Analysis of Western culture, personal values

Abstract: Culture is a system, China and the West by the different natural environment and social lives, produced two very different Cultures. Living in two different cultural environment of the people, held by the life and values , ethics and other social behavior are not the same. to enhance the effectiveness of communication across cultural equality, so that both sides of communication should be sent to the full sound of their own Culture, to maximize and understanding towards each other to get the true sense of the communication.

Paper Keywords: cultural differences, cross-cultural awareness, values, community values
First, sensitivity to cultural differences and cultural differences
Cultural difference is that people in different ecological and natural environment of the formation of language, knowledge, beliefs, outlook on life, values, ways of thinking, morality, customs, etc. are different. Cross-cultural awareness is in the process of foreign language learning foreign language by reflect the cultural awareness and acceptance of an attitude. It is in foreign language learning and teaching plays an important role in cross-cultural awareness is a real foreign language students communicative competence reflects, because language and Culture are inseparable. Language is part of the Culture is the carrier of culture. Each language and culture, corresponding to a specific and reflect the culture. The culture is a system, which involves a kind of national spiritual and material aspects of life. So culture, national character - a nation with a common language, common customs compliance, to develop a common psychological quality and personality. China and the West as far geographically, by the different natural environment and social lives. produced two very different cultures. So we have to learn a foreign language, we must first have a sensitivity to cultural differences.

Han Wei (R. G. Hanvey) sensitivity to cultural differences is divided into four stages. The first stage is for the surface of the identification of distinct cultural identity, people's response is usually that the new, exotic. The second stage is the subtle and meaningful, with their different cultural characteristics of cultural identification, the reaction usually is that incredible or difficult to accept. The third stage is the analysis by logically acceptable. The fourth stage is able to do from each other standpoint to feel their culture. to realize Hanvey's four stages is very difficult, however, in teaching, we can help students develop a conscious sensitivity to cultural differences, as much as possible to guide students into the "God income ", that is the fourth stage. the difference between the two cultures is reflected in all aspects, the paper only from the side to talk about the values ​​of the differences between Chinese and Western cultures.

Second, the East-West cultural differences in values
North Outer Professor Zhu Weifang survey a few years ago by way of foreign teachers found that Chinese students extra-curricular words and deeds of the following views:
1. Violation of hospitality General: foreign teachers to the guests did not show proper enthusiasm and concern. Respondents think they do not respect human relations, and unreasonable, the lack of concern for others. Another explanation is that they respect the guests of their choice.

2. Unnecessary politeness of strangers: the expression of such cases of low social status of the foreign relations and polite strangers. Explains the students are: respect for individual rights, Chong Shangping so on, have self-control.

3. Personalized arbitrary: such cases are described in the image of the foreign teachers as the demeanor of the sub. Students interpreted as: No modesty, lack of dignity, and some students interpreted as the pursuit of human freedom.

4. Compliance: This case study describes the foreign teachers for public order and the rules and regulations strictly adhered to. Student explained: move cultured civilization, these actions not only protect the personal power and to maintain the power of others.

5. Autonomous and independent special needs and personal space: This case study describes the foreign demands independence, autonomy and individual privacy. Their behavior is defined as personal, rather than the community collectivization. The students that they stubborn and willful. It was also that this is an autonomous behavior.


From another perspective, many foreign teachers of Chinese students are too modest unbearable. This is because, in our traditional culture, we have been using "self-depreciation" to mean modest. On campus, we often hear this dialogue:
Teacher: The exam is quite good.

Student: so-so, make do with it.

In Chinese, this "modest" cultural expression related to all aspects of life, such as "I", "my house", "potluck", "apology", "Fu Zheng", "Yu Xiong," and so on. Chinese people's implicit personal values, and Western individuation, the pursuit of values ​​of innovation has created a great contrast.

Since the early 80s of this century, more and more scholars in the world view of Eastern and Western cultures, beliefs, values, and differences in communication patterns and other aspects of interest. Living in two different cultural environment of the people, held by life, values, ethics and other social behavior are not the same. Therefore, when the two come from different cultures communicate, often leading to false secluded, experience to understand each other behavior disorder.

Cultural supremacy of personal values ​​has also been described as "me" culture, in English "I" word is always capitalized personal pronouns only one, "I" putting the word "I" word first, both in English Bibi is everywhere. In other words, in the "me" culture, society, society is only a means to achieve personal goals, all individuals are equal from a moral sense, the whole society championed individual self-realization, that personal values first. individual self-worth often depends on the extent to which different with others. Thus, in our daily lives and the "self-presentation" as important social activities. In such a culture, society, everyone is learning reflect the personality of the self: self-confidence, self-affirmation, the free expression of inner emotion and not subject to external constraints, and published different views, to seek the attention of others, revealed a unique self. Meanwhile, the supremacy of personal values ​​are the protection of personal privacy, emphasize in the open world of personal privacy needs, and advocate the individual from interference by any other person, to choose their own thoughts and behavior.

Western supremacy of personal values ​​can be traced back to the philosophy of individual freedom. It is the theoretical basis of each individual population are rational, have the ability to make rational choices. Therefore, they have the right to "freedom, equality, independence "The general principle, to choose their own life. Personal liberal in this society, that does not infringe other people's powers, does not violate equal protection of the power of universal laws and social ethics, people are free to pursue their own interests. Links to download free paper associations to promote the value of the East http://www.hi138.com first culture known as the "we" culture. In such a culture is not respected individual value, but the value of association and collective . the existence of society is more important than the existence of individuals. In Chinese culture, the ancient people Qian said, "I" to "I", Confucius praised love others as "benevolence", Sun Yat-sen advocated "Things," Mao Zedong advocated " Serve the People ", since ancient times, are to promote this" collectivism. "historical and cultural traditions of China emphasized sense of community, the Confucian classics <<Book of Rites>> in respect of the Confucian society did the typical description of Datong , known as the "Wan Li Datong." one of the core of Confucianism is ren. "benevolence" and composed by the two, we can see, it contains a person's relationships with others, this layer of meaning. It is emphasized that social groups unity and identity. In such a society, people are not seeking individual, but required everyone to comply with group requirements, Cheng Wei a member of society. Therefore, the value of the supremacy of society who do not want to cause others from their company, and reluctant to express different views. As Young (1994:51) in describing the social model of Chinese culture, pointed out: "The confrontation threatened social stability, will express views contrary to both sides lose. public presentation will be very raw thoughts disgust, for the complex relationship between upper and lower levels of social is not appropriate. and even extremely dangerous. "supreme value in the society associations to promote the mutual support and collective responsibility. beyond the constraints of the so-called personal freedom of collective is not acceptable. In this culture society, "a personal matter is a collective thing, there is no privacy among friends" (young, 1994:139). Eastern View is the community value of the first closely connected with the doctrine of Confucius . The Chinese culture with Confucianism as the hub, is supplemented by Buddhism, Confucianism, strongly praised the orderly and harmonious society. It should be noted that the cultural connotation of a society is complex and can not assert that a society is full of personal values oriented or value oriented society, can only be more acceptable to a society the supremacy of personal values ​​or the value of the supremacy of society, but most of the tendency of English-speaking countries, the supremacy of personal values, and the supremacy of the Chinese tend to value community.


Third, the East-West cultural differences in the values ​​of the standard
First, who believes in the supremacy of personal values ​​of equality, they focus on interpersonal communication to treat people equally, regardless of the level of social status, regardless of the distance and had relations. In contrast, the supremacy of the community's communicative value criteria tend to emphasize the differentiated up and down different. Thus, in their view, the supremacy of personal values ​​of equality and polite strangers who, is unnecessary politeness.

Second, those who advocate the supremacy of personal values ​​different, independent. Requires a large public social environment there are pieces of personal freedom or space domain. This is the value of the supremacy of society who, naturally, is considered extremely "selfish "and" incomprehensible "performance.

Third, the supremacy of personal values ​​were due to their individual requirements, with little consideration of being judged, they are willing and tried to express themselves. The supremacy of the community value of the community who has great attention to the evaluation of the collective behavior of individuals, unwilling to become target of public criticism and evaluation of head and foot of the object products. Therefore, the supremacy of the value of the community who view, the supremacy of personal values ​​are arbitrary self-presentation and personal expression is undesirable.

Fourth, the supremacy of personal values ​​to treat those societies, the collective responsibility of light. Therefore, they treat "guests" are missing my passion is because they think that every "guest", as individuals, should make their own choices, to the "guests" to provide can be an opportunity to choose, do not have to repeated requests, the owner of the "guests" have no special responsibility.

Conclusion
First, to achieve the purpose of cultural exchange, information transfer, access to information and promoting the development of material civilization, and second, to absorb other cultures, values ​​the active ingredient in the promotion of social and cultural progress. In the world into a "global village" of today, the international more and more frequent exchanges, cross-cultural communication skills training increasingly important. in communication, we should note the following three factors: (1) to avoid words and deeds of the subjective evaluation value. (2) mutual respect, equal dialogue to take the form of exchange. ( 3) abandon preconceptions to eliminate communication barriers. to achieve equality in intercultural communication, mutual understanding is very important. Eastern and Western cultures and different languages ​​are different, obvious cultural differences reflected in their language into. in cross-cultural communication, differences should be recognized and allow differences co-exist. For smooth communication, the value should be to look at each other and evaluate each other's behavior, tolerance, respect and understand others and their different, can not take their language to do with the Statute standards to measure and judge each other's language use. to enhance the effectiveness of communication across cultural equality to both sides of communication should be made to fully send out belong to the voice of their own culture, to maximize and understanding towards each other, to get the true sense of the communication. Zhuan affixed to the Research Papers Download http://www.hi138.com