Verbal intercultural communication Lecture 5

Verbal communication is one way for people to communicate face-to-face Verbal communication is one way for people to communicate face-to-face.  Some of the key components of verbal communication are sound, words, speaking, and language. It includes also written communication. Its is of a special importance in the international environment

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Verbal codes Verbal means "consisting ofwords." Therefore, a verbal code is a set of rules about the use of words in the creation of messages. Words can obviously be either spoken or written. Verbal codes, then, include both oral (spoken) language and non-oral (written) language. Symbols are words, actions, or objects that stand for or represent a unit of meaning. The relationship between symbols and what they stand for is often highly arbitrary, particularly for verbal symbols.

Semiotics Semiotics, or semiology, is the study of signs, symbols, and signification. It is the study of how meaning is created, not what it is. Below are some brief definitions of semiotic terms, beginning with the smallest unit of meaning and proceeding towards the larger and more complex

C.S.Peirce identified three types of signs: An icon is a sign that resembles its referent object. For example, a photo identification card is an icon of the person identified on the card; a map is an icon of the territory it lays out. Icons often are intuitively understood because of their close relationship with their referents.

An index is a sign that has a causal relationship with its referent; that is, with some physical or presumed connection. For example, smoke is an index or indicator of the presence of fire; sneezing is an indicator of allergies or a head cold. Some indices are natural (such as smoke) and thus can be intuitively understood. Others depend more on the informed understanding of the person receiving the indexed message. For example, the Crescent represents an event important to Muslims, and the cross represents a historic person and event for Christians – but neither can be understood or appreciated outside the context of that history, culture and belief.

A symbol is a sign that is created arbitrarily, with no specific relationship to its reference, such as the letter written as M in Roman script, which symbolizes the same sound as the Arabic letter – the sound “mmm.” In general, words in any language are conventional symbols because, as arbitrary sounds, they have no real connection with their referent – “ab” in Arabic, “baba” in Turkish, “pere” in French, “ojciec” in Polish, “chichi” in Japanese, all are arbitrary sounds to designate a person’s father. Because of their non- natural association with their referents, symbols generally must be learned.

Two types of verbal communication. (1) formal communication. (2) informal communication.

Formal communication We use this type of communication in offices and social gathering. Types of formal communication. 1) Downward (2) Upward (3) Lateral (4) grapewine

Informal communication We use this type of communication with our family or friends. Three types of informal communication. (1) lateral (2) diagonal (3) grapevine

Lateral communication Found among members working at the same level. Ex. Peer group. Most effective form of communication. Barrier of subordinates or boss is not present here.

Diagonal communication The path is mixture of vertical and horizontal movement. In large communications various departments need communication support from each other.

Grapevine communication Also called as “backbiting” or “backstabbing” A backstabber is a colleague or an employee who acts like a friend in public but badmouth you in private.

Lost in Translation – Cross Cultural Humor Humor is prone to misinterpretation in cross- cultural communication. Humor is a universal concept, but what is considered funny, when something is funny, where, with whom, and under what circumstance differs across cultures. Humor often carries implicit messages that are not easily picked up by second language and/or non-native speakers. Effective communication requires more than a simple understanding of linguistics. Contextual factors (time, place, participants) and through an understanding of “culturally situated background knowledge” influence a persons understanding in communication

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