- Most if not all Italians feel that it is infinitely better to be rich than to seem rich. The art of appearing rich has been cultivated in Italy as nowhere else. In spite of economic difficulties many Italians wear good clothes, drive shining cars, and dine at expensive restaurants. However, some of these people may have few material possessions.
- The family remains the center and stronghold of Italian life, the role of each member is understood and performed as elaborately as any Italian opera. Although men are the official leaders of the families while women are subordinate to them, the reality of family life is much more complex. The main character in the family, who might be compared to the lead tenor, is the father. He is in charge of the family's general affairs. But while he holds center stage, his wife is an equally important figure, like the lead soprano. Although the Italian father is the head of the family, the mother is its heart. She traditionally assumes total control of the emotional realm of the family.
Professional lives and working relationships:
- hiring policies. Hiring is usually accomplished through personal connections and recommendations. Many corporations select people not on the basis of their skills but on the basis of their relationship with employers and their families. In Italian business the interview by itself is the preferred alternative, even though this method when used by itself has been shown to be the least effective of all techniques.
- Pageantry and spectacle also apply to business presentations and negotiations. When presenting ideas during such negotiations, managers are expected to ensure that the aesthetics (истсетикс) of the presentation are clear and exact; they should demonstrate a mastery of detail and language and be well organized.
- quality on which Italians place high value, namely cleverness. Because of the constant change and struggle in the country, those who can survive through enterprise, imagination, and intelligence are held in high esteem by others around them, In other words, many Italians admire those who can create the most imaginative show.
- most Italians use a collaborative style of negotiating in that they will continue a dialogue until everyone's needs are met. Italians have the emotional nature of communication. Communication involves much more than words.
CONCLUSION
-This, then, is Italy. It is still a grand and larger-than-life society whose citizens love pageantry and spectacle, emphasize a range of voices in everyday life, externalize emotions and feelings, and feel a commitment to the town and region of the country in which they were born.
- In Italy life is the theater, each act carefully played out for everyone to witness. From this perspective the opera is not only helpful but possibly essential for understanding Italian behavior and culture.
The german symphony
Good afternoon, dear friends.Thank you for being here with us! My name isTatiana, today I would like to show you that through the prism of cultural metaphors is possible to study and learn about the culture, and we hope it may be useful and helpful, because your work is connected with a variety of cultures and countries.
A cultural metaphor is a major phenomenon, institution, or activity in a nation with which most citizens identify cognitively or emotionally and through which it is possible to describe the national culture and its frame of reference in depth.
) So what is a symphony? A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, most often written by composers for orchestra. Although the term has had many meanings from its origins in the ancient Greek era, (slide 4) by the late 18th century the word had taken on the meaning common today: a work usually consisting of multiple distinct sections or movements, often four, with the first movement in sonata form.
Now let's talk about the connection between metaphor and cultural characteristics.
As we can see German and Belarusian cultures are very different according to the Hofstede’s model. So, what are the main points we should know when communicating with our German partner?
1) Smile
The first main difference is in our smiling. I believe we all know that a lot of countries consider Belarusian people unsmiling. We smile when we really want it, it express our emotions. In German smile is just expression of politeness. So, don’t forget to smile otherwise your German partner could assume that you are don’t like him.
2) Danger zone or intimacy of communication
According to the researches the Belarusians during conversation stand for 30-40 cm closer than the Germans. For us, communication is a part of our life. When we come to someone home, conversations are very important to us, while in Germany people value cleanliness in the house and quality of treats. However, the communication we understand in different ways. So, remember! In Germany people don’t talk about illnesses, earnings, personal life, and the National Socialist past.
3) Boundaries
Doing business the Germans usually clearly distinguish work and personal relationships, while in Belarus work is closely related to the private sphere. Another difference is obedience to the law. For the Germans, the law is above all. All rules must be strictly observed. In Belarus, however, the absolute value is the chief. That’s why the German managers want the Russian subordinates to be more initiative.
4) Time
German culture is monochromic one, while our culture is polychromic. They prefer promptness, careful planning and rigid commitment to plans, whereas we are very liberal to the time.
That brings us to the end of our presentation and to conclude it all, we’d like to say that with the right approach different cultures should complement each other. But for this it is necessary to study not only the language, but also the communication features of your partner.
Thank you for attention!
11 british house
Good afternoon, dear friends.Thank you for being here with us! My name isTatiana, today I would like to show you that through the prism of cultural metaphors is possible to study and learn about the culture, and we hope it may be useful and helpful, because your work is connected with a variety of cultures and countries. It is possible to recognise much of Britain by the architecture.
-The Englishman’s home is his castle
- Privacy & space. Strong desire for privacy like building walls to create own space “We like to keep ourselves to ourselves”.
- Class structure. Just as mortar holds the solid British house together, so do class distinctions and education system.
- The design is traditional: foundation is strong; floor plan is similar to one another.
- Do not like open plan living areas
- Inside the house private place is also cherished. Love for private space.
- Unique house names. Individualistic culture.
- unwritten social rules
- children are taught from an early age to control spontaneity
Detached house Everyone in Britain dreams of living in a detached house. It is not joined to another house. It is built of brick and stale. It has a lot of little corners. In front of the house there ‘s a garden with a lawn. It has two floors and an attic. There is a kitchen, a dining-room and a living room on the ground floor. Almost in every house there is a fire-place in the living-room. There are bedrooms and several bathrooms on the first floor. There is always a room for guests. There is usually a study on the attic. The garage is hidden away at the side of the house.
Semi-detached houseA semi-detached house is joined to another house on one side. It is for two families. The two parts of the house look like twins. This is the most common house style in the UK.
Terraced houseIt is one of several houses that are joined together. In most towns all over England there are streets of houses joined together in long rows. Terraced houses are often called row houses or townhouses. A terraced house is usually two to three storey structure. Terraced houses do not have neighbouring units above or below them. Lots of these houses have small gardens at the back.
Block of flatsIt is a large building that is divided into apartments (flats). All the flats in this building share a front door. Some people buy a flat and it belongs to them. Other people rent a flat. They pay the rent every month to the person who owns the flat. Only cities and very big towns have block of flats. Nowadays only 40% of the British live in block of flats.
The dance of Shiva
Good afternoon, dear friends.Thank you for being here with us! My name is Tatiana, today I would like to show you that through the prism of cultural metaphors is possible to study and learn about the culture, and we hope it may be useful and helpful, because your work is connected with a variety of cultures and countries.
Each of the numerous deities or gods in the Hindu religion is a different manifestation of one Supreme Being. The most important gods are Brahma(the creator), Vishnu(the preserver) and Shiva(the destroyer). Among the various physical manifestations of Shiva is Lord of Dances, arguably the most well-known depiction of what the Dance of Shiva represents. The dance of Shiva reflects the cyclical nature of Hindu philosophy. Among Hindus dancing is regarded as the most ancient and important of the arts. Legend even attributes the creation of the world to dance: Brahma’s 3 steps created earth, space, and sky. Every aspect of nature – man, bird, beast, insect, trees, wind, waves, stars-displays a dance pattern, collectively called the Daily Dance. But nature is inert and cannot dance until Shiva wills it. He is like a master conductor, and the Daily Dance is the response of all creation to his rhythmic force. The dance symbolizes the 5 main activities of the Supreme Being: creation and development; preservation and support; change and destruction; shrouding, symbolism, illusion, and giving rest; and release, salvation.
Before starting, we should mention that practically every aspect of an Indian’s life, behavior, his choices depend on religion and its various aspects. We’d like to begin with Edward Hall’s model of cultural dimensions which comprises following dimensions: context, space, time and information flow. When we speak about Indian culture and the Indian Dance of Shiva in terms of context dimension, we apply to the notion of a high-context culture (though some authors also describe India as a relatively low-context culture, arguing that Indians' communication style, while observant of hierarchical differences as is standard for higher-context societies, is much more explicit and verbose than those of East Asians). This point can be proved by their relationship in families, in groups, their attitude towards children. The role of family is extremely high in india(though it doesn’t interfere the ideas of Hinduism that suggests renunciation of all social bonds).The family contributes to decisions that affect an individual’s future, comes to aid in times of crises, and generally mediates an individual’s experience with the outside world. For these reasons, the character of the respective families weighs heavily in the consideration of marriage proposals. As we know the indian society is divided into castes and castes are divided into subcastes(jati). These subcastes influence the immediacy of all daily social relations. Friendships with members of the same jati tend to be closer and more informal than those with members of other jatis.
In terms of space dimension we can say that indian culture is a low territoriality one. It is absolutely fair to say that it is the result of overpopulation in the country. The 2nd most populated country in the world. Their personal space is as small as their houses are. Population of children in india exceeds the total population of the US. And again it is connected with religion: as Hindu believes in the life cycle it is clear that there’ll be rapid population growth(especially among the poor while middle-class, influenced by education tend to lower the growth). The factor of low territoriality is also determined by the mass nature of Hinduism. There are several pilgrimages required by religion: to Taj Mahal or to the Gang River. Such events always imply a great number of people, not only from India but from all parts of the world. For example on the way to Taj Mahal one can see the following picture: the poor with their deeply lined faces were huddled by fires alongside the highway; there were no sidewalks, so people walked on the highway, as did animals of all types, including monkeys, water buffalos, cows, and so on. There was even a caravan of camels. So, we can see that people there are used to sharing personal space with others and they are not intimidated by it.
When talking about the dimension of Time we refer to such ideas as reincarnation and the cycle of life. India is a polychronic culture. The indian concept of time is cyclical, characterized by origination, duration, and disappearance ad infinitum. This is reflected in the dramatic structure of traditional Sanskrit plays, which are typically based on the themes of separation and reunion and tend to end as they begin. Their understanding of time is not linear. Similarly, the dance of Shiva is a repetitive cycle of creation, existence, and destruction; constant change within a period of time, but ultimately time itself, is irrelevant.
The fourth Hall’s dimension is information flow. India belongs to a fast flow society. Despite the fact that the country is still considered nation in transition it is a quickly developing society where in the past 60 years life expectancy has increased(from 32 to 65 years), as well as adult literacy which is now equals 62.8%. This country has the largest number of college-educated scientists and computer specialists in the world. The untouchables are guaranteed 22.5% of government jobs, the thing that no one thought could happen even 40 years ago.
Power Distance
Indian culture appreciates hierarchy and a top-down structure in society and organizations. They are dependent on the boss, accept unequal rights between superiors and subordinates, immediate superiors are accessible but one layer above is less so, management directs and rewards in exchange for loyalty from employees. Attitude towards managers are formal even if they often call each other by name.me basis. Communication is top down and directive in its style. However, today the traditional social structure of India. Nowadays the Indian government is committed to social equality. Beginning with Mahatma Gandhi, public figures have tried to reform attitudes toward Untouchables. The entire caste system was declared illegal by the constitution. As for Indian families, an Indian father is a much feared disciplinary figure, just as Shiva is distant from the world he nurtures, but there are also special bonds between father and son, their relationship is based on mutual dependence. A son must obey his father unquestioningly and offer complete support in every need. The father owes his son support, a good education, the best possible marital arrangement (which is still a norm in India), and inheritance of the property. One Indian proverb reads, “A son should be treated as a prince for 5 years; as a slave for 10 years; but from his 16th birthday, as a friend.”
Individualism
India is a society with both collectivistic and Individualist traits. The collectivist side means that there is a high preference for belonging to a larger social framework. In such situations, the actions of the individual are influenced by various one’s family, neighbors, work group. Hiring and promotion decisions are often made based on relationships which are the key to everything in a Collectivist society. The Individualist aspect of Indian society is seen as a result of its dominant religion - Hinduism. The Hindus believe in a cycle of death and rebirth, each rebirth depends on how the individual lived the preceding life. People are, therefore, individually responsible for the way they lead their lives and the impact it will have upon their rebirth. The Dance of Shiva portrays the world’s endless cycle of creation, existence, destruction, and re-creation.
Masculinity
India is considered a Masculine society. Most Indians grow up in an extended family. All brother remain together even after marriage and bring their wives into their parents’ household. The preference for a son when a child also characterizes Indian culture as Masculine. Son ensures a peaceful departure of the soul to its next existence in the ongoing cycle of life. The word son in Indian “Putra” actually means “he who protects from going to hell”. Very early in life the son learns that women are lower in status than men. Generally, women are thought to have younger souls, inferior to men. The ideal of womanhood in Indian tradition is one of purity, gentle tenderness, self-sacrifice, and singular faithfulness. After marriage, a woman moves to her husband’s house, where she often faces different forms of humiliation until she becomes pregnant. Throughout history Indian women have had dual status: as a wife, a woman seduces her husband away from his work and spiritual duties, but as a mother, she is revered. India is also very masculine in terms of visual display of success and power. The designer brand label, the flash and ostentation that goes with advertising one’s success, is widely practiced. Masculine countries focus on success and achievements, validated by material gains. Work is the center of one’s life and visible symbols of success in the work place are very important. Despite all, today both genders contribute to Indian society. Dancing has always been performed both by men and women, Shiva and his wife Parvati are often depicted in ancient sculptures as one composite figure, half male, and half female. Broad masculine shoulders but curving womanly hips.
Uncertainty Avoidance
India has a medium low preference for avoiding uncertainty. In India, there is acceptance of imperfection; nothing has to go exactly as planned. India is traditionally a patient country where tolerance for the unexpected is high; even welcomed as a break from monotony. Nevertheless, the Hindu desire for positive outcomes of daily activities, resulting in positive karma, so astrology is very important for them. Most Hindu consult the stars if not on a daily basis, then at least on important occasions. It is routine for Indians to consult the stars about the best day to sign a contract, etc.
Long Term Orientation
India is a more long-term, pragmatic culture. In India the concept of “karma” dominates religious and philosophical thought. Time is not linear, and thus is not as important as to western societies. Countries like India have a great tolerance for religious views from all over the world. Hinduism is often considered a philosophy more than even a religion. They forgive a lack of punctuality.
American football
Good afternoon, dear friends.Thank you for being here with us! My name is …. today I would like to show you that through the prism of cultural metaphors is possible to study and learn about the culture, and we hope it may be useful and helpful, because your work is connected with a variety of cultures and countries.
Presentation American football
In recent years, there have been significant studies in cultural values and beliefs done, respeсtively, to analyze and understand American society. This special issue, which investigates American values through American football applying cultural metaphor as an instrument, reflects the axiological and culturally-determined specifics of cultural values’ existence.
There may be a lot of reasons to apply cultural metaphor for a better understanding of any culture. One of the most important reasons is the following: cultural metaphor reveals itself as a kind of a «guide», a «map» for a foreigner which will help adjust to a new culture and societies easily and quickly and, as a consequence, feel comfortable in a new society. As a result it may help avoid behavioral mistakes.
To prove the idea that the American society can be described using «American football» as the cultural metaphor there are several stimuli.
A modern American philosopher Martin Gannon once wrote, «if you don’t understand U.S. football, you will have difficulty in understanding U.S. culture».
In the article «In a League» published in the journal «Economist» in 2006 it was written that American football is the most popular sport in the United States. Moreover, Mary McGrory, a contemporary and popular American journalist, said in one of the interviews the following, «Baseball is where we were. Football is what we have become».
American football starts with the so-called «tailgate party» which is a kind of people gathering together before the game. Americans can drive hundreds of miles, then they park their cars in a special huge parking lot, grill barbecue and other foods, drink beer and soda. During this time they share food and thoughts. But when the game is over, they hurry to get out cutting others off. All conviviality is forgot- ten...Analyzing what cultural values are demonstrated by this signifier this time it seems obvious that the time before the game denotes first such signified as Collectivism, and then Individualism and Competition.
The next component of American football is «Pregame». It takes place in the stadium where there are a lot of responsive fans who cheer the players and each other. The most important part is singing the na- tional anthem which is accompanied with respectful standing. Investigating what cultural value is demonstrated during this time Collectivism appears to be the most adequate.
The manifestation of aggression, which is the fundamental part of American football and which is sometimes interpreted by Americans as energy and intense motivation, is an essential part of the game and is encouraged in US and, of course, denotes such signified as Competition and Individualism.
American Football is a typical men’s game because it provides a lot of aggression, power and hardiness, so if we consider this metaphor as a culture, we can make a conclusion that American culture is absolutely masculine.
One more interesting component of the game is huddling when the offensive squad of a team, which consists of different players from diverse backgrounds with various levels of education, gather together hugging each other. The idea is to put differences aside and cooperate objectively to achieve a certain goal. This part of the game demonstrates Equality and this fact shows low level of power distance in American culture.
Football is a dangerous and traumatic game, which requires from participants to be sportsmanlike, risky and they don’t feel nervous in unknown situation. This demonstrates that America is a culture with a low level of uncertainty avoidance.
This analysis was made according to Geert Hofstede’s model. Now let me proceed to the analysis according to Edward T. Hall’s model.
There are strict rules in American football, according to which football players could be even disqualified and it is impossible to argue with that. Moreover, often football players are aggressive, impatient and arrogant, so these all are characteristics of a low-context culture.
Time of a football match is strictly controlled up to seconds. Playing time is 60 minutes, which is separated in 4 times of 15 minutes. We can make a conclusion that America is a monochromic culture.
Each football player has its own position within the boundaries of the field and their space is irreversible. This means that space for the Americans play very important role.
Now let me proceed to the comparison with Belarussian culture. According to Hofstede’s model Belarus is collectivistic, masculine culture with high level of power distance and uncertainty avoidance. According to Hall’s model Belarus is a low context, monochronic culture for which private space is very important.
To take everything that has been written above into consideration, it should be noticed that despite the fact that the American society is often described as individualistic, with applying cultural metaphor as an instrument of cultural mind-set analysis, some features of collectivistic society can be observed in American people as well. So, these differences between Belarussian and American cultures are not so significant. Much more important difference, which can lead to problems in communication is power distance. In Belarus power is more influential for people than in America. For example, it may be a problem in the professional communication, where perception of an American employee and a belarussian one would be different. Speaking about uncertainty avoidance, American people behave more deliberately in extraordinary situations when the belarussians are used to be more nervous.
Thus, to conclude, the importance and effectiveness of a research made with the help of cultural metaphor seems to be indisputable. It doesn’t only reflect the language, mental, and societal peculiarities but also helps to recognize and construct the reality of a culture. The appliance of the ideas of cultural semiotics helps to pay tribute to understanding cultural concepts as signs and to studying them in detail.
Chinese family altar
Good afternoon, dear friends.Thank you for being here with us! My name isTatiana, today I would like to show you that through the prism of cultural metaphors is possible to study and learn about the culture, and we hope it may be useful and helpful, because your work is connected with a variety of cultures and countries.
The importance of family in Chinese culture
Family and relationships are of the highest importance in Chinese culture
In Chinese Buddhist temples, images of Buddha are surrounded by fierce looking warrior statues that represent important people within extended kinship groups.
Situating these statues around Buddha images demonstrates the weight Chinese place on family and the kinship(родство) group (родственники)
The importance of family in Chinese culture
The Chinese family name is typically given before the personal name - signifies the importance of the group of each individual - the name also serves an intangible connection between the members of the family While the ties between family members are clearly very important, the emphasis is not only on relationships among living members. - The deceased and the unborn are considered a part of the family group as well.
Individuals and relationships 1 Although it is widely believed that China is a collectivist country, it is neither collectivist or individualist 2 Chinese society is based on relations 3 Individuals have roles within their family or group that they are obligated to fulfill but individualism can enrich and enlarge individuals and in turn benefit the group - Relationships with members inside the group and also with people outside the group 4 This idea supports their belief that people only exist in relation to others Individuals and relationships 1 The Chinese System of family ethics is also different from strong collectivist countries. 2 In China, family ethics are not based on the collective group but particular relationships within the group.
Father and son Brother and sister Husband and wife
3 While relationships within the kinship group are clearly a priority, the Chinese also take relations with others outside the group very seriously as well. 4 They tend to make lifelong friends and spend a long time getting to know people before conducting business.
Individuals and Relationships
1 Despite their acceptance of individualism, the Chinese often have difficulty differentiating the individual from the group. - There is no equivalent to the word "privacy" in Chinese - The Chinese word for "I" has negative connotations associated with it - Many other words used in conjunction with "I" also carry negative connotations
2 It is very common for group-oriented cultures to experience these difficulties because of the unclear demarcation between groups and individuals
The Physical Presence of the Family Altar
1 The physical presence of an altar in a Chinese home represents a well-knit family. 2 Because most Chinese either live with family or within a family compound the physical presence of the altar varies.
- A household with 2 altars contains two families - A household with no altar considers itself a part of another family - Go to the house where the altar resides to worship
The Physical Presence of the Family Altar
1 The altar stands in the center of the room opposite the principle door. 2 Altars are meant to be publicly seen (Many altars are visible from the street). 3 There is normally an incense pot on the left side of the altar which is a position of honor. 4 Ancestral tablets are placed on the right. 5 Most altars have backdrops depicting popular deities. 6 Many times personal touches are also added to decorate the altars (written charms, souvenirs from visits to temples, and Buddha images). 7 Sometimes families even have larger ancestral halls to house the tablets of more distant ancestors Worshiping at the Family Altar Families worship at the altar regularly -- many on a daily basis Worship is lead by a representative of the family, usually an older woman Burning incense is a major part of the worship The representative burns 3 sticks of incense: - One stick goes in the ancestor incense pot - Another stick is positioned in the incense pot for the gods - The third incense stick is placed outside the door to welcome the gods and ancestors
Worshiping at the Family Altar
1 Commemorating the deaths of close relatives is another integral part of worshiping at the family altar 2 On these days, members of the living family prepare full meals for their deceased relatives (Meals are complete with bowls, chopsticks, rice, noodles, and some of the ancestor's favorite dishes) 3 Family members typically eat the food after the ancestors have supposedly finished eating which is when the incense stick burns out 4 Ancestors also receive food offerings during major festivals 5 The practice of feeding deceased relatives shows that they are treated almost as if they are living members of the family Chinese Culture Across the Global
1 The importance of family and the values the family altar represents apply to the Chinese regardless of the nation in which they reside 2 Chinese expatriates are well integrated and successful in other countries but the prominent place family and kinship groups hold in traditional Chinese society remains 3 Cultural metaphors typically do not extend to ethnic groups abroad 4 The other cultural metaphors that have been discussed thus far are not appropriate for expatriates
Expatriate Chinese
1 It is common for people who move and travel frequently to have a permanent altar at home and carry drawings and pictures of ancestors while traveling 2 Chinese people that have settled in foreign often travel to their original homeland to visit the burial places of their ancestors 3 They also try to be buried beside their ancestors when the time comes despite the distance during their lifetime 4 The fact that traditional values and the importance of relationships remain steadfast in Chinese all over the world reinforces the cultural metaphor of the family altar The 3 Dimensions of the Family Altar The family altar has 3 specific aspects The aspects of the altar are closely associated with 3 religions (Confucianism, Toaism, and Buddhism) 1 The first aspect is roundness (Roundness symbolizes the continuity and completeness) 2 The second aspect is harmony (Deals with harmony within the family as well as broader society) 3 Having the capacity to change while maintaining tradition
Roundness Stands for the continuity and structural completeness of the family Symbolizes that the family is the distinct and enduring feature of the culture Represents continuity between natural world and the supernatural world
Confucianism The dead exist in a shadowy underworld Communicate with and influence living relatives No distinct separation between birth and death Continually born into and processed in an “organic system” - Yin-yang fashion The system, life, and time are all united through their circularity
The Importance of Roundness Crucial to have descendents worship them (Provide food and sacrifices) All efforts are directed towards obtaining a rounded family Chinese patriarchy plays a major role - Descent line preserved - Male children obligated to perform ancestral rites - Men should have wives who can bear children
Issues With Roundness 1 Chinese law permits divorce (Breaks the descendant line and the roundness of the family) 2 Some women cannot bear children, or do not bear sons (Also breaks the descendant line) 3 Children die before the age to produce offspring (Children that die at a young age are buried unceremoniously) 4 Family does not receive honor if father does not live to an old age 5 Business are usually family run (Limits the growth of business) Inequality of Sexes 1 Daughters and wives inferior to sons and husbands
2 Mother only has authority over her adult sons when she is old (The elderly maintain a position of honor in Chinese society) 3 Polygamy was common in previous eras (Complicated familial structure) Roundness in Relationships: Guanxi Many layers of connections and relationships (Ancestors, family, village, business associates) Relationships are continual in nature Obligations go far beyond written contracts Roundness in Relationships: Bao-Jia Social units of 10, 100, 1,000, 10,000 Each social unit has a leader Establishes a chain of authority and responsibility for actions Modern still follow pattern of collective responsibility
Harmony
Originated in wet rice farming - Harmony was given high importance - It is necessary for a successful harvest
Supernatural explanations for disharmony Most popular prayer is for harmony - Often seen on door frames, in homes, and on wedding cakes - Directed towards gods and ancestors accompanied with offerings Harmony The uncertainty presented by the underworld fuels a strong belief in luck and fate Nature cannot be controlled - must let it take its intended course - Sometimes use fortune sticks to predict the future - Do not wear seat belts Chinese are very attracted to gambling - Sense of uncertainty - Results based on luck and fate - Reinforces harmony and roundness
Fluidity Capacity to change while maintaining solid traditions Reflects relation-oriented approach (Can be individualistic as long as they meet their obligations to family members, including the deceased) Balanced emphasis on conservatism and innovation (Numerous Chinese inventions and scientific breakthroughs) Stop praying to deity if their power declines (If their prayers are no longer being answered they begin to worship a new god; Change in worship occurs but devotion to the family altar remains)
The Family Altar throughout History The same form of government has been in place for thousands of years Dynasties are periodically renewed - Family-based nation - The continuity of the dynasties exemplifies the roundness of the altar Harmony has been maintained for thousands of years - Harmony has only been broken by periodic revolutions - Harmony and revolution are cyclical Maintained traditions and solid government structure but have also allowed for change and innovation
The Family Altar in Relation to Business Relationships are much more important than contracts (Obligations to relationships prevail over written agreements) Importance of family is reflected on the use of the formal family name in meetings and on business cards Chinese want to see if you fit in their "business family" before conducting business (It is customary to hold many formal banquets)
The Family Altar in Relation to Business
Roundness
Most businesses are family oriented Passed down from generation to generation
Fluidity
Their values are strongly consolidated, nevertheless they look for Western people to aggregate with creativity and entrepreneurship
Harmony
If you lose your patience with Chinese and express it or have an emotional outburst, the negotiation is automatically broken down The Chinese are very uncomfortable with too much emotion of any kind
The Chinese Negotiator Even though interpreters are used in negotiations, the Chinese really appreciate any attempt to speak their language Build strong relationships with associates before beginning negotiations Younger people must respect older people regardless of their position in the company "Surface Harmony" - stay calm, don't display emotion and avoid confrontation
The Chinese Negotiator
The Chinese use indirect and ambiguous language Speak softly and avoid interruptions Loud talking and laughing or giggling are signs of nervousness Physical contact is avoided as much as possible Strong eye contact is viewed as an intimidation tactic
Business Protocol in China Dress code: - Dress is conservative - White shirt and tie for men - Suit or dress for women Addressing associates: - Greet with a soft handshake - Use moderate eye contact - Always use the family name first Business cards: - One side of the business card should have the information written in traditional Chinese characters Having meals together and gift giving are still very important in Chinese business Adapting to Chinese Business Customs Try to soften language Speak in a more indirect manner Valorize non-verbal communication Be patient Do not impose your own culture or make your culture seem more important than theirs Adopt a long-term perspective of the relationship Expect to renegotiate some aspects of the contract
The Turkish coffeehouse
Good afternoon,dear friends. Thank you for being here with us! My name is …. today I would like to show you that through the prism of cultural metaphors is possible to study and learn about the culture, and we hope it may be useful and helpful, because your work is connected with a variety of cultures and countries.
I’d like to begin with Edward Hall’s model of cultural dimensions which comprises following dimensions: context, space, time and information flow. When we speak about Turkish culture and the metaphor of Turkish coffeehouse in terms of context dimension, we apply to the notion of a high-context culture. High-context cultures are characterized by extensive information networks among family, friends, associates, and even clients. Their relationships are close and personal. They keep well informed about the people who are important in their lives. The Turkish culture is considered high context because Turkish people assume a great deal of commonality of knowledge and views, lots of things are implicit and communicated in indirect ways. And it is exactly what we see when talk about such phenomenon as coffeehouse in Turkey. Coffeehouses provide an important forum for recreation, communication, and community integration. It is the way people (mostly men) spend their leisure time. A Turkish coffeehouse is a place where men assemble throughout the day and throughout the year. Regardless of age, men gather at the coffeehouse to play backgammon, share gossip, or just enjoy company. Young boys accompany their fathers …Old men sit on wooden chairs and sip coffee while reminiscing, offering words of wisdom, and solving the world’s problems. We can see that this phenomenon is group oriented. The high-context feature of the Turkish society is also observed in family surroundings. Turks have a strong sense of family as well as people bonds” Coffeehouses are family-run establishments. It is often the owner’s son who takes orders and delivers teas and coffees to the table”. When we talk about religion in Turkey we also see an aspect of high-context culture. “In Turkish towns the two most important places for social gathering, the mosque and the coffeehouse” “a visit to the coffeehouse can also be considered a ritual ironically linked with the daily ritual of prayer”. Being representatives of the high-context culture Turks tend to use much of non-verbal communication. They use many covert and implicit messages, with use of metaphor and reading between the lines. One more important characteristic is locus of control and attribution for failure. Turkish people have inner locus of control and personal acceptance for failure. It is predetermined by their religion: “the ideas that the soul lives forever and that people are responsible for their actions are important considerations for Muslims in accepting their lot in life.” In terms of greeting behavior, Turks as well possess characteristics of a high-context culture: “In Turkish tradition the household extends beyond the nuclear family, and individuals are loyal to the entire family or kinship group. Women especially are expected to offer hospitality to all guests. If visitors knock on the door before or during mealtime, they are almost always invited to join the family in the dining room or at the kitchen table. As in mosques, Turkish guests offer to remove their shoes as a gesture of cleanliness on entering someone’s home.” They tend to keep to high commitment to long-term relationships. Relationships are more important than task.
Another cultural dimension in Hall’s model is Time. Polychronic time is characteristic of high-context people.In Polychronic cultures, human interaction is valued over time and material things, leading to a lesser concern for 'getting things done' -- they do get done, but more in their own time. Polychronic people tend to be more group-oriented that is proved by the very idea of coffeehouses where people gather in groups and communicate. They see relationships as deep and long term, spanning past, present, and future. To the polychronic Turks time is intangible and supports the development and maintenance of long-term relationships. Elements of the past, present, and future tend to merge, and they permeate Turkish values and norms. Though it is fair to say that Turkish culture is future-oriented. Turks place much emphasis on what future generations will accomplish. This explains why it is important that children get optimal educational opportunities, irrespective of costs and degree of parental sacrifice. Muslims believe that the future will be better than the past. Village parents who struggle to support their children may rely on this optimism for decades.
The notion of Space in terms of cultural dimensions is referred to culture’s attitude towards personal space. According to it, all cultures are categorized in 2 groups: cultures with low territoriality and those with a high one. In cultures with low territoriality people have less ownership of space and boundaries are less important to them. They are ready to share territory with little thought. Individuals from high territoriality cultures tend to show more concern for ownership. They seek to mark up the territory in their possession. It is fair to say that Turkish people possess low territoriality. We can observe it on the example of coffeehouses, the way they are organized. A typical coffeehouse in a small village may consist of one small room, a kitchen, and several small wooden or aluminum tables and chairs. Low territoriality is also predetermined by the number of population in Turkey, that counts 64.5 million people and by the fact that they have tendency to pray in mosques where there’re a lot of people praying side by side. But mostly, this factor is predetermined by their close relationship bonds, whether it is family, friends or just clients and strangers. Their hospitality implies little personal space.
Finally, the dimension of the Information flow. Information and the ways it is treated in cultures is the fourth dimension described by Hall. Cultures with slow flow of information plan information carefully and structure it. They would tend to portion information, not to give more than absolutely necessary. Cultures with fast flow of information think that the more quickly the information is spread, the better it is for all. In Turkey the coffeehouse has always been a source of information, especially when illiteracy rates were high. In those days one person would read the newspaper to an eager audience. The coffeehouse is the information center in which most communication takes place, including political discussions and gossip. As I’ve already said communication is the essence of Turkish existence. They don’t have time to mull over their conversation, it is too quick. They talk in such way with people they know well as well as with those who they meet for the first time. Such form of communication requires enormous information exchange that’s why we say that the Turkish culture is characterized by the fast information flow.
Let’s proceed with the theory of Hofsteder, and analyze Turkish culture according to his cultural model. Here the first dimension is power distance.
Power Distance
This dimension deals with the fact that all individuals in societies are not equal – it expresses the attitude of the culture towards these inequalities. Turkey scores high on this dimension which means that the Turkish style is dependent, hierarchical, superiors often inaccessible and the ideal boss is a father figure. Power is centralized and managers rely on their bosses and on rules. Employees expect to be told what to do. Control is expected and attitude towards managers is formal. Communication is indirect and the information flow is selective. The same structure can be observed in the family unit, where the father is a kind of patriarch to whom others submit. As heads of the families, men in rural areas decide which crops will be planted and at which market crops will be sold. Village coffeehouses often become a market where brokers trade farm commodities.
Individualism
Turkey is a collectivistic society. This means that the “We” is important, people belong to in-groups (families, clans or organisations) who look after each other in exchange for loyalty. Family gatherings are very important, as are deep friendships. Turks are nostalgic when it comes to family traditions and special occasions. Just as a man can stop by the coffeehouse whenever he wants, so too it is not considered impolite to drop in at a friend’s home without an invitation. This is true regardless of economic, social, or educational status. Communication is indirect and the harmony of the group has to be maintained, open conflicts are avoided. Feedback is always indirect, also in the business environment. Even at work, collectivistic values are expressed in unusual ways. At McDonald’s the “employee of the month” is not selected for outstanding work. Rather, the selection is made on a rotational basis.
Masculinity
Turkey is Feminine society. This means that the softer aspects of culture such as leveling with others, consensus, sympathy for the underdog are valued and encouraged. Conflicts are avoided in private and work life and consensus at the end is important. Humor is important for them. It helps to avoid confrontation. An interesting thing is that most Turkish jokes begin with a phrase “One day something happened in the coffeehouse…” Leisure time is also important for Turks, it is the time when the whole family, clan and friends come together to enjoy life. Feminine values are also exhibited in the way Turks show interest in others through conversation. Whether sharing small talk at the coffeehouse or within the hospitality of their home, the Turkish people tend to be curious by nature. Consequently, very little in people’s lives is a real secret. Communication is the essence of Turkish existence. When one Turkish stranger meets another, he typically asks where the first is from. What he is more interested in is who his parents are and where they are from. The next few minutes are spent quizzing the other person with questions like, “Oh, my brother-in-law’s uncle is from there, do you know Ahmet?” or “Surely you must know Ali.”
Uncertainty Avoidance
Turkish society has a huge need for laws and rules. In order to minimize anxiety, people make use of a lot of rituals. For foreigners they might seem religious, with the many references to “Allah”, but often they are just traditional social patterns, used in specific situations to ease tension.
Long Term Orientation
This dimension describes howevery society has to maintain some links with its own past while dealing with the challenges of the present and future, and societies prioritise these two existential goals differently. Normative societies. which score low on this dimension, for example, prefer to maintain time-honoured traditions and norms while viewing societal change with suspicion. Those with a culture which scores high, on the other hand, take a more pragmatic approach: they encourage thrift and efforts in modern education as a way to prepare for the future. Turkey occupies the middle position so no dominant cultural preference can be distinguished. The Turkish orientation toward time goes hand in hand with the belief in destiny. It is easy to say that most Turks are not very time-conscious, and one of the attractions of the coffeehouse is that customers can linger there if they so choose. Hosts and hostesses are concerned if their guests do not arrive promptly at the time given for an invitation to a social event, but they are very understanding. Delays at airports and train stations are not a cause for alarm. Polychronism best describes the Turkish ability to concentrate on different things simultaneously, whether at work, at home, or in the coffeehouse. Although schedules and appointments are important, especially in Western-oriented firms, people and relationships are also valued