Understanding Understanding Intercultural Intercultural Communication Communication Second Second EditionEdition

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

TODAY’S MENUTODAY’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

Do you know…Do you know…

I. Human Language: Distinctive I. Human Language: Distinctive Features Features and Rule Patterns 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?

I. Human Language: Distinctive I. Human Language: Distinctive Features Features and Rule Patterns 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

I. Human Language: Distinctive I. Human Language: Distinctive Features and Rule Patterns 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

II. Appreciating Diverse II. Appreciating Diverse Language FunctionsLanguage Functions

Click here Click here to find out the “Meaning of Love” From 7 Billion Others from YouTube

II. Appreciating Diverse Language II. Appreciating Diverse Language FunctionsFunctions

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

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

II. Appreciating Diverse II. Appreciating Diverse Language Functions: Cultural Language Functions: Cultural Worldview FunctionWorldview Function

II. Verbal Communication II. Verbal Communication Styles: Styles: A General Framework 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

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?

II. Verbal Communication Styles: A General II. Verbal Communication Styles: A General FrameworkFramework

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…

II. Verbal Communication Styles: A General II. Verbal Communication Styles: A General FrameworkFramework

IV. Intercultural Reality Check: IV. Intercultural Reality Check: Do-AblesDo-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

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

Parting Thoughts…Parting Thoughts…