Intercultural Communication Chapter 2: What Is the Relationship between Communication and Culture?

Objectives for Chapter 2 Understand how culture affects communication because of different worldviews. Understand how culture affects communication because of different values. Understand how culture affects communication because of different norms. Understand two major theses on the relationship between culture and communication (monolithic force and reflexive force).

Manifestations of Culture Culture influences how we communicate! Three common manifestations of culture are: Worldviews: most “broad” or abstract; wide variety among individuals Values: less abstract than worldviews, but still large variety Norms: more specific; some variety, but common agreement within cultural communities

Worldviews Mostly unconscious ideas about how the world is Not “right” or “wrong” so not challengeable: subjective They occur on a continuum, not all or nothing General trends, rather than hard and fast “rules” Could be situational, depending on context: class, friends, family . . . Eight worldviews explored in the text

Worldview #1: Individualism/Collectivism Focus on uniqueness and how different from others Better than, faster than, shorter than . . .

Worldview #1: Individualism/Collectivism Focus on relationships and shared “membership” Everyone pitches in . . . We worked really hard Couldn’t have done it without you . . . Remember: continuum, contextual, subjective . . .

Worldview #2: Ascription/Achievement Position, reward, etc. are “given” based on “rights” and do not require effort Achievement: Effort is what determines position, reward, etc.

Worldview #3: Egalitarian/Hierarchical Everyone has the same worth and value as any other.

Worldview #3: Egalitarian/Hierarchical Assume there is and should be differentiation (one is in charge or better at something) The military is one example where hierarchy is embraced

Worldview #4: Good/Evil People are inherently good and will do the right thing Examples: Lock your bike? U-pick fruit stands where you leave the appropriate amount of money in a box after you weigh what you pick

Worldview #4: Good/Evil People cannot be trusted and will take advantage of you Glass half empty or half full?

Worldview #5: Mastery/Adaptive Can and should control the world around us Emphasis on ownership Rice fields in Japan, planted by hand!

Worldview #5: Mastery/Adaptive Co-habitants in the world Emphasis on respecting environment Natural mineral pools are found all over the world!

Worldview #6: Language as Social Lubricant/Information Communication influences image (self- and public) Relationships are more important than accuracy Information: Communication to convey thoughts Accuracy, directness, and clarity are valued

Worldview #7: High Context/Low Context Need previous knowledge and context (backgrounds, social setting, previous interactions or relationship) Example: taking off shoes at door, hugging

Worldview #7: High Context/Low Context Relies on words Example: What does that mean?? Do I park my bike here?

Worldview #8: Time as Polychronic/Monochronic Time is linear Schedules and being on time are important That plane might leave without you!

Worldview #8: Time as Polychronic/Monochronic Time is more fluid No such thing as “wasting time” or “not enough time” Relationships matter more than punctuality A meal is an event to enjoy company rather than just eat

Worldviews Final thoughts on worldviews: General trends, not hard and fast rules that every individual follows Belong to many different cultures, so some cultural memberships override others Occupation/age/background Situational: not the same in all contexts

Values Different from worldviews: How the world should be rather than how the world is Some values and worldviews may seem to overlap But shared worldviews ≠ shared values may cause frustration Examples of values: honesty, integrity, privacy, loyalty, responsibility, accountability, punctuality, humor

Values Still abstract, so hard to predict in others Different in different situations Honesty in all situations?? How do you like my hair cut? When a value is violated = recognition of that value

Values Three levels of values: Primary Secondary Tertiary Not all values are equal Some may “trump” others: Punctuality or humor? Responsibility or loyalty? Honesty or friendship?

Norms More specific and concrete than values. Social rules for what people should and should not do. Importance based on: Consensus: widely agreed upon Intensity: have serious consequences for violation Mostly notice when norms/values are violated Question #4: p. 59

Norms in other cultures

Norms What time is lunch? How do you greet people? Where do you park? How close do you stand at an ATM? How do you show you’re excited/interested?

Remember culture influences communication Three common manifestations of culture are: Worldviews: most “broad” or abstract, a lot of variety Values: less abstract, but still large variety Norms: more specific; still some variety

Two Perspectives on the Culture–Communication Connection Monolithic Force Casual model: Culture helps predict behavior (deductive) Communication patterns will be universal/consistent for the whole cultural group Reflexive Force Sense-making: Culture helps us to make sense of behavior (past, present, and future) Communication patterns are contextual, not universal