Lesson 2.2 linear and circular communication

1. Lesson 2.2linear and circular communication

2. Focus • What are some examples of the differences between direct communicators and indirect communicators?

3. Activating: introduction activity • Within groups of 4, pretend that you do not know each other and introduce yourself to the group. Don’t be goofy!!!!!

4. Introduction activity continued • I am the son of Richard and Donna Whitehead from Center Point, a small town in Iowa. My parents still live there, and I miss them very much. They are wonderful and caring. I miss more than anything the time that Dad and I would spend fishing together. We would talk for hours waiting for the fish to bite, and I so love his stories! Ohh the memories!! I have two siblings, my brother Tim and my sister Lindsey. My brother and sister are both married and they both have 3 beautiful children. I am also married and have three children. I so enjoy holding my daughter and taking my boys fishing. I have always wanted to be a teacher. Both my parents were teachers. It is a wonderful, rewarding profession. I learned so much from both my parents. My mother now spends most of her time helping out with my brother and sisters children. I did so many fun, interesting things growing up in Iowa. I remember this one time my brother, myself, and 3 of our friends built a tree house in the woods next to our neigborhood. The tree house must have been over 50 feet high with three different levels. We were so proud of our accomplishment that we brought our parents out to see what we had done, but they made us take it down for safety reasons. Better safe than sorry. Oh the memories!!!

5. Introduction activity continued: • What was the difference between your introduction and my introduction? • How did you feel during my introduction? Why?

6. Essential Questions • What is the difference between linear and circular communication styles? • How do the linear and circular communication styles relate to direct and indirect communication styles? • Debrief = linear vs. circular

7. Linear and circular

8. What is linear communication? • Linear: The point is stated explicitly, as opposed to implicitly. Getting to the point is important; not getting to the point (quickly) is a waste of time. Linear communicators share an understanding of how logical communications should progress to a conclusion. An example is the U.S. essay format taught in US schools (introduction, three main points, and conclusion) which is very linear. Each point relates to the one before it and the one after it. Language is seen as separate from nonverbal signals, gestures, and facial expressions (e.g., it is not necessarily rude to be multi-tasking while speaking with someone). Speakers and listeners enjoy making meaning as quickly and with as few words as possible.

9. Circular communication • Circular: The point the speaker is making is implicit as opposed to explicit. The speaker talks around and around a point, building a context around the main point. Some circular speakers do get to the point, eventually. Others do not spell out the point, as they believe that identifying the point properly is the role of the listener. For the speaker to do this for the listener is an insult. This communication style encourages reflexivity: time is given by the speaker to the listener to fully understand meaning or to uncover meaning on their own by considering all aspects of the conversation including the context. The speaker and the listener enjoy the process of discovering the point together through exploring the surrounding details.

10. Activities • Dear Gavin Letter Activity: 35 min. • See on page 76-77 of this link: http://www.peacecorps.gov/wws/publications/culture/pdf/chapter3.pdf • The letter is written by Jan, a US Peace Corps volunteer who is looking for a place to live in her new host country. In this letter to her Peace Corps friend Gavin, Jan recounts the experience she recently had negotiating her living arrangements. • Highlight on the letter the instances when the speakers are being direct, indirect, linear and circular. • The relation between the color and the communication style should be listed clearly somewhere where all groups can see as follows: • red for direct • yellow for indirect • blue for linear • green for circular

12. Activity Debrief • Paragraphs 1-6: • • The entire letter is written in a linear manner, which is clearly • demonstrated by words and phrases such as: “First … next… finally … • one issue we had to resolve … then we moved on … next it was time to • …” The three parts of the letter are clearly distinguishable: introduction, • body, and ending.

13. Paragraph 3: • • When Jan asks if he could use the attic, the landlord’s response is • “Yes. If you like” – this can be highlighted in red, to signal the landlord’s • indirect communication style. • • The landlord then follows his answer with a story about how • unnecessary material possessions are. This long (and to Jan seemingly • pointless story), as well as his shorter answer, point to an indirect/ • circular style of communication (the entire sentence about that story • could be highlighted in green to signal a circular communication style). • The message that the landlord is trying to communicate indirectly/ • 9 http://www2.pacific.edu/sis/culture/pub/1.5.3_-_Communication_styles.htm • Connection 2 - Intercultural Communication • circularly is that no, he probably won’t be able to store many of Jan’s • possessions in the attic, and that it may be wise for Jan to consider • getting rid of some of the things she owns. • • Jan’s question if “it would be ok” could be highlighted in red, to signal • her direct communication style.

14. Paragraph 4: • • When Jan asks about meals, the landlord starts talking about the • convenient location of the house, which can be highlighted in green, for • the landlord’s circular communication style. Not answering the question • about meals is an instance of indirect/circular communication style: • indirect and circular communicators prefer to change the subject rather • than disagree or say no. • • Jan’s way of asking about meals, and whether or not she could eat with • the family or make other arrangements can be highlighted in red, to • signal Jan’s direct communication style.

15. Paragraph 5: • • When Jan offers 200 for rent, the landlord responds: “That’s good, don’t • you think?” This question can be highlighted in yellow, to signal the • landlord’s indirect communication style. This question is the landlord’s • indirect way of disagreeing, which Jan misses completely. • • Jan’s answer, as well as her question of whether or not she needed • to sign a contract and when she would be able to move in can be • highlighted in red, to signal Jan’s direct communication style. • • The landlord’s question of whether or not Jan was sure she was happy • with the price is a clear instance of an indirect way of saying that he • was not happy with it. As such, it can be highlighted in yellow.

16. Paragraph 6: • • The end of the letter reveals the landlord’s feelings about Jan using his • attic to store some things, as well as about the 200 for rent: “My attic. • My poor, little attic. And all your wonderful things. And so little money • you are paying me.” Although these 3 sentences offer more clues • about the landlord’s feelings, he continues to not be direct, to not say • “no” – but he does give enough hints. The sentences quoted above, • as well as the sentences where the landlord references the many and • useful things Americans have, can be highlighted in yellow to signal the

17. Linear-Circular Communication Research Activity: 20 minutes • Plot where you think your country is on the linear-circular continuum posted in the classroom. • Arabic-speaking World – tendency towards a more circular communication styleEgypt (pp.148-158)Kuwait (pp. 288-298)Saudi Arabia (pp.426-436)Chinese-speaking World – tendency towards a more circular communication styleChina (pp. 89-99)Hong Kong (pp. 100-103)Taiwan (pp. 495-505)Spanish-speaking World– tendency towards a more circular communication styleColombia (pp. 104-112)Mexico (pp. 313-321)Spain (pp. 469-476)

18. Summarizing • Strengths and Limits of Linear and Circular Communication Styles Activity: 10 minutes • 1. In the context of the US culture, in what situations would it be more effective if you adopted a more linear communication style? 2. In the context of the US culture, in what situations would it be more effective if you adopted a more circular communication style? 

19. Journal • What is the difference between linear and circular communication styles? • How do Linear and Circular communication styles relate to direct and indirect communication styles?