Culture: *Is learned *Involves a set of shared interpretations about norms, attitudes, values, and beliefs that affect behavior *Involves a large group of people

Three Levels of Culture Ting-Toomey & Chung (28-37) Surface-Level: Popular Culture Easily observed culture: Pop music, television, gadgets, etc. Intermediate Level: Symbols, meanings and norms Words, gestures, and nonverbal behaviors: idioms, expressions “The nail that sticks out gets hammered down” (a Japanese idiom)“Let’s hang out” “What’s up?!” Language students enjoy these “real” expressions

Deep Level: Traditions, beliefs, and values; A patterned way of living by a group of individuals who share a common set of history, traditions, beliefs, values and interdependent fate. (Stable over time) For example: Religion, Military, LGBT, Academic, consumer culture, etc.

Intercultural Communication: a symbolic, interpretive, transactional, contextual process in which people from different cultures create shared meaning. (Koester and Lustig) two persons from different cultures, or co-cultures exchanging verbal and non-verbal messages. (Neulip 2006)

Everyone has culture!

Cultural Patterns Components: Beliefs Values Norms Social Practices “Stable over time”

Taxonomies Hall’s high and low context Hofstede’s cultural taxonomies

Hall’s High and Low Context Taxonomy High Context Characteristics Implicit messages- beat around the bush Nonverbal communication- “tells” Distinct in-groups and out-groups Strong interpersonal bonds Time is open and flexible

Low-Context Characteristics Overt and explicit (Email addresses, debate) Details verbalized (A law, or ballot proposition) Flexible in-groups and out-groups (numerous co- cultures simultaneously) Fragile interpersonal bonds Time is highly organized (planners)

Hofstede’s Cultural Taxonomy Individualism-------------Collectivism Low uncertainty avoidance---High uncertainty avoidance Low power distance------------High power distance High Relationship Orientation------High Achievement Orientation Indulgence—————Restraint (Time)

A continuum of interculturalness Most Intercultural-----------------------------Least Intercultural

4. Present the comparison to the class. This is worth 5 points. 1. Which “Cultural Patterns” (Beliefs, values, norms that are stable over time) play a role in your life? (Identify 3-5 of them) 2. Where did they originate? How were the patterns communicated to you? Provide examples. 3. Discuss, compare, and contrast them with 3-5 cultural patterns of a partner. Imagine that you are going to be housemates. Create a “third culture” so the transition to sharing a home is more harmonious. 4. Present the comparison to the class. This is worth 5 points. I

Intercultural Competence: the ability to adapt your behavior toward another person in ways that are appropriate to the other person’s culture. Knowledge Skill Motivation

Improving Intercultural Competence

Develop knowledge Create a “Third Culture” (Communication partners join aspects of separate cultures to create a third, “new” culture). Tolerate ambiguity Be mindful of your thoughts. Avoid negative judgments Develop skills to adapt

Communication Accommodation Theory was developed by Howard Giles and others in the 1970s. We adjust our speech to accommodate the person we are addressing. All people adapt their behavior to others to some extent.

Convergence: This is more common and occurs when we move our speech closer to that of the other person. ex: swearing less when speaking to elders Divergence: When people’s speech styles move further apart. Ex. When one wants to demonstrate intelligence, they use larger words.

How do you most frequently adapt to others with whom you identify as co-culturally different from you? Provide three examples Provide an example of when you have used convergence and one when you used divergence. (If you are having trouble thinking of examples, refer to chapter 4, Table 4.2)

Barriers To Intercultural Communication Competence

Cultural Biases Ethnocentrism: is the tendency to use the categories of one’s own culture to evaluate the actions of others. All cultures have this tendency to varying degrees. Stereotyping: a form of generalization that does not take account the vast differences between group members.

Prejudice: Refers to negative attitudes toward other people that are based on faulty and inflexible stereotypes. Pre-judging! Discrimination: Whereas prejudice refers to people’s attitudes (mental), discrimination refers to the behavioral manifestations. “Prejudice in action.”

http://www.ted.com/talks/verna_myers_how_to_overcome_our_bia ses_walk_boldly_toward_them