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Typical American Behaviour and Values
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Typical American Behaviour and Values
Watching Americans in action, foreigners sometimes see behaviour that seems rude or just plain silly. Among them are the following traits.
Hurry, Hurry, Hurry. Almost every American wears a watch, and, in nearly every room in an American home, there is a clock. “Be on time. Don’t waste time. ” “Time is money. ” “Time waits for no one. ” All these familiar sayings reflect American obsession with promptness and efficiency. Students displease their teachers and employees displease their bosses when they arrive late. This desire to get the most out of every minute often makes Americans impatient when they have to wait. It also makes difficult for Americans to relax.
The desire to save time and do work more quickly and easily lead Americans to buy many kinds of machines – from office equipment such as calculators, photocopy machines, and computers to dozens of home and personal appliances, such as microwave ovens.
The importance of Money. After visiting the U. S., in the 1830s, the French historian Alexis de Tocqueville wrote, “I know of no country where the love of money has taken stronger hold…” Americans are often accused of being materialistic, of valuing wealth and possession above all else. Money is valued both as a symbol of success and also for a more obvious reason – its purchasing power. Purchases are made in order to “keep up with the Joneses”, to show friends that no one can afford a bigger house or better car. Advertising encourages people to keep buying things far beyond what they need. In the nineteenth century, the American author Henry David Thoreau advised his countrymen, “Simplify your needs! ” However, Americans have moved in the opposite direction. Now, just as Thoreau predicted, many find that their possessions own them. They must work hard to earn enough money to buy and maintain the many possessions they consider necessities.
Americans love to make a lot of money and spend it on themselves – to buy things that save time, give them pleasure, or serve as status symbols. However, Americans are also very generous and very willing to donate money to good causes.
Say What you Mean, and Mean What You Say. Americans believe that “Honesty is the best policy”. They are direct and assertive. They ask for what they want. Children often argue with their parents and citizens express opposition to actions of the government. If the soup is cold or the meat is tough, the diner can complain to the waiter. If the boss makes a mistake, an employee may politely point it out.
The Need to Win. The extremely competitive nature of Americans is often criticized. Of course, competition isn’t always bad. But the desire to get ahead of others sometimes causes people to do things that are unkind and even dishonest.
The Practical Outlook. Americans admire what is practical, fast, efficient, and new. Sometimes they cannot understand cultures that prefer more traditional, leisurely ways of doing things. People from other cultures, on the other hand, may dislike the practical, hectic American lifestyle.
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Despite these traits, which many foreigners may view as faults, Americans are usually considered very likable. Most are friendly, kind-hearted, and eager to help visitors and immigrants. In this nation of immigrants, the foreigner does not remain an outsider for long.
(N. Mamontova. “Insights into Cross-Cultural Communication”)
a) Compare these values with those of English. Are they the same?
b) What are the values of English?
6 Read the following information about the American dream and discuss it with your friends. Try to guess what the English and Russians / Belarusians dream about.
The American Dream
To start with nothing, to work hard, and then to make a fortune – this is the American dream. People in the U. S. A. want more than anything else to be successful. And when they’ve made their money, they like to show it off by driving expensive cars and buying beautiful furniture for their homes.
One bad result of this is that people never seem to stop working. Some even hold two full-time jobs at the same time. This means that there is not much time for the good things in life, such as hours spent with one’s family. Few families play games together, go for walks together, or even sit down every evening around the family table for a home-cooked meal.
The good result, though, is the confidence that many Americans have in themselves. They seem to feel that they can do anything, and get whatever they want if they try hard enough. It may take a lot of work to do well in America, but it’s certainly exciting.
(N. Mamontova. “Insights into Cross-Cultural Communication”)
7 Define the type of discourse and the main characteristics of each.
a) And I said, ‘Who art Thou, Lord? ’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. ’
b) A boy of five has become the first British child to undergo a revolutionary procedure to cure a brain tumour. But Alex Barnes had to travel to the U. S. to undergo proton therapy treatment, which is unavailable here.
c) The conference consisted of ten successive sessions devoted to important present-day problems in plant pathology and their possible solutions by chemical means.
d) The purpose of these activities is to introduce collaboration and prepare students for higher-level tasks they will compete as they advance in their English language learning.
e) The Cabinet meetings considered the hugely controversial issue of whether the invasion was legal under international war.
Рекомендуемая литература
1 Садохин, А. П. Межкультурная коммуникация: учебное пособие / А. П. Садохин. – М.: Альфа – М.: ИНФРА, 2006. – C. 45-55.
2 Тер-Минасова, С. Г. «Война и мир языков и культур: учебное пособие / С. Г. Тер-Минасова. – М.: Слово / Slovo, 2008. – С. 26-32.
3 Лингвистический энциклопедический словарь / под ред. В. Н. Ярцевой. – М.: Советская энциклопедия, 1990. – С. 136-137.
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4 Van Dijk, T. A. Discourse as Interaction in Society / T. A. Van Dijk (ed). Discourse as social Interaction. Discourse Studies: a multidisciplinary introduction. – London: Thousand Oaks; New Delhi: Sage Publications, 1997. – P. 2-3.
5 Карасик, В. И. Языковой круг: личность, концепты, дискурс / В. И. Карасик. – Волгоград: «Перемена», 2002. – C. 188-284.
6 Елизарова, Г. В. Культура и обучение иностранным языкам / Г. В. Елизарова. – СПб.: КАРО, 2005. – C. 26-42, 74-91.
7 Кулинич, М. А. Введение в лингвокультурологию / М. А. Кулинич. – Самара: Изд-во Самарского гос. пед. ун-та, 2002. – С. 101-102.
8 Маслова, В. А. Лингвокультурология: учебное пособие / В. А. Маслова. – М.: Издательский центр «Академия», 2001. – С. 73 -76.
9 Тен, Ю. П. Культурология и межкультурная коммуникация / Ю. П. Тен. – Ростов-на-Дону: Феникс, 2007. – C. 9-10.
10 Rokeach, M. The nature of human value / M. Rokeach. – N. Y.: Free Press, 1973. – P. 56-68.
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