Communication and Communication and cultureculture

Durunna ObiohaDurunna Obioha

ObjectivesObjectives This presentation will help us to…

-reduce the extent we misunderstand what other people mean

-reduce our actions that may be misinterpreted by others

-increase our abilities to communicate clearly

-help others by clarifying what they mean (if we know)

OutlineOutlineBasic Definitions..communication and Basic Definitions..communication and

cultureculture

How cultures are different.How cultures are different.

How to effectively adjust to a new How to effectively adjust to a new community.community.

CommunicationCommunication

Communication is the exchange of thoughts, Communication is the exchange of thoughts,

messages or information by signals, writing, messages or information by signals, writing,

speech or behavior.speech or behavior.

CommunicationCommunication

Communication

Verbal Non-Verbal

There are two main types of communication …There are two main types of communication …-verbal -verbal -non verbal (75% of most communication)-non verbal (75% of most communication)

Culture is the way of life of a group of people, Culture is the way of life of a group of people,

usually passed from one generation to the next.usually passed from one generation to the next.

-it identifies the group through Language, -it identifies the group through Language,

Dressing, Behavior, etc.Dressing, Behavior, etc.

CultureCulture

CultureCultureOur culture (from nurture or adoption) may Our culture (from nurture or adoption) may

affect the way we communicate.affect the way we communicate.

Different cultures may exist within a region Different cultures may exist within a region or family!or family!

Reasons for multicultural communities …Reasons for multicultural communities …

-jobs-jobs-marriages-marriages-education-education-tours-tours-instabilities in other countries-instabilities in other countries-etc.-etc.

Alberta example…Alberta example…

-has over 3.8 million people (2010)-has over 3.8 million people (2010)

-is the 4-is the 4thth largest immigrant receiving province largest immigrant receiving province

Most are immigrantsMost are immigrants

from other countriesfrom other countries

(19.7%) or from (19.7%) or from

other provinces other provinces

(58%)(58%)

Quebec

Ontario

Atlantic

Alberta

British Columbia

Saskatchewan

ManitobaTerritories

More than half live in Edmonton and CalgaryMore than half live in Edmonton and Calgary

Implying that many cultures exist in these two Implying that many cultures exist in these two

cities.cities.

There will be frequent communication with There will be frequent communication with individuals from other cultures.individuals from other cultures.

Knowing that differences exist is very important Knowing that differences exist is very important

to prevent problems.to prevent problems.

The responsibility of understanding lies on The responsibility of understanding lies on

everybody.everybody.

Could there be instances where we Could there be instances where we

misunderstood what someone said or did?misunderstood what someone said or did?

Ways cultures differ and affect Ways cultures differ and affect communicationcommunication

1.1. Conversational stylesConversational styles

2.2. Narrative stylesNarrative styles

3.3. Stance and attitudesStance and attitudes

4.4. Personal responsibilityPersonal responsibility

5.5. Face Face

1. Conversational styles1. Conversational styles

-soft vs loud tones-soft vs loud tones

-slow vs fast pace-slow vs fast pace

-gestural vs motionless-gestural vs motionless

-topic of conversation-topic of conversation

Understanding cultural differencesUnderstanding cultural differences

Acceptable conversational topicsAcceptable conversational topics

weatherweather NewsNews Sports Sports

Health Health JobJob

Non-acceptable conversational topicsNon-acceptable conversational topics

ReligionReligion PoliticsPolitics SalarySalary

AgeAge WeightWeight Physical appearancePhysical appearance

Marital status (parents).Marital status (parents).

2. Narrative styles2. Narrative styles

Cultures may differ on the right way to tell a Cultures may differ on the right way to tell a storystory

-which story-which story

-ideal channel -ideal channel

-ideal medium-ideal medium

3. Stance and Attitudes

-People’s frame of mind or beliefs

-affect behavior and thoughts

e.g. middle class white North Americans

indicate interest by

-more eye-contact

-giving more smiles and nods

…these may be interpreted differently in

another culture

4. Personal responsibility4. Personal responsibility …

Is the perception of doing the right thingIs the perception of doing the right thing

Differences exist inDifferences exist in

-limits to express one’s view-limits to express one’s view

-limits to acceptable actions-limits to acceptable actions

5. Face 5. Face …

This refers to the standing of others in one’s This refers to the standing of others in one’s eyeseyes

-addressing people -addressing people

-by names vs. titles-by names vs. titles

-greetings-greetings

http://www.caboose.org.uk/media/Nigeria/TayoWedding/Picture%20030_w.jpghttp://www.gitsiegirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/lost_handshake.jpg

5. Face …5. Face …

-Other greetings patterns-Other greetings patterns

Failure to understand these cultural Failure to understand these cultural

differences differences

may lead to may lead to miscommunication or miscommunication or

misunderstandingmisunderstanding..

How we can fit well in a new How we can fit well in a new community.community.

-research the new environment’s basic -research the new environment’s basic communication and cultural normscommunication and cultural norms

-learn some basic words and sentences if the -learn some basic words and sentences if the language is differentlanguage is different

-be tolerant and patient-be tolerant and patient

-understand the people’s likes and dislikes-understand the people’s likes and dislikes

-observe…and identify more differences-observe…and identify more differences

SummarySummary The world can only get more diverse… not The world can only get more diverse… not

less,less,

-this will occur primarily through migration-this will occur primarily through migration

Cultures are different in many waysCultures are different in many ways

Most communications reflect cultureMost communications reflect culture

We should take steps to understand the We should take steps to understand the

people from other culturespeople from other cultures

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

ReferencesReferences

http://www.wisc.edu/english/rfyoung/336/xcc.pdfhttp://www.wisc.edu/english/rfyoung/336/xcc.pdf

http://www.purdue.edu/apsac/pdf/APSAC_WeaverPPT.pdfhttp://www.purdue.edu/apsac/pdf/APSAC_WeaverPPT.pdf

http://www.beyondintractability.org/ppt_swf_insets/http://www.beyondintractability.org/ppt_swf_insets/

cross_cultural_communication.ppt#258,2,Slide 2cross_cultural_communication.ppt#258,2,Slide 2

Alberta Immigration facts and figures (2005). Employment, Alberta Immigration facts and figures (2005). Employment,

Immigration and Industry, CommunicationsImmigration and Industry, Communications

Home-WorkHome-Work (Due before Monday's class)(Due before Monday's class)

You will use Twitter for this homework!You will use Twitter for this homework!

Tweet TWO points from the today’s talk. Send them Tweet TWO points from the today’s talk. Send them as two separate tweets to me (@JessL) so that I as two separate tweets to me (@JessL) so that I can see them (participation mark). can see them (participation mark).

You should watch either of the videos noted in the You should watch either of the videos noted in the blog post from Module 1 and send me ONE tweet blog post from Module 1 and send me ONE tweet (@JessL) with your thoughts on that video.(@JessL) with your thoughts on that video.

So, THREE Tweets in total; two from Obi's talk and So, THREE Tweets in total; two from Obi's talk and one from either of the videos on the Module 1 post.one from either of the videos on the Module 1 post.