Developing Cross

Chen jiliang

【Abstract】This paper presents the view that linguistic competence isnt equal to communicative competence.language and culture are closely related to each other.Language learning is not only the process of improving the learners linguistic ability， but also the process of developing the learners awareness of the target culture.Based on the above view， this paper analyzes the different levels of cross—cultural awareness that the foreign language learners should achieve and provides some methods to develop the foreign language learners cross—cultural awareness in the process of foreign language learning and teaching.

【Key words】cross—cultural awareness； culture； foreign language learning and teaching； linguistic competence； communicative competence

1.Introduction

With the development of society， people around the world now have more and more chances to contact each other.People from different cultures have different cultural backgrounds.， so they think differently and behave differently.The differences among them are very important.Ignorance of these differences will lead to miscommunication in cross—cultural communication.When we are learning or doing culture， we should pay attention to the cultural differences and，most important of all，we should build a cross—cultural awareness which is fundamental forcommunicative competence.So in the foreign language learning and teaching， we should include culture besides language knowledge.

2.Linguistic competence and communicative competence

Linguistic competence and communicative competence have long been of interest to teachers， educators and linguists in foreign language learning and teaching field.Linguistic competence and communicative competence arent the same.Chomsky pointed out in his Aspects of the Theory of Syntax that a language users underlying knowledge about the system of rules is called his linguistic competence.Hymese first initiated the term communicative competence and thought that it refers to the ability of the speakers to comprehend or speak the proper language in proper social situations.The differences between the two competences are obvious.Thus it is not enough to grasp linguistic competence without a good knowledge of communicative competence.

3.Language and cultural differences

Language is the carrier of culture and closely related to it.Cross—culture communication involves one source language and the target language， in our case，they are Chinese and English.Chinese language is completely different from English language.Though a Chinese from Beijing and an American from New York both wear a suit， they speak differently and behave and think differently.They belong to different culture.A Chinese beginner of English may be familiar with the sentence How old are you？，but he or she may not know how and when to use it appropriately since Western people consider age a privacy while we Chinese not.Once a group of Chinese was visiting a fairly well—to—do American.As they were shown around the house， they commented， “ You have a very nice house.It is so beautiful.” The hostess smiled with obvious pleasure and replied “ Thank You ” which caused surprise among some of her guests.Later at the dinner table， the host remarked the Chinese interpreter， a young man who hadgraduated from a university recently， “ Your English is excellent.Quite fluent.” To the hosts surprise， the interpreter replied： “ No， no my English is very poor”.Was the American hostess reply immodest？ As it seemed to some of the Chinese or was the young interpreter ‘s remark insincere， as it sounded to the Americans？ Obviously， both answers are negative.Though they could understand each other literally， they had different cultural background to guide their thinking patterns and behavior.So its not surprising that they had trouble in the communication.

4.Culture is the guide of peoples behavior in cross—cultural communication

Culture is the software of humans mind and the underlying system of humans behavior， it controls our behavior.What we say and what we do are prescribed by culture.So we wear different clothing in different seasons and on different occasions.And the diet habits are also decided by cultures.Most western people regard dog as a good companion， and would never eat it.But for the Korean people， it is a delicious food.Korean people have accepted this kind of food culturally.Culture is characterized of unawareness.When we do something， we will always ignore it and think what we do is very natural.Culture is just like oxygen for human beings.We wont think how important it is until we lack it.We take so many aspects of our cultures for granted and only when we contact the other culture will we fell the uniqueness of our cultures.So in the foreign language learning and teaching， culture should occupy a very important place.

5.Four levels of cross—cultural awareness

When we are doing cross—cultural communication， we will experience a changing mental process.First， we will expect that our counterparts are the same with us， but they are different.Secondly， cultural conflicts may occur.Then anger， horror， or other reactions will come to occupy our minds.It is the same case with our counterparts.Finally， we would retreat backwards mentally.Mental change is natural.It is helpful to approach good understanding and we realize we should establish a sense of cross—cultural awareness.Hanvey in his book suggests four levels of cross—cultural awareness.

Level 1： cultural differences are exotic.

Through traveling abroad or classroom learning， we come to know some surface and visible things of the foreign culture.So we feel the foreign culture is bizarre and exotic.At this level， we can learn about the unfamiliar cultural traits.

Level 2： Cultural differences are frustrating.

Because of the cultural differences， cultural conflicts occur.One may feel frustrated.At this level， we can see some important but minor aspects of the cultural differences.We know that different people from different culture have different thinking， customs， behavior， etc.

Level 3： The different culture is believable.

At this level， people may have an extended knowledge about another culture.They get to know the important and subtle traits of another culture after reasonable analyses.So they accept the other culture and its people mentally.The other culture becomes believable.This level is very important.Based on this level， people will feel comfortable and would like to continue to contact foreign people.

Level4： The different culture is believable as lived experience.

At this highest level， people learn to feel the same as an insider with foreign people.They go abroad and live with foreign people， make friends with them.So after the real experience of living in the foreign culture， they accept the foreign culture emotionally.

6.How to develop cross—cultural awareness in classroom learning and teaching

（1）Teachers should be bicultural.The foreign language teachers should be familiar with the culture of the target language.Only then can they help their students understand the deep meaning of the special words and sentences under certain circumstances.The students should be open-minded and critical to accept and absorb the foreign cultures.Only then can they know the different cultures and grasp the cross-cultural competence unconsciously.

（2）Contrastive cultural course should be included……

（3）Students should work hard to be familiar with the target culture……

7.Conclusion

When we are doing cross—cultural communication， we naturally hope the foreign people have the same thought with us.But that is harmful for proper cross—cultural communication.Different people from different countries hold different cultural background.People should be reminded of the different cultural background and the different customs.In the classroom cultural learning and teaching， students should learn to observe the foreign culture and compare it with their own culture.Then they can develop and improve their cross—cultural awareness gradually.

References：

[1]Linell Davis，Doing Culture： Cross—Cultural Communication Action； Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.2001.9.

[2]Rod Scollon12/2/2003，Suzanne Wong Scollon，Intercultural Communication：A Discourse Approach； Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press，2000.

[3]胡壯麟.語(yǔ)言學(xué)教程Linguistics： A Course Book.北京大學(xué)出版社 2001.

[4]鄧炎昌，劉潤(rùn)清.Language and Culture； Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press，2001.