Read text 5A. Answer the questions.

1. When did China become the world's fastest-growing major economy?

2. What is the success of Chine attributed to?

3. What has Chinese culture been heavily influenced by?

4. What is Confucianism?

5. What expression when speaking do most Chinese maintain?

6. What can you say about giving gifts?

 

DOING BUSINESS IN CHINA

 

Since the introduction of market-based economic reforms in 1978, China has become the world's fastest-growing major economy. As of 2012, it is the world's second-largest economy, after the United States, by both nominal GDP and purchasing power parity (PPP), and is also the world's largest exporter and second-largest importer of goods. The success of Chine has been primarily due to manufacturing as a low-cost producer. This is attributed to a combination of cheap labor, good infrastructure, relatively high productivity, favorable government policy. Since ancient times, Chinese culture has been heavily influenced by Confucianism. Confucianism is a system of behaviours and ethics that stresses the obligations of people towards one another based upon their relationship. The basic tenets are based upon five different relationships: husband and wife; parents and children; brothers and sisters; friend and friend. Confucianism stresses duty, sincerity, loyalty, honour, respect for age and seniority. Since the Chinese strive for harmony and are group dependent, they rely on facial expression, tone of voice and posture to tell them what someone feels. Frowning while someone is speaking is interpreted as a sign of disagreement. Therefore, most Chinese maintain an impassive expression when speaking. It is considered disrespectful to stare into another person's eyes. In crowded situations the Chinese avoid eye contact to give themselves privacy. As for greetings they are formal and the oldest person is always greeted first. Handshakes are the most common form of greeting with foreigners. Many Chinese will look towards the ground when greeting someone. Address the person by an honorific title and their surname. If they want to move to a first-name basis, they will advise you which name to use. The Chinese have a terrific sense of humour. They can laugh at themselves most readily if they have a comfortable relationship with the other person. Be ready to laugh at yourself given the proper circumstances. As to gifts, they are given at Chinese New Year, weddings, births and more recently (because of marketing), birthdays. The Chinese like food and a nice food basket will make a great gift. Do not give scissors, knives or other cutting utensils as they indicate the severing of the relationship. Do not give clocks, handkerchiefs or straw sandals as they are associated with funerals and death. Do not give flowers, as many Chinese associate these with funerals. Do not wrap gifts in white, blue or black paper. Four is an unlucky number so do not give four of anything. Eight is the luckiest number, so giving eight of something brings luck to the recipient. Always present gifts with two hands. Gifts are not opened when received. Gifts may be refused three times before they are accepted.

 

5.5. Give the English equivalents to the following words and phrases from the text. Choose five of them and make up sentences of your own. Read your sentences aloud for other students to translate.

 

Валовый внутренний продукт; паритет покупательной силы; делать акцент на чем-либо; стремиться к гармонии; интерпретировать знак несогласия; пристально смотреть на кого-либо; распространенная форма приветствия иностранца; обращаться к человеку почтительно; основные принципы; смотреть неодобрительно; означать прекращение отношений; сохранять невозмутимое выражение лица; при определенных обстоятельствах.

5.6. Give either Russian (A) or English (B) equivalents to the following phrases.

 

A B

1) GDP	a) основной принцип
2) the severing of the relationship	b) упаковывать подарки
3) purchasing power parity	c) получатель
4) a low-cost producer	d) верность, преданность
5) a system of behaviour and ethics	e) иностранец
6) to strive for harmony	f) искренность
7) to maintain an impassive expression	g) знак, символ
8) to address the person by an honorific title	h) уважение к возрасту
9) to avoid eye contact	i) похоронная процессия
10) cutting utensils	j) бракосочетание

 

Text 5B

 

5.7. Active word list. Read the words and word combinations and memorize them.

 

to entertain-	принимать, угощать, занимать
toremove-	снимать
сhopsticks-	палочки для еды
сrucial-	решающий, ключевой, критический
to vouch (for)-	ручаться
intermediary-	посредник
bound up with-	тесно связанный с кем-либо/чем-либо
patient-	терпеливый, снисходительный
gender bias-	половая дискриминация
demarcation-	разграничение, разделение
to intertwine-	переплетаться, сплетаться
appointment-	свидание, условленная встреча
in advance-	заблаговременно, заранее
to accomplish-	совершать, выполнять

 

BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS IN CHINA

 

While doing business in China everybody should know thatthe Chinese prefer to entertain in public places rather than in their homes, especially when entertaining foreigners. If you are invited to their house, consider it a great honour. You should arrive on time andremove your shoes before entering the house. Bring a small gift to the hostess. Learn to use chopsticks and eat well to demonstrate that you are enjoying the food. Wait to be told where to sit. The guest of honour will be given a seat facing the door. The host begins eating first. You should try everything that is offered to you. Never eat the last piece from the serving tray. Chopsticks should be returned to the chopstick rest after every few bites and when you drink or stop to speak. The host offers the first toast.

The Chinese don't like doing business with companies they don't know, so working through an intermediary is crucial. This could be an individual or an organization who can make a formal introduction and vouch for the reliability of your company. Before arriving in China send materials (written in Chinese) that describe your company, its history and literature about your products and services. The Chinese often use intermediaries to ask questions that they would prefer not to make directly. Business relationships are built formally after the Chinese get to know you. Be very patient. It takes a considerable amount of time and is bound up with enormous bureaucracy. The Chinese see foreigners as representatives of their company rather than as individuals. Rank is extremely important in business relationships and you must keep rank differences in mind when communicating. Gender bias is nonexistent in business. Never lose sight of the fact that communication is official, especially in dealing with someone of higher rank. The Chinese prefer face-to-face meetings rather than written or telephonic communication. Meals and social events are not the place for business discussions. There is a demarcation between business and socializing in China, so try to be careful not to intertwine the two. Appointments are necessary and, if possible, should be made between one-to-two months in advance, preferably in writing. If you do not have a contact within the company, use an intermediary to arrange a formal introduction. Once the introduction has been made, you should provide the company with information about your company and what you want to accomplish at the meeting.

5.8. Say if the statements are true or false or not mentioned in the text. Correct the false variant.

 

1. While doing business in China you should arrive on time.

2. The Chinese prefer to entertain in public places rather than in their homes.

3. It is always necessary to remove your shoes before entering the house.

4. Laying the table the Chinese always put different knives and spoons.

5. The Chinese don't like doing business with companies they don't know, so working through an intermediary is crucial.

6. Before arriving in China send materials (written in Chinese) that describe your company, its history, and literature about your products and services.

7. Rank is not important in business relationships and you need not keep rank differences in mind when communicating.

8. The Russian language is very different and English is not as established in China as it is in places like Europe, so make sure the official staff is handled with official translators.

 

5.9. Give the English equivalents to the following words and phrases from the text. Choose five of them and make up sentences of your own. Read your sentences aloud for other students to translate.

 

Принимать иностранцев; считать большой честью; снимать обувь при входе в дом; использовать палочки для еды; предлагать первый тост; использовать посредников; ручаться за надежность компании; быть терпеливыми; занимать большое количество времени; предпочитать встречи лицом к лицу; назначать встречу заранее; организовать официальное представление компании; зависеть от бюрократии.

 

Text 5C