Different Games, Different Rules: Why Americans and Japanese Misunderstand Each Other

by Haru Yamada, Deborah Tannen (Foreword by)

Overview

Japan and the United States are in closer contact politically and economically than ever before, yet in many ways our nations are as far from mutual understanding as ever. Misconceptions and miscommunications between East and West continue to playue this important relationship, frustrating the best efforts of both cultures to work together.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198025528
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	04/24/1997
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Haru Yamada is Senior Lecturer of Linguistics at the University of Westminster, London. She is the author of American and Japanese Business Discourse: A Comparison of Interactional Styles and a number of articles on international communication.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Deborah TannenA Few Notes on the Text1.. Two Stories, Two Games2.. Communication Equipment3.. Speak for Yourself, Listen to Others4.. Taking Care of Business5.. Open for Business6.. Scoring Points7.. Support Network8.. The Truth about Teasing, Praising, and Repeating9.. Role Models: Working Man, Nurturing Mother10.. You Are What You SpeakNotesReferencesIndex

Editorial Reviews

Fluent in both languages and at home in both cultures, Yamada brings an insider's perspective and a linguist's training to the question of what causes persistent misunderstandings between Japanese and Americans, and what can be done to avoid them. She explains some of the cultural differences and how they are expressed in language, arguing that by understanding how and why each culture speaks in the way that it does, we can learn to avoid frustrating and damaging failures of communication. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews

"For those who have enjoyed Deborah Tannen's books, such as You Just Don't Understand and Gender and Discourse, Yamada's book will provide an in-depth example of Tannen's style of discourse analysis. For the cross-cultural worker traveling in Japan, it is certainly a wealth of information." —SIL Electronic Book Reviews

"Different Games, Different Rules is an insightful analysis of why Japanese and Americans, despite the best of intentions, often misunderstand each other. In easy-to-understand prose and with clear examples, Dr. Haru Yamada illustrates the mutual assumptions, the unconscious strategies, as well as the different mechanics of the two languages that form the barriers to better communication. In showing us ways to improve communication with each other, she also provides a key to improved understanding ourselves. Informative and immediately useful for any person involved in Japanese-U.S. dealings."—Norio Ohga, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Sony Corporation

"Yamada makes clear the close connection between a country's culture and its language and how cultural differences can create misunderstanding and mistrust during negotiations between companies and countries. This insightful and very useful book should be required reading for government officials and corporate executives in both Japan and the United States."—Tatsuro Toyoda, former President,and current senior Advisor, Member of the Board, Toyota Motor Corporation

"Many others have offered analysis, opinion, and advice on this complex subject, but none have shed more light."—Walter G. Hoadley, Executive Vice President, Bank of America

"Dr. Yamada offers an engaging analysis of the differences between American and Japanese communication styles. Rich in insights on navigating the minefield of cross-cultural communication." —Y. Kobayashi, Chairman, Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.

"It is marvelously well written. It is witty, engaging, academic, and at the same time, very personal." —Seiichi Makino, Journal of Japapnese Studies

From the Publisher