Understanding Intercultural Communication Second Edition

1. Understanding Intercultural Communication Second Edition Chapter 6 What is the Connection between Verbal Communication & Culture? Stella Ting-Toomey & Leeva C. Chung OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS PowerPoint Slides Designed by Alex Flecky and Noorie Baig

2. TODAY’S MENU I. Human Language: Distinctive Features and Rule Patterns II. Appreciating Diverse Language Functions III. Verbal Communication Styles: A General Framework IV. Intercultural Reality Check: Do-Ables

3. Do you know… • The Top-3 Countries with the Most Native English-Language Speakers? • The Top-3 Countries with the Most Native Spanish-Language Speakers? • The Top-3 Most Widely-Spoken Languages Worldwide? (Ethnologue Database, 2010-11)

4. I. Human Language: Distinctive Features and Rule Patterns Language: An arbitrary, symbolic system that labels and categorizes objects, events, groups, people, ideas, feelings, experiences, and many other phenomena. Can you guess how many languages exist worldwide?

5. I. Human Language: Distinctive Features and Rule Patterns A. Distinctive Language Features • Arbitrariness: sounds and symbols Ω A  €  ∞ • Abstractness: concrete to abstract levels • Meaning-Centeredness: denotative and connotative levels of meaning • Creativity: productivity, displacement, eta-communicative

6. I. Human Language: Distinctive Features and Rule Patterns B. Multiple Rule Patterns • Phonological Rules: Smallest unit of a word • Morphological Rules: Multiple sounds • Syntactic Rules: Grammar • Semantic Rules: Meaning • Pragmatic Rules: Contextual rules

7. II. Appreciating Diverse Language Functions Click here to find out the “Meaning of Love” From 7 Billion Others from YouTube

8. II. Appreciating Diverse Language Functions A. Cultural Worldview Function • Linear worldview vs. Relational worldview B. Everyday Social Reality Function C. Cognitive Shaping Function • Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: “the shaper of ideas” • Strong Form vs. Weak Form D. Group Membership Function • Code switching (Click to view related video) E. Social Change Function

9. II. Appreciating Diverse Language Functions: Cultural Worldview Function Relational Worldview Connected thinking Context-based reasoning Context and relationship Continuum interpretation Holistic big-picture mode Long-term relational outcome Linear Worldview Rational thinking Objective reasoning Facts and evidence Polarized interpretation Analytical dissecting mode Tangible outcome

10. II. Verbal Communication Styles: A General Framework LCC Patterns Individualistic values Linear logic Direct verbal style Matter of fact tone Informal verbal style Verbal assertiveness or talkativeness Verbal self-enhancement style HCC Patterns Collectivistic values Spiral logic Indirect verbal style Understated or animated tone Formal verbal style Verbal reticence or silence Self-humbling style

11. II. Verbal Communication Styles: A General Framework LCC – HCC Application Analysis: • The Joy Luck Club: Film Clip • Roommates Video DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: • Compare and contrast the different verbal styles of the people in the videos. • What did the low-context communicator say/do? What did the high-context communicator say/do? • What recommendations do you have for these communicators to make this conversation go better?

12. II. Verbal Communication Styles: A General Framework Beliefs Expressed in Talk and Silence • Silence is interpreted and evaluated differently across cultures and between persons. • How do you interpret silence? Take a look at how the Japanese people use silence to mean different things…

13. IV. Intercultural Reality Check: Do-Ables When using your native language with a nonnative speaker, to be flexible verbal communicators, try to practice the following guidelines: • Practice intercultural empathy • Learn to paraphrase and perception check • Use multiple modes of presentation • Practice language variation usage • Pay attention to nonverbal tone of voice • Understand basic differences of LCC and HCC patterns • Use nonverbal gestures to complement • Master the language pragmatic rule function

14. Parting Thoughts… If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart. ~ Nelson Mandela Learn a new language and get a new soul. ~ Czech Proverb