【正文】 The Influence of Chinese and Western Social Interaction Customs on Intercultural Business Communication二零零四年十月AcknowledgementsIn the preparation and writing this thesis, I am deeply indebted to many people and I would like to avail myself of this opportunity to express my hearfelt gratitude to all those who have offered me guidance and help.First and foremost, substantial acknowledgements are made to Professor Luo Guoliang, who, as my tutor, has offered me valuable suggestions and opinions to my outline organization and thesis writing. As a prestigious professor, Mr. Luo is patient and ready to answer any problems both in English studying and in life. Thanks to his guidance and warm help, I have greatly widened my knowledge and set up a more optimistic philosophy during the past two academic years.My thanks also go to all those dedicated teachers and professors at Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade, who have spared no effort to enrich my knowledge. Without their dedication to the education, I wouldn’t have made any achievement and improved myself during the short two years.I feel grateful to the leaders of the Language School and the postgraduates Administration Office of the SHIFT for their efforts in minimizing external distractions and helping me go through sufferings. Last but not least, I would like to give my deep and profound appreciation to my beloved parents and my fianc233。, who has offered me continuous encouragement and unceasing assistance in every aspect of my life. Contents Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………….iAbstract…………………………………………………………………………...IChapter One Background of Intercultural Communication……...1 The Prevalence of Intercultural Communication ……………………………..1 The Development of Intercultural Communication …………………………..2 The Necessity of Studying Intercultural Communication ……………………………..….4Chapter Two A Brief Introduction of Intercultural Communication …………….……………………………………….6 Culture ……………………………………………………………….…….….6 The Definition of Culture………………..…………………………..…....6 of Culture………………..…………….……………….….7 Culture Is Coherent……………..….………………..…………………..8 Culture Is Learned……………………..………………………..…..…..8 Culture Is a Symbol System……………………………………..……...9 Culture Is the View of a Group of People……………..…………….….9 Culture Is Subject to Change……………………………………………9 Communication …………………………………………………..…….…....10 of Communication..…………………………………….10 Patterns of Communication ………………………………….…….……12 Components of Communication………………………..………..………13 Criteria for Effective Communication………………………………..….17 Intercultural Communication …………………………………………….….18 Definition of intercultural Communication ………………………….….18 An Intercultural Communication Model………………………..…….…20Chapter Three Differences Between Chinese and Western Social Interaction Customs …………………………………….…………22 Forms of Address………………………………………………………….....23 Greetings …………………………………………………………………... .24 Farewells……………………………………………………………..……....25 Compliments and Responses…………………………………………….…...27 Gift Giving，Gratitude and Thanks………………………………………….29 Invitations……………………………………………………………..……...30 Hospitality……………………………………………………………….…...32 Time Concept ……………………………………………………………..…33 Privacy …………………………………………………………………….…35 Seating ……………………………………………………………………...36Chapter Four Other Barriers to Intercultural Communication and Intercultural Adaptation Process ………………….…….…..38 Barriers to Intercultural Communication………………………..…………...38 Misinterpretations………………………………………………..……....39 Ethnocentrism …………………………………………………..…....….39 Stereotypes ……………………………………………………………....41 Prejudices……………………………………………………………..….42 Process of Intercultural Adaptation ………………………………….…..…..43 Culture Shock…………………………………….…………………..….44 The Adjustment Curve……………………………………….…...……...44Chapter Five Improving Intercultural Communication Competence………………………………………………………....47 Knowing Ourselves …………………………………………………..47 Developing Empathy ……………………………………….……..………....48 Developing Communication Flexibility………………………………….…..50 Appreciating Similarities ……………………………………………...…..…51 Respect Differences………………………………………………….…....….52Conclusion…………………………,……………………….………54Bibliography………………………………………………………..55AcknowledgementsI would like to avail myself of this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to all those who offered me guidance and help in my preparing and writing this thesis.First and foremost, substantial acknowledgements go to Professor Luo Guoliang, who, as my tutor, offered me valuable suggestions and opinions concerning my outline organization and thesis writing. As a prestigious professor, Mr. Luo has been patient and ready to answer any of my problems in my two and a half years’ study at this graduate college. Thanks to his guidance and warm help, I have greatly widened my knowledge and set up a sound and optimistic philosophy of life towards the future.My thanks also go to all those dedicated teachers and professors at the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade, who have spared no effort to enrich my knowledge. Without their dedication to the cause of education, I would have achieved much less than I did during the past two years.I feel grateful to the leaders of the Language School and the postgraduate Administration Office of SIFT for their efforts in minimizing external distractions and helping me tide over my difficulties.Last but not least, I would like to thank my beloved parents and my fianc233。, who have offered me constant encouragement and unceasing assistance in every aspect of my life, for which I am almost unable to find any words to express my immense gratitude.Abstract“Everything flows, nothing stays still.” (Heraclitus)[