语言学Questions for preparation for the FinalExam_663.doc

1. What are the four basic personality types, each of which experiences time in a unique way that affects their communication with others? The thinking types: planning, logically plotting issues out through time/ discovering principles and processes for a problem. The feeling types: viewing the present through past experiences/ and this strong association with the past makes change difficult. The sensation types: perceiving time mainly in terms of the present, more action-oriented/ they are particular competent in dealing with crises and making immediate decisions. The intuitive types谨慎: viewing time primarily in terms of the future/ they feel they must change the world to realize their visions of the future.2. What is verbal communication? What is non-verbal communication?Verbal communication: Communication with the use of words. Non-verbal communication: Communication without the use of words. Comparing verbal and nonverbal communicationImportant differences between verbal and nonverbal communication: Verbal：structured, linguistic and clearNonverbal：unstructured, nonlinguistic and ambiguous.Verbal: conscious, discontinuous, acquired and controllableNon-verbal: subconscious, continuous, natural and uncontrollable3. What is the relationship between value and culture?4. What is the importance of appropriate etiquette and protocol in intercultural business communication?etiquette & protocol: quality of excellence, details, employment, quality of life, negotiation, company image and reputation, success, profit, career, manner. (to increase the quality of life in the workplace, to contribute to optimum employee morality, to establish the company image, to play a major role in generating profit.)The rules of etiquette are based on: Consideration, Common sense, Recognition of the usual and the social customs and mores of the society in which we live or work.Note: The recognition of particular customs is particularly troublesome in the intercultural communication. Actions based on goodwill alone can be misinterpreted as hostile or demeaning.5. What is the relationship between language and culture?1) The influence of culture on language1. Language as a reflection of the environmentIn Chinese, only one word for 骆驼.In Arabic, over 400 words for a variety of 骆驼.Eskimos use different words for snow.The Chinese and Japanese have a variety of words for rice and tea. Connotational meanings varies due to different geographical environment: English word zephyr connotates the same meaning as 东风 in Chinese. 2. Language as a reflection of valuesIn Chinese, there is an elaborate system of kinship terms.In Japan (high power distance culture), titles are always used.Navajos do not have a word for late because they dont have a sense of time.2) The influence of language on cultureSapir-Whorf hypothesis language tends to influence our perception, serve as a guide to social reality.In Navaho, there is no distinction between horse and horses or between his/her/its/theirNote:Learning a foreign language means more than just mastering the pronunciation, grammar, words, and idioms.It also means to learn to see the world as native speakers of that language, the ways in which their language reflect the ideas, cuatoms and behavior of their society, etc. Therefore, culture has an impact on language at various level, phonetic. lexical, syntactic, pragmatic and discourse.6. Are there any differences between grammatical rules and pragmatic rules? What are they?pragmatic (sociolinguistic) rulesSocial behavior ：social rulesSpeech behavior：socialinguistic rules or rules of speakingSocialinguistic or pragmatic transfer Use of rules of speaking across speech community.Pragmatic failure Inability to understand what is meant by what is said and is caused by pragmatic transfer.Pragmatic failure usually results in more serious problems than grammatical errors. 7. How does paralanguage affect the meanings we ascribe to a message? Use one example to support your answer.It involves sounds but not words, lying between verbal and nonverbal communication. It is divided into 3 categories: Vocal qualifiers （语音修饰特征） Vocalization （元音化/浊音化） SilenceVocal qualifiers （语音修饰特征） volume, pitch, rhythm, tempo, resonance, toneVocalization （元音化/浊音化） Non-word noises un-huh, oooh, mmmh, etc. Language fillers okay, you know. Oops used to show recognition of a mistake or minor accident, often as part of an apology. Oops! Im sorry. I just made you miss your bus! Used as connectors of ideas, to indicate that sb. is ready to speak or that more time is needed to think things over.Silence In low-context cultures, people usually view silence as communication gone wrong and generally are uncomfortable with silence In high-context cultures, people consider silence an integral part of business and social discourse, rather than a failure of communication8. In gift-giving practices, what role does it play in intercultural relation?Be aware whether gift-giving is culturally sensitive. The careful selection and wrapping of a gift and presenting it at the proper time with proper manners conveys to others your social sensitivity and good manners.A well-intentioned gift might result in embarrassment or hatred among people of different cultures. Giving an inappropriate gift or one that is culturally insensitive can cause serious harm to a business relationship.Where gift-giving matters: Japan (highly important), Middle East(Important but not fatal), Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe (more as a courtesy), Australia, Canada, US, Uk, Northern and Southern European countries (not important in B). 9. What are the potential problems that might arise in Intercultural Business Communication?a. Avoidance of the unfamiliar (Birds of a feather flock together.)b. Uncertainty of reduction(Reduce the uncertainty in every meeting with strangers from different cultures.)c. Withdrawal(Withdrawal from the communication event) d. Stereotyping (Mentally organize your experiences and guides your behavior toward a particular group og people.)e. Prejudice(Rigid and irrational generalization about a group)f. Racism (Superior because of color of skin.)g. Misuse of power (Handle the power incorrectly to control people or things)h. Cultural shock (Anxiety from losing all familiar signs.)i. Ethnocentrism (Your own culture is correct.)10. Why do we need to communicate with people? Survival Co-operation Personal needs Relationship Persuasion Power Social needs Information Making sense of the world Self-expression11. Whats the definition of culture?Dictionary: the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively. Artifact, concepts, behaviorAnthropological perspective: the customs, civilizations, and achievements of a particular time or people. Most widely accepted: total accumulation of beliefs, customs, values, behaviors,