Styles An Introduction to Intercultural Communication Presenter Caroline Guay International Student Development amp Communications Manager International Student Services at McGill ID: 1046840
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1. Understanding Diverse Communication Styles: An Introduction to Intercultural CommunicationPresenter: Caroline GuayInternational Student Development & Communications ManagerInternational Student Services at McGillBrought to you by the MForum Steering Committee
2. Webinar Agenda What is culture? Cultural influences on communication What is language? Non-verbal communication Verbal & written communication features Communication styles How can we avoid misunderstandings?
3. What is culture?“Culture is the collective programming of the human mind that distinguishes the members of one human group from those of another. Culture in this sense is a system of collectively held values.”Geert Hofstede“Culture is the deeper level of basic assumptions and beliefs that are shared by members of an organization, that operate unconsciously and define in a basic ‘taken for granted’ fashion in an organization’s view of its self and its environment.” Edgar Schein
4. Cultural variationsIn some cases, variations within cultures may be more significant than variations between cultures…ETHNICITYGENDEREDUCATIONSEXUAL ORIENTATIONSOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUSRELIGIONAGE/GENERATIONCULTUREINDIVIDUAL TEMPERAMENT
5. Cultural influences on CommunicationHofstede, Geert (2001). Culture's Consequences: comparing values, behaviors, institutions, and organizations across nations (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA
6. What is “Language”?The system of communication used by a particular community or country (Google)The method of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way. (Oxford English dictionary)“A language is an arbitrary, symbolic system that names ideas, feelings, experiences, events, people, and other phenomena and that is governed by the multilayered rules developed by members of a particular speech community.” (Ting-Toomey, 1999)
7. Cultural Influences on LanguageNon-verbal (Body Language)Verbal & WrittenCommunication Styles'The Tower of Babel' by Pieter Brueghel the Elder, 1563
8. Non-Verbal CommunicationA.K.A. “Body Language”GesturesEye contactFacial expressionsTone of voiceVolume of voicePosture
9. These hand gestures can have several different meanings, depending on the country in which they’re used…How many different meanings can you identify for each one?
10. Verbal & Written Communication Phonology (verbal only): sounds of a language (including accents)“My name is Caroline and I have 3 brothers.”Morphology: word “chunks” (e.g. prefixes, suffixes, etc.)English: “is running” vs. Swahili: “nlaw”Syntax: order of words (related to grammar)English: I lost my keys…Spanish: Se me perdieron las llaves…Semantics: meaning we attach to words (includes denotation & connotation)e.g. crisp, double-double, pretty, WTFPragmatics:situational rules that govern “how we say what to whom and under what situational conditions” (Ting-Toomey, 1999, p.90)English: I admire youFrench: Je vous admire/ Je t’admireSpanish: Le admire/Te admiro
11. Communication StylesLow contextDirectPerson-OrientedSelf-EnhancementSilence avoidedHigh contextIndirectStatus-OrientedSelf-EffacementSilence embracedTing-Toomey, S. (1999). Communicating Across Cultures. New York, NY: The Guildford Press.
12. Communication StylesLow contextDirectPerson-OrientedSelf-EnhancementSilence avoidedHigh contextIndirectStatus-OrientedSelf-EffacementSilence embracedTing-Toomey, S. (1999). Communicating Across Cultures. New York, NY: The Guildford Press.
13. LOW CONTEXTUSACanadaAustraliaUKGermanySwitzerlandDenmarkSwedenHIGHCONTEXTNigeriaMexicoKuwaitSaudi ArabiaJapanChinaKoreaVietnamLet’s ditch this joint and head to a terrasse for a cold one… Whaddaya say?
14. Communication StylesLow contextDirectPerson-OrientedSelf-EnhancementSilence avoidedHigh contextIndirectStatus-OrientedSelf-EffacementSilence embracedTing-Toomey, S. (1999). Communicating Across Cultures. New York, NY: The Guildford Press.
15. DIRECTUSAIsraelGermanyFrench Canada?INDIRECTChinaJapanKoreaEgyptIndiaMexicoEnglish Canada?This system is not going to work at all - we need to create a new strategy. You might want to consider including a reference to this theorist in your introduction. What do you think?
16. Communication StylesLow contextDirectPerson-OrientedSelf-EnhancementSilence avoidedHigh contextIndirectStatus-OrientedSelf-EffacementSilence embracedTing-Toomey, S. (1999). Communicating Across Cultures. New York, NY: The Guildford Press.
17. PERSON-ORIENTEDUSACanadaAustraliaSTATUS-ORIENTEDJapanS. KoreaPolandYou’ve got some great ideas Jim – let’s talk about how we can work together on this and even involve other members of the team.
18. Communication StylesLow contextDirectPerson-OrientedSelf-EnhancementSilence avoidedHigh contextIndirectStatus-OrientedSelf-EffacementSilence embracedTing-Toomey, S. (1999). Communicating Across Cultures. New York, NY: The Guildford Press.
19. SELFENHANCE-MENTAMERICASARAB CULTURESSELFEFFACE-MENTASIAN CULTURES
20. Communication StylesLow contextDirectPerson-OrientedSelf-EnhancementSilence avoidedHigh contextIndirectStatus-OrientedSelf-EffacementSilence embracedTing-Toomey, S. (1999). Communicating Across Cultures. New York, NY: The Guildford Press.
21. SILENCE AVOIDEDWESTERN CULTURESSILENCE EMBRACEDASIAN CULTURESNORTH-AMERICAN FIRST-NATIONS
22. How would you define YOUR communication style?Towards which end of each spectrum do YOU find yourself?
23. The Assumption of Positive Intent“Assuming positive intent is about interrupting our hard-wired patterns of judgement, expectation and comparison, by letting the other person just be where they are, and then discovering how they see the world.”“If we are willing to listen deeply – past our own beliefs, values and standards – we will begin to see how their behavior makes sense to them.” (Casey & Bown, 2003, p. 45)Casey, M.E., & Bown, G. (2003). From Diversity to Unity: Creating the Energy of Connection. Lincoln, NE: iUniverse, Inc.
24. Avoiding Cultural MisunderstandingsRecognize “languaculture” (Agar, 1994): the complex and interwoven relationship between language and culture .Consider your own cultural assumptions and how they might influence your interpretation of someone’s message, and their interpretation of yours.Practice mindful listeningCheck your understanding by paraphrasing, echoing, and asking for clarification.
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26. ReferencesAgar, Michael 1994. Language Shock: Understanding the Culture of Conversation. New York: William Morrow.Casey, M.E., & Bown, G. (2003). From Diversity to Unity: Creating the Energy of Connection. Lincoln, NE: iUniverse, Inc.Edgar H. Stein (1985). Organizational Culture and Leadership: A dynamic view. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.https://geert-hofstede.com/research.htmlJackson, J. (2014). Introducing Language and Intercultural Communication. New York: Routledge.Ting-Toomey, S. (1999). Communicating Across Cultures. New York, NY: The Guildford Press.http://westsidetoastmasters.com/resources/book_of_body_language/chap5.html