ENG205 Discussion Questions - Cross-cultural communication - Lost in Translation.doc

Lost in Translation “Suntory Whiskey time” and cross-cultural communication Module 3 – “Communicating Across Cultures” Film title: Lost in Translation. Dir. Sofia Coppola. Perf. Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray. 2003. DVD. Focus Features. Location in DVD: Scene 4 – “Suntory Time” Film synopsis Actor Bob Harris (Bill Murray) finds himself in Tokyo filming a whiskey commercial and meets a young woman played by Scarlett Johansson. Their subsequent near-romance takes them through the complexities of Japan’s urban culture. Scene synopsis The filming of the whiskey commercial amusingly dramatizes the culture disconnect between Bob Harris and his Japanese director and translator. The scene shows communication differences between high- and low-context cultures, the subtleties of nonverbal communication, and how fundamental encoding and decoding are used to convey meaning. Discussion questions How does the scene demonstrate the process of encoding and decoding messages? Discuss whether we should trust the Japanese translator’s versions of the dialogue. How does the translator speak with the Japanese director? Is this consistent with high- or low-context communication patterns (Figure 5.2, 113)? How does the translator speak with Bob Harris (Bill Murray)? Is this consistent with high- or low-context communication patterns (Figure 5.2, 113)? Based on your answers to questions 3 and 4 above, are Bob and the director treated differently by the translator? Is this realistic given the textbook’s account of culture-influenced communication? What doesn’t the translator appear to understand about communication patterns of low-context communication cultures? “Don’t try to memorize [cultural differences] as a rigid set of rules. Instead...get a sense for the kinds of [factors] that differ from one culture to another (108).” What other factors other than national culture are evident in this scene? Does Bob Harris succeed in creating “More intensity!” when delivering the line “F