the more informal events there are, the less important of punctuality it is. If Americans are invited to a family party, in order not to disturb the host to carefully arrange the dinner, they will not arrive too early, ten minutes late is the best choice.On the contrary, the Ch

59、inese, to a certain extent, is the master of time for they can freely change the sequence of the time. Chinese will be friendly to the problem of waiting if someone is late. In their view, waiting is a traditional virtue of the nation and an embodiment of the close relationship between people. It is

60、 understandable for busy businessmen and the important leaders to be late. Chinese have the patience to wait, which is opposite to that of Americans.Chinese are not very serious about punctuality. For example, in the meeting attended by many people, due to the concept of Chinese people, they will us