CHINA

KARAMOKO OUATTARA http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20081111154225/halo/images/2/2b/China-flag.gif

Introduction

Thesis Statement

China’s power is well known from the world whether it is in the old days and now. During the presentation we will look and discuss all of thr different aspect of China’s culture that are different from the United States culture.

Introduction

China with its powerful and numerous workforce is the second country in the world with the best Gross Domestic Product according to the United Nations report in 2011.China, officially and the People's Republic of China, is a sovereign state located in East Asia. China is a Communist state, Socialist state and Single-party state and the capital is Beijing.

http://cdn.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000.Lq6CUTJ798/s/750/HOA2006CHI-101.jpg

http://www.muddlepuddle.co.uk/The%20World/Country%20outlines/worldchina.jpg

Culture

COLLECTIVISM

- China has long been a family-run country. It has also been, and still is, primarily a rural nation.  These two institutions, the family and the farm, are the core of China.  Both the family and a rural environment are collectivist in nature.(http://www.chinacalypso.com/content/individualism-versus-collectivism-china)

-China is a very collectivist country

-The Chinese society, in general, is a collective society that strives for harmony and group belonging, whether to family, friends, work, or country.(http://www.prlog.org/10527661-the-concept-of-collectivism-in-the-chinese-culture.html)

-The Chinese are more willing to suppress their own feelings and needs for the good of the group. This value has been passed down the Chinese culture from folklores where martyrs sacrificed their lives for their community or country ever since the dynastical eras 5,000 years ago. (http://www.prlog.org/10527661-the-concept-of-collectivism-in-the-chinese-culture.html)

CultureCommunication Codes

The traditional Chinese "handshake" consists of interlocking the fingers of the hands and waving them up and down several times.(http://www.uschinabiz.com/TopTens/ChinaBusinessCommunication.aspx)

The Chinese will often avoid eye contact during conversations, especially when talking to the opposite sex or to strangers. .(http://www.uschinabiz.com/TopTens/ChinaBusinessCommunication.aspx

Chinese tradition also refers a lot to the clothing style. Many dressing style in the western culture could be offensive or not tolerable in China and also the behavior toward others.

Culture Masculine vs Feminine

A high score (masculine) on this dimension indicates that the society will be driven by competition, achievement and success, with success being defined by the winner / best in field – a value system that starts in school and continues throughout organisational behaviour. (http://geert-hofstede.com/china.html)

At 66 China is a masculine society –success oriented and driven. The need to ensure success can be exemplified by the fact that many Chinese will sacrifice family and leisure priorities to work. (http://geert-hofstede.com/china.html)

The issue of gender roles and equality has been contentious in China. Traditional beliefs have always placed men ahead of women in the social hierarchy, and the issue has been exacerbated since the Communist government initiated the one-child policy. (http://traveltips.usatoday.com/social-culture-china-16258.html

CulturePolyychronic

China tends to be polychromic, while other countries like Germany and the USA tends to be monochromic (http://www.gaoshan.de/kmchina/thesis.php?show=40)

Monochronic cultures tend to manage their tasks using a calendar while "the typical Chinese manager does not even possess a calendar" (ibid.) and act in a more flexible, improvised manner. (http://www.gaoshan.de/kmchina/thesis.php?show=40)

For the Chinese, since time is cyclical, deadlines are not understood and not therefore restrictive. (http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=527194)

And Chinese orientation toward polychronic, or "many-timed," thinking helps Chinese managers to juggle many tasks simultaneously, rather than prioritizing some but neglecting others, as an American might. (http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=527194)

CultureHigh Context

They communicate with them intensively (quantity difference) and exchange specific/detailed information about many different topics. (http://www.via-web.de/high-context-vs-low-context/)

The result is that every in-group member is constantly up-to-date with the facts around the business. (http://www.via-web.de/high-context-vs-low-context/)

In comparison to high-context cultures low-context cultures like USA and Germany orientate on many people of their daily life because they don’t differentiate as much as high-context cultures like in China between in- and out-groups. (http://www.via-web.de/high-context-vs-low-context/)

In China communication tends to be very efficient because of their information-flow at work and in privacy. They discuss everything in advance and consider meetings as an official “ceremony” where the already commonly agreed decision will be announced. (http://www.via-web.de/high-context-vs-low-context/)

Social ClassDescription of the role of social class

Chinese culture values masculinity more than femininity (http://www.teachabroadglobal.org/chinese-culture-education)

Male members in the family are supposed to go out and make money, and they are responsible for the general welfare of the family; female members in the family are generally responsible for taking care of the all the family members and nurturing. (http://www.teachabroadglobal.org/chinese-culture-education)

Males in the family are asked to carry out the dignity and heritage of the family, and that is one reason why some many Chinese families prefer boys than girls.

Nowadays, Chinese culture falls more equally between the masculine and feminine culture. (http://www.teachabroadglobal.org/chinese-culture-education)

ReligionDescription of the role of religious institutions

Religion in China has been characterized by pluralism since the beginning of Chinese history. Chinese religions are family-oriented and do not demand exclusive adherence, allowing the practice or belief of several at the same time. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_China)

It presently formally permits five religions in China: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Protestantism, and Catholicism,though despite historic links, for political reasons, the Chinese Catholic Church has been separated from the Roman Catholic Church. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_China)

(http://www.ey.gov.tw/Upload/UserFiles/%E5%B9%B4%E9%91%91%E5%85%A7%E6%96%87-297.jpg)

Gender RolesDescription of Gender roles and norms within society

Chinese culture values masculinity more than femininity (http://www.teachabroadglobal.org/chinese-culture-education)

Male members in the family are supposed to go out and make money, and they are responsible for the general welfare of the family; female members in the family are generally responsible for taking care of the all the family members and nurturing. (http://www.teachabroadglobal.org/chinese-culture-education)

Males in the family are asked to carry out the dignity and heritage of the family, and that is one reason why some many Chinese families prefer boys than girls.

Nowadays, Chinese culture falls more equally between the masculine and feminine culture. (http://www.teachabroadglobal.org/chinese-culture-education)

Tools of Analysis

Focusing on personal appearance

-Appearance expectations I China is really important for the women it is particularly strict. Some Chinese women feel that they must maintain white colored skin an outlook that likely diffused into China from western culture.

-The appearance in China really matter because of the credibility, western dress style might often look offensive for Chinese and not consider the credibility of the speaker

Tools of Analysis

Body Language

Shake hands upon meeting. Chinese may nod or bow instead of shaking hands, although shaking hands has become increasingly common nowadays.

The Chinese dislike being touched by strangers, even if it is for a handshake

Clicking fingers or whistling is considered very rude.

Women should wear dresses or pantsuits for business and should avoid heavy make-up and dangling, gaudy jewelry.

Tools of Analysis

Hand gesture

Raising the fist in various areas of southern China is considered an obscene gesture. Those in northern China won’t necessarily be offended by this gesture because it will have no meaning to them.

When you place an upright open palm beside your tea cup as its being refilled, you’re saying “thank you.”

In the West we often refer to ourselves by pointing to our heart. This, in essence, means me or I. In China, the same meaning is accomplished by touching one’s nose instead of one’s heart. Touching someone else’s nose is considered impolite.

Tools of Analysis

Non verbal communication during conversation

For the Chinese, a lack of eye contact is not an indication of lack of attention or respect. Because of the authoritarian nature of the Chinese society eye contact is viewed as inappropriate, especially when subordinates talk with their superiors

Chinese tend to smile easily when they feel difficulty or embarrassed. Smile because of embarrassment by a Chinese might be interpreted as being friendly by a westerner, but not for Chinese

Tools of Analysis

During conversations, it is required to be very careful about interrupting – Listening is a sign of politeness and of contemplation.

Chinese don‘t point with the index finger but with an open hand.

Analysis

United StatesBeing dress appropriately is consider but not all the time, it depend most of the place. The dress code vary depending on where the person is going.

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/01/29/us/29whitehouse_600.jpg

Appearance in China is one of the biggest rule that must follow. Being well dressed is critically important for people in China especially for politicians.

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02399/china-leaders-jinp_2399181b.jpg

China

Analysis

United States ChinaBody language in China has more requirement and is very strict. Having close contact is only with people they know.

http://pepegins.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/china-body-language.jpg

Body language is a common behavior in the U.S.A. Close physical contact is not seen as bad most of the time.

http://www.usatodayeducate.com/images/crp/300-11-bodylang.jpg

Analysis

United StatesUnited States have many hand gestures with a lot of meanings, which are most of the time offensive in China.

http://blog.deiricmccann.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/iStock_000003523709XSmall-Negative-Gestures.jpg

http://www.edudemic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/brain-hand-gestures.jpg

ChinaHand gestures in China is completely different from most of other countries especially western countries. http://i.eurosport.com/2010/11/18/661907-9850639-640-360.jpg

http://traditions.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/upload/upfiles/2010-11/03/understanding_peoples_gestures_in_china40072653ab988cfb266f.jpg

Analysis

United StatesInterruption during a conversation is rude most of the time but does not matter some times.

http://www.tallbergfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Small-conversation-at-Tallberg-Forum-2012-1024x682.jpg

ChinaRules in during conversation in China prohibit totally interruption no matter what is going on it is a rude behavior.

http://williamhanson.co.uk/_image/oBDZjVBdN5_68504.jpg

Conclusions

In conclusion China’s way of public speaking is mostly different from western countries like the United States.

-China is mainly operating on specific and strict rules

-- The Chinese may verbally say something as to not offend, but the body language define what they are trying to express without being rude

Work Cited

Slide 12: Moy Johnson, Weisman Center for International Business, June 26, 2012. http://blsciblogs.baruch.cuny.edu/weissmancenter/2012/06/26/baodao-dispatches-from-china-cultural-differences-appearance/

Slide 13: eDiplomat, 2013, http://www.ediplomat.com/np/cultural_etiquette/ce_cn.htm

Slide 14,15,16: Thornhill Capital, February 26, 2013. http://thornhillcapital.info/news/body-language-and-gestures-differ-between-china-and-the-west