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

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

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, 2010-11)

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?

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

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

II. Appreciating Diverse Language Functions Click here to find out the “Meaning of Love” From 7 Billion Others from YouTube Image taken from http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryan_dwyer/567041868/ YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQLZCrIbGvo

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 http://www.hulu.com/watch/66317/saturday-night-live-girlfriend-voice

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

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

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.

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: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyjenhfSnFU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

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

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