Chapter 7 Language, culture, and identity

Q: Define “Culture”

Culture (objective/highbrow culture) art, literature, drama, music, cuisine associated with money, education, political or economic systems culture (subjective culture) day-to-day features, psychological in nature, involving people’s attitudes, beliefs and values choice of discourse, style of dress, in-group/out-group networks, norms of interactions

Q: How do you perceive yourself? Me/I (Individual person with personal goals, rights, interests, and desires) A member of a group

The United States and Western Europe China, Korea, and Japan Emphasize personal achievement at the expense of group goals Emphasize family and work group goals. A strong sense of competition and susceptible to loneliness A strong fear of rejection. ,

The United States and Western Europe China, Korea, and Japan Emphasize personal achievement at the expense of group goals Emphasize family and work group goals. A strong sense of competition and susceptible to loneliness A strong fear of rejection. ,

Q: Which of the followings can you observe in the individualistic cultures? Self-reliance Interlocking social relationship Self-expression Competition between groups Independence at a young age Plagiarism Being overly interdependent means ‘weak’ Reciprocal obligation/responsibility Interdependence Critical thinking Personal achievement /satisfaction Respect for authority/ hierarchical roles Group consensus Individual growth Face

Self-reliance Individual growth Personal achievement /satisfaction Self-expression Critical thinking Independence at a young age plagiarism being overly interdependent means ‘weak’ Competition between individuals Interlocking social relationship Reciprocal obligation/responsibility Interdependence Competition between groups Respect for authority/ hierarchical roles Group consensus face

High or low power distance? 1. People are not viewed as equals, and everyone has a clearly defined or allocated place in the social hierarchy. 2. There is more fluidity within the social hierarchy. 3. People consider their inequality in power the norm. 4. It is relatively easy for individuals to move up the social hierarchy based on their efforts and achievements. 5. People believe inequality should be minimal, and a hierarchical division is viewed as one of convenience only.

High or low power distance? 1. People are not viewed as equals, and everyone has a clearly defined or allocated place in the social hierarchy. 2. There is more fluidity within the social hierarchy. 3. People consider their inequality in power the norm. 4. It is relatively easy for individuals to move up the social hierarchy based on their efforts and achievements. 5. People believe inequality should be minimal, and a hierarchical division is viewed as one of convenience only.

Strong or Weak Uncertainty Avoidance? Risk taking Lack of tolerance for deviants Tolerance of differing behaviors and opinions Few rules Standardized procedures Planning is important Flexibility Strong need for consensus Hostede, Geert (1991) Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Strong or Weak Uncertainty Avoidance? Risk taking Lack of tolerance for deviants Tolerance of differing behaviors and opinions Few rules Standardized procedures Planning is important Flexibility Strong need for consensus

How would you feel? Your doctor is talking on the phone while examining you. Your student visits you without an appointment. Your boss invites you to a department get-together tonight, but you already have plans. Your friend always shows up late. You are on the way to the place where you’re supposed to meet your friend and she/he cancels it at the last minute. You and your friend made plans for the weekend, and he/she didn’t set the exact time. You are in the middle of the conversation with your boss, but you might be late for a doctor’s appointment.

Oberg (1960) defines culture shock as the distress of new comers to a different culture experience as a result of being confronted with an environment in which their familiar patterns of social interaction are no longer valid.

People from the west are shocked by the squat toilet prevalent in Asia most especially, China, Thailand, Indonesia, and even found in Singapore's spotlessly clean, ultra-modern Changi Airport toilets. Cleansing after defecating is done with water (and preferably soap) douche, and the user is expected to flush their resultant mess on the toilet or floor manually via the ladle or bucket provided. As such, many Asians are revolted by Western toilets not providing the post-defecation toilet hose.……………………………

Oberg (1960)’s four-stage model 1. Honeymoon stage (tourist phase) open to new experience, focus on positive aspects 2. Culture shock feel overwhelmed and confounded by the new culture, experience disorientation and unease. Homesick. 3. Adjustment (acculturation) stage develop problem-solving skills. 4. Recovery (adaptation) stage function effectively in the new culture, successful in resolving problems

Linguistic Relativity (Sapir-Whorf hypothesis) Differences in the way languages encode cultural and cognitive categories affect the way people think, so that speakers of different languages think and behave differently because of it.

Categorization Rice 쌀 밥 조카 nephew Niece 음식 약 먹다 / eat 먹다 /take

Discussion topic Should we teach intercultural competence?