Communicating Effectively with the Chinese, Vol. 5

Utilizing the 'self-OTHER' perspective as a conceptual foundation, the authors portray and interpret some of the distinctive communication practices in Chinese culture. They examine how self-conception, role and hierarchy, relational dynamics and face affect ways of conducting everyday talk in Chinese culture. They explain why miscommunication between Chinese and North Americans takes place and suggest ways to improve communication. By incorporating instances of everyday talk, the authors offer a realistic and clear illustration of the specific characteristics and functions of Chinese communication, as well as problematic areas of Chinese//North American encounters.

How can North Americans improve their communication with the Chinese? A useful and efficient approach to understand prevalent cultural assumptions underlying everyday Chinese communicative activities, Communicating Effectively with the Chinese identifies and conceptualizes some of the distinctive communication practices in Chinese culture. Utilizing the self-OTHER perspective as a conceptual foundation, authors Ge Gao and Ting-Toomey portray and interpret the dynamics of Chinese communication. They examine how self-conception, role and hierarchy, relational dynamics, and face affect ways of conducting everyday talk in Chinese culture. They explain why miscommunication between Chinese and North Americans take place and suggest ways to improve Chines/North American communication. By incorporating instances of everyday talk, Gao and Ting-Toomey offer a realistic and clear illustration of the specific characteristics and functions of Chinese communication, as well as problematic areas of Chinese-North American encounters. Adding to the sparse literature on communicating with others of different cultural backgrounds, Communicating Effectively with the Chinese is an insightful resource that will be widely used by professionals and academics in communication, intercultural communication, interpersonal communication, Asian studies, and race and ethnic studies.

Booknews

To help professionals and academics understand prevalent cultural assumptions underlying everyday Chinese communication, this resource examines how self-conception, role and hierarchy, relational dynamics, and face affect ways of conducting conversations in Chinese culture. Offers explanations of why miscommunication between Chinese and North Americans takes place, and suggests ways to better interact with Chinese. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Stella Ting-Toomey (Ph.D., University of Washington) is a Professor of Human Communication Studies at California State University, Fullerton. Her research interests focus on fine-tuning the conflict face-negotiation theory and testing the impact of situational and ethnic identity factors on conflict styles. She also holds a strong interest in linking intercultural communication theories with training practice. Stella has published more than 70 journal articles and book chapters in various academic journals. Her publications have appeared in the International Journal of Intercultural Relations, Human Communication Research, Communication Monographs, and Communication Research, among others. She is also the author and editor of 15 books, most recently Understanding Intercultural Communication (with Leeva Chung; Roxbury), Managing Intercultural Conflict Effectively (with John Oetzel; Sage), Communicating Effectively with the Chinese (with Ge Gao; Sage), and Communicating Across Cultures (Guilford). Stella has lectured widely throughout the U.S., Asia, and Europe on the theme of mindful intercultural conflict competence. During her spare time, she enjoys playing the piano and improvising new tunes for fun and relaxation.