Download First Two Weeks Reading Questions

FJ486a: Japanese Film and Society
Spring 2012
Intercultural Competence: Interpersonal Communication across Cultures
Myron Lustig and Jolene Koester
Chapter 7: Verbal Intercultural Communication
Reading questions:
1. What is a verbal code?
Verbal and non-verbal language
2. What is important for a good translation?
Use of verbal signs to understand the verbal sigs of another language
Should reflect the style of the original, convey meaning of the original in such a way that
reflects cultural aspects of both languages.
3. What is dynamic equivalence?
p. 175~
Goal of a good translation includes:
Vocabulary, idiomatic, grammatical-syntactical, experiential and conceptual equivalence.
4. Is translation always equivocal? Provide and example.
No. For Japanese. Ogenki desu ka. How are you? But literally is are you well? Do you have energy?
5. On p. 177, can you answer the questions? Use the reading to base it on facts.
6. How are variations in vocabulary and grammar important?
Vocabulary differences are shaped by culture or visa versa
Japanese has words for items we don’t have. Like sushi or
One word needs more than one word to translate it.
Snow types.p. 181
Grammar differences
Respect and social hierarchy. This is prevalent in Japanese. (desu/masu honorifics) use
of titles to refer to someone.
Lack of use of you in Japanese (have the word but used in different ways reference to
husband or wife)
7. What is the Communication Accommodation Theory proposed by Howard Giles? Has
this ever happened to you or do you even think it is possible. Provide examples.
Convergence or divergence with communication
When first learning Japanese, had host mother accommodate to me to learner language
but even more so she used kansai ben with family but always standard with me. (even
today)
8. Your question: ______________________________________________________
End with:
What languages do they know?
How are these different from English?
What difficulties do you have when translating to and from these languages?
What cultural differences are seen in these languages?
FJ486a: Japanese Film and Society
Spring 2012
Intercultural Competence: Interpersonal Communication across Cultures
Myron Lustig and Jolene Koester
Chapter 8: Nonverbal Intercultural Communication
1. What are non-verbal codes?
Nonlinguitics behaviors, usually subconscious. “silent language”
2. What are the cultural universals of non-verbal communication? Be able to explain what
they mean.
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the same body parts are used for nonverbal expressions
nonverbal channels are used to convey similar information, emotions, values,
norms and self-disclosing message
nonverbal messages accompany verbal communication and are use din art and
ritual
the motives for using the nonverbal channel such as when speech is impossible
are similar across cultures
nonverbal message are used to coordinate and control a range of contexts and
relationships that are similar across cultures
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3. What do you think about the statement? “Because the ability to produce such
emotional displays is consistent across cultures, there is probably a biological or genetic
basis that allows for these behaviors to be produced in all humans in a particular way.”
4. For those of you who have studied Japanese, what forms of non-verbal communication
have you learned about. If you have not studied Japanese, are there any that you know
about?
5. Define the following: (Be able to give examples)
a. Emblems nonverbal behavoiors that have a direct verbal counter part (waving hi)
b. Illustrators are directly tied to or accompany the verbal message. Huge mountain
lift arms to show it.
c. Affect displays facial and body movements that show feelings and emotions.
d. Regulators help to synchronize the back and forth nature of conversation. Head
nods, eye contact…etc.
e. Adaptors personal body movements that occur as a reaction to an individuals
physical or psychological state. Scratching an itch tapping a pencil.
6. When you think about your own culture (this may be your identity as an American or
another culture that is a part of your heritage) how are body movements, space, touch,
time and voice important aspects of your non-verbal behavior? Provide examples.
7. Observe someone during a meal or while studying, how do they communicate with
someone else? What do you notice about their verbal and non-verbal communication
strategies?
8. Your question: ___________________________________________________________
What about use of personal space time, touch voice etc. how are these important?
FJ486a: Japanese Film and Society
Spring 2012
Intercultural Competence: Interpersonal Communication across Cultures
Myron Lustig and Jolene Koester
Chapter 9: The effects of Code Usage in Intercultural Communication
1. What languages have you studied so far? Have you considered their organization of
information before? If so, what have you noticed?
Circle in approach in Japanese.
2. Have you ever had an intercultural encounter where you need to persuade someone of
something? What happened? Were you successful?
Me and the car
3. How is silence important in conversation? Give examples. How is different across
cultures? Give examples.
Japan: not a bad thing. Actually important part of conversation.
English it can be awkward.
4. On p. 238 there are 8 questions posed in regards to conversational rules. What would
your answers be.
5. Several instances of Japanese culture are mentioned in this chapter. Select one and
think about how would you recognize this in conversation…or would you be able to.
Japanese paragraph gyre or series of stepping stones. Specific point not conveyed must
pull the ideas together by the listener.! P.227
Haragei (wordless communication) hate to hear someone make excuse, don’t like long
complicated explanations p.236
Long pauses and understatement in Japanese American talk. P.239
6. Your question: ___________________________________________________________