文化差异(Culture Difference)

doctorliubo

1 Authority

In many countries , authority is seldom , if ever, questioned , either because it is highly respected , or because it is feared . Sometimes , too, Because rank has been important in certain societies for a long time, people have been trained never to question those in authority .. For example , children are not expected to question their teachers in school .It may be considered improper for young businessmen to suggest ideas that differ from those of older, more experienced members of the business.

　　　 In other countries, including America, children are trained to question and search for　answers . When a child asks a question, he will often be told to go to the library and find the answer for himself. By the time students reach the age of 14 or 15, they may be developing exciting new ideas in all fields of science and the arts . To encourage such creativity [1] , there are many national prizes offered to students , every year for their scientific discoveries and artistic accomplishments.

　　　　This interest in questioning and searching may be considered by some people as bad for young people's manners , that young people lack respect for authority . This impression may be created when visitors notice young Americans asking questions and arguing with older people . However , this is because many Americans have a different attitude toward authority than may exist in other areas of the world . In a work or business　situation, ideas are freely and openly discussed and argued. It is important to remember tat it is the person's ideas that are being questioned, not the individual himself..　The two are quite separate. The purpose of the searching , questioning , and arguing is to find the facts in a particular situation, and therefore a solution, so that the work of the business can progress in the most effective manner possible.

　　　　 As was mentioned earlier, you may notice the some questioning in social conversations . Although some individuals may think that Americans are rude because of their direct manner with people, they are merely trying to learn more about your ideas.



2American Society is Changing

In many nations , everyday activities are done in a planned , orderly manner. For example , formal relationships among people may be determined according to customs and habits that have existed for a long time . People visiting an informal country , such as the United States , may find that the American belief in personal initiative or freedom (including the freedom to disagree with those in authority ), and the whole economic system is quits confusing and uncontrolled . To some visitors such freedoms are too \"loose\" and too disorganized to be comfortable.

　　　　Today , the United States is experiencing great change in every part of society ;therefore life in America may indeed seem confused . Social attitudes are being questioned . Americans are wondering: \"Is there any morality ?\"　\"Why has the nation never given all of its citizens full opportunity ?\"\"What courses should be taught in school?\"　\"What is the role of women in society ? \"As visitors , you will notice that some Americans are beginning to leave the cities and make their homes in small cities and towns where life is quieter and slower . Political beliefs are changing . The kinds of　skills needed by workers today differ from those in demand several years ago.


3Truth or Courtesy

Just as the degree of individual freedom that exists in America seems loose and therefore uncomfortable to many visitors . In many countries , people will tell you　what they think you want to here , whether or not it is true. To them , this is the polite thing to do. To Americans it is considered confusing -even dishonest -to avoid telling the true facts. even if avoiding the truth is done only to be polite . It is helpful to remember that different cultures consider some matters more important than others . Wit Americans , however, trust and truth are most important. One of the worst tings that can be said about someone in America is that \" you cannot trust him\"

　　　　Considering such differences in values among the many cultures of the world , it is natural that misunderstandings [1] will occur . \"How far is it to the next town ?\" an American asks a man standing by the edge of a road . In some countries , because the man realizes the traveler is tired and eager to reach the next village, he will politely say , ' Just down　the road \". e thinks this is more encouraging ., gentler , and therefore the answer the traveler wants to hear. So the American drives alone for many more hours before he comes to the village. The traveler is angry , feeling \"tricked\". He thinks that the man has purposely lied to him because he must have know quite will well what the distance was.
　　　　If a visitor to the United States asked an American standing at the edge of a road how far the next town was, the American would think it dishonest if he said it was near when he knew it was really 24 miles away. Although he , too , would be sympathetic with the tired traveler , he would say, \"You have a long way to go yet ; it is at least 24 miles more. \" The traveler　might be disappointed , but he would know what to expect, and there would be no misunderstanding.


4Personal Progress

In many parts of the world , personal influence is essential in achieving success. This is not true in the United States, where success usually results from hard work , education, skill, and personal initiative , America is truly a　\"do-it-yourself\" society ; success is not dependent on family　origins or　the help of an influential person . Personal progress is the result of individual effort.

　　　　Because effort and initiative are so important in America , there are many customs that may be different from　 those　 practiced in other countries. For example , it is not considered dishonorable to quit a job, even if you have had it for only a short time . Moving from job-to -job , or \"job-hopping \", as it is called , is quite acceptable in the United States. Frequently , the opportunity　to change jobs offers workers a chance to move up to a better position. Americans like to move from place to place trying new jobs, meeting new people　and living in different parts of the country. \"Job-hopping\" also gives employers a chance to benefit from the new ideas and skills that　different people bring to their jobs even if such　people are employed for only a short time.

5 Wealth and Privilege

Owning cars , large houses , or swimming pools mean different things in different cultures and may confuse a visitor to the United States . In many nations , only the rich have such things as cars and swimming pools ; the poor have very little.

　　　　By contrast, this is not true in the United States . The cost of certain things that only the rich can afford in other countries is relatively low. This means that laborers , farmers , and　people who are not usually regarded as rich nevertheless have many possessions tat only the rich have in other nations . Understandably a visitor may assume that all Americans who own cars are as rich as people in his own country　who own cars . Actually , this is not the cases　; secretaries, university students , factory workers or farmers can　and do buy cars and many other \"expensive \" things . Generally , they pay for these possessions gradually , during a period of many months , or even years , so that the cost each most is not too high　in relation to their monthly wages .

6 Society

The United States , like other countries has its rich and poor people , its rich and poor neighborhoods.

　　　 Americans love --- and many are themselves living examples of　---the \"self　-made man. \" You will hear this expression often. But for every person who is successful. They are usually better educated tan their parents and therefore more likely to have good , well paying jobs.

　　　　In addition to the fact that the United States includes　people whose families originally came from many other parts of the world , Americans move across the nation in great numbers. One study reported that one of every five families in the United States moves every three years . This continuous mixing of people into new communities is an important observation to consider when trying to understand the meaning of class in America. We have already discussed the questioning , \"do-it -yourself\" American personality that is another important consideration.

　　　In many countries, a man's social class is determined at birth . That is , his social class or position is shared with his family , his wider group of relatives . In the United　States , position in society is , to a large degree, personal rather than related to family or group.

　　　 Before World War Two, family ties were more important America than they are now . Uncles, aunts grandparents , and children vacationed together, spent holidays together, and saw much of　each other. But as the American economy developed more rapidly after the war, social customs began to change. With the rapidly growing economy , there were new employment opportunities, many of them in scientific fields. These opportunities were often located in other parts of the country . The younger members of many families who were will educated began to move away from the towns where their families lived to tale these new jobs. As these young people became successful, they often moved into a new social stratum [1], consisting of others who, like themselves ,moved away from home to follow job opportunities.

　　　These same changes are already happening in most new countries around the world . Today , a man who can read or fix a machine may become the new leader of his community in place of an older person. Often young　people can better understand the new sciences and modern skills ; as these young people learn and advance , their wages rise and they become increasingly successful.

　　　Frequently ., it is just one member of a family that becomes very successful. Other members continue working at their average jobs and salaries , without much chance of becoming as successful as the son or daughter. When this happens , people sometimes become separated from their family. Many return to visit, but others move away never to return to their relatives and old friends.

　　　To many people , success means having more power than one possessed before . It can be won through skill, knowledge , leadership, or sometimes just by hard work .　 In America, \"success\" has normally bee accompanied by an increase in wealth. As a result , an individual 's social position is determined bot by a person's job and by the kinds of possessions he owns .

　　　　As we said , however, young people are in the process of developing different values and different ways to measure success.


7 National race

The whole question of the changing role of Blacks in American society as been the subject of newspaper articles around the world so frequently that visitors to the United States do not know what to expect when they arrive. They may be surprised when they see that Blacks and Whites work side by side in offices , factories , and　schools across　the country . The majority of Blacks in the United States, however, live in and around only a small number of American cities.

　　　　Many dark-skinned visitors arrive in the United States fearing personal attack or expecting various degrees of racial　 prejudice. Some forms of　discrimination [1] still exist ,unfortunately, especially in the areas of the　housing , schools , and jobs . The school equality is still more a dream than a reality. There are still too many areas of　the country where Black Americans do not enjoy the same full opportunities as White Americans . However, the vast majority of American s are working , studying , and sharing public places together. This was not true even a few years ago in some parts of the country , but progress is steadily being made . You will be able to observe the improvement in race relations as soon as your　plane lands . You will see it in the airport, in public buses and trains , in theaters , restaurants , rest room, in　sops and libraries , in offices and factories . Close personal friendships between Blacks and Whites , full trust and social relationships are still not common , except in certain areas,　However, even in this - the slowest area of progress-there has been change , especially among young people.

8 Majority-Minority Cooperation

The face that a minority will peacefully accept the results of an election and offer to cooperate with those they　opposed is difficult for many visitors to understand . Some people wonder how the minority is ever heard if the majority rules. As the visitor will soon learn for himself, the ,minority is not only heard ;it is also very powerful and influential.

　　　 For example , it is interesting to attend　and observe the minority in action at a meeting in a small American town. There are usually a great many arguments at such meetings. After everyone has had an opportunity to express is opinion, there is usually a vote to decide the issue in question. When the vote has been taken, you will see the losers and the winners shake hands and enjoy themselves in friendly conversation　as if they had not opposed one another just a few minutes before. The losers do not feel dishonored [1] . They realize that they must begin at once to work harder to build majority support so that at the next vote or the next election, their side will win.


9Americans Thinking

Americans tend to move from the particular and small to the general and large. However, in other countries, it is sometimes common for people to begin with a general idea and then move to more particular facts . Recognizing the difference between these two ways of thinking is not always easy and is often the cause of misunderstandings.