21世纪大学英语读写教程第三课

Unit3:TextA21stCenturyCollegeEnglish:Book2

TheTaleofaCulturalTranslatorUnitThree:TextA

Lead-inActivities

TextOrganization

ReadingandWritingSkills

LanguagePoints

GuidedPractice

AssignmentLead-inActivitiesWhatkindofqualificationsshouldberequiredtodowellinaforeigncompany?What’scross-culturalcommunication?Listsomeconflictscausedbydifferentcultures.Howtosolvetheproblemofconflicts?Doyouthinklanguageandculturearecloselyrelated?Why?QuestionsforDiscussionI. Introductionofthetopic:culturaldifferences→conflicts→needforaculturaltranslatorII. Anexample:George’sstoryIII. Conclusion:Thefirstthingyouneedfortheproblemsinajointventureisaculturaltranslator.ThestructureofTextAPara.1Paras.2~11Para.12TextOrganizationThearticleincludesseveralparagraphsinwhichtheauthorstartswithageneralobservationandthenpresentsaseriesofexamplestoillustratehispoint.(para.3,9)Themeaningofidiomaticexpressionscanbeveryhardtoguess.Wordformationcluesdon’talwayshelp,andcanevenmisleadusentirely!Buteffectivereadersdon’tgiveuponthefirsttry.Theykeepreading,insearchofcontextclues–examples,explanations,contrastsorparallelphrases–thatcanhelpthemfigureoutthemeaningofidiomaticexpressions.Reading&WritingSkillsTheTaleofaCulturalTranslator1 JointventuresinvolvingWesternandJapanesecompaniesoftenrunintoconflicts—amultitudeoflittlethingsthatescalateintobigemotionalbattlesinwhichallthepartieskeepexclaiming:“What’swrongwiththem!?Cantheyunderstandthat…?!”Butbecausetheconflictsaremainlyduetoculturaldifferences,neithersidecanunderstand—unlesstheyhavea“culturaltranslator”.IntensiveStudy2

ThefirstculturaltranslatorIevermetwasaninstallationengineer,Georgebyname,whoworkedforanAmericancompanywhereIwasthedirectorofinternationaloperations.ThecompanyhadjuststartedajointventurewithaJapanesefirm,andtheAmericanmanagementneededsomeonetotraintheJapaneseemployeesinitsuniquetechnology.George’ssolidunderstandingoftheequipment,itsinstallationandusemadehimthebest-qualifiedemployeeforthejob,soeveryonewashappywhenGeorgeacceptedatwo-yearcontractfortemporarytransfertoJapan.IntensiveStudy3

Fromthestart,GeorgewaswellacceptedbyalltheJapaneseemployees.JapanesemanagersoftendistrustanyonesenttorepresentUSowners,butGeorgewassonaturallynonassertivethatnoonecouldseehimasathreattotheircareers.Sotheyfeltcomfortableaskinghisadviceonawiderangeofmatters,includingtheoddbehavioroftheirpartnersacrosstheocean.EngineersthroughoutthecompanyappreciatedGeorge’sexpertiseandhisfriendlyandcapablehelp,andtheygotintothehabitofturningtohimwhenevertheyhadaproblem—anyproblem.AndthesecretariesintheofficewereeagertohelpthisnicebachelorlearnJapanese.IntensiveStudy4

Soonerthananyoneexpected,thecompanybecameaprofitable,thrivingandgrowingventure.George’sfirsttwo-yearcontractcametoanend.Bythen,hecouldspeakgoodJapanese,andhadpickedupJapanesehabits.Hedrankgreenteaatallhours,atericeateverymealandhadevenlearnedtositproperlyonJapanesetatamimats.SowhenGeorgewasofferedasecondtwo-yearJapanesecontract,heacceptedatonce.Anothercontractfollowed,andGeorge’sloveaffairwithJapaneseculturecontinued.IntensiveStudy5 ButasGeorge’ssixthyearinthecountrywascomingtoanend,anunexpecteddifficultybecameapparent:TheJapaneseengineershadsurpassedGeorgeintheirknowledgeoftherapidly-changingtechnology.Hehadnothinglefttoteachthem.6 WasthistheendforpoorGeorge?Wastherenothingmorehecouldoffertothenow-maturedjointventurehehadservedsoloyally?Wouldhehavetoleavethecountryhehadcometolove?No!FacedwiththethreatofanunwillingdeparturefromJapan,Georgereinventedhimselfasa“culturaltranslator”.IntensiveStudy7 TheideacametoGeorgeonedaywhentheJapanesejoint-venturepresidentwas—again—offendedbyamessagefromtheAmericanmanagement.Asusualinsuchsituations,hestormedintoGeorge’sofficeandthrewthemessageinfrontofhiminafury.AndGeorge,asusual,readthemessageandexplainedinhiscalmmannerwhattheAmericanshadreallymeantbyit,notwhatitsoundedlikeinthecontextofJapaneseculture.IntensiveStudy8 Fortunatelyforeveryone,boththeJapaneseandAmericansidesofthejointventurehadheardenoughhorrorstoriesaboutculturalconflictstorecognizethevalueofGeorge’sskills,sowhenheproposedthisnewpositionforhimself,theideawasquicklyapproved.Thewisdomofthisdecisionwasprovedagainandagainovertheyears.IntensiveStudy9 AttimessomethingfarmoreimportantthangoodEnglishwasneeded.OnesuchcasewaswhentheJapaneseaccountanthadtoexplainthe$46,534spenton874December-holidaypresents.OrtherewasthetimewhentheJapanesepersonnelmanagerhadtojustifykeepingachemistonthepayrolleventhoughthecompanynolongerneededhisexpertise.Incaseslikethese,everyoneturnedtoGeorge.IntensiveStudy10

Somehoworother,hemadetheirmessagessoundatleasthalfwaysensibletoAmericans.AndwhentherewassomethingthatevenGeorgecouldn’t“translated”intoAmerican-stylesense,hewouldwrite,“Thiswillsoundcrazy,butyoushouldgoalongwithitanyway.IntensiveStudy11

Itworkedtheotherwayaround,too.WhentheAmericanmanagersvisitedJapan,Georgeaccompanieduseverywheretoensurethatwedon’tdoorsayanythingtoostupidfromtheJapaneseviewpoint.Wheneverwedidthatanyway,hecametotherescueatonce:“Whattheyreallymeanis…”WholemultitudesofdifficultiesneverarosethankstoGeorge’sskillatsmoothingoversmallconflictsbeforetheybecamebig,emotionalandcostly.IntensiveStudy12

SinceleavingthatcompanyinGeorge’scapablehands,I’veadvisedmanyfirmsoninternationaloperations.Andmyfirstrecommendationisalwaysthesame:Don’tworryaboutlanguageproblems—thefirstthingyouneedisaculturaltranslator. (776words)IntensiveStudyruninto—meetbychance;encounterunexpectedlye.g.IranintoJoeyesterdayonMainstreet.Afterapromisingstart,thecompanyranintodebt.Translate如果你不当心，会碰到麻烦的。KeyYouwillrunintotroubleifyoudon’ttakecare.…—amultitudeoflittlethingsthatescalateintobigemotionalbattlesinwhichallthepartieskeepexclaiming:“…amultitudeof

—averylargenumberof

e.g.Wehavetofaceamultitudeofproblems.Newtalentshaveemergedinmultitudesintheatricalcircles.Moretolearn…—amultitudeoflittlethingsthatescalateintobigemotionalbattlesinwhichallthepartieskeepexclaiming:“…e.g.TheUNmustdosomethingbeforethewarescalatedbeyondcontrol.TheinflationratehasbeenescalatinginmanyAsiancountries.escalate—v. increaseinintensity,degree,oramount;makeor becomegreaterormoreseriousMoretolearne.g.Athirdpartyfromoutsidethevillagewasbroughtinasawitness.party—n. personorpeopleformingonesideinalegal agreementorconflict…–amultitudeoflittlethingsthatescalateintobigemotionalbattlesinwhichallthe

partieskeepexclaiming:“…transfer— n. theprocessbywhichsb.orsth.movesorismoved fromoneplace,job,etc.toanothere.g.• DavidwasfedupwithhisjobinLondonsoheaskedfora

transfertotheParisoffice.TranslateBlake’stransfertoanItalianfootballclubcameasashocktoallhissupporters.Key布莱克转会到一个意大利足球俱乐部令他的所有拥护者大为震惊。accept(sb.)— v. thinkof(sb.)aspartofthegroupandtreathim inthesamewayasothermembersofit;treat(sb.) aswelcomee.g.• Thechildrengraduallybegantoaccept

her.• Hewasneverreallyaccepted

byhisfellowworkers.butGeorgewassonaturallynonassertivethatnoonecouldseehimasathreattotheircareers.Paraphrasethesentence: ?Georgewasbynaturesoeasyandmodestthathispresenceinthejointventuredidn’tposeanythreattothepositionsofJapanesemanagersandemployeesgetintothehabitofdoingsth.— starttodosth.sooftenthatitbecomesahabite.g.• He’sgotintothehabitofswitchingontheTVassoonas hegetshome.• IgotintothehabitofstudyinginthelibrarywhenIwasincollege.FillintheblankOnce__________(他养成了用筷子吃饭的习惯),hepreferredthemtoaknifeandfork.he’dgotintothehabitofeatingwithchopstickscometoanend— stop;finishe.g.• Theteam’srunofsuccessseemstocometoanend.• Andherethestory

cometoanend.TranslateWhenthistemporaryjobcomestoanend,he’llbeunemployedagain.Key这份临时工作干完以后，他就又失业了。pickup— learnoracquireeasilywithoutmakingmuchefforte.g.• GeorgepickedupafewJapanesephraseswhenhewasonabusinesstriptoTokyo.• Weneedsomeonewhowillpickthejobupquickly.Translate我不知道孩子们上哪儿学到这些无礼的字眼的！KeyIdon’tknowwheremychildrenhavepickedupthoserudewords!atallhours— atanytime;allthetimee.g.•

Therestaurantservesmealsatallhours.• Sheisinclinedtotelephoneatallhoursofthedayornight.TatamiTatamiisarectangularmatusedasafloorcoveringinJapanesehouses.Itconsistsofathickstrawbaseandasoft,finelywovenrushcoverwithclothborders.AtatamiMeasuresapproximately6by3feet(180by90cm)andisabout2inches(5cm)thick.Text-relatedinformationsurpass— v.beevenbetterorgreaterthan;gobeyonde.g.•

Thelatecomerssurpasstheearlystarters.Translate你的优异表现已经超出了所有人的期望。KeyYourexcellentperformancehassurpassedeveryone’sexpectations.befacedwith— beconfrontedwith;bemadetomeet(sth.badordifficult)e.g.• Facedwiththethreatoflosingtheirjobs,theworkersonstrikedecidedtogobacktowork.• Heisfacedwithadifficultchoiceaftergraduation:togobacktohishometownorstayinthebigcity.Fillintheblank__________(面临严重的财政问题),thecompanyhadtolayoffsomeoftheworkers.Facedwithseverefinancialproblems…,Georgereinventedhimselfasa“culturaltranslator”.Translatethesentence: ?乔治将自己重新塑造成了一名“文化翻译”。e.g.•

Mylastquestionisagainasomewhatpersonalone.• Again,that’sveryimpossible.Theadverbagaincanbeusedtoindicateandemphasizeasimilaritybetweenthesituation,actionorsubjectthatishappeningorbeingdiscussednowandapreviousone.…whentheJapanesejoint-venturepresidentwas—again—offendedbyamessagefromtheAmericanmanagement.storm— v.moveorwalkquicklyandnoisilyinanangere.g.•

Aftertheargumentshe

stormed

off.•

Hestormedroundthehouseinarage.Thewisdomofthisdecisionwasprovedagainandagainovertheyears.Paraphrasethesentence: ?Thedecision(toactasaculturaltranslator)wasprovedsensiblebyoneincidentafteranotherduringalltheseyears.justify— v.givegoodreasonsfor/todo(sth.)e.g.•It’shardtojustifymakingeveryonewaitforsolong.Translate你怎能为这样对待你的母亲而辩护？KeyHowcanyou

justifyyourselffortreatingyourmotherlikethat?Somehoworother,hemadetheirmessagesoundatleasthalfwaysensibletoAmericans.somehoworother—insomeway;inonewayoranothere.g.Somehoworother,wewillgetthemachineworkingagain.Don’tkeepthesecretfromhim;hewillknowitsomehoworother.Moretolearne.g.• Anyhalfwaydecentteachershouldbeableto explainit.• Hehalfwaysurrenderedtotheirdemands.Somehoworother,hemadetheirmessagesoundatleasthalfwaysensibletoAmericans.Thewordhalfway

isusedasanadverbtomeanfairlyorreasonably.goalongwith—agreewith;accept;supporte.g.• She’llgoalongwithyourdecision.• We’llgoalongwithyoursuggestions,althoughthey’renotexactlywhatwewant.Itworkedtheotherwayaround,too.Paraphrasethesentence: ?ItwasalsoeffectivewithmessagesfromtheAmericanmanagementtotheJapanese.ensure— v.makesure,guaranteee.g.•

Thisletterwillensureyouaninterview.• Thedoordidnotlock,butatleastitensureda reasonableamountofprivacy.TranslateThismedicinewillensureyouanight’sgoodsleep.Key这药可以保证你一夜好睡。e.g.• Thankstoacoolsummer,ourelectricitybillshave been verylow.• Theplaywasagreatsuccessthankstotheeffortand commitmentofeveryoneinvolved.Cf.dueto— becauseofe.g.

Itisreportedthataccidents

dueto

drivingathigh

speedhaveincreasedalot.thanksto— becauseof;owingto;withthehelpofMoretodo1. Thebigemotionalbattlesaremainly_____culturaldifferences.

2. OnecompanyIworkedforavoidedthisentireproblem_____thesensitivityofoneoftheiremployees.V. Studytheuseof“dueto”and“thanksto”andthenusethemtocompletethefollowingsentences.

dueto

thankstoExercises•Vocabulary《读写教程II》:

Ex.V,p.793. _____circumstancesbeyondourcontrol,thestorewillbeclosedfortheentiremonthofAugust.4._____effortandgoodwillofeveryoneinvolved,theChristmaspartywasagreatsuccess.DuetoThankstoV. Studytheuseof“dueto”and“thanksto”andthenusethemtocompletethefollowingsentences.

Exercises•Vocabulary5. Allflightshavebeendelayed_____athickfog.6. _____thepublic’sgenerousdonations,theearthquakevictimswereabletorebuildtheirhomeswithintwomonths.duetothankstoV. Studytheuseof“dueto”and“thanksto”andthenusethemtocompletethefollowingsentences.

Exercises•Vocabularysmoothover— make(problemsordifficulties)seemlessseriousormorepleasante.g.•

Perhapsagiftofflowerswillhelptosmoothyour quarrelover.Translate比尔试图平息和妻子的争吵。KeyBilltriedtosmoothoverhisargumentwithhiswife.GuidedPracticeVocabularyClozeTranslationStructureWriting1. WeexpectedEllentodowell,butwhenshegotstraightA’sshe_____allourexpectations.Vocabulary2. Youmadeagooddecision,andIthoroughly_____ofit.III. Fillintheblankswiththewordsgivenbelow.Changetheformwherenecessary.thriverepresentensuresurpassqualifiedconflictescalateapparentjustifyapprovesurpassedapproved3. Theyarrivedatthestadiumthreehoursearlyto_____thatthey’dgetgoodseats.Vocabulary4. Thecompanyisnow_____thankstotheskillfulmanagementandoutstandingtechnology.III. Fillintheblankswiththewordsgivenbelow.Changetheformwherenecessary.thriverepresentensuresurpassqualifiedconflictescalateapparentjustifyapproveensurethriving5. Thedirectors’disagreementrapidly_____intoafight,sothemeetingbecamemoreexcitingthananyonehadexpected.Vocabulary6. Asajuniormemberoftheschool’steachingstaff,Janetdidn’tfeel_____todiscusstheissuewiththeprincipal.III. Fillintheblankswiththewordsgivenbelow.Changetheformwherenecessary.thriverepresentensuresurpassqualifiedconflictescalateapparentjustifyapproveescalatedqualified7. The20-year-oldtennisplayer’sdreamisto_____ChinaatthenextOlympics.Vocabulary8. Itwasbecoming_____thattheelderlychemist’sskillswerenolongerneeded.III. Fillintheblankswiththewordsgivenbelow.Changetheformwherenecessary.thriverepresentensuresurpassqualifiedconflictescalateapparentjustifyapproverepresentapparent9. Idon’tunderstandhowyoucan_____spendingmoneyonspaceexplorationwhentherearehungrychildrenintheworld.Vocabulary10.Manyofthe_____thatspringfromculturaldifferencescanbeavoidedifyoukeepanopenmind.III. Fillintheblankswiththewordsgivenbelow.Changetheformwherenecessary.thriverepresentensuresurpassqualifiedconflictescalateapparentjustifyapprovejustifyconflictsFromeachofthepairslistedontheright,choosethewordthatbestfillseachblank.Cloze《读写教程II》:

Ex.VIII,p.81Thebiggestproblemthat“culturaltranslators”havetosolveiscausedbyverysubtleculturaldifferences._____themosttroublesomecultural_____thatinternationaljointventureshavetocopewithistheprocessbywhichdecisionsare_____.Thebiggestdifficultyissimply_____thatdecision-makingisaculturalissue._____veryfewpeopleareactually_____thedecision-makingnormsthatthosenormsarefarfromuniversal.Among/Amidcontracts/conflictsmade/doneunderstand/understandingDueto/Sinceawakenedto/consciousofAmongconflictsmadeunderstandingSinceconsciousofCloze_____whenthey_____adifferentdecision-makingstyletheybecomefirstconfused,thenimpatient_____theotherparties’“inability”tomakeadecision.“What’swrongwiththem—arethey_____orjuststupid?!”Thenextphaseismostoftenadeterminationtoeachtheotherside“therightway”tomakeadecision—_____,theirway.7. So/Then8. runinto/enter9. by/with10. crazy/capable11. byname/thatiswithcrazythatisClozeSorunintoBut_____theotherside(whoeveritis)feelsexactlythesamewayabouttheir“rightway”,theresultsofthisteachingeffortareusuallyprofoundlynon-educational._____whenthesituationbecomestrulyugly,_____intoatotalculturalwarinwhichboth_____accusetheothersideofincompetenceandnon-cooperation.12. since/whereas13.That’s/There’s14. escalated/escalating15. personnel/partiesThat’sescalatingpartiesClozesinceTranslation《读写教程II》:

Ex.X,p.82Whenthetemporaryjobcametoanend,Georgewasofferedapermanentjob,whichheacceptedatonce.Translation1.

当那份临时性的工作结束时，人家给乔治提供了一份永久性的（permanent）工作，他马上就接受了。cometoanendbeofferedToensurethattheirjointventuresinJapanareprofitable,theAmericancompaniesneedculturaltranslatorsevenmorethanlanguagetranslator.2.

为了确保他们在日本的合资企业赢利，那些美国公司比之语言翻译来说更需要文化翻译。ensureprofitableevenmorethanTranslationAsaculturaltranslator,GeorgewaseagertohelptheJapaneseemployeeswhocametoaskhisadviceonagreatmanymatters,bothwithinandoutsidehisfieldofexpertise.3.

作为一名文化翻译，乔治渴望帮助那些就许许多多事情来向他求助的日方雇员，包括属于他专业知识范围之内和之外的问题。beeagertohelpcametoaskhisadviceonhisfieldofexpertiseTranslationSomehoworother,GeorgepersuadedtheAmericanmanagertogoalongwiththeJapaneseaccountant’sdecision,thussmoothingovertheconflictbetweenthetwo.4. 乔治用某种方法说服美方经理接受了日方会计师的决 定，从而缓解了两人之间的冲突。somehoworothergoalongwithsmoothoverTranslationConflictsandargumentsdoariseattimesbetweentheAmericanmanagersandtheirJapanesecounterparts.Butsincebothpartieshavethegoodsensetocompromise,theseconflictsarepreventedfromescalatingintobigemotionalbattles.5. 美方经理与日方经理之间的确有时会发生冲突和争论。但由于双方都很有见识进行妥协，才防止了这些冲突和争论激化为感情大战。arisehavethegoodsenseescalateintoTranslationAlltheJapaneseemployees,thepersonnelmanagerincluded,appreciatedGeorge’sfrequenthelpwiththemultitudeofproblems