Key Concepts of Culture and Communication Global Understanding Key Concepts of Culture and Communication

Contents Theme I: Theme II: Theme III: Assignment – Journal 1 Culture and Ethnography Theme II: Ethnographic Inquiry and Communication Tips Theme III: Sharing Culture Assignment – Journal 1

Theme I: Culture and Ethnography Key Terms

Key Points Our goal in this course is to understand others by exploring both what makes us alike and what makes us different. We should approach this class as though we were doing ‘ethnography’. We are all both cultural informants and ethnographers.

Key Terms Ethnography Cultural Informants Anthropology Culture Enculturation Naïve Realism Cultural Relativism Ethnocentrism

Key Terms and Meanings Ethnography: Cultural Informants: Anthropology: (N) A written account of culture (V) The process of learning about culture that involves generalizing meanings systems by observing what people do, what people say and the artifacts people use. Cultural Informants: Cultural experts whom help us learn about their respective cultures Anthropology: The study of humankind

Key Terms and Meanings Culture: Enculturation: Naïve Realism: Acquired knowledge that people use to interpret, experience and generate social behavior A complex meaning system developed through interaction with the environment and other people that is used to direct behavior, understand ourselves and others and to make sense of the world Enculturation: The process through which we learn culture by extrapolating meaning through observing what people do, what people say and the artifacts people use. Naïve Realism: The fundamental belief that all people share the same meaning system/understanding of how the world works.

Key Terms and Meanings Cultural Relativism: Ethnocentrism: Viewing beliefs, practices, etc. in the context of the culture in which they are found. Ethnocentrism: Judging other cultures based on your own cultural values.

Theme II: Ethnographic Inquiry and Communication Tips

Ethnography and Communication Ethnography and this course, Global Understanding, are both about learning about other cultures from the people who live in those cultures. Interviewing our partners/informants is the best way to achieve this. Such interaction is also a process of communication. The success of your communication is dependent on 1) the rapport your develop with your partner and 2) how you ask questions.

1. Building Rapport In this course, due to time limit, we need to build rapport quickly. The rapport between you and your partner start with mutual understanding from general topics to more sensitive ones. Through the process of interaction, you learn to trust and respect your partners. Trust and respect are essential elements of building rapport. You achieve this by sharing information about yourself that relates to what your informant is talking about.

Remember! It’s not what you ask but ‘how’ you ask it! You are here to learn, not to ‘judge’! You should get a meaningful response to any question on any topic as long as it is asked in a respectful manner.

2. Asking Questions How you ask a question will greatly affect the response you get. Some types of questions elicit single word responses, some elicit lists. You should think about the types of response you are looking for and formulate the question accordingly. Watch your tone, too. Try to ‘chat’, not to ‘interrogate’. You are your partner’s equal and friend, not a police officer!

Examples Do you…? - Typically, one word responses Do you celebrate Halloween? What are/do…? Typically, lists What holidays do you celebrate? How do/did…? Typically, processes or descriptions of things. How do you celebrate Halloween? Why do/did…? Typically, more speculative and reflective, impli8citly asking about meaning. Why do you celebrate Halloween?

Remember! Using a descriptive question followed by additional questions asking the informant to: Elaborate on or Clarify an aspect of what they said is a very effective way to learn about another culture.

3. Probing The key to interaction in this course is to encourage your partner to talk. Probing is an effective way to encourage your informants to elaborate and/or continue talking after you’ve asked your initial question. By probing you show your partner that you are interested in what they have to say.

Examples Uh-huh Echo Tell me more… Summarize and confirm As your partner is talking occasionally give a nod or some vocalization, such as uh-huh, that doesn’t interrupt the flow of your partner talking and lets them know you want them to continue. Echo Repeat something that your partner says and ask them a follow-question about that. Tell me more… Based on what your partner has said, ask them to tell you more about the subject. Summarize and confirm You summarize or paraphrase what your partner has said and check if you understand them correctly.

4. Returning and Sharing In this class, you are both ethnographers and informants. You learn as well as teach. When being the culture informant to your partners, you should also help them understand you and your culture. You should try to explain things in detail and elaborate.

Remember! Communication is ‘not’ a one-way process. Communication should be mutual and bilateral! You take as well as give.

Topics for Practice College Life Family Culture Traditions Meaning Life/Religion Stereotypes and Prejudices

Theme III: Sharing Culture

Key Questions How much do you know about your culture? Do you take your native culture for granted?. Can you define key elements of your own culture and think about the meaning behind it? Have you thought about how to approach sharing your culture to your international partners?

Remember! To share your culture in cross-cultural communication, you must first know your culture! Concern about your culture and try to articulate it from now on!

Key Points for Sharing Culture The Difficulty in Sharing Culture The Way of Sharing Culture Ideal VS. Real Generalized VS. Personalized

The Difficulty in Sharing Culture Because of the process of enculturation, we tend to take our own culture for granted. Everything we do just seems natural and right because that is what we are raised to believe, so we tend not to question it. We only tend to question and critically think about our own culture when faced with another that is different. This makes it very difficult for us to share our culture with others because we ten not to have thought much about it in any significant way.

The Way of Sharing Culture When asked, “why do you do X”, of the first thing that comes to mind is “Because it is a part of my culture.” This, however, really doesn’t explain anything. Culture is a meaning system that directs belief and behavior. We must think deeper about the issue and ask ourselves? Why is that a part of my culture? What is the meaning behind it? If you are not sure about it, try to think further, consult seniors or research in the subject.

Ideal VS. Real When we do think of our own culture we generally think of the “ideal” of our own culture. That is, we think of the values we were taught as children and that we would like to pass on to our own children. However, of the ‘ideal’ is not the same as what culture is. When sharing culture, you need to think what you want to share: The real or the ideal or a mixture of both? Regardless of what you choose to say, you must recognize this difference.

Generalized VS. Personalized Not everyone within a given culture shares the same exact experiences. When discussing “culture” we usually speak in generalities, which mean what the majority in a particular culture believe/do. However, this may not be true of any one individual’s own personal experience. When sharing culture, you need to think what you want to share: The generalities or your own experiences Or placing your experience in context of the general culture (this choice is of course better!)

Assignment

Journal 1 There should be two sections of your Journal 1: A) Short Essay B) A Cultural List Write a 500-word essay on one the following topics with a title, thesis statements and organized paragraphs : What does it mean to be: a Taiwanese? a Chinese? a citizen of ROC? people of (your hometown)? student of Fu-Jen University? follower of (your religion)? Give a list of things you associate with ‘Taiwan’ or ‘Living in Taiwan’

Cultural List Make a list of the words or phrases you associate with ‘Taiwanese’. Make a list of the words or phrases you associate with ‘Chinese’.

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