Graduation thesis of cross-cultural communication

Graduation thesis of cross-cultural communication

Busy and full college life is coming to an end, and you must pass the final graduation thesis before graduating from college. Graduation thesis is an important form to test students' academic performance. How to write a graduation thesis? The following is my graduation thesis on cross-cultural communication. Welcome to share.

abstract:

Cross-cultural communication refers to the communication between people from different countries and cultural backgrounds. Cultural differences have many influences on cross-cultural communication. This paper analyzes the causes of communication barriers from four aspects: differences in thinking and expression, differences in nonverbal communication, differences in traditional culture and differences in values, and points out that understanding cultural differences between China and foreign countries plays an important role in avoiding mistakes in cross-cultural communication, reducing misunderstandings in international communication and promoting cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries.

Keywords: cultural differences; Intercultural communication

Cross-cultural communication involves two concepts: communication and culture. In a sense, communication means that culture is formed in the process of communication. Culture is an all-encompassing concept. Generally speaking, culture is the sum of what people think, say, do and feel. Cross-cultural communication is the communication between people with different cultural backgrounds (information sender and information receiver). Different nationalities have created their own unique cultures and have been shaped by their own cultures. "Therefore, when people from different cultures come together, communication will inevitably fail, and overcoming these communication obstacles in time and effectively is the key to the success of cross-cultural communication. This is of great significance to promoting international cultural, political and economic exchanges. The author analyzes the causes of communication barriers from four aspects: differences in thinking and expression, nonverbal communication, traditional culture and values, so as to improve cross-cultural communication ability.

First, the influence of differences in thinking and expression on communication

Different ways of thinking first lead to different language expressions. In terms of information arrangement, China people are used to thinking in images. In order to make articles vivid, they often use gorgeous words, a lot of adjectives and rich metaphors. But for westerners, because of the differences in emotional basis and reading habits, gorgeous words can only reduce the clarity and effect of communication, and even be regarded as empty talk and exaggerated propaganda. According to the western writing style, in English writing, westerners pay more attention to logical rigor and factual statements, and are used to low-key statements rather than strong words.

Thinking mode is a bridge between culture and language. On the difference of thinking mode, the most striking feature of Chinese and western cultural thinking modes is that China people are implicit and euphemistic, and their thinking modes are tacit, while westerners are direct and intuitive. There are differences between Chinese and western expressions of writing letters. When westerners express their wishes, they are more direct, writing their own requirements directly in front, and then they will talk about some pleasantries. China people will make demands implicitly and tactfully. Generally speaking, the real problem to be discussed is at the end of the letter, which is preceded by greetings. Different writing styles reflect different ways of thinking. China people like to ask each other's age, marriage and income when they meet for the first time to show their concern, but westerners are disgusted with this. They think these are personal privacy and others have no right to ask. If you ask a western lady, "How old are you?" They will probably answer, "This is a secret! Westerners want to be young and energetic in the eyes of others, and want to keep a young mind, so they don't like to mention their actual age. Another example is "Where are you going? "People in China often meet in conversation." What are you doing? "In English, it has become an interrogation to spy on others' privacy, which is presumptuous and unpopular.

Second, the differences in nonverbal communication

Nonverbal communication differences refer to all nonverbal communication activities, which are collectively called nonverbal communication, including eyes, gestures, body posture, smile, facial expression, dress, silence, physical contact, distance between speakers, speaking volume, time concept, space use, etc. Generally speaking, southern European countries, such as Italy, Spain, Greece and other countries, use gestures frequently and exaggeratedly; Germany, Britain, the Netherlands and other central and western European countries followed; Nordic countries in the far north are second, because they hardly use gestures to express any information.

Third, the differences of traditional culture.

Historically, China is one of the oldest countries in the world with a long and heavy history of 5,000 years. Created countless splendid civilizations, and made China's diet more extensive and profound. With the passage of time and geographical differences in vast territory, the four major cuisines have gradually formed, each with its own system and characteristics, but the similarity of * * * lies in the exquisite materials, complex production methods and amazing variety of tastes and dishes.

Due to the differences between Chinese and western philosophies, westerners attach importance to science in diet. Emphasizing science means emphasizing nutrition. Therefore, the western diet takes nutrition as the highest criterion, and eating is like adding fuel to biological machines, with special emphasis on the nutritional components of food, whether the contents of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and various inorganic elements are properly matched, whether the supply of calories is just right, whether these nutritional components can be fully absorbed by consumers, and whether there are any other side effects. These problems are put forward by the university in cooking, and the color, aroma and taste of dishes are second-class requirements. Even France, the leading food country in the west, although its food culture is similar to ours in many aspects, in terms of nutrition, the two sides have already pulled away.

Westerners pay more attention to the reasonable collocation of nutrition than China when introducing their own country's dietary characteristics. There is a developed food industry, such as canned food and fast food, which saves time and has good nutrition, although it tastes the same. So people in their country are generally stronger than those in China: tall, with long legs, wide shoulders and muscular; China people, on the other hand, are thin, with narrow shoulders and short legs and light yellow color. According to the obvious differences between Chinese and western food objects, some people call China a plant word, while westerners call it an animal word.

Fourth, the differences in values.

Values refer to a person's overall evaluation and view of the significance and importance of the surrounding objective things (including people, things and things). On the one hand, it shows value orientation and pursuit, and condenses into a certain value goal; On the other hand, it is manifested as a measure and criterion of value, and it has become an evaluation standard for people to judge whether something of value has value.

China has a long history, including more than two thousand years of feudal rule, which directly affects the formation of modern values. Modern China people are still more obedient to authority, respect their elders, attach importance to personal identity and emphasize self-discipline. In contrast, as early as17th century, the British bourgeoisie overthrew feudal rule and established a capitalist society. The industrial revolution has greatly improved people's material living standards and completely liberated people's minds. The democratic thought of capitalism gradually spread throughout the western society. Westerners admire individuals and yearn for freedom and equality. This difference in historical environment makes the individual consciousness between China and the West very different.

The mainstream of western cultural values is the spirit of self-improvement. Western culture publicizes individuality, emphasizes the protection of individual interests, pays attention to the independent development of individual potential and strengthens the awareness of individual rights. Individualism is the norm of all behaviors, self-realization is the highest demand and purpose of life, independence is the most effective means of self-realization, and inviolability of human rights is the guarantee of self-realization. China's mainstream cultural values are harmonious spirit. The Chinese nation has paid attention to harmony since ancient times. In the relationship between man and nature, it advocates the unity of man and nature, and man and nature live in harmony; In the interpersonal relationship, it emphasizes harmony and friendliness to others; In the relationship between countries, it advocates good neighborliness and harmonious coexistence among all ethnic groups. The Chinese nation is a peace-loving and kind nation.

People who grew up in different cultural backgrounds should have different values and advantages. Today, with the rapid development of science and technology, in order to make China prosperous and global, we must introduce advanced western cultural concepts, abandon its bad situation, absorb the spirit and consciousness of equality, competition, efficiency and individual liberation in the West, and abandon its consciousness of money worship, materialism and excessive ego. With the process of globalization and the rise of China in the world, it is of great significance to understand and master the differences of cross-cultural values between China and the West for avoiding and solving conflicts in communication and promoting national integration.

Judging from the various influences of the above-mentioned cultural differences on cross-cultural communication, cultural factors are the main reasons for the obstacles in cross-cultural communication. Many cultural factors have some negative effects on cross-cultural communication. Therefore, learning a foreign language is inseparable from the study and research of its culture. Only by thoroughly solving all kinds of communication obstacles caused by cultural differences can cross-cultural communication succeed. This is a fundamental and effective way to improve people's intercultural communication ability.

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