Encountering the Chinese: A Modern Country, an Ancient Culture

Encountering the Chinese......Page 2
Table of Contents......Page 6
Acknowledgments......Page 10
Foreword\n......Page 14
Preface......Page 18
Introduction......Page 22
Part I Advice for Westerners Interacting with the Chinese......Page 32
Chinese Naming Practices......Page 34
An Overview of Chinese Forms of Address......Page 35
Chinese Forms of Address Westerners Should Use......Page 36
Other Forms of Address Used in the PRC......Page 40
Greetings among the Chinese......Page 44
Conversational Openers......Page 49
Conversational Restrictions......Page 50
Farewells among the Chinese......Page 53
The Significance of Dining......Page 56
The Chinese Way of Dining......Page 57
Time-Use Patterns in Official Chinese Contexts......Page 62
Time-Use Patterns in Nonofficial Chinese Contexts......Page 63
Receiving Social Visits from Chinese Friends......Page 66
A Word about Hosting Chinese Visitors in the West......Page 68
Chinese Traditional “Disparagement”of Themselves and Their Families......Page 70
Other Behavioral Features of Chinese Humility......Page 72
The Origin and Nature of Chinese Humility......Page 75
Levels of Personal Relationships among the Chinese......Page 78
Chinese - Style Relationships and Their Pitfalls for Westerners......Page 80
Some Cautionary Advice about Romance......Page 89
Teaching and Training the Chinese Today......Page 94
Student Life and Relationships in the PRC......Page 99
The Special Role of Chinese Teachers......Page 102
The Traditions of Western and Chinese Education......Page 104
Decision Making in Chinese Institutions......Page 110
The Cultural Bases of American and Chinese Decision Making......Page 113
Five Diferences Between Chinese and Western Negotiating Practices......Page 117
A Note about Western Women Working in China......Page 124
A General Explanation of the Concept of Face......Page 130
Contrasts between Chinese and Western Concepts of Face......Page 134
Recognizing Common Face-Saving Behaviors of the Chinese......Page 137
Protecting Your Own Face (and That of Ot hers) When among the Chinese......Page 140
Dealing with a Face - Loss Situation You Have Caused......Page 141
Living As a Foreign Guest in the People’s Republic......Page 144
Obtaining Personal Assistance......Page 149
Changing Attitudes to Dress and Self- Decoration......Page 151
Coping with Time-Use Diferences......Page 152
A Few Suggestions about queuing......Page 154
Accepting, Refusing, and Giving Invitations......Page 155
Lending and Borrowing......Page 156
Gift Giving among the Chinese......Page 157
Being Entertained at a Meal......Page 163
Hosting a Banquet or Other Meal......Page 165
Problems of Foreign Teachers at Chinese Universities......Page 169
Interacting with Administrators and Other Faculty......Page 170
A Note about Audience Behavior Out side of Classrooms......Page 173
Interacting with Domestic Employees......Page 174
Social Aspects of Traveling......Page 179
Making Use of the Internet......Page 183
Preparing for Your Final Return to the West......Page 184
Keeping in Touch after Your Return......Page 186
The Intercultural Context of Encountering the Chinese......Page 187
What Are Intercultural Services?......Page 188
Appendix A Glossary of Chinese Terms......Page 196
Appendix B Chinese Titles and Forms of Address......Page 202
Recommended Readings......Page 204
Index......Page 210