Culture Shock

　　Culture shock is precipitated1 by the anxiety thatresults from losing all our familiar signs and symbolsof social intercourse. Those signs or cues includethe thousand and one 2 ways in which we orient3ourselves to the situation of daily life ; when toshake hands and what to say when we meet people ,when and how to give tips, how to make purchases,when to accept and when to refuse invitations, when to take statements seriously and whennot. These cues, which may be words, gestures, facial expressions, customs, or norms, areacquired by all of us in the course of growing up and are as much a part of our culture as thelanguage we speak or the beliefs we accept. All of us depend for our peace of mind and ourefficiency on hundreds of these cues, most of which we do not carry on the level of consciousawareness.

　　Now when an individual enters a strange culture, all or most of these familiar cues are removed.He or she is like a fish out of water4 . No matter how broad-minded5 or full of good will youmay be , a series of props6 have been knocked from under you, followed by a feeling offrustration7 and anxiety. People react to the frustration in much the same way. First theyreject the environment which causes the discomfort.“The ways of the host country are badbecause they make us feel bad. ”When foreigners in a strange land get together to grouseabout8 the host country and its people , you can be sure they are suffering from culture shock.Another phase of culture shock is regression. The home environment suddenly assumes atremendous importance. To the foreigner everything becomes irrationally glorified. All thedifficulties and problems are forgotten and only the good things back home are remembered. Itusually takes a trip home to bring one back to reality.

　　Some of the symptoms of culture shock are excessive washing of the hands, excessiveconcern over drinking water, food dishes, and bedding; fear of physical contact with attendants,the absent-minded stare; a feeling of helplessness and a desire for dependence on long-termresidents of one’s own nationality; fits of anger over minor frustrations; great concern overminor pains and eruptions of the skin; and finally, that terrible longing to be back home.

　　阅读自测

　　Ⅰ. Replace the underlined words with the phrases in the passage with the same meaning:

　　1 . Culture shock is caused by the anxiety that results from losing all our familiar signs andsymbols of social intercourse .

　　2 . Those signs and cues include a lot of ways in which we act.

　　3 . Entering a new company with no friends help him, he feels uncomfortable.

　　4 . Although living abroad for 5 years, she still feels homesick now and then.

　　Ⅱ. Question :

　　What are the symptoms of culture shock?

　　参考答案

　　Ⅰ. 1. precipitated 2. the thousand and one 3. like a fish out of water 4 . longing to be back home

　　Ⅱ. Some of the symptoms of culture shock are excessive washing of the hands, excessive 033 concern over drinking water, food dishes, and bedding; fear of physical contact with attendants, the absent-minded stare; a feeling of helplessness and a desire for dependence on long-term residents of one’s own nationality; fits of anger over minor frustrations; great concern over minor pains and eruptions of the skin; and finally, that terrible longing to be back home .

　　参考译文

　　出门一日难

　　文化休克现象源自焦虑, 焦虑的原因是我们找不到熟悉的社会标志及特征。这些标志 或暗示包含了许多引导我们适应日常生活的方法: 什么时候握手, 与人见面时该说什么话, 什么时候及怎样给小费, 如何购物, 什么时候接受邀请, 什么时候拒绝邀请, 什么话需要严 肃对待, 什么话不需要。这些暗示可以是话语、手势、面部表情、风俗或者行为准则, 它们都 是我们在成长的过程中获得的, 就像我们所说的语言或接受的信仰那样, 成为我们的文化 的组成部分。为了使心态平和, 工作高效, 我们大家都依赖于无数个这样的暗示, 其中大多 数的暗示都不是我们有意识地进行传达的。

　　这时候, 一个人进入一种陌生的文化领域时, 他先前所熟悉的全部或者说大部分的暗 示都消失了, 他就会感到无所适从。不管你是如何的心胸开阔抑或热情高涨, 在失去了一 个个依托之后, 你总会有一种挫败感和焦虑感。面对挫折, 人们的反应几乎都是一样的。 首先, 人们会排斥给他们带来困苦的那种环境。“ 东道国的生活方式不好是因为它们让我 们觉得不舒服。”当一群客居他国的同乡聚在一起抱怨东道国和东道国的人民时, 你就可以 确定他们正饱受文化休克之苦。文化休克的另一个阶段是回归。家乡陡然变得异常重要。 对身居他乡的人而言, 家乡的一切都不合情理地变得荣光异彩。他们将所有的麻烦与困惑 都抛之脑后, 记住的都是家乡的美好事物。通常, 只有回家一趟后才能让他重返现实。

　　文化休克引起的一些症状是: 频繁地洗手, 过度关心饮用水、食物及寝具问题, 害怕与 服务生的身体接触, 看东西时心不在焉, 感到无助和希望从来自家乡的长期居住于此的人 那里得到依靠感, 动辄大发脾气, 对小病痛和皮疹过度担忧等等, 最后, 就是急切地渴望回 归故里。