Culture, Language, and Communication Part Two

Culture and Social Cognition  This has to do with how we interpret the actions of others—the causal attributions we make.  Basically, the cultural differences in this area refer to proneness to make dispositional versus situational attributions of others behavior.

Definition of communication  Message: Information and meaning exchanged during communication  Encoding: Process by which people select, imbed messages in signals, and send signals to others  Signals: Specific verbal language and nonverbal behaviors that are encoded when message sent  Channels: Sensory modalities by which signals sent and messages retrieved  Decoding: Process by which people receives signal from encoder and translates those signals to meaningful messages

Intercultural Communication  Unlike intra-cultural communication where message senders and receivers share the same ground rules, intercultural communication is associated with a host of additional social and psychological issues.

Uncertainty  To start, there is uncertainty or ambiguity concerning the ground rules by which the interaction should occur.  Given the pervasive influence of culture, it’s always difficult to figure out the rules being employed by two people from different cultures.  And this uncertainty is inherent in verbal as well as nonverbal communication, in both encoding and decoding modes.

Uncertainty (cont.)  How can we package messages into precise words to convey our thoughts as accurately as possible and how can we interpret the sender’s messages exactly as intended?  Uncertainty can easily mount to the point of utter miscommunication. Hence, uncertainty reduction is the initial major goal of intercultural communication.  Unless uncertainty is reduced, it’s impossible for senders and receivers to begin processing the intended message content.

Conflict  Once we engage in intercultural communication, some conflict and misunderstanding is inevitable.  Conflict arises when people’s behavior does not confirm to our expectations.  We tend to interpret such behaviors as transgressions against our values.  Of course, uncertainty can contribute to this conflict.

Context  As we have said earlier, context has to do primarily with how communication takes place when cultures vary in context orientation. Here are several possible combinations.  1. High Context with High Context  2. Low Context with High Context  3. Low Context with Low Context

Context (cont.)  But the “context of intercultural communication” also includes several other dimensions of cultural variability:  Individualism-collectivism,  Power Distance,  Uncertainty Avoidance, and  Masculinity-femininity

CULTURAL INFLUENCES ON NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION

 Nonverbal behaviors: all behaviors that occur during communication that do not include verbal language  Nonverbal channels are more important in understanding meaning and emotional states of speakers than verbal language  It is imperative to be most attentive to nonverbal cues that occur in communication

The Types of Nonverbal Behaviors  Culture and Gestures  The American A-OK sign is an obscene gestures in may cultures of Europe  Culture and Gaze  Contact cultures engage in more gazing and more direct orientation when interacting with others  Culture and Interpersonal Space  Arabs and Latin Americans interact with others at closer distance than Americans

The Functions of Nonverbal Behaviors  Always keep in mind that Nonverbal behaviors serve as emblems, speech illustrators, conversation regulators, and convey emotions.

INTRACULTURAL AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

 Cultural Influences on Encoding  Cultures differ in how nonverbal behavior is used in communication  Cultural Influences on Decoding  Cultures influences decoding process through ethnocentrism, cultural filters, emotions, value judgments, stereotypes and expectations  Decoding rules

Intracultural communication  Communication between people of the same cultural background  Interactants share same ground rules; they encode and decode using the same cultural codes  Can be negative because of expectations created by cultural filters and ethnocentrism  We tend to read more than is intended

Intercultural communication  Communication between people of the different cultural background  Interactants do not share same ground rules; they encode and decode using different cultural codes  Can lead to  Uncertainty and ambiguity  Conflict

Barriers to Effective Intercultural communication 1.Assumptions of similarities 2.Language differences 3.Nonverbal misinterpretations 4.Preconceptions and stereotypes 5.Tendency to evaluate 6.High anxiety or tension

Barriers to Intercultural Communication  Source: Barna, L. M. (1997). Stumbling blocks in intercultural communication. In L. Samovar and R. Porter (Eds.), Intercultural communication: A reader (pp ). Belmont CA: Wadsworth.

Barriers (cont.) 1. Assumptions of similarities  We need to keep in mind that communication is a uniquely human trait shaped by culture.  In fact, communication itself is a product of culture, and cultures vary in their assumptions of similarities.

Barriers (cont.) 2. Language differences  The use of words which may be highly effective at conveying meaning within a particular culture often communicate unintended meanings across cultures.  Add to this the nonverbal channel of communication and you have a recipe for conflict and misunderstandings.

Barriers (cont.) 3. Nonverbal misinterpretations  This is the single most frequent cause of breakdowns in the communication process across cultures. 4. Preconceptions and stereotypes  These are natural and inevitable psychological processes that have a strong influence on our perceptions and communications.

Barriers (cont.) 5. Tendency to evaluate  We make attributions about the behavior of others based on our own cultural values. 6. High anxiety or tension  While some degree of anxiety may be conducive to optimal performance, too much anxiety or stress can lead to dysfunctional thought processes and behaviors.

Improving Intercultural Communication: Concluding Remarks  Mindfulness and uncertainty reduction  Mindfulness offsets uncertainty and anxiety  Uncertainty reduction leads to focus on the content of signals and messages  Face  Should be mindful of face (public appearance of person) in collectivist culture  Emotion Regulation  Controlling negative emotions aroused from conflict is important