1. Understanding Intercultural Communication Second Edition
Chapter 6
What is the Connection between Verbal Communication & Culture?
Stella Ting-Toomey & Leeva C. Chung
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
PowerPoint Slides Designed by Alex Flecky and Noorie Baig

2. TODAY’S MENU
I. Human Language: Distinctive Features and Rule Patterns II. Appreciating Diverse Language Functions III. Verbal Communication Styles: A General Framework IV. Intercultural Reality Check: Do-Ables

3. Do you know…
The Top-3 Countries with the Most Native English-Language Speakers?
The Top-3 Countries with the Most Native Spanish-Language Speakers?
The Top-3 Most Widely-Spoken Languages Worldwide?
(Ethnologue Database, )

4. I. Human Language: Distinctive Features and Rule Patterns
Language: An arbitrary, symbolic system that labels and categorizes objects, events, groups, people, ideas, feelings, experiences, and many other phenomena.
Can you guess how many languages exist worldwide?

5. I. Human Language: Distinctive Features and Rule Patterns
A. Distinctive Language Features
Arbitrariness: sounds and symbols
Ω A  €  ∞
Abstractness: concrete to abstract levels
Meaning-Centeredness: denotative and connotative levels of meaning
Creativity: productivity, displacement, eta- communicative

6. I. Human Language: Distinctive Features and Rule Patterns
B. Multiple Rule Patterns
Phonological Rules: Smallest unit of a word
Morphological Rules: Multiple sounds
Syntactic Rules: Grammar
Semantic Rules: Meaning
Pragmatic Rules: Contextual rules

7. II. Appreciating Diverse Language Functions
Click here to find out the “Meaning of Love” From 7 Billion Others from YouTube
Image taken from
YouTube link:

8. II. Appreciating Diverse Language Functions
A. Cultural Worldview Function
Linear worldview vs. Relational worldview
B. Everyday Social Reality Function
C. Cognitive Shaping Function
Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: “the shaper of ideas”
Strong Form vs. Weak Form
D. Group Membership Function
Code switching (Click to view related video)
E. Social Change Function
Code switching video taken from

9. II. Appreciating Diverse Language Functions: Cultural Worldview Function
Linear Worldview Rational thinking Objective reasoning Facts and evidence Polarized interpretation Analytical dissecting mode Tangible outcome
Relational Worldview
Connected thinking
Context-based reasoning
Context and relationship
Continuum interpretation
Holistic big-picture mode
Long-term relational outcome

10. II. Verbal Communication Styles: A General Framework
LCC Patterns Individualistic values Linear logic Direct verbal style Matter of fact tone Informal verbal style Verbal assertiveness or talkativeness Verbal self-enhancement style
HCC Patterns
Collectivistic values
Spiral logic
Indirect verbal style
Understated or animated tone
Formal verbal style
Verbal reticence or silence
Self-humbling style

11. II. Verbal Communication Styles: A General Framework
LCC – HCC Application Analysis:
The Joy Luck Club: Film Clip
Roommates Video
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Compare and contrast the different verbal styles of the people in the videos.
What did the low-context communicator say/do? What did the high-context communicator say/do?
What recommendations do you have for these communicators to make this conversation go better?
Click the link on the Interactive Student Web site for access to the video.

12. II. Verbal Communication Styles: A General Framework
Beliefs Expressed in Talk and Silence
Silence is interpreted and evaluated differently across cultures and between persons.
How do you interpret silence?
Take a look at how the Japanese people use silence to mean different things…
Link to video:

13. IV. Intercultural Reality Check: Do-Ables
When using your native language with a nonnative speaker, to be flexible verbal communicators, try to practice the following guidelines:
Practice intercultural empathy
Learn to paraphrase and perception check
Use multiple modes of presentation
Practice language variation usage
Pay attention to nonverbal tone of voice
Understand basic differences of LCC and HCC patterns
Use nonverbal gestures to complement
Master the language pragmatic rule function

14. in a language he understands, If you talk to him in his language,
Parting Thoughts…
If you talk to a man
in a language he understands,
that goes to his head.
If you talk to him in his language,
that goes to his heart.
~ Nelson Mandela
Learn a new language
and get a new soul. 
~ Czech Proverb