On Cultural Barrier Problems in English Writing

As the cross-cultural communication activities have become increasingly frequent,teaching of writing,one of cross-cultural communication activities,sets“developing students’cross-cultural awareness”as one of its goals.However,traditional language teaching,which focuses on linguistic knowledge rather than cultural knowledge,results in the cultural barrier problems among students.This paper analyzes the manifestation of cultural barriers from the aspect of language and puts forward some corresponding approaches and methods.

Emergency physician's perception of cultural and linguistic barriers in immigrant care:results of a multiple-choice questionnaire in a large Italian urban emergency department

BACKGROUND: A poor communication with immigrants can lead to inappropriate use of healthcare services, greater risk of misdiagnosis, and lower compliance with treatment. As precise information about communication between emergency physicians(EPs) and immigrants is lacking, we analyzed difficulties in communicating with immigrants in the emergency department(ED) and their possible associations with demographic data, geographical origin and clinical characteristics.METHODS: In an ED with approximately 85 000 visits per year, a multiple-choice questionnaire was given to the EPs 4 months after discharge of each immigrant in 2011.RESULTS: Linguistic comprehension was optimal or partial in the majority of patients. Signifi cant barriers were noted in nearly one fourth of patients, for only half of them compatriots who were able to translate. Linguistic barriers were mainly found in older and sicker patients; they were also frequently seen in patients coming from western Africa and southern Europe. Non-linguistic barriers were perceived by EPs in a minority of patients, more frequently in the elderly and frequent attenders. Factors independently associated with a poor f inal comprehension led to linguistic barriers, non-linguistic obstacles, the absence of intermediaries, and the presence of patient's fear and hostility. The latter probably is a consequence, not the cause, of a poor comprehension.CONCLUSION: Linguistic and non-linguistic barriers, although quite infrequent, are the main factors that compromise communication with immigrants in the ED, with negative effects especially on elderly and more seriously ill patients as well as on physician satisfaction and appropriateness in using services.

A Study on How to Overcome Cultural Barriers in the Sino-US Business English Negotiations

With the growing popularity of intercultural communication, business English Negotiation between China and the United States has also increased. Negotiators will meet many communication barriers of language and culture during the process.If handled improperly, it will affect the outcome of the negotiations and the following cooperation. Thus, a profound understanding of the characteristics of business English negotiations and cultural barriers is indispensible.For different obstacles, summing up the appropriate negotiation strategies can be twice the result with half the effort, which will actively promote business English communication and negotiation.

How to Avoid Communication Conflicts Between Chinese and English Speakers

Chinese core values are very different from those of people in English speaking countries, and this makes communication styles very different. When Chinese communicate with people from other cultures, cultural awareness sometimes helps make the communication easier and more effective. When people are in a bi-cultural or even multi-cultural situation, they need to be aware of the cultural differences. On the other hand, for various reasons, cultural barriers may arise. This can occur when the people concerned speak entirely different languages or hold entirely different values and communication styles. This essay examines how native Chinese speakers communicate with or without words and how the effectiveness of what people say can be helped or hindered by the various messages their language and bodies send. Only when communicators are aware of their own communicative styles and those of others can they avoid communication conflicts. Observing and respecting other people＇s communication styles during the adjustment of one＇s own communication behaviors should be an on-going task in the intercultural communication.

Intercultural miscommunication： Causes and factors from ideological perspective

The causes and factors from ideological perspectives in intercultural miscommunication are discussed. Intercultural miscommunication can be analyzed from four aspects which are ways of thinking, value system, belief and attitude, and language usage and habits.

Numbers

685,736 tourists visited Kenya in the first eight months of 2018

Volunteers breaking cultural barriers

A growing number of young Chinese are visiting Africa as unpaid workers and engaging more with people from countries across the continent.In 2014,a friend told Yin Binbin about the bleak lives of the residents of Mathare,a slum area in Nairobi,the capital of Kenya.As he listened,an idea occurred to Yin-then a sophomore at Shandong University