1、 Unit 3:Text A21st Century College English:Book 221st Century College English:Book 2 The Tale of a Cultural TranslatorUnit Three:Text AUnit Three:Text A Lead-in ActivitiesLead-in Activities Text OrganizationText Organization Reading and Writing SkillsReading and Writing Skills Language PointsLanguag
2、e Points Guided PracticeGuided Practice AssignmentAssignmentLead-in ActivitiesLead-in Activities1.What kind of qualifications should be required to do well in a foreign company?2.Whats cross-cultural communication?3.List some conflicts caused by different cultures.How to solve the problem of conflic
3、ts?4.Do you think language and culture are closely related?Why?Questions for DiscussionI.I.Introduction Introduction of of the the topic:topic:cultural cultural differences differences conflicts need for a cultural translator conflicts need for a cultural translatorII.II.An example:Georges storyAn e
4、xample:Georges storyIII.III.Conclusion:Conclusion:The The first first thing thing you you need need for for the the problems problems in in a a joint joint venture venture is is a a cultural cultural translator.translator.The structure of Text APara.1Para.1Paras.211Paras.211Para.12Para.12Text Organi
5、zationText Organization1.The article includes several paragraphs in which The article includes several paragraphs in which the author starts with a general observation and the author starts with a general observation and then presents a series of examples to illustrate his then presents a series of
6、examples to illustrate his point.(para.3,9)point.(para.3,9)2.The meaning of idiomatic expressions can be very The meaning of idiomatic expressions can be very hard to guess.Word formation clues dont always hard to guess.Word formation clues dont always help,and can even mislead us entirely!But effec
7、tive help,and can even mislead us entirely!But effective readers dont give up on the first try.They keep readers dont give up on the first try.They keep reading,in search of context clues examples,reading,in search of context clues examples,explanations,contrasts or parallel phrases that explanation
8、s,contrasts or parallel phrases that can help them figure out the meaning of idiomatic can help them figure out the meaning of idiomatic expressions.expressions.Reading&Writing SkillsReading&Writing SkillsThe Tale of a Cultural Translator1 1Joint Joint ventures ventures involving involving Western W
9、estern and and Japanese Japanese companies companies often often run run intointo conflicts conflicts a a multitude multitude of of little little things things that that escalate escalate into into big big emotional emotional battles battles in in which which all all the the parties parties keep kee
10、p exclaiming:exclaiming:“Whats“Whats wrong wrong with with them!?them!?Can Can they they understand understand that that?!”?!”But But because because the the conflicts conflicts are are mainly mainly due due to to cultural cultural differences,differences,neither neither side can understand unless t
11、hey have a“cultural translator”.side can understand unless they have a“cultural translator”.Intensive StudyIntensive Study2 2The The first first cultural cultural translator translator I I ever ever met met was was an an installation installation engineer,engineer,George George by by name,name,who w
12、ho worked worked for for an an American American company company where where I I was was the the director director of of international international operations.operations.The The company company had had just just started started a a joint joint venture venture with with a a Japanese Japanese firm,fi
13、rm,and and the the American American management management needed needed someone someone to to train train the the Japanese Japanese employees employees in in its its unique unique technology.technology.Georges Georges solid solid understanding understanding of of the the equipment,equipment,its its
14、 installation installation and and use use made made him him the the best-best-qualified qualified employee employee for for the the job,job,so so everyone everyone was was happy happy when when George George accepted accepted a a two-year two-year contract contract for for temporary temporary trans
15、fertransfer to to Japan.Japan.Intensive StudyIntensive Study3 3From From the the start,start,George George was was well well acceptedaccepted by by all all the the Japanese Japanese employees.employees.Japanese Japanese managers managers often often distrust distrust anyone anyone sent sent to to re
16、present represent US US owners,owners,but but George George was was so so naturally naturally nonassertive nonassertive that that no no one one could could see see him him as as a a threat threat to to their their careerscareers.So So they they felt felt comfortable comfortable asking asking his his
17、 advice advice on on a a wide wide range range of of matters,matters,including including the the odd odd behavior behavior of of their their partners partners across across the the ocean.ocean.Engineers Engineers throughout throughout the the company company appreciated appreciated Georges Georges e
18、xpertise expertise and and his his friendly friendly and and capable capable help,help,and and they they got got into into the the habit habit ofof turning turning to to him him whenever whenever they they had had a a problem problem any any problem.problem.And And the the secretaries secretaries in
19、 in the the office office were were eager eager to to help help this this nice nice bachelor bachelor learn learn Japanese.Japanese.Intensive StudyIntensive Study4 4Sooner Sooner than than anyone anyone expected,expected,the the company company became became a a profitable,profitable,thriving thrivi
20、ng and and growing growing venture.venture.Georges Georges first first two-year two-year contract contract came came to to an an endend.By By then,then,he he could could speak speak good good Japanese,Japanese,and and had had picked picked upup Japanese Japanese habits.habits.He He drank drank green
21、 green tea tea at at all all hourshours,ate ate rice rice at at every every meal meal and and had had even even learned learned to to sit sit properly properly on on Japanese Japanese tatamitatami mats.mats.So So when when George George was was offered offered a a second second two-two-year year Jap
22、anese Japanese contract,contract,he he accepted accepted at at once.once.Another Another contract contract followed,and Georges love affair with Japanese culture continued.followed,and Georges love affair with Japanese culture continued.Intensive StudyIntensive Study5 5But But as as Georges Georges
23、sixth sixth year year in in the the country country was was coming coming to to an an end,end,an an unexpected unexpected difficulty difficulty became became apparent:apparent:The The Japanese Japanese engineers engineers had had surpassedsurpassed George George in in their their knowledge knowledge
24、 of of the the rapidly-changing rapidly-changing technology.He had nothing left to teach them.technology.He had nothing left to teach them.6 6Was Was this this the the end end for for poor poor George?George?Was Was there there nothing nothing more more he he could could offer offer to to the the no
25、w-matured now-matured joint joint venture venture he he had had served served so so loyally?loyally?Would Would he he have have to to leave leave the the country country he he had had come come to to love?love?No!No!Faced Faced withwith the the threat threat of of an an unwilling unwilling departure
26、 departure from from Japan,Japan,George reinvented himself as a“cultural translator”George reinvented himself as a“cultural translator”.Intensive StudyIntensive Study7 7The The idea idea came came to to George George one one day day when when the the Japanese Japanese joint-joint-venture venture pre
27、sident president was was again again offended offended by by a a message message from from the the American American managementmanagement.As As usual usual in in such such situations,situations,he he stormedstormed into into Georges Georges office office and and threw threw the the message message i
28、n in front front of of him him in in a a fury.fury.And And George,George,as as usual,usual,read read the the message message and and explained explained in in his his calm calm manner manner what what the the Americans Americans had had really really meant meant by by it,it,not not what what it it s
29、ounded like in the context of Japanese culture.sounded like in the context of Japanese culture.Intensive StudyIntensive Study8 8Fortunately Fortunately for for everyone,everyone,both both the the Japanese Japanese and and American American sides sides of of the the joint joint venture venture had ha
30、d heard heard enough enough horror horror stories stories about about cultural cultural conflicts conflicts to to recognize recognize the the value value of of Georges Georges skills,skills,so so when when he he proposed proposed this this new new position position for for himself,himself,the the id
31、ea idea was was quickly quickly approved.approved.The The wisdom wisdom of of this this decision decision was was proved proved again again and and again again over the yearsover the years.Intensive StudyIntensive Study9 9At At times times something something far far more more important important th
32、an than good good English English was was needed.needed.One One such such case case was was when when the the Japanese Japanese accountant accountant had had to to explain explain the the$46,534$46,534 spent spent on on 874 874 December-holiday December-holiday presents.presents.Or Or there there wa
33、s was the the time time when when the the Japanese Japanese personnel personnel manager manager had had to to justifyjustify keeping keeping a a chemist chemist on on the the payroll payroll even even though though the the company company no no longer longer needed needed his his expertise.expertise
34、.In In cases cases like like these,these,everyone everyone turned turned to George.to George.Intensive StudyIntensive Study1010 Somehow Somehow or or other,other,he he made made their their messages messages sound sound at at least least halfway halfway sensible sensible to to AmericansAmericans.And
35、 And when when there there was was something something that that even even George George couldnt couldnt“translated”“translated”into into American-style American-style sense,sense,he he would would write,write,“This“This will will sound sound crazy,crazy,but but you you should should go go along alo
36、ng withwith it it anyway.anyway.Intensive StudyIntensive Study1111 It It worked worked the the other other way way around,around,tootoo.When When the the American American managers managers visited visited Japan,Japan,George George accompanied accompanied us us everywhere everywhere to to ensureensu
37、re that that we we dont dont do do or or say say anything anything too too stupid stupid from from the the Japanese Japanese viewpoint.viewpoint.Whenever Whenever we we did did that that anyway,anyway,he he came came to to the the rescue rescue at at once:once:“What“What they they really really mean
38、 mean is is”Whole Whole multitudes multitudes of of difficulties difficulties never never arose arose thanks thanks toto Georges Georges skill skill at at smoothing smoothing over over small conflicts before they became big,emotional and costly.small conflicts before they became big,emotional and co
39、stly.Intensive StudyIntensive Study1212 Since Since leaving leaving that that company company in in Georges Georges capable capable hands,hands,Ive Ive advised advised many many firms firms on on international international operations.operations.And And my my first first recommendation recommendatio
40、n is is always always the the same:same:Dont Dont worry worry about about language language problems the first thing you need is a cultural translator.problems the first thing you need is a cultural translator.(776 words)(776 words)Intensive StudyIntensive Studyrun intorun into meet by chance;encoun
41、ter unexpectedlymeet by chance;encounter unexpectedlye.g.e.g.I I ran intoran into Joe yesterday on Main street.Joe yesterday on Main street.After a promising start,the company After a promising start,the company ran intoran into debt.debt.TranslateTranslate如果你不当心，会碰到麻烦的。如果你不当心，会碰到麻烦的。如果你不当心，会碰到麻烦的。如
42、果你不当心，会碰到麻烦的。KeyKeyYou will You will run intorun into trouble if you dont take care.trouble if you dont take care.a a multitude multitude ofof little little things things that that escalate escalate into into big big emotional emotional battles in which all the parties keep exclaiming:“battles in wh
43、ich all the parties keep exclaiming:“a multitude ofa multitude of a a very large number ofvery large number of e.g.e.g.We have to face We have to face a multitude ofa multitude of problems.problems.New New talents talents have have emerged emerged in in multitudesmultitudes in in theatrical theatric
44、al circles.circles.More to learnMore to learn a a multitude multitude of of little little things things that that escalateescalate into into big big emotional emotional battles in which all the parties keep exclaiming:“battles in which all the parties keep exclaiming:“e.g.e.g.The The UN UN must must
45、 do do something something before before the the warwar escalatedescalated beyond control.beyond control.The The inflation inflation rate rate has has been been escalatingescalating in in many many Asian Asian countries.countries.escalate escalate v.v.increase in intensity,degree,or amount;make or i
46、ncrease in intensity,degree,or amount;make or become greater or more seriousbecome greater or more seriousMore to learnMore to learne.g.e.g.A A third third party party from from outside outside the the village village was was brought brought in in as as a witness.a witness.party party n.n.person or
47、people forming one side in a legal person or people forming one side in a legal agreement or conflictagreement or conflict a a multitude multitude of of little little things things that that escalate escalate into into big big emotional emotional battles in which all thebattles in which all the part
48、iesparties keep exclaiming:“keep exclaiming:“transfertransfer n.n.the process by which sb.or sth.moves or is moved the process by which sb.or sth.moves or is moved from one place,job,etc.to anotherfrom one place,job,etc.to anothere.g.e.g.David David was was fed fed up up with with his his job job in
49、 in London London so so he he asked asked for a for a transfertransfer to the Paris office.to the Paris office.TranslateTranslateBlakes Blakes transfertransfer to to an an Italian Italian football football club club came came as as a a shock to all his supporters.shock to all his supporters.KeyKey布莱
50、克转会到一个意大利足球俱乐部令他的所有拥护者大为震惊。布莱克转会到一个意大利足球俱乐部令他的所有拥护者大为震惊。布莱克转会到一个意大利足球俱乐部令他的所有拥护者大为震惊。布莱克转会到一个意大利足球俱乐部令他的所有拥护者大为震惊。accept(sb.)accept(sb.)v.v.think of(sb.)as part of the group and treat him think of(sb.)as part of the group and treat him in the same way as other members of it;treat(sb.)in the same way
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