Bridging Sino-US Cultural Difference--Strategies From A Time Orientation Perspective

The world today is characterized by an ever-growing number of contacts resulting in communications between people with different linguistic and cultural background. This thesis focuses on how people can incorporate the dynamics of intercultural communication into their life and work. The thesis examines how two cultures-the Chinese and the American cultures-have two distinctive perspectives for time orientation and, as a result, two differing preferences for time using. Several frameworks for viewing time orientation variations were used to develop a chart on cultural communication preference for Chinese and Americans. The frameworks are centered on monochronic and polychronic system, linear and circular time view and past and future time orientation. It aims to provide some communicative strategies to help facilitate the smooth and efficient Sino-US intercultural communication.The thesis discusses the relationship between culture and time orientation, and the roles played by time-orientation in intercultural communication. It examines the outward expressions of these different time orientations in terms of intercultural communication. It specifically outlines the causes behind these different time orientations, as well as communicative failures arising from these differences. With an analysis of the problems existing in the multiculturalism education, puts forward strategies for bridging cultural barriers resulting from different time orientations.