ThedifferencesoffamilyvaluesbetweenChineseandAmericanculturesAbstractToday’swordhasbecomea“worldvillage”.Withthedevelopmentofglobalization,interculturalcontactisbecomingincreasinglyaxiomaticandpervasive;however,thevaluesandbehaviorsofaparticularculturemaynotbeunderstandableandfamilyvaluesmaynotbeacceptableinanotherculture.Therefore,communicationamongpeoplefromdifferentcultureswillbecomemorecomplex.ThispaperaimsatrevealingsomedifferentfamilyvaluespossessedbyChineseandAmericansandintendstointroducethatdifferentcultureshaveastrongimpactonthefamilyvalues.Keywords:

family

value，culture，difference

摘要今天的詞匯已成為“世界之鄉(xiāng)”。隨著全球化的發(fā)展，跨文化的接觸越來(lái)越趨于公理化和普遍化。但是，特定文化的價(jià)值觀和行為可能無(wú)法理解，而另一種文化可能無(wú)法接受家庭價(jià)值觀。因此，來(lái)自不同文化背景的人們之間的交流將變得更加復(fù)雜。本文旨在揭示華人和美國(guó)人所擁有的一些不同的家庭價(jià)值觀，并打算介紹不同的文化對(duì)家庭價(jià)值觀產(chǎn)生強(qiáng)烈的影響。關(guān)鍵詞：家庭價(jià)值；文化；差異ContentsTOC\o"1-3"\h\u1.Introduction 101.1ResearchBackground 101.2FamilyValues 112.TheDifferenceBetweenChineseandWesternFamilyValues 122.1TheContemporaryChinesefamily 122.2FamilyRelationships 222.3MaritalViews 242.4Educationmethod 253.TheReasonsoftheDifferences 263.1Differenthistorybackground 263.2Differentsocialconditions 273.3Differentculturaltraditions 284.TheEffectofFamilyValues 29Conclusion 34Bibliography 35Introduction1.1ResearchBackgroundDifferentcultureshasdifferentvalues.Accordingtocross-culturalcommunicationtheory,languageisthekeyfactorinthecomplicatedprocessofcross-culturalcommunication.Theinconsistencyinlanguagewouldresultinineffectivecommunication.Forthepeoplebelongtothesamelanguagebackground,thesameorsimilarlanguageinformationexistssothatthesepeoplecouldconnectthelanguageinformationwiththethingsrelated.However,peoplewithdifferentlanguagebackgroundcouldnotcatchontowhattheotherpartyissayingorjustmisunderstandthemnotonlybecauseofthelanguagebarrier,butalsoduetotheculturaldifferences.Withstrikinglydifferentcultures,ChineseandWesternpeopleunavoidablypossessdifferentfamilyvalues.1.2FamilyValuesValueistheessenceofacultureandasociety.Thevalueofaculturepenetratesintoeachmember'slifefromeveryaspect.Aculture'svalueisthestandardofcorrectnessandfalsitywhichthecultureendowswithtoitspeople.Valueleadsamantomakechoicesandtoactinaproperway.Differentculturespossessdifferentvalues.Valueisakindofenduringbeliefwhichisdifferentfromonemantoanother.However,thereisasetofvalueswhichareacceptedbythewholesociety.Weshouldmentionthatthereareliterallyhundredsofculturalpatternsfoundineveryculture,andfamilyisatthecoreofthoseculturalpatterns.Thefamilyistheoldestandthemostfundamentalinstitutionamongallhumaninstitutionssincefamilyistheplacewherevalueisshapedforthefirsttime,whateverpeopledomustinevitablybeinfluencedbytheirfamilies.Therefore,thisarticleisgoingtodiscussthedifferenceofChineseandWestern'sattitudetowardsfamilyfromdifferentperspectives,suchastheiropinionsuponmarriage(therelationshipbetweenhusbandandwife),children'scultivationandeducation(therelationshipbetweenparentsandchildren).Itisalsogoingtodoacasestudyonthebasisofthosedifferences.Amongallthevaluesofaculture,noonecanescapefromtheinfluenceoffamilyvalues.Familyvalueinheritsandtransmitstypicalandimportantculturevalues.Familyvaluecanbeviewedasakindofthought,beliefandattitudeofanindividualtowardshis/herfamily.Itisthestandardofcommentingonfamilymeaningsandaimsanditinfluencesanindividual'sanydecisionsontherelatedactionsorthoughtstowardhis/herfamily.Thereforetheyallbelongtofamilyvalueswhichincludestherelationshipbetweenhusbandandwife,therelationshipbetweenparentsandchildren,therelationshipamongrelativesandfamilymembersandanyotherattitudes,thoughtsandbelievesrelatedwithmarriageandfamilyaffairs.TheDifferenceBetweenChineseandWesternFamilyValues2.1TheContemporaryChinesefamily1.TheContemporaryChinesefamilySincetheestablishmentofthePeople'sRepublicofChinain1949,thefamilyasinstitutionandkinshiprelationshavemeantforthenewgovernment,aforcetobeused,althoughthequalityofthefamilialrelationsweretobethesubjectofprofoundsocialtransformation.Government'spolicieswereaimedatchangingthepatriarchalformsofconceivingthefamilyandtheideologysustainingit,inordertocontributetotheprogressoffamilyasadomesticunit.z}2Thereformaimedatgivingrightstothepartiesinvolvedinthemarriageprocess,andtocreateanewsocialorganizationthathasaspurposethehappinessofpartiesandbeneficialeffectsofthesocietyoverall.Roughlythirtyyearsafterthenewmarriagelaw,womeninBeijingandShaoxingprovinces,declaredthatthepurposeofmarriageisfindingasuitablehusbandwithwhichtheycanbuildafamilyandworkforthebenefitofthecountry(Wolf,1984).2'3In1978,DengXiaopingrestoredthepropertyrightsbydismantlingthecommunes.Theestablishmentoftheprivatehousingindustryhadprofoundeffectsontheprogressoftheurbansociety,andtheattractionofforeigninvestments.ThebeliefthateconomicgrowthisbasedonprivateownershipwasaradicalchangeincomparisonwithMao'sideology.Inthiscontext,familiesregainedtheirprivatespaceandwomenaswivesandmothersexertedinfluencebyenhancingthereputationofthefamily.z'aMoreover,inthe1990s,theprivateownershipofahouseholdwascorrelatedwithasuccessfulfamilythatfollowedtheidealsoffinancial,educational,andsocialachievement.z'SJiemingChen(2007)arguesthateconomicsolidaritybetweenparentsandchildrenremainedhigh,despiteculturalandsocialchangesfollowingtheCommunistrevolution.Hence,ChinesefamilyresemblestheWesternfamily,butitretainedcertainChinesecharacteristics,mainlyreferringtointergenerationalsupport.z'6Theintergenerationalsupportisbasedonthreestrategiesthatassurethecareofparentsbytheirchildrenintheold-age,namelycompensation,formalcontrol,orthesenseofduty.Sinceonlyaminorityofelderscanrecurtonegotiation,therearequestionsregardingthebasisforresponsibilityofchildren.Assuch,thecontemporaryfamilyinChinaisacorporateinstitution-inwhichcollectiveinterestsaresuperiortoindividualinterests,andthemembersofthefamilycooperateinordertoachievecommongoals.Moreexplicitly,evenifresourceshavediminishedandthekinshipnetworkbecamelessextensive,thecohesionofthefamilyasinstitutionremainedstable.Yansupportstheideaofafamilybuiltonsentimentsandpersonalloyalties.zg0Hecontinuesinemphasizingthefactthatnowadays,individualssharetheiremotionsanddesireswithinthefamily,whichbecameaspaceofcontestationandnegotiation.Incontrastwiththecorporatemodelofthefamily,anewmodelemergesbasedondemandsofintimacyandprivacyasmoralcontext.YunxiangYan(2003)reportsthattherelationbetweenchildrenandtheirelderlyparentsischaracterizedbyunfilialbehaviorandlackofreciprocity,evenifchildrenthemselvesrecognizethemorallegitimacyofcaringforparents.Relatingthestoryofa46-year-oldmanlivingandworkinginXiajiavillageasmaincadre,Yanacknowledgesthatthefamilykeptitspowerasfoundationforaharmonioussociety.2.TheContemporaryWesternfamilyFocusingonthetransformationofemotionsandthepassagefromstatustoloveincontractingmarriage,Creedarguesthatthisistheresultofrethinkingthenatureofhumanrelations,especiallythenatureofinequality,thedecliningimportanceoflandinheritanceandtherecoursetooccupationalachievement.Thiswasanendeavortoreconsiderfamilyvaluesinordertofitthemwithothersocio-culturalchanges.4zoFurthermore,neo-tocquevillieans一suchasRobertPutnam,regardtheWesternspaceasconstructedonsovereigntyandorientedtowardstheaccomplishmentofnationalpolitics.Theirpoliticalandcivicengagementisrealizedbyjoiningandcreatingassociations,whichunifythesocialandpoliticalelementsthatmaketheWesternsociety.42'Bycontrast,ShapirodescribestheWesternsocietyas4zz“(…)aseriesoffortifiedenclaves,socialspacesdifferentiatedbothbytheirphysicalbarriersandbymodesofsurveillance.Asaresult,theirmodalitiesofactionareaffectedbytheformsofauthorityandcontrolthatdifferentiatethem.Neo-Tocquevilleansfailtorecognizebothspatialdifferentiationandspatialinterdependence."(Shapiro,2001:105)Shapiro'sarguesthatinsidetheseenclavesthefamilyspiritismorepowerfulandmoreconducivetocohesivenessthaninotherpartsoftheWesternsociety.Further,StrachandSullivan(2011)observedthatthegovernmentcallsforparentstoenforcegovernance,byparticipatingtotasksregardingcriminallawandpublicpolicy.However,therelationbetweenthegovernmentandthefamilyit'snotpertainingtothepublicsphere,sincefamiliesarepartoftheprivaterealmandtheycannotbeforcedtobecomeresponsibleinthesamewaylikepublicinstitutions.Rather,familiesarepartofthegovernment,elementthatplaysapartinpoliticalsocialization,becauseshapesthebehaviorofelitesandcitizens,andrepresentsthebasisofpoliticalsociety,asStrachandSullivan(2011)describedit.Speakingaboutgovernance,thefamilyrepresentsthechannelforgovernmentinfluenceoverthesociety,bycreatingaformofpartnershipbetweenthetwospheres.Emphasizingtherelationandcoexistencebetweencontinuityandchangeinthesocialstructureandthewelfaresystem,StrachandSullivan(2011)explainthatinthe21stcentury,thetaxcodereplacedcommonlaw,respectinghoweverfamilycategories.Similarly,thisnewsystememphasizedtheimportanceofthefamilyrelationsforbureaucraticpurposes,suchasfilingstatus,taxbrackets,andeligibilityforcreditsanddeductions,andtheprovisionofwelfare.Eventhoughthefamilyinstitutionisnotasimportantasinthecommonlawsystem,thetaxationsystemretainsfamilyasanimportantelement.Moreover,thegovernmentusesthestatusofanindividualinsidethefamilyinordertoregulatethebehavioroffamilymemberstowardseachother,suchascaringfordependentmembersandreceivingbenefitsaccordingtothestatusinthefamily.Asawhole,thefamilyisexpectedtofulfillitsobligations,asencouragedbypolicyincentivesinducements.Hence,thefamilyisaninstitutionalresource.Citizensobtainwelfarebenefitsasamemberoftheirfamily.Inrespectstothetaxationsystem,thismethodoffersthewaytodeterminewhoqualifiesforwelfareandhowmuchitisneeded.Ultimately,financialresourcesgivenunderthetaxcodeareexpectedtobeusedinchildcareactivities.Hence,thefederalgovernmentoffershigherbenefitsforfamilieswithchildren.Thewelfarepolicyworksbecauseitreinforcesparticularstatusrelationships.Theleveloftaxationisrelatedtotheindividual'sstatusasmemberofafamily:themoredependentcitizensinhiscare,thelowerthetaxratesandhigherthetaxcreditsforcareandeducation.Until1948,thetaxationsysteminWestworkedwithouttakingintoaccountthefamilystatusoftheindividual,butsolelyhisincome.ThissituationchangedduringtheSecondWorldWar,`whenthetaxcodebecameamoreimportantsourceoffederalrevenue'.Althoughthegovernmenthashighincentivestopromotethetaxationbasedonfamilystatusas`natural—obtainedfromaffectionandmarriage—itisclearfromthedefinitionofstatusthatthisisnotareflectionoflegalprinciplesandsocialpractice.TheIRSdistinguishesmaritalstatusnotonlybylegalstatusbutalsobydeterminingifcoupleslivetogetheroriftheyarefinanciallyindependent.WhenthewelfarepolicyofWestshiftedfromaguaranteedfederalaidtoanalternativeaid,—fromAFDC/TANFtoEITC—thecitizensbecameinthesametimeclientsandworkers.Theyhavetofillouttheirreturnsintimelymannerandinknowledgeoftheprovisionsofthetaxcode,beingoverseenbytheIRS(InternalRevenueService).Thefamilyasinstitutionwasrelyingoncourtsinthenineteencenturyandonthetaxcodeinthetwentiethcentury,inbothmomentsbeingcriticallyimportantforthegovernment,whichreliesonavarietyofadministrators.BettyFarrell(1999)acknowledgedtherapidchangeshappeningintheeconomical,politicalandculturalrealmsinWestatthebeginningofthenewcentury.Mostsignificantly,thesechangesaffecthumanrelationshipsforalargeproportionoftheWesternpopulation,provokingdiscontinuitywithpreviousmoralvalues.Shearguesthatthemostaffectedsocialinstitutionisthefamily.Howeverthecombinationbetweentraditionalvalues,affection,ononehand,andindependenceontheotherhand,isacharacteristicoftheWesternlifestyleandsocialprojects.43'Thetransformationsattributedtothecontemporarysociallife,reflectedinsocialconflictsconcerningminorities,foreigners,genderandsexualcategories,andculturalspecificityareseenasamenaceforthetraditionalfamilyroles.Hence,thedebatereferringtothenewfamilystructure,practices,andinfluencehasbecomeapoliticaltopic,beinganalyzedasobjectandsubjectofpublicconcerns.Theprimarybeliefisthatfamilyrepresentsthesolutionfortheproblemsofthesociety.Thisargumentisbasedonthevalueofsocialrelationshipscontainedbythefamily,andnotontheformsandthestructurethisinstitutionmightembody.Moreover,thefamilycreatesaspacewherefeelingsofaffection,suchaslove,attachment,nurturance,anddependabilityarereleasedinordertocopewiththeexternal,bureaucratizedsocialsystem.Familiesaresimultaneouslypersonalandsocialconstructions,definedbyculturalvaluesandsocialnorms.However,inspiteofthesespecificities,theWesternfamilyassocialinstitutionissharedbyallsocialgroupsasamarkofuniversality.Publicpoliciesandpoliticaldiscourseisanchoredintheclassicalimageofthefamily,throughwhichtheyrepresentthecontemporaryWesternsocietyasproducingtheframeforemotionalstableattachmentsandthesenseofcommunity.Fromthesociologicalandanthropologicalpointofview,thefamilyorganizessociallife,throughtheregulationofthesexuality,controlofthereproduction,andsocializationofthechildren,andassurescontinuity,throughlawsand1radWons.Asareflectionofthisidea,BronislawMalinowski'sprincipleoflegitimacyoffersanexampleoftheimportanceofgenerationalcontinuityforthesocialorder.Moreover,thefamilyisthesourceoflongtermcareforchildrenandkin,moreefficientthananygovernmentalinstitution,becauseitprovidesvoluntaryprotectionandaffection.Otherwise,thestatewouldhavetooffertheseservicesathighcosts.Farrellseesthefamilyasamicrocosminwhichtherelationsbetweenmembershaveahierarchicalbaseassuredbyspecificrightsandobligations.Thepolitical,economical,andsocialpersonalityofeachindividualiscreatedthroughthepositiontheyoccupyinkinshiprelations.Therolesfilledbythemembersofafamilyarehighlyfluidintimesofchange,beingtheresultofsocialandculturalnorms,ratherthanbiologicalprescriptions.However,socialharmonyandorderaremaintainedthroughaprocessofsanctioningdeviatebehavior,whichreinforcesthe"traditional"family.Incontemporarydebates,thequestforrevivingthetraditionalfamilyisaresponsetocontinualchangeoftheWesternsociety,whichcreatescontinualsocialdisorder.However,thefamily,asasocialandmentalconstructisstableinWesternhistory,inspiteofdramaticthanstructureWesternandsize,andcontinuestoprovidethesourceofbeliefs,valuesandgetoccurredinitsprejudicesofthesocietyandculture.2.2FamilyRelationshipsToChinesepeople,therearetwofunctionsofreligions:oneisthewaytorelievepeople'sanxieties;theotheristobeusedasapoliticaltooltohelpgovernthecountry.Generallyspeaking,religionshavelittleinfluenceonthemarriageinChina.Ifwehavetofndsomeinfluences,maybeTaoismcangivesomeclues.NaturalnessisacentralvalueinTaoism,whichisthesamewithConfucianismthatthemarriageofmenandwomenisanaturalthingasitsuitsfortheideaofyinandyang.Astheobjectsintheworldareallfromthecombinationofyinandyang,sobeingapartinnature,menandwomenmustobeythenature'scalltogetmarriedandhaveoffspring.Apartfromthat,Taoismhasanotherpointthatthecombinationofyinandyangcanmakeupforthedeficienciesineachpartsoastoprolongthelifespan(ZhangShuqing1996).Therefore,marriagebetweenmenandwomenisgoodforthehealth.However,thispointofviewhaslittleinfluenceon-themarriagescustomsinChina.InChristianity,thereisafirmbeliefthatallareequalinfrontofGod,thereforemenandwomenhaveequalpositionsinthemarriage,whichcanfindtheoriginfromtheHolyBible.IntheBible,GodcreatesAdamasthefirstpersonintheword,andthenhecreatesEvefromoneofAdam'sribs.SomepeoplemayarguethatEveisonlyapartthattakenfromAdamandsheiscreatedafterAdamsoAdamhasahigherpositionthanEve.Duetothisreason,menaresuperiortowomen.However,thetruthisthatEveisnotaservantforAdam,butacompanionandahelpertolivewithhim(TanJuan2011).ThiscanbeseenthatmonogamyisthemarriageformthatGodprefers.Besides,EveismadebytheribfromAdam,whichcandemonstratetherelationshipbetweenthemiscomplementaryandparalleled.Godchoosestheribratherthanskullorfootbone,whichimpliesthathehopesAdamandEvecanformaintimateandequalrelationshipratherthantherelationshipofoppressionorresistance.2.3MaritalViewsThereisasayingthateveryonehashis/hertheotherpartintheworldandsinceapersonisborn,he/shebeginstolookfortheone.However,itisdifficulttofinditsomostpeoplewillspendtheirlifewithotherpersonswhoarenottherightones.Thissayingtellusthetruthofmarriage-thatismarriageisnaturalbetweenamanandawomanbecausetheyareonthewayofsearchingandexploringfortherightpersonsinceborn.Althoughatlasttheresultmaybenotperfect,butitisnecessarytofindapersontobethepartnersoastorelyonandsupporteachother,whichmaybethereasonformarriageaseveryoneislongingforcompany.However,intheeyesofChineseandwesterners,theintentionsofmarriagearedifferent.IntraditionalChinese'sopinions,theygetmarriedmainlyfortworeasons:oneistohaveoffspringandtheotheristoconsolidatethebenefitsofthefamilies(LiQianqian2012).NowadaystheintentionsofmarriageinChinahavechangedalot.Althoughthereproductivefunctionisstillbeingstressed,peopletendtoattachmoreattentiononthefunctionsofsupportingandaccompanying.Fromthepointofviewofwesterners,marriagealsohastwointentions:oneistogiveagoodresultoftheirloveandtheotheroneistofindalife-longpartnersoastobefulfilledphysiologicallyandpsychologically(SunJianjun2007).Thatistosay,thereasonforwesternersistofindabelovedonesothattheycansharetheirlifeandsupporteachother.Ingeneral,Chinesemarriageisanobligationtothefamily,whilewesternmarriageisthepersonalright.2.4EducationmethodWesternspaymoreattentiononpracticaleducation;theyspendmuchenergyontheirindependentliving.Ifthechildrencandothejob,letthemdoit.Fromthework,theycanimprovetheirrecognitionofthings,accumulateexperiences,masterskills,enhancecapacities,develophobbiesandconsolidateself-confidenceandpersonalresponsibility.WecanconcludethatWesternsgivethekeyofthedoortotheirchildreninsteadofopeningthedoor.Theyinsistonreleasingbutnevergivinguptheirchildren.EveryoneknowsthatWestern’seconomyismoresuperiortoChinese,buttheylimittheirchildren’spocket-money.Thesecondoneisthattheymainlyusethemethodofencourageandpraise.Sothechildrenhavetoimagine,creating,askaquestion.Ontheotherhand,WesternhasdifferentopinionsaboutplayinggameswithChinese.Theythinkplayingisoneofthemostimportanteducationwaysforthechildren.InWest,childrenareencouragedtotakepartinallkindsofactivitiesiftheyhaveinterests.Theycandoalotofoutdoorexercisesiftheylike.Ontheweekend,parentsgooutforatourwithchildren.Intheprocessofplaying,thechildrendeveloptheirintelligence,suchasjudgments,communicationwithotherpeopleandemotionadjustingandsoon.Chineseparentspaymoreattentiontotheirchildren’sstudyratherthanthepracticaltraining.ComparingwithmostWesterns,thechildrenofChinadon'thaveanyoutdoorexercises.Theyalwayshavetheendlesshomework.Thechildren’staskistostudy,andtheyhavelessrighttospeak.ThatmeanstheChineseparentsrequiretheirchildrentoobeytherules.AstheWesternPresidentNixonsaid“ThetaskofChineseeducationsystemistotrainchildrenintoapersonwhoisdocile,completelylistentoeldergeneration.Inthisway,theyloseChineseDarwinandEinstein.”家庭教育中的‘棍子’與‘筷子’.人民日?qǐng)?bào).1999.9.3家庭教育中的‘棍子’與‘筷子’.人民日?qǐng)?bào).1999.9.33.TheReasonsoftheDifferences3.1DifferenthistorybackgroundWesterncountrycanacceptnewthingsandopinioneasily.Westerncountryisalsoamulti-valueandmulti-nationcountry.Obviously,itcanabsorbdifferentvaluefromadditionalnations.Westernpossessesmoreadventureandcreationsprits.Westernvaluecanembodyinmanyaspects.ButthereisacommonreasonfordifferentpeoplewhocometoWestwhichestablishesanationwithdemocracy,liberty,opportunityandunyieldinghope.ChinesepeopleareverycourteousandChinaisthecountrywhichhasfivethousandyearshistory.Weallknowthatourcountryisancientandcivilized.Atthesametime,wealsohavethecharacterofconservative;weareeasilyaffectedbyfeudalfarmer’sidea.Asaresult,Chinesepeopleintendtobemoreobedient,theylackoftheabilitiestoacceptnewideasonthewhole.孫瓊?cè)?SunQiongru).孫瓊?cè)?SunQiongru).中美家庭教育的比較與啟示.教書(shū)育人.2002(14).3.2DifferentsocialconditionsWesternhasaperfecteconomicsystemandthemedicalcaresystemwhichserveforeverycitizen.Thepeopledon’tcareabouttheirdailylife,andtheydon’trearchildrenagainstforoldage.Theycangotobeadhousewhentheyareold.Sowhenthechildrenare18yearsold,theymustlivebythemselves.Parentsthinktheyareindependentpersons,andtheyhaveabilitytoadapttothisworld.Theparentsdon’tconsiderthefutureofthechildren’slife.Theydon’tcareaboutwhetherthechildrenwillbringhonortothem.趙燕(ZhaoYan)趙燕(ZhaoYan).不同文化背景下的中美家庭教育比較.普教版.2005(5).3.3DifferentculturaltraditionsWemightthinkthatChineseandWesternaretotallydifferentpeople.Notonlythewaytheylookdifferent,butalsothedifferentcultures.So,whatarethedifferencesbetweenChineseandWesternculture?WeknowthatthefirstWesternsarrivedatWestlandbytakingtheboatcalled“Mayflower”.Theycomehereforonegoal,whichisfree.Withthedevelopment,theypaymoreattentiontobefreeanddemocracyratherthannationalismandsocialism.Atthesametime,theycherishtheopportunity.Theythinkthatopportunitiesdon'tcomeoften.Therefore,itisadvisablethatyoushouldvalueandtreatthemwithcare.Ifyouwanttoachievesomethingorintendtofulfilloneofyourambitious,youmustworkhard,makeeffortsandgetprepared.趙忠心趙忠心（ZhaoZhongxin）.家庭教育學(xué):教育子女的科學(xué)與藝術(shù).北京：人民教育出版社,2004.4.TheEffectofFamilyValuesTheimportanceoffamilyvaluecanbeinferredbyfamily'sfunctions.Forinstance,obedienceandachievement,responsibilitytakingforfamily,transmittingfunction,generalindependenceandreliance,providingfortheelderandnurturanceofthechildren,etc.Amongvariousfunctionsoffamily,therearethreefunctionsthatarecloselyrelatedwithinterculturalcommunicationandtheydoinfluenceinterculturalcommunicationtoaLargeextent.Thesethreefunctionsarelistedandillustratedinthefollowingpart.a.Familypassesoncommunicationproficiencies.Familypassesoncommunicationproficiencies.Inborncompetenceendowspeoplewiththeinnatecapabilitytospeakandcommunicate.However,itisinthefamilywherepeoplefirstbegintolearnhowtospeakandhowtoexpresstheirthoughtsintheirlanguage,howtocommunicateandestablishrelationshipswithothers,andhowtoutilizetheirinbornlanguagecompetence.b.Familypassesonidentity."Familynotjustmakesupthemostessentialunitofaculturebutalsoprovidestheindividualwiththemostimportantsocialidentity"(Lee,K.K.1986:185).Thatistosay,familynotonlyplaysanimportantroleinbeingaparcelofasocietybutalsoisofvitalfunctionintheshapingofpeople'sidentity.Itisthefamilythatoffersitsmembersthehistoricalbackgroundoftheirnationsandcultures,thespecificcustomstheirculturespossess,theuniquelanguageandtraditionwhichdocontributealottotheshapingoftheiridentityfromthemomenttheywereborn.c.Familypassesonimportantandtypicalculturalvalues."Thefamilyprovidestheessentialenvironmentwithinwhichhumanvaluesandmoralsdevelopandgrowamongmembersofthenewgeneration;thosemoralsandvaluesareunabletoexistwiththeabsenceofthefamilyunit"(AI-Kaysi,M.I.1986:36).Familyisthefirstplacewherechildrenbegintolearnabouttheirculturesandnations.Eversincetheywereverylittle,theirparentstaughtthemwhattheyshoulddoandwhattheycouldnotinaccordancewiththeirculture.Itisfromtheirparentsandinthefamilythatchildrenbegintolearnaboutthebasicrulesandvaluesofcultureandhowtoreacttoculturalconditionsthattheyarenotfamiliarwith.Familyvalueisatthecoreofthestudyingsystemofculturalvaluesanditplaysadecisiveroteinvariousactionsoffamilymembers.Thevaluesoffamilymembersdirectlyinfluencetheirverbalbehavior.Thatistosaythevalueofthewholesocietyisdependentonfamilyvaluestoacertainext