LOCAL & GLOBAL COMMUNICATION IN A MULTICULTURAL SETTING
Communication is guided by CULTURE and CONTEXT. It is predicted by the
type of culture dictated by its context.
“Culture is basically a social group’s system of meanings.”
CULTURE - is manifested in our actions and affects how we tell the world who
we are and what we believe in. It is the basis for how we behave in a certain
communication context.
CONTEXT - brings a better understanding about culture in general and our own
culture. It refers to anything that refers to the stimuli, environment, or ambience
surrounding an event (Edward T. Hall)
LOCAL COMMUNICATION - is highly grounded on the cultural context. This
context of communication reflects the culture of people who are creating their
self- identity and community.
GLOBAL COMMUNICATION - has turned to be a modifying factor of local
communication. It attempts to bring changes that affect communication
conventions.
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION - a discipline that focuses on how culture
affects communication. It is the ability to understand and value cultural
differences.
● happens when individuals interact, negotiate and create meanings while
bringing in their varied cultural backgrounds (Ting-Toomey, 1999)
LANGUAGE - is a component that is linked to intercultural understanding.
Enhancing oral and written communication in intercultural environments is a way
to achieving intercultural competence.
Paul Grice argues that speakers intend to be cooperative when they talk. For
Grice, cooperative means that the speaker knows that each utterance is a
potential interference in the personal rights, autonomy and wishes ( a potential
face-threatening act) of the other that is why we have to shape our utterances in
a certain way.
GRICES’ PRINCIPLE OF COOPERATIVE CONVERSATION
MAXIM OF RELATION - every interlocutor should be relevant in a conversation,
requiring them to respond based on cultural and contextual requirements.
MAXIM OF QUANTITY - every interlocutor should observe a “fair-share-talk of
time.”
MAXIM OF QUALITY - the truth value of a message should be held primary in a
conversation. The accuracy of the message should always be upheld. It should
not go beyond what is true nor deduced in its essence.
MAXIM OF MANNER - the manner of saying a word is more regarded than its
content.
MAXIMS OF CONVERSATION
QUANTITY- where one tries to be as informative as one possibly can and gives
as much information as needed and no more.
QUALITY - where one tries to be truthful and does not give information that is
false or that is not supported by evidence.
RELATION - where one tries to be relevant, and says things that are pertinent to
the discussion.
MANNER - when one tries to be as clear, as brief, and as orderly as one can in
what one says. and where one avoids obscurity and ambiguity.
MODES OF COMMUNICATION IN AN INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
LANGUAGE - Words, greetings and expressions that are based on culture and
context.
BODY LANGUAGE - is a form of non-verbal communication in which
movements of the body communicate messages, either in place of, or in
conjunction with speech.
THE DEVELOPMENTAL MODEL OF INTERCULTURAL SENSITIVITY.
● The developmental model of intercultural sensitivity (DMIS) was created by
Dr. Milton Bennett. This model was created as a basic outline to explain
the reactions that people have to cultural differences.
Denial - I don’t consider that cultural differences exist at all.
Defense - I defend my home culture because I lose my bearings otherwise.
Minimization - I minimize differences and focus on what brings me similar to
others.
Acceptance - I am aware of diverse cultural perceptions.
Adaptation- I adapt my reasoning and actions to my new culture.
Integration- I develop a feeling or membership in my new culture.
THE ABC’s of INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
● Communication is complex because of the cultural and contextual factors
embedded in it.
● It is also challenging due to the many ways in which communication can
vary between cultures as well as individuals plus the requirements needed
by an individual to satisfy the conversational conventions
● Although effective communication is hard to achieve because of these
considerations, good communication is attainable.
ACKNOWLEDGE- Differences in communication style should be acknowledged.
Every person in a group has a particular communication style which gives her/his
own identity in communicating. Anticipating awareness of differences will
increase awareness of uniqueness.
BI-LEVEL - Communication does not only uphold speaking and listening but also
requires a holistic process that includes verbal and non-verbal channels.
Non-verbal communication is critical in the communication process due to its
cultural nuances. It may vary from one culture to another.
CLARIFY - If you are doubtful of your understanding about what is being
communicated, ask for clarification. Devote a little extra time to verify
understanding so that you can save time and avoid frustration.
CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPETENT INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
● Flexibility and the ability to tolerate high levels of uncertainty
● Reflectiveness or mindfulness
● Open-mindedness
● Sensitivity
● Adaptability
● Ability to engage in divergent thinking and systems-level thinking
● Politeness
CULTURAL COMMUNICATION BARRIERS
LANGUAGE BARRIER - It is evidently the primary barrier of communication in
second and foreign language contexts. Because of its complexity, communication
between people speaking different languages is difficult.
HOSTILE STEREOTYPES - Stereotypes are generalizations or assumptions
people make about the characteristics of members of a group, based on an
image about what people in that group are like.
BEHAVIOR DIFFERENCES - Difference of behavior between different cultures
can cause misunderstandings. Every culture has its norm about what is regarded
as appropriate behavior.
EMOTIONAL DISPLAY - Different cultures have varying regard on emotional
display. What is considered an appropriate display of emotion in one culture may
not be appropriate in another culture.
ENHANCING ORAL COMMUNICATION IN MULTICULTURAL SETTINGS
● Learn foreign phrases
● UsesimpleEnglish
● Speak slowly and enunciate clearly
● Observe eye messages
● Encourage accurate feedback
● Check frequently for comprehension
● Accept blame
● Listen without interrupting
● Smile when appropriate
● Followupinwriting
DEVELOPING WRITTEN COMMUNICATION TO MULTICULTURAL
AUDIENCES
● Consider local styles
● Observe titles and status
● Use Short Sentences and paragraphs
● Avoid Ambiguous expressions
● Strive for clarity
● Use correct grammar
● Cite numbers carefully
● Accommodate the reader in organization, tone,and style
AMBIGUOUS EXPRESSIONS
IDIOMS & FIGURATIVE CLICHÉS
Beat the clock
Do the dirty work
Labor of love
Go with the flow
Bend the law or bend the rules
SLANG
Gonna
Wanna
Cover your ass
What you see is what you get
Okay
ACRONYM
LAM
IMO
AKA
AWOL
ASAP
ABBREVIATION
Acct
Recd
w/o
Fwd
ad
JARGON
• bang for the buck — a business jargon for getting the most for your money
• helicopter view — an overview of a job or a project
• desk job — a job that is typically confined to duties from a desk
• end-user perspective — what the customer thinks about a product or service
• cubicle farm — a section of the office that contains worker’s cubicles
