Answers to the questions:

Exercise I:  Mini-Research Projects

Project 1

The English name given should sound like a girl’s name in English tradition, while the Chinese name should sound like a boy% name in Chinese tradition. The appropriate naming of the two babies is worth 4 points. The reasons given should be acceptable and are worth 6 points.

Project 2

The reasons given by students will be OK if the message is similar to the following:

You may find their way of settling on a time is quite similar to our own, that is, normally one gives or suggests a time, then the other may find it not suitable and suggest another time, and finally a time is fixed which suits both.  However, if a person who is invited doesn't want to accept the invitation, things tend to be somewhat different. For instance, an English native speaker's explanation for not being able to go is usually short and not de tailed, whereas a Chinese speaker's explanation tends to be more detailed and longer to as sure the person that he’s really got something important to do and he usually makes clear what he is going to do. The purpose of doing so is, as we say, "to give the other person face". Thus, if a Chinese person gives a detailed explanation to an English native speaker  who issues an invitation, the English native speaker may feel that the detailed explanation is not really necessary. Conversely, the English native speaker's short, undetailed explanation may strike us as a bit impolite if we are unaware of their customs.

Project 3

The advantages of the Chinese practice are~ (a) the bond between the parents and the off-spring is quite close, (b) children feel secure and being well protected. The disadvantages are: (a) children tend to be over dependent on the parents for everything; (b) they tend to take no initiative, and do not assume due responsibility for their own action. The Chinese advantages are the Australians’ disadvantages, whereas the Chinese disadvantages are the Australians’ merits.

Exercise II:  Translation Question

参考译文

德伯拉·塔嫩的《你就是不明白》一书表明，在同一文化，甚至同一家庭的男人和女人，彼此误解是经常的事。这是因为他们对交流的目的或意图有着不同的认识。男人想讨女认的欢心，就送给她真正想要的东西。他问她要什么样的生日礼物，她想要的可能是任何东西。遗憾的是，她最想要的却是他应该本能地知道她想要的是什么。依据塔嫩的观点，男人和女人，或至少在北美洲的社会里，对于采取直言还是婉语，似乎有不同的趋向。照塔嫩的看法，女人容易认为对于男人来说，重要的是他不别直言问她想要什么就能知道她的心。然而在这种情况下，男人感到底气十足的却是如果他能被直截了当地告知他如何做就能使她高兴。

Exercise III:  Reading

Answer the following questions.

1. What culture or cultures does the author use Mr.. Wong and Mr.. Richardson to represent?

--Mr.. Wong represents Asian culture, and Mr.. Richardson represents Western culture.

2. Can you help Mr.. Richardson make a genuine invitation after their conversation?

--By fixing a definite date and time.

3. According to the author, what is the feature that is often found in the pattern of East Asian discourse?

--Put the most important point at the end.

4. What is the feature the author suggests that is often found in the pattern of non-East Asian discourse?

--Put the most important point at the beginning.

5. Why does Mr.. Richardson say to Mr.. Wong, "We should get together to have lunch sometime.

--Just to show that he has enjoyed the conversation, and part with good feelings.

6. The author seems to suggest two reasons for the miscommunication between Mr.. Wong and Mr.. Richardson. What are they?

-- The discourse patterns are different: the Asians often put the most important thing at the end, whereas the non-Asians often put the most important thing at the beginning. At the root of the problem, language is ambiguous.

7. According to the author what makes language ambiguous?

--We can never fully control the meanings of the things we say and write.

8. According to the author, when the speaker says something to the hearer, play any role in fixing the meanings being communicated?

--Yes, be contributes to it by bringing in his own interpretation.

9. The author says: "I may say something is blue in color, but ft is another question altogether what the color blue means to you." Elaborate the author's point by showing what the color blue means to you, which is different from others' interpretations.

(The answer will vary from one student to another. )