Communicative Competence: Expectations in a ‘Western’ context Corrie B. MacMillan, M.A. Department of Applied English

Communicative competence ‘grammatical knowledge’ (syntax, morphology, phonology/phonetics) social knowledge about how and when to use utterances appropriately. Dell Hymes 1966 Noam Chomsky’s (1965) competence and performance In ESL/EFL, Communicative Approach

Canale and Swain (1980) 1. Grammatical competence: words & rules 2. Sociolinguistic competence: appropriateness 3. Strategic competence: communication strategies 4. Discourse competence: cohesion & coherence (Canale 1983)

Canale and Swain (1980) Sociolinguistic competence: appropriateness Strategic competence: communication strategies Intercultural Communication

AIMS/OBJECTIVES To discuss Individualistic/Collectivist Cultures and High/low Context Cultures Apply these terms to ourselves Understand the role of Intercultural Communication in an English business setting Discuss expectations in a ‘Western’ business context

Individualism & Collectivism

Disclaimer These terms are to be treated as comparatives, like tall/short eg. The giraffe is taller than the elephant. They are not to be understood as implying positive of negative features, only a degree of difference

Disclaimer We must also be very careful when describing any identity, especially that of a group Must recognize that identities do not exist in any singular or static form Within any groups there are different groups and various factors to take note of age, gender, economic position, class etc.

Disclaimer These concepts/terms are useful in understanding difference Not for defining the Other

Individualism Triandis traces origins to Greeks (see the Illiad & the Odessey) Concerned more with the Self, Individual value independence and ‘outside the box thinking’ The individual is responsible for his/her actions, is accountable

Collectivism Concerned more with the Group, the Collective value group goals, harmony, & interdependence Tend to belong to less groups than those in individualistic cultures Shared responsibility, collectively accountable Emotionally connected to the in-group

Horizontal Individualism The *autonomous self is valued *independent, makes own choices But the individual is equal in status to others The self is independent but the same as others

Vertical Individualism The autonomous self is valued But the individual is unequal in status to others The self is independent and different than others

Horizontal Collectivism The Individual sees the self as part of an in- group Whose members are similar to each other The self is interdependent and the same self of others Equality is expected and practiced

Vertical Collectivism The individual sees self as an integral (important) part of the in-group Whose members are different from each other Some having more status than others The self is interdependent and inequality within the group is valued

High & Low Context Communication

High Context Communication “Because interactants in a high-context culture know and understand each other and their appropriate roles, words are not necessary to convey meaning” One acts in accordance with one’s role Communication is implicit (context dependent)

Low Context Communication The spoken word is the primary source of information While they may recognize non-verbal communication they focus on the verbal code Rules and expectations are explicitly explained There is a need to speak, meaning is explicit Expected to act in a way consistent with their feelings

Canale and Swain (1980) Sociolinguistic competence: appropriateness Strategic competence: communication strategies Intercultural Communication

Business English? English is now understood as… A Global Language An International Language A Lingua Franca English is now spoken as a Second &/or Foreign Language more than by Natives

What can we expect in a Western Business context?

CLOSING REMARKS Have discussed Individualistic/Collectivist Cultures, in terms of both horizontal and vertical orientations Have discussed High/low Context Communication approaches Applied these terms to ourselves Understand the role of Intercultural Communication in an English business setting Discussed expectations in a ‘Western’ business context

And so it goes.