AFbEnglishblanguagebII
Englishbforbinterculturalbcommunication
Coursebprogram:
• Interculturalbcommunication:bcharacteristics,bproceduresbandbstrategies
• Identitybinbabmultilingualbandbmulticulturalbcontextb(Asia/Africa)
• Communication,bpowerbandbdiscourse
• Englishblinguisticbdominance,bsocio-culturalbdominancebandblinguisticbmaintenance
• Culturalbspeakbandbidentitybinbmulti-ethnicbLondon
• Linguisticbbehaviorsbandblanguagebideologies
• IdentitybandbLanguagebLearning
• Otherizationsbandbthebmedia
• Racism,blanguagebandbsociety:bthebrepresentationbofbthebOther
Lessonb1
ThemebOne:bIdentitybandbconstructionbofbidentities
‘Identity’,binbgeneral,brefersbtobqualities,bbeliefs,bpersonalityborbphysicalbappearancebthatbarebtypicalbo
fbambindividualborbabgroup.bThisbmeansbthatbwebcannotbreferbtobidentitybasbsingularbbecausebeverybsin
glebonebofbusbhasbseveralbidentitiesbreferringbtobthebaspectsbwebwantbtobconsider.bAlreadybfrombthisbd
efinitionbwebcanbreferbtobanbindividualbcollectivebidentitybinbasbabpersonborbasbabgroup.bAnbexamplebofb
identitybwebhavebisbpsychologicalbidentity,bwhichbrefersbtobself-
image.bProfessorbWeinreichbrefersbtobpsychologicalbidentitybasb‘abperson’sbidentitybisbdefinedbasbthebt
otalitybofbone’sbself-
construal,binbwhichbhowbonebconstruesboneselfbinbthebpresentbexpressesbthebcontinuitybbetweenbhow
bonebconstruesboneselfbasbonebwasbinbthebpastbandbhowbonebconstruesboneselfbasbonebaspiresbtobbebin
bthebfuture’.bAbperson’sbidentitybisbablongbcontinuumbthatbgoesbfrombthebpastbtobthebpresentbtobthebfut
ure:bthebidentitybthatbwebhavebtodaybisbinfluencedbbybthebpastbbutbalsobbybthebideabthatbwebhavebofbo
urselvesbandbwhatbwebaspirebtobinbthebfuture.b
Therebarebalsobotherbidentitiesbthatbwebhave.bThebethnicbidentitybisbexactlybthebsamebasbthebindividual
bpsychologicalbidentity,bbutbthisbtimebregardsbethnicity.bThebethnicbidentitybthatbwebhavebandbbelongbt
obisbinfluencedbbybpastbancestrybofbabgroup,bandbthebfuturebaspirationsbofbthatbsamebgroup.bWebcanbal
soblookbatbsocialbidentity,bbeingbhowbanbentirebgroupbdefinesbthemselves.bThisbisbstrictlyblinkedbtobtheb
conceptbofbidentitybnegotiations,bbecausebwhenbwebarebdealingbwithbourbownbpersonalbidentity,bisbth
ebself-
imagebthatbwebarebtalkingbabout,bbutbwhenbwebanalyzebsocialbidentity,bhowbabpersonbisbpartbofbthebso
ciety,bthatbidentitybasbnoblongerb100%bsolid.bWebnegotiatebourbidentitybwithbothers.bOurbidentitybdepe
ndsbonbthebsocialbrolebweboccupy.bImaginebthebconceptbofbgenderbidentity:bhowbwebseebourselvesbasba
bpersonbandbhowbwebwantbtobbebconsideredbinbsociety.bSexbisbthebwaybwebarebgeneticallybbornbatbbirth
,bbutbpeoplebcanbchoosebabdifferentbgender.bThatbsortbofbnegotiatedbalsobinbsociety.
Otherbaspectsbofbidentitybcanbcomprehendbracial,breligious,boccupationalbidentitybandbsobforth.bMostbi
mportantly,bwebhavebtobconsiderbthebconceptbofblinguisticbidentity:bthisbrefersbtobidentificationbasbabs
peakerbnotbonlybofbtheirbmotherbtonguebbutbalsobofbeverybotherblanguagebtheybhaveblearnedbalongbth
eirblives.bAlsoblinguisticbidentitybbuildsbupbourbtotalbidentity.b
Casebstudy:bRelationshipbbetweenbculturalbidentityborbsocialbculturalbidentitybandbself-
representation.b(Parisa-bBeingbrepresented)
1
,AFbEnglishblanguagebII
Therebisbabpersonbwhobisbinteractingbinbabcommunitybshebdoesn’tbbelongbto.bIt’sbnotbherboriginalbgroup
.bShebisbthebonlybperson,bhasbthebimpressionbthatbherbcolleaguesblookbatbherbdifferently.bShebpicksbupbs
everalbcommentsbherebandbthere,bandbthingsbthatbletbherbsupposebherbcolleaguesbthinkbshebisbunableb
tobdo,bthebsamebthingsbtheybdo.bThere’sbabclashbgoingbonbinbthisbperson’sbmind:bshebwantsbtobbebinteg
rated,bbutbshebdoesn’tbwantbtobdobthisbatbthebexpensebofbneglectingbherborigins.bThenbshebgetsbconcre
tebsupportbforbanbideabandbwantsbtobtestbabhypothesis.bParisabisbverybproudbofbthebwomanbthatbplaysba
bmajorbrole.bAtbthebsamebtime,bshebgetsbherbfriendsbtobbebimpressedbbybthebmoviebandbbybthebwoman’
sbreaction.bHerbfriendsbarebsurprisedbthebpersonbisbhappy:bthebmoviebisbshowingbthatbtherebcanbbebind
ependentbwomenbinbherbcountriesbwhilebrespectingbsomebtraditionalbaspects,binbclothesbspecifically.b
Nowbherbfriendsbcanbseebsomebodybelsebthatbbelongsbtobherbculture,babman:bverybgood-
lookingbperson,bbutbhebdoesn’tbrespondbtobthebtraditionalbfeaturesbofbtheirbculture.bInbparticular,bhebd
idn’tbwearbtraditionalbclothesbandbdidn’tbhavebabbeard.bShebwantsbtobseebwhatbpeoplebaroundbherbthi
nkbofbhim.bThebwomanbstartsbthinking:bwhatbisbabbeardbtobherbandbherbculture?bWouldbitbmakebthebma
nbmoreblikebthebhostingbcountry,borbnot?bIsbthebpersonbreal,borbnot?bShebdecidesbthatbthat’sbjustbabvari
antbofbwhatbpeoplebbelongingbtobherbculturebcanbdo.b
Deconstruction:bthebideabisbthatbtherebisbthebcreationbofbanb‘IbversusbThem’bconceptsbinbthisbparagrap
h.bFirstbofball,bbecausebParisa’sbfriendbhavebnobcluebofbthebculturebshebcomesbfrom,bthebdobnotbhavebab
culturalbbackgroundbknowledgebthatbcanbguidebthembthroughbwhatbtheybseebofbParisa.bThisbmeansbth
atbtheybarebvulnerablebtobstereotypes.bTheybcanbjudgebabwholebculturebandblookbatbitbthroughbParisa,bt
hroughbthebwaybshebtalks,bshebdresses,bshebthinks.bThebproblembwithbstereotypesbisbthatbtheybsimplify
btoobmuchbandbasbstudentsbofblinguisticsbofbAsiabandbAfricabwebshouldn’tbfocusbonbstereotypes.bInstea
d,bwebshouldblookbatbthebmultifacetednessbofbreality.bParisabwantsbtobbebidentifiedbasbanbIranianbwom
an,bbutbshebisbthornbbetweenbthebtwobcultures,bandbthebwaybshebrepresentsbforbherbownbculture:bsheb
reallyblikesbthebmanbwhobparticipatedbtobthebconference,bevenbifbhebdoesn’tbhavebabbeardbandbdoesn’t
bwearbtraditionalbclothing.bShebconsidersbhimbabtypicalbIranianbman.bThebconceptbofbgoingbbeyondbster
eotypesbcanbbebappliedbtobsociety,bthebconceptbofblookingbatbitbinbabmultifacedbway.bInbthebmovie,bthe
re’sbabrealitybthatbParisa’sbfriendsbdidbnotbconsider.bTheybworebtraditionalbclothes,bbutbabwomanbwasb
drivingbabjeep:btherebarebeducatedbandbworkingbwomenbinbIran.bAtbthebsamebtime,btheybcanbdobthatba
ndbstillbfollowbthebtraditionsbofbtheirbclothing,btheybcanbdobwhatbParisa’sbfriendsbdidbnotbexpect,bhiring
bandbfiringbpeoplebfrombtheirbownbculture.bThisbmeansbwebcanbtalkbaboutbasbstereotypesbcreatingbabcla
shbbetweenbwhatbisbexpectedbandbwhatbisbunexpected.bExpectedbisbwhatbwebimaginebwithbstereotype
s,bthebunexpectedbisbreality.bIranbisbmuchbmorebthanbwhatbParisa’sbfriendsbcouldbimagine.bGoingbbeyo
ndbthebexpectedbandbgettingbintobthebunexpectedbmeansbthatbwebhavebtobhavebabthickbdescription-
seeingbofbreality.bThickbdescriptionbmeansblookingbatbabcultureborbabculturalbevent,blookingbatbthebcom
plexitybofbseveralbrealitiesbandbgoingbbeyondbthebstereotypes.b
Thebfirstbaspectbisbthebjuxtapositionbofbthebunexpected.bApplyingbitbtobthebcasebstudy,bitbwouldbbebthe
bpartbofbthebparagraphbwherebParisabdescribesbthebwomen’sbactivities:balthoughbwebwouldbimaginebw
omenbnotbdoingbanything,btheybarebactive,bonebofbthembisbhiringbandbfiringbpeople.bShebisbthebboss.bTh
ebsecondbaspectbisbcomplexity,be.g.,btheblayersbofbthebfilm.bThere’sbabwomanbinbthebmoviebwho’sbthebb
ossbbutbstillbrespectsbtraditions.bThisbmeansbthatbsocietybisbmorebcomplexbthatbwebexpect:bit’sbmultilay
eredbandbmultifaceted.bEncountersbwithbpeople,bartefactsbandbinstancesbarebthebthirdbelementbtobbe
btakenbintobconsideration.bThisbhasbtobdealbwithbthebconferencebpart.bItbmeansbthatbParisabfindsbthatbh
erbmalebcounterpartbdoesn’tbhavebabbeard,bsobthebmainbrealitybisbcomplexbalsobforbher.bThebartefactbis
bthebmovie,binbwhichbwebseebhowbmuchbIranianbwomenbarebanbactivebpartbinbit.bSeveralbinstancesbhap
pen:btheybarebthebthingsbthatbParisabhasbtobdealbwithbinbherbcontinuousbimpactbwithbherbculturebandbt
hebculturebthatbisbhostingbher.bWherebwebcomebfrom,bandballbthesebaspects,binfluencebthebwaybwebthi
nk.bIt’sballbthingsbwebhavebtobtakebintobconsiderationbinbthebthickbdescriptionbofbreality.bSo,bthickbdescr
2
,AFbEnglishblanguagebII
iptionbmeansbthatbweblookbatbrealitybfrombseveralbperspectivesbandbwebgobbeyondbthebstereotypes,bb
eyondbthebexpectedbsocialbphenomena.b
Atbthebsamebtime,bit’sbnotbjustbaboutbParisa’sbfriends,bbutbalsobaboutbwhatbherbmindbmadebup:bshebisbc
oncernedbaboutbbeingbabrepresentativebofbherbculture,bnotbjustbforbherbbutbalsobforbthebman.bAllbthisbd
erivesbfrombanb‘UsbversusbThem’bmechanism.bHebfriendsbthinkbthatbwomenbofbherbculturebhavebtobbeb
subservient,bthatbshebcannotbbebcreative,borbdobabgodbjob.bParisa’sbultimatebgoalbisbtobmakebherbfriend
sbunderstandbthatbherbsocietybisbnotbthebwaybitsbimagebisbportrayedbthroughbstereotypes,bbutbit’sbwayb
morebcomplexbthanbthat.bIt’sbalsobinbthebwordsbthatbherbfriendsbuse,bshebthinksbshebisbjudgedbbybpassi
ngbcomments,bdescribingbherbasbstupidborbunablebtobdobwhatbherbcolleaguesbdo.b
Whenbanalyzingbsociety,bwebhavebtobusebthebtechniquebofbBracketing:bitbmeansbtobputbaside,btobelimi
nate,bthebideasbofbrealborbunrealbaboutbanotherbculture,bthebtraditionalbrepresentationsbofbthatbcultur
ebandbourbpreviousbconvinctionsbaboutbit.bWebhavebtobappreciatebthatbeverybsocietybisbasbcomplexban
dbculturallybvariedbasbourbown.bFinally,bwebhavebtoblearnbhowbtobbuildbupbthickbdescriptionsbofbwhatbh
appens.b
➢ Definitionbofbidentity
➢ Summarizationbofbthebcasebstudy
➢ Commentingbonbit,bfocusingbonbthebmainbconceptsbofbthebstory
➢ Thinkingbaboutbabsimilarbsituation,bwhatbpeoplebwouldbthink.be.g.:bwhatbcouldbParisabdobtobm
akebherbcolleaguesbbetterbunderstandbherbculture,bwhatbcouldbParisa’sbfriendbdobtobmakebfeel
bmorebrespectedbforbherbculture.b
Casebstudy:bartefactsbofbculture;btellingbculturalbstories,bclosingbranks.b(Chinesebteachers)
Whilebthebfirstbcasebfocusedbonbidentitybforbabsinglebperson,bherebwebareblookingbatbwhatbpeoplebthink
bofbtheirbculture.bZhangbtalksbaboutbhisbculturebablot,binbparticularbaboutbConfucianism.bHebcreatesbthis
bparadigm,bwherebitbisbimpolitebforbchildrenbtobquestionbtheirbparentsbasbmuchbasbitbimpolitebforbstude
ntsbtobquestionbtheirbteachers.bHebsaysbthatbwebshouldbnotbimaginebabChinesebclassroombcontextbasbt
hebsamebasbabwesternbclassroombcontext:bitbwouldbbebculturallybinappropriate.bWebhavebthenbMing’sb
perspectivebofbwhatbZhangbwasbtalkingbabout.bHebsaysbthatbhebisbsortbofbright,bandbhisbpointbofbviewbisb
notb100%btrue:bnotballbstudentsbdobnotbquestionbtheirbteachersbandbnotballbchildrenbdobnotbquestionbt
heirbparents.bHisbideabisbthatbZhangbisbsufferingbinbthisbnewbenvironment,bandbthisbinfluencesbhisbthou
ghts.bJanetbwasbshocked,bshebreadbsomebbooks,bandbnowbherballbrealitybwasbshutteredbbybMing’sbwor
ds.bBooksbwherebthebonlybcontactbwithbChinesebrealitybshebhadbeverbhad.bMingbisbencouragingbtobgetbi
ntobabthickbdescriptionbofbreality,btobgobbeyondbstereotypesbandbwhatbonebsinglebpersonbisbsayingbabo
utbreality.bJanetbreadbabbookbandbthoughtbaboutbthisbgeneralbidea:bwhenbsomeonebisbinbabculturebtheyb
don’tbbelongbto,btheybusuallybdrawbbackbtobtheirbculturebtobfeelbstrong.bThisbisbherbhypothesisbaboutbZ
hang.bMingbconcludesbthatbitbcouldbbebtrue,bbutbatbthebsamebtimebit’sbbetterbnotbtoblookbtoobmuchbint
obZhang’sbwords.bItbisbtruebthatbConfucianismbinfluencesbthebwaybpeoplebbehavebandbreact,bbutbwebha
vebtoblookbalsobinbthebindividualbperson.b
Deconstruction:bthebfirstbconceptbwebhavebtoblearnbisbthebideabofbanbessentialistbview.bItbisbabsynonym
bofbthebwordbstereotype:bitbmeansbwebgobdownbtobthebveryblittlebsimplificationbofbreality.bZhang’sbesse
ntialistbviewbisbthatbChinesebculturebisbcharacterizedbbybConfucianism.bMing,bonbthebotherbhand,bisbmo
rebnon-
essentialist.bItbisbtruebthatbChinesebculturebisbcharacterizedbbybConfucianism,bbutbitbisbablittlebmorebco
mplexbthanbthat.bWebhavebtobconsiderbthebindividualbidentitybandbthebsocietybinbgeneral.bHowbcanbweb
3
, AFbEnglishblanguagebII
explainbZhang’sbessentialistbpointbofbview?bWhenbpeoplebarebinbabdifficultbculturalbenvironmentalbcont
ext,btheybexaggeratebaspectsbofbtheirbownbculturalbidentity,bwebtrybtobdefendbourselvesbbybenhancingb
aspectsbofbourbownbculture.bThesebaspectsbarebpartbofbthebimagebwebwantbtobgivebtobotherbpeople.bW
henbwebarebthreatenedbbybabculturalbviewpointbandbbybanbidentitybviewpoint,bwebhavebseveralbcultura
lbresourcesbwebcanblookbat:bwebcanbgobbackbtobceremonies,bclothing,betiquette,bfamily,bfestivalsbandbs
obon.bThesebaspectsbhelpbusbdefendbourselvesbwhenbwebarebdealingbwithbculturalbresourcesbfrombanot
herbculturebthatbwebdobnotblikebbybabpoliticalbpointbofbview.bWebconsiderbthebothersbasbhavingbstrangeb
moralbcodes,borbwhenbwebarebinterpretingbabculture,bweblookbatbthesebaspectsbasbstrange,borbatbleastb
webthinkbwebcannotbidentifybwithbthesebculturalbresources.bAlso,bwhenbwebfeelbthreatenedbthatbwebar
ebnotbbeingbrecognizedbasbwhobwebare,bwebgobbackbtobthesebculturalbresources.bThesebareballbaspectsb
ofbourbculture.bWebreinforcebourbownbidentitybbyblookingbatbthesebaspectsbofbourbculturebandbtalkingba
boutbthem.
Artefactsbofbculturebmeansbthatbwebinterpretbourbownbculturebinbabsubjectivebway:bforbinstance,bwhe
nbZhangbisbtalkingbaboutbConfucianism,bthebwaybhebtalksbaboutbitbisbanbartifact,bitbisbwhatbhebbelievesba
boutbConfucianism,bit’sbhisbownbpersonalbideababoutbthisbculturalbaspect,bnotbthebculturebperbse.bSo,b‘
artefactsbofbculture’bmeansbthebwaybwebinterpretbabculture.b
Ifbwebwantedbtobmakebanbexamplebofbwhatbthebdifferencebbetweenbanbessentialistbandbabnon-
essentialistbdescriptionbofbrealitybis,bwebcanbsaybthatbanbessentialbdescriptionbofbrealitybisbbasedbonbste
reotypes;bnon-
essentialistbdescription,binstead,bisbbasedbonbobservation.bZhangbsaysbthatbinbChinesebculturebpeople’s
bbehaviorbisbdeterminedbbybConfucianism,bbutbMing’sbperspectivebaffirmsbthatbaccordingbtobsomebChi
nese,bitbisbimportantbtobsaybthatbtheirbculturebisbdeterminedbbybConfucianism,bhowever,baccordingbtob
otherbpeople,bthisbisbanbovergeneralization,babstereotype.b(Childrenbdobnotbinteractbinbclassb/bNotballbc
hildrenbdobnotbinteractbinbclass).
Tobimprovebourbcommunication,baccordingbtobthebexamplebgivenbbybthisbcase,bwebhave,bofbcourse,btob
respectbeachbculture.bWebalsobhavebtobtakebintobconsiderationbthatbwhatbpeoplebsaybisbwhatbtheybwis
hbtobprojectbaboutbtheirbculturebratherbthanbwhatbtheybwantbtobinformbusbof.bWebhavebtoblookbatbthisb
people’sbideasbasbpersonalbobservationsbofbtheirbculturebthatbcannotbbebgeneralizedbforballbotherbpeo
plebcomingbfrombthatbsamebculture.
➢ Conceptsblikeb‘culturalbresources’,b
➢ Essentialistbviewbandbnon-essentialistbview
➢ Howbpeoplebtendbtobdefendbthemselvesbinbotherbcultures,btalkingbaboutbtheirbownbculture
➢ Howbwebcanbunderstandbpeoplebmorebinbcontextblikebthisbone
➢ Whatbarebthebculturalbresourcesbusedbbybthebparticipantsbinbthisbcasebstudy?
Lessonb2
Casebstudy:bintentionalborbunintentionalbmessagesbaboutbculturalbidentityb(girlsbonbthebbus)
Onbabbusbgoingbfrombthebcitybcenterbtobthebvillagesblocatedbinbthebsouth-
eastbofbEngland,btherebwerebsomebnoisybgirlsbthatbspentbtimebswearingbandbyellingbatbothersbasbgreeti
ng.bThebgirlsbareblaughing,bandbmakebfunbabsmallerbboy,bwhobdoesn’tbknowbwhatbtobsaybback.
Deconstruction:bwebhavebtoblookbatbitbfrombanbinterculturalbcommunicationbperspectivebandbasbanalys
tsbofbthebEnglishblanguage.bThesebgirlsbarebassertingbtheirbculturalbidentity,bevenbifbotherbpassengersba
rebquitebshocked.bWebarebinbabsituationbinbwhichbtherebarebmultiplebidentitiesbbeingbaffirmed:bthebgirl
4
Englishbforbinterculturalbcommunication
Coursebprogram:
• Interculturalbcommunication:bcharacteristics,bproceduresbandbstrategies
• Identitybinbabmultilingualbandbmulticulturalbcontextb(Asia/Africa)
• Communication,bpowerbandbdiscourse
• Englishblinguisticbdominance,bsocio-culturalbdominancebandblinguisticbmaintenance
• Culturalbspeakbandbidentitybinbmulti-ethnicbLondon
• Linguisticbbehaviorsbandblanguagebideologies
• IdentitybandbLanguagebLearning
• Otherizationsbandbthebmedia
• Racism,blanguagebandbsociety:bthebrepresentationbofbthebOther
Lessonb1
ThemebOne:bIdentitybandbconstructionbofbidentities
‘Identity’,binbgeneral,brefersbtobqualities,bbeliefs,bpersonalityborbphysicalbappearancebthatbarebtypicalbo
fbambindividualborbabgroup.bThisbmeansbthatbwebcannotbreferbtobidentitybasbsingularbbecausebeverybsin
glebonebofbusbhasbseveralbidentitiesbreferringbtobthebaspectsbwebwantbtobconsider.bAlreadybfrombthisbd
efinitionbwebcanbreferbtobanbindividualbcollectivebidentitybinbasbabpersonborbasbabgroup.bAnbexamplebofb
identitybwebhavebisbpsychologicalbidentity,bwhichbrefersbtobself-
image.bProfessorbWeinreichbrefersbtobpsychologicalbidentitybasb‘abperson’sbidentitybisbdefinedbasbthebt
otalitybofbone’sbself-
construal,binbwhichbhowbonebconstruesboneselfbinbthebpresentbexpressesbthebcontinuitybbetweenbhow
bonebconstruesboneselfbasbonebwasbinbthebpastbandbhowbonebconstruesboneselfbasbonebaspiresbtobbebin
bthebfuture’.bAbperson’sbidentitybisbablongbcontinuumbthatbgoesbfrombthebpastbtobthebpresentbtobthebfut
ure:bthebidentitybthatbwebhavebtodaybisbinfluencedbbybthebpastbbutbalsobbybthebideabthatbwebhavebofbo
urselvesbandbwhatbwebaspirebtobinbthebfuture.b
Therebarebalsobotherbidentitiesbthatbwebhave.bThebethnicbidentitybisbexactlybthebsamebasbthebindividual
bpsychologicalbidentity,bbutbthisbtimebregardsbethnicity.bThebethnicbidentitybthatbwebhavebandbbelongbt
obisbinfluencedbbybpastbancestrybofbabgroup,bandbthebfuturebaspirationsbofbthatbsamebgroup.bWebcanbal
soblookbatbsocialbidentity,bbeingbhowbanbentirebgroupbdefinesbthemselves.bThisbisbstrictlyblinkedbtobtheb
conceptbofbidentitybnegotiations,bbecausebwhenbwebarebdealingbwithbourbownbpersonalbidentity,bisbth
ebself-
imagebthatbwebarebtalkingbabout,bbutbwhenbwebanalyzebsocialbidentity,bhowbabpersonbisbpartbofbthebso
ciety,bthatbidentitybasbnoblongerb100%bsolid.bWebnegotiatebourbidentitybwithbothers.bOurbidentitybdepe
ndsbonbthebsocialbrolebweboccupy.bImaginebthebconceptbofbgenderbidentity:bhowbwebseebourselvesbasba
bpersonbandbhowbwebwantbtobbebconsideredbinbsociety.bSexbisbthebwaybwebarebgeneticallybbornbatbbirth
,bbutbpeoplebcanbchoosebabdifferentbgender.bThatbsortbofbnegotiatedbalsobinbsociety.
Otherbaspectsbofbidentitybcanbcomprehendbracial,breligious,boccupationalbidentitybandbsobforth.bMostbi
mportantly,bwebhavebtobconsiderbthebconceptbofblinguisticbidentity:bthisbrefersbtobidentificationbasbabs
peakerbnotbonlybofbtheirbmotherbtonguebbutbalsobofbeverybotherblanguagebtheybhaveblearnedbalongbth
eirblives.bAlsoblinguisticbidentitybbuildsbupbourbtotalbidentity.b
Casebstudy:bRelationshipbbetweenbculturalbidentityborbsocialbculturalbidentitybandbself-
representation.b(Parisa-bBeingbrepresented)
1
,AFbEnglishblanguagebII
Therebisbabpersonbwhobisbinteractingbinbabcommunitybshebdoesn’tbbelongbto.bIt’sbnotbherboriginalbgroup
.bShebisbthebonlybperson,bhasbthebimpressionbthatbherbcolleaguesblookbatbherbdifferently.bShebpicksbupbs
everalbcommentsbherebandbthere,bandbthingsbthatbletbherbsupposebherbcolleaguesbthinkbshebisbunableb
tobdo,bthebsamebthingsbtheybdo.bThere’sbabclashbgoingbonbinbthisbperson’sbmind:bshebwantsbtobbebinteg
rated,bbutbshebdoesn’tbwantbtobdobthisbatbthebexpensebofbneglectingbherborigins.bThenbshebgetsbconcre
tebsupportbforbanbideabandbwantsbtobtestbabhypothesis.bParisabisbverybproudbofbthebwomanbthatbplaysba
bmajorbrole.bAtbthebsamebtime,bshebgetsbherbfriendsbtobbebimpressedbbybthebmoviebandbbybthebwoman’
sbreaction.bHerbfriendsbarebsurprisedbthebpersonbisbhappy:bthebmoviebisbshowingbthatbtherebcanbbebind
ependentbwomenbinbherbcountriesbwhilebrespectingbsomebtraditionalbaspects,binbclothesbspecifically.b
Nowbherbfriendsbcanbseebsomebodybelsebthatbbelongsbtobherbculture,babman:bverybgood-
lookingbperson,bbutbhebdoesn’tbrespondbtobthebtraditionalbfeaturesbofbtheirbculture.bInbparticular,bhebd
idn’tbwearbtraditionalbclothesbandbdidn’tbhavebabbeard.bShebwantsbtobseebwhatbpeoplebaroundbherbthi
nkbofbhim.bThebwomanbstartsbthinking:bwhatbisbabbeardbtobherbandbherbculture?bWouldbitbmakebthebma
nbmoreblikebthebhostingbcountry,borbnot?bIsbthebpersonbreal,borbnot?bShebdecidesbthatbthat’sbjustbabvari
antbofbwhatbpeoplebbelongingbtobherbculturebcanbdo.b
Deconstruction:bthebideabisbthatbtherebisbthebcreationbofbanb‘IbversusbThem’bconceptsbinbthisbparagrap
h.bFirstbofball,bbecausebParisa’sbfriendbhavebnobcluebofbthebculturebshebcomesbfrom,bthebdobnotbhavebab
culturalbbackgroundbknowledgebthatbcanbguidebthembthroughbwhatbtheybseebofbParisa.bThisbmeansbth
atbtheybarebvulnerablebtobstereotypes.bTheybcanbjudgebabwholebculturebandblookbatbitbthroughbParisa,bt
hroughbthebwaybshebtalks,bshebdresses,bshebthinks.bThebproblembwithbstereotypesbisbthatbtheybsimplify
btoobmuchbandbasbstudentsbofblinguisticsbofbAsiabandbAfricabwebshouldn’tbfocusbonbstereotypes.bInstea
d,bwebshouldblookbatbthebmultifacetednessbofbreality.bParisabwantsbtobbebidentifiedbasbanbIranianbwom
an,bbutbshebisbthornbbetweenbthebtwobcultures,bandbthebwaybshebrepresentsbforbherbownbculture:bsheb
reallyblikesbthebmanbwhobparticipatedbtobthebconference,bevenbifbhebdoesn’tbhavebabbeardbandbdoesn’t
bwearbtraditionalbclothing.bShebconsidersbhimbabtypicalbIranianbman.bThebconceptbofbgoingbbeyondbster
eotypesbcanbbebappliedbtobsociety,bthebconceptbofblookingbatbitbinbabmultifacedbway.bInbthebmovie,bthe
re’sbabrealitybthatbParisa’sbfriendsbdidbnotbconsider.bTheybworebtraditionalbclothes,bbutbabwomanbwasb
drivingbabjeep:btherebarebeducatedbandbworkingbwomenbinbIran.bAtbthebsamebtime,btheybcanbdobthatba
ndbstillbfollowbthebtraditionsbofbtheirbclothing,btheybcanbdobwhatbParisa’sbfriendsbdidbnotbexpect,bhiring
bandbfiringbpeoplebfrombtheirbownbculture.bThisbmeansbwebcanbtalkbaboutbasbstereotypesbcreatingbabcla
shbbetweenbwhatbisbexpectedbandbwhatbisbunexpected.bExpectedbisbwhatbwebimaginebwithbstereotype
s,bthebunexpectedbisbreality.bIranbisbmuchbmorebthanbwhatbParisa’sbfriendsbcouldbimagine.bGoingbbeyo
ndbthebexpectedbandbgettingbintobthebunexpectedbmeansbthatbwebhavebtobhavebabthickbdescription-
seeingbofbreality.bThickbdescriptionbmeansblookingbatbabcultureborbabculturalbevent,blookingbatbthebcom
plexitybofbseveralbrealitiesbandbgoingbbeyondbthebstereotypes.b
Thebfirstbaspectbisbthebjuxtapositionbofbthebunexpected.bApplyingbitbtobthebcasebstudy,bitbwouldbbebthe
bpartbofbthebparagraphbwherebParisabdescribesbthebwomen’sbactivities:balthoughbwebwouldbimaginebw
omenbnotbdoingbanything,btheybarebactive,bonebofbthembisbhiringbandbfiringbpeople.bShebisbthebboss.bTh
ebsecondbaspectbisbcomplexity,be.g.,btheblayersbofbthebfilm.bThere’sbabwomanbinbthebmoviebwho’sbthebb
ossbbutbstillbrespectsbtraditions.bThisbmeansbthatbsocietybisbmorebcomplexbthatbwebexpect:bit’sbmultilay
eredbandbmultifaceted.bEncountersbwithbpeople,bartefactsbandbinstancesbarebthebthirdbelementbtobbe
btakenbintobconsideration.bThisbhasbtobdealbwithbthebconferencebpart.bItbmeansbthatbParisabfindsbthatbh
erbmalebcounterpartbdoesn’tbhavebabbeard,bsobthebmainbrealitybisbcomplexbalsobforbher.bThebartefactbis
bthebmovie,binbwhichbwebseebhowbmuchbIranianbwomenbarebanbactivebpartbinbit.bSeveralbinstancesbhap
pen:btheybarebthebthingsbthatbParisabhasbtobdealbwithbinbherbcontinuousbimpactbwithbherbculturebandbt
hebculturebthatbisbhostingbher.bWherebwebcomebfrom,bandballbthesebaspects,binfluencebthebwaybwebthi
nk.bIt’sballbthingsbwebhavebtobtakebintobconsiderationbinbthebthickbdescriptionbofbreality.bSo,bthickbdescr
2
,AFbEnglishblanguagebII
iptionbmeansbthatbweblookbatbrealitybfrombseveralbperspectivesbandbwebgobbeyondbthebstereotypes,bb
eyondbthebexpectedbsocialbphenomena.b
Atbthebsamebtime,bit’sbnotbjustbaboutbParisa’sbfriends,bbutbalsobaboutbwhatbherbmindbmadebup:bshebisbc
oncernedbaboutbbeingbabrepresentativebofbherbculture,bnotbjustbforbherbbutbalsobforbthebman.bAllbthisbd
erivesbfrombanb‘UsbversusbThem’bmechanism.bHebfriendsbthinkbthatbwomenbofbherbculturebhavebtobbeb
subservient,bthatbshebcannotbbebcreative,borbdobabgodbjob.bParisa’sbultimatebgoalbisbtobmakebherbfriend
sbunderstandbthatbherbsocietybisbnotbthebwaybitsbimagebisbportrayedbthroughbstereotypes,bbutbit’sbwayb
morebcomplexbthanbthat.bIt’sbalsobinbthebwordsbthatbherbfriendsbuse,bshebthinksbshebisbjudgedbbybpassi
ngbcomments,bdescribingbherbasbstupidborbunablebtobdobwhatbherbcolleaguesbdo.b
Whenbanalyzingbsociety,bwebhavebtobusebthebtechniquebofbBracketing:bitbmeansbtobputbaside,btobelimi
nate,bthebideasbofbrealborbunrealbaboutbanotherbculture,bthebtraditionalbrepresentationsbofbthatbcultur
ebandbourbpreviousbconvinctionsbaboutbit.bWebhavebtobappreciatebthatbeverybsocietybisbasbcomplexban
dbculturallybvariedbasbourbown.bFinally,bwebhavebtoblearnbhowbtobbuildbupbthickbdescriptionsbofbwhatbh
appens.b
➢ Definitionbofbidentity
➢ Summarizationbofbthebcasebstudy
➢ Commentingbonbit,bfocusingbonbthebmainbconceptsbofbthebstory
➢ Thinkingbaboutbabsimilarbsituation,bwhatbpeoplebwouldbthink.be.g.:bwhatbcouldbParisabdobtobm
akebherbcolleaguesbbetterbunderstandbherbculture,bwhatbcouldbParisa’sbfriendbdobtobmakebfeel
bmorebrespectedbforbherbculture.b
Casebstudy:bartefactsbofbculture;btellingbculturalbstories,bclosingbranks.b(Chinesebteachers)
Whilebthebfirstbcasebfocusedbonbidentitybforbabsinglebperson,bherebwebareblookingbatbwhatbpeoplebthink
bofbtheirbculture.bZhangbtalksbaboutbhisbculturebablot,binbparticularbaboutbConfucianism.bHebcreatesbthis
bparadigm,bwherebitbisbimpolitebforbchildrenbtobquestionbtheirbparentsbasbmuchbasbitbimpolitebforbstude
ntsbtobquestionbtheirbteachers.bHebsaysbthatbwebshouldbnotbimaginebabChinesebclassroombcontextbasbt
hebsamebasbabwesternbclassroombcontext:bitbwouldbbebculturallybinappropriate.bWebhavebthenbMing’sb
perspectivebofbwhatbZhangbwasbtalkingbabout.bHebsaysbthatbhebisbsortbofbright,bandbhisbpointbofbviewbisb
notb100%btrue:bnotballbstudentsbdobnotbquestionbtheirbteachersbandbnotballbchildrenbdobnotbquestionbt
heirbparents.bHisbideabisbthatbZhangbisbsufferingbinbthisbnewbenvironment,bandbthisbinfluencesbhisbthou
ghts.bJanetbwasbshocked,bshebreadbsomebbooks,bandbnowbherballbrealitybwasbshutteredbbybMing’sbwor
ds.bBooksbwherebthebonlybcontactbwithbChinesebrealitybshebhadbeverbhad.bMingbisbencouragingbtobgetbi
ntobabthickbdescriptionbofbreality,btobgobbeyondbstereotypesbandbwhatbonebsinglebpersonbisbsayingbabo
utbreality.bJanetbreadbabbookbandbthoughtbaboutbthisbgeneralbidea:bwhenbsomeonebisbinbabculturebtheyb
don’tbbelongbto,btheybusuallybdrawbbackbtobtheirbculturebtobfeelbstrong.bThisbisbherbhypothesisbaboutbZ
hang.bMingbconcludesbthatbitbcouldbbebtrue,bbutbatbthebsamebtimebit’sbbetterbnotbtoblookbtoobmuchbint
obZhang’sbwords.bItbisbtruebthatbConfucianismbinfluencesbthebwaybpeoplebbehavebandbreact,bbutbwebha
vebtoblookbalsobinbthebindividualbperson.b
Deconstruction:bthebfirstbconceptbwebhavebtoblearnbisbthebideabofbanbessentialistbview.bItbisbabsynonym
bofbthebwordbstereotype:bitbmeansbwebgobdownbtobthebveryblittlebsimplificationbofbreality.bZhang’sbesse
ntialistbviewbisbthatbChinesebculturebisbcharacterizedbbybConfucianism.bMing,bonbthebotherbhand,bisbmo
rebnon-
essentialist.bItbisbtruebthatbChinesebculturebisbcharacterizedbbybConfucianism,bbutbitbisbablittlebmorebco
mplexbthanbthat.bWebhavebtobconsiderbthebindividualbidentitybandbthebsocietybinbgeneral.bHowbcanbweb
3
, AFbEnglishblanguagebII
explainbZhang’sbessentialistbpointbofbview?bWhenbpeoplebarebinbabdifficultbculturalbenvironmentalbcont
ext,btheybexaggeratebaspectsbofbtheirbownbculturalbidentity,bwebtrybtobdefendbourselvesbbybenhancingb
aspectsbofbourbownbculture.bThesebaspectsbarebpartbofbthebimagebwebwantbtobgivebtobotherbpeople.bW
henbwebarebthreatenedbbybabculturalbviewpointbandbbybanbidentitybviewpoint,bwebhavebseveralbcultura
lbresourcesbwebcanblookbat:bwebcanbgobbackbtobceremonies,bclothing,betiquette,bfamily,bfestivalsbandbs
obon.bThesebaspectsbhelpbusbdefendbourselvesbwhenbwebarebdealingbwithbculturalbresourcesbfrombanot
herbculturebthatbwebdobnotblikebbybabpoliticalbpointbofbview.bWebconsiderbthebothersbasbhavingbstrangeb
moralbcodes,borbwhenbwebarebinterpretingbabculture,bweblookbatbthesebaspectsbasbstrange,borbatbleastb
webthinkbwebcannotbidentifybwithbthesebculturalbresources.bAlso,bwhenbwebfeelbthreatenedbthatbwebar
ebnotbbeingbrecognizedbasbwhobwebare,bwebgobbackbtobthesebculturalbresources.bThesebareballbaspectsb
ofbourbculture.bWebreinforcebourbownbidentitybbyblookingbatbthesebaspectsbofbourbculturebandbtalkingba
boutbthem.
Artefactsbofbculturebmeansbthatbwebinterpretbourbownbculturebinbabsubjectivebway:bforbinstance,bwhe
nbZhangbisbtalkingbaboutbConfucianism,bthebwaybhebtalksbaboutbitbisbanbartifact,bitbisbwhatbhebbelievesba
boutbConfucianism,bit’sbhisbownbpersonalbideababoutbthisbculturalbaspect,bnotbthebculturebperbse.bSo,b‘
artefactsbofbculture’bmeansbthebwaybwebinterpretbabculture.b
Ifbwebwantedbtobmakebanbexamplebofbwhatbthebdifferencebbetweenbanbessentialistbandbabnon-
essentialistbdescriptionbofbrealitybis,bwebcanbsaybthatbanbessentialbdescriptionbofbrealitybisbbasedbonbste
reotypes;bnon-
essentialistbdescription,binstead,bisbbasedbonbobservation.bZhangbsaysbthatbinbChinesebculturebpeople’s
bbehaviorbisbdeterminedbbybConfucianism,bbutbMing’sbperspectivebaffirmsbthatbaccordingbtobsomebChi
nese,bitbisbimportantbtobsaybthatbtheirbculturebisbdeterminedbbybConfucianism,bhowever,baccordingbtob
otherbpeople,bthisbisbanbovergeneralization,babstereotype.b(Childrenbdobnotbinteractbinbclassb/bNotballbc
hildrenbdobnotbinteractbinbclass).
Tobimprovebourbcommunication,baccordingbtobthebexamplebgivenbbybthisbcase,bwebhave,bofbcourse,btob
respectbeachbculture.bWebalsobhavebtobtakebintobconsiderationbthatbwhatbpeoplebsaybisbwhatbtheybwis
hbtobprojectbaboutbtheirbculturebratherbthanbwhatbtheybwantbtobinformbusbof.bWebhavebtoblookbatbthisb
people’sbideasbasbpersonalbobservationsbofbtheirbculturebthatbcannotbbebgeneralizedbforballbotherbpeo
plebcomingbfrombthatbsamebculture.
➢ Conceptsblikeb‘culturalbresources’,b
➢ Essentialistbviewbandbnon-essentialistbview
➢ Howbpeoplebtendbtobdefendbthemselvesbinbotherbcultures,btalkingbaboutbtheirbownbculture
➢ Howbwebcanbunderstandbpeoplebmorebinbcontextblikebthisbone
➢ Whatbarebthebculturalbresourcesbusedbbybthebparticipantsbinbthisbcasebstudy?
Lessonb2
Casebstudy:bintentionalborbunintentionalbmessagesbaboutbculturalbidentityb(girlsbonbthebbus)
Onbabbusbgoingbfrombthebcitybcenterbtobthebvillagesblocatedbinbthebsouth-
eastbofbEngland,btherebwerebsomebnoisybgirlsbthatbspentbtimebswearingbandbyellingbatbothersbasbgreeti
ng.bThebgirlsbareblaughing,bandbmakebfunbabsmallerbboy,bwhobdoesn’tbknowbwhatbtobsaybback.
Deconstruction:bwebhavebtoblookbatbitbfrombanbinterculturalbcommunicationbperspectivebandbasbanalys
tsbofbthebEnglishblanguage.bThesebgirlsbarebassertingbtheirbculturalbidentity,bevenbifbotherbpassengersba
rebquitebshocked.bWebarebinbabsituationbinbwhichbtherebarebmultiplebidentitiesbbeingbaffirmed:bthebgirl
4
