drs. Geert van de Ven
Intercultural CommunicationGeneralized knowledge vs
fine tuning on the spot
Wageningen University Studium Generale
5th of March 2014
1 Introduction
2 Case history Indonesia
3 Knowledge and its pitfalls
4 Intuition and its pitfalls
5 Conclusion: What if neither intuition nor knowledge works?
Knowledge: Top Down
Edward Said: Orientalism
Ian Buruma: Occidentalism
Pitfall of satellite views
Risk 1Typecasting and cliché for a
whole hemisphere
Orientals in Orientalism
• Mystical • Mysterious• Subservient• Elusive
Westerners in Occidentalism
• Rational• Scientific• Dominant, direct • Rude
Not seeing the cultural mingling
• Our Western classical knowledge?
• Kamikaze = typical for Japanese culture?
• Silicon Valley: All white male American trademark?
Risk 2
At first sight?
Details?
Dutch Icons
‘Subcultural’ Icons
Although there are pitfalls to knowledge it seems that we are desperately looking for a top down overview and control. And there is nothing wrong with that. As long as we give our first sight a second chance.
A second chance
Knowledge or getting to know
So./st.?
Intuition: Bottom Up
Intuition: a chance in meeting• Gut feeling vs intuition
• Passiveness vs alertness:
- The ‘sound of silence’- The ‘tone and rhythm’ of
language and the body - Eye contact
The Sound of silenceYou: ‘I'd like to talk about my job application.
I already figured out a few possibilities.Te.: ‘That's good that you're already thinking about it! Where are you going to apply though?’ SilenceYou: ‘I have to apply before the 30th of March’Te.: ‘Well then you are certainly on time!’
Long silenceYou: ‘How much longer do you have to work today?’Te.: ‘Oh. It's very busy. Good luck with your job
application!’
Is it polite?Pakistan customer: ‘ I WANT10 stamps, please'Employee: ' I BEG your pardon?'P. Customer <talking louder>:
' I WANT 10 stamps, now, please.'Employee: ' I'm sorry, Sir, do you mind asking it
politely?' P.Customer: ‘I WANT 10 stamps now, PLEASE’Employee <irritated>: ' Well, all right then, here
they are. Next, please' P. Customer: 'Enough for Pakistan?' Employee: 'Could you queue up, Sir, please?'
It’s in the eye of the beholder
- Static knowledge vs a diverse and dynamic getting to know (better)
-A satellite view vs a helicopter view
-Holding on to clichés: indolence vs the need for a temporary grip
Conclusion on knowledge
• Gut feeling vs fine tuning and spontaneity on the spot?
• Only verbal vs synchronicity of verbal and non verbal
• Subtlety is prone to misunderstanding. But repairs are possible
Conclusion on intuition
Epochè: 1 ‘Suspension of judgement’ about someone or something (second chance) 2 uestioning the acceptance of yourview on the world as being ‘natural’
Conclusion: what if…?
Paradise Lost