A Strong Partner for Sustainable Development

Module
in
GE 3

PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION

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Module No. 2

Globalization, Cultures and

Communication

1st Semester 2020-2021

RYAN D. MADARCOS
DYNA S. RODRIGUEZ
MESHIA GRACE A. HAMORA
TAMARAH DEMONTEVERDE

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents Page Number
Title Page ………………………….. 2
Table of Contents ………………………….. 3
Instruction to the User ………………………….. 4
Introduction ………………………….. 5
Chapter 2
Globalization, Cultures and ………………………….. 5
Communication
Overview ………………………….. 5
Learning Outcomes ………………………….. 5

Lesson 1. Communication and Globalization 5

A. Learning Outcomes ………………………….. 5
B. Time allotment ………………………….. 6
C. Pre-test ………………………….. 6

D. Discussion ………………………….. 6
E. Activities/ Exercises ………………………….. 6

Lesson 2. Local and Global Communication ………………………….. 11

in Multicultural Setting
A. Learning Outcomes ………………………….. 11
B. Time allotment ………………………….. 11
C. Pre-test ………………………….. 11

D. Discussion ………………………….. 12
E. Activities/ Exercises ………………………….. 21
Lesson 3.Varieties and Registers of Spoken ………………………….. 23
Language
A. Learning Outcomes ………………………….. 23

B. Time allotment ………………………….. 23

C. Pre-test ………………………….. 23

D. Discussion ………………………….. 24

E. Activities/ Exercises ………………………….. 27

References ………………………….. 30

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INSTRUCTION TO THE USER

This module would provide you an educational experience while

independently accomplishing the task at your own pace or time. It aims as
well to ensure that learning is unhampered by health and other challenges. It
covers the topic about an overview of English for Specific Purposes (ESP). You
may use other sources such as books and articles from the Internet for further
references. God bless and stay safe!

Reminders in using this module:

1. Keep this material neat and intact.

2. Answer the pretest first to measure what you know and what to be
learned about the topic discussed in this module.
3. Accomplish the activities and exercises as aids and reinforcement for
better understanding of the lessons.
4. Answer the post-test to evaluate your learning.
5. Do not take pictures in any parts of this module nor post it to social
media platforms.
6. Value this module for your own learning by heartily and honestly
answering and doing the exercises and activities. Time and effort were
spent in the preparation in order that learning will still continue amidst
this Covid-19 pandemic.
7. Observe health protocols: wear mask, sanitize and maintain physical
distancing.

Hi! I’m Blue Bee, your WPU Mascot.

Welcome to Western Philippines University!

Shape your dreams with quality learning experience.

STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY!

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INTRODUCTION

This is a course that focuses on writing, speaking, and presenting to different

audiences and for various purposes in which the five skills of communication are
studied and simulated in advanced academic settings. It aims to develop your
communicative competence and enhance your cultural and intercultural awareness
through multimodal tasks that provide you opportunities for communicating
effectively and appropriately to a multicultural audience in a local or global context. It
equips you with tools for critical evaluation of a variety of texts and focuses on the
power of the language and the impact of images to emphasize the importance of
conveying messages responsibly. The knowledge, skills and insights that you gain from
this course may be used in your other academic endeavors, your chosen disciplines,
and your future careers as you compose and produce relevant oral, written, audio-
visual and/or web-based output for various purposes.

CHAPTER 2

Globalization, Cultures and Communication

Overview

Communication across diverse culture is challenging because different cultural

background may be a cause of misunderstanding, miscommunication and mistrust. In
this lesson, you will learn globalization as well as intercultural communication.
Knowledge on this will give you insight on how to effectively communicate with people
across borders.

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the chapter, you can:

1. Demonstrate knowledge about the impact of globalization on communication.
2. Discuss intercultural communication, its challenges and importance

Lesson 1

Communication and Globalization

A. Specific Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the lesson, you can:

1. Define globalization
2. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of globalization

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3. Discuss the impact of globalization to communication

4. Demonstrate knowledge on the drivers of globalization and the importance of
having common language

B. Time Allotment: 4 hours

C. Pre-test

Before proceeding to the discussion, answer the following questions briefly:

1. What is globalization?

2. What are the impacts of globalization to communication?

D. Discussion

In order to understand globalization, how it works, how it happens and what

are its disadvantages and advantages, kindly read the article below.

What is Globalization Anyway?

Alex Gray (World Economic Forum, 2017)

How Globalization Works

(1) In simple terms, globalization is the process by which people and goods
move easily across borders. Principally, it’s an economic concept – the
integration of markets, trade and investments with few barriers to slow the
flow of products and services between nations. There is also a cultural
element, as ideas and traditions are traded and assimilated.

(2) Globalization has brought many benefits to many people. But not to
everyone.

Storm in a Coffee Cup

(3) To help explain the economic side of globalization, let’s take a look at the
well-known coffee chain Starbucks.

(4) The first Starbucks outlet opened its doors in 1971 in the city of Seattle.
Today, it has 15,000 stores in 50 countries. These days you can find a
Starbucks anywhere, whether Australia, Cambodia, Chile or Dubai. It’s
what you might call a truly globalized company.

(5) And for many suppliers and jobseekers, not to mention coffee-drinkers, this
was a good thing. The company was purchasing 247 million kilograms of
unroasted coffee from 29 countries. Through its stores and purchases, it
provided jobs and income for hundreds of thousands of people all over the
world.

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(6) But then disaster struck. In 2012, Starbucks made headlines after Reuters
investigation showed that the chain hadn’t paid much tax to the UK
government, despite having almost a thousand coffee shops in the country
and earning millions of pounds in profit there.

(7) As a multinational company, Starbucks was able to use complex accounting

rules that enabled it to have profit earned in one country taxed in another.
Because the latter country had a lower tax rate, Starbucks benefited.
Ultimately, the British public missed out, as the government was raising less
tax to spend on improving their well-being.

How did globalization happen?

(8) We might think of globalization as a relatively new phenomenon, but it’s

been around for centuries.

(9) One example is the Silk Road, when trade spread rapidly between China and
Europe via an overland route. Merchants carried goods for trade back and
forth, trading silk as well as gems and spices and of course coffee. (In fact,
the habit of drinking coffee in a social setting originates from Turkish
custom, an example of how globalization can spread culture across borders.)

What Drives It?

(10) Globalization has speeded up enormously over the last half-century,

thanks to great leaps in technology.

(11) The internet has revolutionized connectivity and communication, and

helped people share their ideas much more widely, just as invention of the
printing press did in the 15th century. The advent of email made
communication faster than ever.

(12) The invention of enormous container ships helped too. In fact,

improvements in transport generally – faster ships, trains and airplanes –
have allowed us to move around the globe much more easily.

What’s Good about It?

(13) Globalization has led to many millions of people being lifted out of
poverty.

(14) For example, when a company like Starbucks buys coffee from farmers
in Rwanda, it is providing a livelihood and a benefit to the community as a
whole. A multinational company’s presence overseas contributes to those
local economies because the company will invest in local resources, products
and services. Socially responsible corporations may even invest in medical
and educational facilities.

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(15) Globalization has not only allowed nations to trade with each other, but
also to cooperate with each other as never before. Take the Paris Agreement
on Climate Change for instance, where 195 countries all agreed to work
towards reducing their carbon emissions for the greater global good.

What’s Bad about It?

(16) While some areas have flourished, others have floundered as jobs and
commerce move elsewhere. Steel companies in the UK, for example, once
thrived, providing work for hundreds of thousands of people. But when
China began producing cheaper steel, steel plants in the UK closed down
and thousands of jobs were lost.

(17) Every step forward in technology brings with it new dangers. Computers
have vastly improved our lives, but cyber criminals steal millions of pounds
a year. Global wealth has skyrocketed, but so has global warming.

(18) While many have been lifted out of poverty, not everybody has benefited.
Many argue that globalization operates mostly in the interest of the richest
countries, with most of the world’s collective profits flowing back to them
and into the pockets of those who already own the most.

(19) Although globalization is helping to create more wealth in developing

countries, it is not helping to close the gap between the world’s poorest and
richest nations. Leading charity Oxfam says that when corporations such as
Starbucks can legally avoid paying tax, the global inequality crisis worsen.

(20) Basically, done wisely (in the words of the International Monetary Fund)
globalization could lead to “unparalleled peace and prosperity.” Done
poorly, “to disaster”.

What are some of the Drivers of Globalization?

Colonization
• This marked the beginning of globalization.
• In Philippines, history tells us that the Spaniards, Americans and other
colonizers have introduced their culture (language, food, clothing, beliefs,
values, education) to the country.
• Other countries such as Malaysia, India and other countries have their share of
stories on how colonization has shaped their social, economic and education
system without necessarily being disconnected with their own countries.

Diaspora
• Other scholars call this migration.
• Immigration provides us picture of fluidity among peoples from different races
where new networks of economy and cultures are established.

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Technologies
• Technologies have immensely facilitated globalization.
• With internet, people are no longer strangers to events outside of their own
country.
• Exposure to various political, economic and social systems through global news
have considerably educated people hence on micro level, potentially impacting
individual’s views towards one’s society and on macro level, possibly
influencing a nation’s perspective towards its governance, economic trading,
environmental care activities, social dealings, health activities and education
system.
• With communication technology (smart phones, computers, tablets) nation
have become more fluid in their interactions (video chats, phone conversation),
allowing instantaneous feedbacks and negotiations.

How does globalization affect communication?

• Connecting to the other sides of the world is made easier because of

globalization, technologies and the internet.

• With globalization, a need for common language to achieve international

intelligibility is germane.

“On almost any basis, English is the nearest thing there has been to a global
language. Its worldwide reach is much greater than anything achieved historically by Latin
or French, and there has never been a language as widely spoken as English. Many would
reasonably claim that in the fields of business, academics, science, computing, education,
transportation, politics and entertainment, English is already established as the decto
lingua franca.”(http:wwwthehistoryofenglish.com)

• Albeit English has been acknowledged as the current global language and is
learned by many due to globalization, patterns of interactions (greetings,
gestures, business dealings etc.) may not essentially be universalized.

• Because globalization moves people across borders, its effects are felt not only
in economic terms, but in social and cultural aspects as well. Thus, globalization
also impacts communication.

E. Activities

Activity 1.

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Directions: Write T if the statement is correct and F if it is False. If the

statement is false, revise it to make it true. Provide answer sheet for your answer.
(4 points each)

________1. Globalization began after the Internet was invented.

_________________________________________
_________________________________________
________2. All globalization processes are economic in nature.
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
________3. Because of globalization, modes and forms of communication
have changed.
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
________4. One effect of globalization is deepening poverty.
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
________5. One effect of globalization is the rising cost of information
technologies.
____________________________________________
____________________________________________

Activity 2.
Directions: Complete the table below. Provide answer sheet for your answer.

What is globalization? What are the negative What are the benefits
effects of of globalization?
globalization?

Activity 3

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Directions: Make a collage about the impact of globalization on communication in a

long special paper. Explain your work in one or two paragraphs.

Activity 4
Directions: Answer the following questions. Provide answer sheet for your answers.

1. What are the drivers of globalization?

2. Is it important to have a common language? Why?

4 3 1
Organization Information is well- Information is organized but The information appears to
organized with well- paragraphs are not well- be disorganized
constructed paragraphs. constructed
Quality of Information clearly relates Information clearly relates Information has little or
Information to the main topic. It to the main topic. No details nothing to do with the main
includes several supporting and/or examples are given topic
details and/or examples
Grammar, No spelling, punctuation or Few spelling and So many spelling,
Usage and grammatical errors punctuation errors, minor punctuation and
Mechanics grammatical errors grammatical errors that
alter the meaning of the
sentences.

Lesson 2

Local and Global Communication in Multicultural Setting

A. Specific Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the lesson, you can:

1. Define intercultural communication

2. Enumerate the reasons for studying intercultural communication
3. Demonstrate knowledge on one’s identity
4. Explain concepts under intercultural communication

B. Time Allotment: 4 hours

C. Pre-test

Directions: Answer the following questions:

1. What is intercultural communication?

2. Is it important to study intercultural communication? Why?

D. Discussion

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Intercultural Communication

• The diversity of people and culture impacts communication.

• People interacting with those coming from unfamiliar cultures may have
difficulties in communication.

• Most people tend to conclude that miscommunication results from a speaker’s

lack of proficiency in a language. What is not realized is the fact that even with
excellent language skills, people may still experience miscommunication.

• Intercultural understanding increases both sending and receiving abilities,

making communication between people with different linguistic and cultural
backgrounds as constructive as possible.

Five Reasons for Studying Intercultural Communication

1. Better understanding your own identity

2. Enhancing your personal and social interactions.

3. Helping solve cultural misunderstandings, miscommunication and

mistrust.

4. Valuing the ways it enriches our civilization

5. Becoming effective citizens of our national communities

Challenges of Intercultural Communications

✓ It has become widespread notion that speakers’ use of different languages

results in intercultural miscommunication and misunderstanding.

✓ Misunderstanding in intercultural communication may not always be

caused by verbal utterances. Misunderstandings may also occur due to
wrong interpretation of non-verbal code.

For example, the handshake which is commonly done by people introduced

to each other by a third party should be done and interpreted correctly as
the type of handshake varies from people to people. Study the table below
and find out how handshakes differe from country to country.

Country Type of Handshake

United States Firm handshake
France Soft handshake
Germany Firm handshake, for men,
traditionally accompanied by a bow.

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Japan Handshake with arm firmly

extended, accompanied by a bow.
Middle East Handshake and free hand placed on
the forearm of the other person.

Like handshakes, greeting rituals also vary from culture to culture. For
example, Japanese women bow differently from Japanese men. German
bow is also different from Japanese.

Sources of Misunderstanding

Kaur (2016) cites the following as the sources of misunderstanding.

1. Ambiguity – lack of explicitness on the part of the speaker in the form of

problematic reference and ambiguous semantics in which an utterance is open
to different interpretation.

2. Performance-related misunderstanding – slips of the tongue and mishearing

which may be due to utterances spoken quickly and unclearly.

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3. Language-related misunderstanding – ungrammaticality of sentences.

4. Gaps in world knowledge – gaps in content rather than language.

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5. Local context – turns and the turns within sequences produced by the
participants themselves, and the orientation of the participants as well as the
repair moves that follow the displayed understanding.

Four Barriers to Intercultural Communication

These are barriers because each is constructed around a judgment made

beforeany communication takes place that then biases the communication that
follows.

1. Ethnocentrism
This is a belief that one’s own cultural group’s behavior, norms, ways of
thinking, and ways of being are superior to all other cultural groups. It becomes
a barrier in intercultural communication when it prevents you from even trying
to see another’s point of view – that is, when it hampers all attempts at
emphathy.

2. Stereotyping
Stereotypes are oversimplified or distorted view of another race, another ethnic
group, or even another culture. The problem with stereotypes is that whether
they are positive or negative, once they are established, it is difficult to remove
them. To remove them, we must first recognize them , then we must obtain
individual information that will counteract them.

3. Prejudice
It is a negative attitude toward a cultural group based on little or no experience.

4. Discrimination
It is an overt actions one takes to exclude, avoid, or distance oneself from other
groups.

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COMMUNICATING ACROSS CULTURES

By Carol Kinsey Goman (2011)

(1) Communicating across cultures is challenging. Each culture has set rules that
its members take for granted. Few of us are aware of our own cultural biases
because culturak imprinting is begun at a very early early age. And while some
of a culture’s knowledge, rules, beliefs, values, phobias, and axieties are taught
explicitly, most of the information is absorbed subconsciously.

(2) The challenge for multinational communication has never been greater.
Worldwide business organization have discovered that intercultural
communication is a subject of importance – not just because of increased
globalization, but also because their domestic workforce is growing more and
more diverse, ethnically and culturally.

(3) We are all individuals, and no two people belonging to the same culture are
guaranteed to respond in exactly the same way. However, generalizations are
valid to the extent that they provide clues on what you will most likely encounter
when dealing with members of a particular culture.

High-context vs. Low-context

(4) All international communication is influenced by cultural differences. Even the

choice of communication medium can have cultural overtones. The
determining factor may not be the degree of industrialization, but rather
whether the country falls into a high-context or low-context culture.

(5) High-context cultures (Mediterranean, Slav, Central European, Latin

American, Arab, Asian, American-Indian) leave much of the message
unspecified, to be understood through context, nonverbal cues, and between-
the-lines interpretation of what is actually said. By contrast, low-context culture
(most Germanic and English-speaking countries) expect messages to be explicit
and specific.

Sequential vs. Synchronic

(6) Some cultures think of time sequentially, as a linear commodity to “spend”,

“save”, or “waste.” Other cultures view time synchronically, as a constant flow
to be experienced in the moment, and as a force that cannot be contained or
controlled.

(7) In sequential cultures (like North American, English, German, Swedish, and
Dutch), businesspeople give full attention to one agenda item after another.

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(8) In synchronic cultures (including South America, Southern Europe and Asia)
the flow of time is viewed as a sort of circle, with the past, present, and future
all interrelated. This viewpoint influences how organizations in those cultures
approach deadlines, strategic thinking, investments, developing talent from
within, and the concept of “long-term” planning.

(9) Orientation to the past, present, and future is another aspect of time in which
cultures differ. Americans believe that the individual can influence the future
by personal effort, but since there are too many variables in the distant future,
we favor a short-term view. Synchronistic cultures’ context is to understand the
present and prepare for the future. Any important relationship is a durable
bond that goes back and forward in time, and it is often viewed as grossly
disloyal not to favor friends and relatives in business dealings.

Affective Vs. Neutral

(10) In international business practices, reason and emotion both play a role.
Which of these dominates depends upon whether we are affective (readily
showing emotions) or emotionally neutral in our approach. Members of neutral
cultures do not telegraph their feelings, but keep them carefully controlled and
subdued. In cultures with high affect, people show their feelings plainly by
laughing, smiling, grimacing, scowling, and sometimes crying, shouting, or
walking out of the room.

(11) This doesn’t mean that people in neutral cultures are cold or unfeeling,
but in the course of normal business activities, neutral cultures are more careful
to monitor the amount of emotion they display. Emotional reactions were found
to be least acceptable in Japan, Indonesia, the U.K., Norway, and the
Netherlands and most accepted in Italy, France, the U.S., and Singapore.

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(12) Reason and emotion are part of all human communication. When
expressing ourselves, we look to others for confirmation of our ideas and
feelings. If our approach is highly emotional, we are seeking a direct emotional
respinse: “I feel the same way.” If our approach is highly neutral, we want an
indirect response: I agree with your thoughts on this.”

(13) It’s easy for people from neutral cultures to sympathize with the Dutch
manager and his frustration over trying to reason with “that excitable Italian.”
After all, an idea either worksor it doesn’t work, and the way to test the validity
of an idea is through trial and observation. That just makes sense – doesn’t it?
Well, not necessarily to the Italian who felt the issue was deeply personal and
who viewed any “rational argument” as totally irrelevant!

(14) When it comes to communication, what’s proper and correct in one

culture may be ineffective or even offensive in another. In reality, no culture is
right or wrong, better or worse – just different. In today’s global business
community, there is no single best approach to communicating with one
another. The key to cross-cultural success is to develop an understanding of,
and a deep respect for, the differences.

Gender Differences in Communication

✓ Sociolinguists argue that gender is a social variable that could account for
language and communication differences.

✓ Women speeches suggest that they are generally characterized as indirect,

apologetic, sensitive, relationship-oriented and are usually into rapport-talk
and advise seeking.

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✓ Men’s speeches are often described as assertive, dominant, power nd status-

oriented and are inclined to report talk.

✓ There are cases however that regardless of gender, one’s talk is characterized as
feminine or musculine depending on one’s personality.

✓ Being aware of the male and female communicaton variances could lead to
better and deeper understanding of someone in communication situations.

Generation Culture Communication Differences

✓ Every generation or age group may also use its own unique set of jargons or
lingos in their casual conversations.
✓ Their eras, trends, popular events, movies, television shows, radio programs,
songs, and literature introduce these lingos.

Here are examples of the language millennials use nowadays:

1. Phubbing
It means someone is talking to you while he or she is texting or on a computer.

2. Hundo P
It means hudred percent or that the person using the phrase is supportive and
approves.

3. JOMO (Joy of missing out)

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The “joy of missing out” means missing something that was lame in the first
place.

4. Sorry not sorry

Fake apologies are part of the ethos when you are a Millenial.

5. I can’t even
It means that the speaker is losing patience.

6. The struggle is real

Millenials use this phrase to let you know that there is a tough problem or a real
hardship.

Reactions to Cultural Communication Encounters

1. Assimilation
It occurs when an ethnic minority sacrifices its own culture to integrate into
society.

Example: Many Irish immigrants assimilated to the American way of life,

including its fashion trends, cultural norms, and everyday slang in the early 20th
century.

2. Accomodation
It is an attempt to retain some cultural uniqueness and to transform the existing
dominant structures so that there is less hierarchy.

Example: You can have a dominant culture that is the culture you conform to
when in public sphere, and a parent culture which you follow in the private
sphere. For example, you can be Chineses and American, but at home practice
traditional healing methods such as cupping and when necessary, using the
dominant culture’s practice of urgent care.

3. Separation
Separation rejects the dominant society and organizations, and individuals
attempt to join similar co-cultural group member to form organizations that are
reflective of their own values and norms.

Example: Many African Americans and women, unhappy that power structures
were not changing quickly enough, formed separate groups that excluded
members of the dominant group as well as non-dominant group who did not
share their views.

Five Ways to Improve Intercultural Communication

1. Pay attention to your own words and actions

2. Control your assumptions
3. Engage in transpection – the process of emphatizing across cultures
4. Gain knowledge
5. Gain experience

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Activity 1

Preparing to Communicate across Cultures: An Assessment

Assess your personal preparedness to communicate effectively with persons of

different cultures by labelling each of the following statements as true or false.

_________1. I enjoy communicating with persons unlike me as much with

persons like me.
_________2. I am equally sensitive to the concerns of all groups in our
multicultural society.
_________3. I can tell when persons from other cultures do not understand me
or confused by my actions.
_________4. I do not fear interacting with persons from minority groups any
more than I fear interacting with persons from the dominant
culture.
_________5. Persons from other cultures have a right to be angry at members
of my culture
_________6. Persons from other cultures who don’t actively participate in a
conversation, dialogue, or debate with others may act that way
because of their culture’s rules.
_________7. How I handle disagreements with persons from other cultures
depends on the situation and the culture(s) they are from.
_________8. My culture is not superior to other cultures.
_________9. I am knowledgeable of how to behave with persons of different
cultures.
_________10. I respect the communication rules of cultures other than my own.

Activity 2

Directons: Enumerate the following:

1-5 Reasons for Studying Intercultural Communication.

5-10 Sources of Misunderstanding.

11-14 Barriers of Intercultural Communication.

15-17 Reactions to Cultural Communication Encounters.

18-20 At least three ways to improve intercultural communication.

Activity 3

Directions: Write T if the statement is correct and F if it is false. If the statement is

false, rewrite it to make it true.

_________1. Anyone who is proficient speaker of a language will find

communicating across culture easy.

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_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_________2. Our emotions do not matter whenever we communicate with
others.
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_________3. There is no such thing as a right culture or a wrong culture.
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_________4. All cultures have the same way of thinking about time.
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_________5. Communicating across cultures happens in one’s own country
because of the diverse domestic workforce of many companies
today.
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________

Activity 4

Directions: Write a letter to a non-Filipino who plans to reside in the Philippines

someday. In this letter, give this person advice how to communicate with Filipinos.

Activity 5

Directions: Discuss the following terms

1. High-context culture and low-context culture

_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
2. Sequential and synchronic
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
3. Affective and neutral
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

Activity 6

Directions: Answer the following questions:

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1. If you are to study or work in a foreign country in the future, what will be your
considerations so that you will effectively blend with the people you mingle
with?
2. Cite certain situation when you encountered miscommunication while talking
with people of different nationalities.
3. Is knowledge on gender differences and generation differences important for
communicating effectively? Why?

4 3 1
Organization Information is well- Information is organized but The information appears to
organized with well- paragraphs are not well- be disorganized
constructed paragraphs. constructed
Quality of Information clearly relates Information clearly relates
Information has little or
Information to the main topic. It to the main topic. No details
nothing to do with the main
includes several supporting and/or examples are given
topic
details and/or examples
Grammar, No spelling, punctuation or Few spelling and So many spelling,
Usage and grammatical errors punctuation errors, minor punctuation and
Mechanics grammatical errors grammatical errors that
alter the meaning of the
sentences.

Lesson 3

Varieties and Registers of Spoken Language

A. Specific Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the lesson, you can:

1. Discuss the different varieties and registers of English

2. Analyze situations where to use formal and informal registers
3. Discuss the importance of knowledge on different pronunciation and
gestures for effective communication.

B. Time Allotment: 3 hours

C. Pre-test

Directions: Answer the following questions.

1. What are the different varieties of English?
2. What are the registers of English? Discuss each.
3. Is American English similar to Philippine English? Why or why not?
Exemplify.

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D. Discussion

Varieties and Registers of Spoken Language

Varieties of English

✓ Varieties of English is also called World Englishes (WE).

✓ World Englishes (WE) actually stands for the localized varieties of English as
they are used or spoken in certain areas.

✓ The famous Three Concentric Circles of English attributed to Braj Kachru

presents the three circles: The inner circle with ENL (English as a Native
Language);The Outer circle with ESL (English as a Second Language); The
Expanding Circle with EFL (English as a Foreign Language).

✓ There are different varieties of English spoken by countries colonized by

Britain, the US, Canada, and Australia: Siangapore English, Malaysian English,
Philippine English and Thai English, among others. These varieties have their
own grammatical, lexical, and syntactic features and should not be considered
as errors.
Register of Language

✓ One’s purpose for communication as well as his/her relationship to the

listeners/readers will determine the kind of language he/she will use.

1. Familiar
✓ This register is normally used between people who know each other
well.

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✓ Features of this register show a lack of grammar, spelling,

punctuation and usually contains slang and jargon.

For example:

Hey,

Will arrive evening. Did not catch bus.

Later,
John

2. Informal
✓ Generally journalism and occasionally academic writing use this
register.
✓ When using informal register, there is usually a close relationship
between the writer, audience and topic with a degree of casualness.
✓ The features of this register are different from familiar register as
more care is taken with grammar.
✓ The tone is conversational, using colloquial language, compared to
formal register.

For example:

While I was on my way to the Science Lab., a thought struck me that

perhaps all that we think is possible, may not be. For example, a friend
and I were contemplating the prospect of dumping our classes and
hanging out in our favorite café instead. We found that we thought was
possible, actually wasn’t as our lecturer intervened on our way, ending
up that we attended class anyway. Does this mean that what we
originally thought was possible, can’t be, as something will always
intervene? How does this affect prediction and planning?

3. Formal
✓ A formal register is neither colloquial nor personal and is the register
that is mostly used in academic writing.
✓ It does not break any of the rules of written grammar and often has a
set of rules of what not to do when using this register.

For example:

Several stages of development have been distinguished in the

first year of child’s life when it develops the skills necessary to produce
a successful first word.

4. Ceremonial
✓ Modern academic writing rarely uses this register.

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✓ It may be encontered when reading transcripts of speeches or

historical documents.

For example:

I stand on this rostrum with a sense of deep humility and great pride –
humility in the wake of those great architects of our history who have
stood here before me, pride in the reflection that this home of legislative
debate represents human liberty in the purest form yet devised.

Cultural Text

✓ The awareness of the different varieties of English with their features as well as
understanding the registers of English should be the goal of everyone so that
there is less misunderstanding and miscommunication.

✓ Note that one cause of miscommunication is pronunciation. Speakers of

different varieties of English have different ways of pronouncing words.

✓ Interpretation may vary because of differences in pronunciation. If one says “hit

it” instead of “heat it” or “she ass” instead of “she asks,” miscommunication is
likely to happen.

✓ In Philippine languages, every vowel is pronounced with a full distinct sound.

Americans on the other hand blend syllables or sometimes drop some sounds
to make the syllable short. Below are examples of this feature:

1. American English: Gotcha!

Philippine English: Got you!

2. American English: Watche say?

Philippine English: What did she say?

3. American English: Wherd yu go?

Philippine English: Where did you go?

4. American English: Ja hitit?

Philippine English: Did you hit it?

5. American English: Can I getche drink?

Philippine English: Can I get you drink?

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✓ Aside from ponunciation, non-verbal communication also plays an important

role in effective communication. Bodily gestures should be properly interpreted
as their meanings vary from culture to culture. For example, thumbs up gesture
in English-speaking countries and even in Philippine signals approval.
However, it is considered offensive in Greece, Italy and in some parts of the
Middle East.

Activity 1

Directions: Analyze each utterance – its meaning, context, and register. Fill in the
table with your answer.

1. Just a sec, please.

2. Could you please hold on for a while? I will just call her.

3. I really apologize. I do not mean to hurt you.

4. So sorry for my mistake,

5. Am not interested in your party.

6. I can’t make it to your party. I’ll make it up next time.

7. Good morning, Mr. Alcaraz!

8. Hello, Sir Alacaraz!

9. Our sincerest congratulations on your forthcoming promotion!

10. Congrats! You made it!

Meaning Context of the Register (Formal or

Situation Informal)
1.

2.

3.

4.

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5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Activity 2

Directions: Below are some examples of varieties of English that focus on

pronunciation. Classify them accordingly and write them under the correct column.

1. elemenTAry vs. eleMENTary (elementary)

2. istreet vs. street (street)
3. brids vs. bridge (bridge)
4. ass vs. asks (asks)
5. thought vs. tot (thought)
6. dat vs. that (that)
7. tin vs. thin (thin)
8. measure vs. meazure (measure)
9. chip vs. cheap (cheap)
10. closez vs. closes (closes)

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American English Philippine English

1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. 4.
5. 5.
6. 6.
7. 7.
8. 8.
9. 9.
10 10

Activity 3

Directions: Below are examples of two varieties of English that focus on expression.
Classify them accordingly and write them under the correct column. Note that some
terms from the list are used by both varieties.

1. underground economy vs. black economy

2. counterclocwise vs. anticlockwise
3. current account vs. checking account
4. housing development vs. housing state
5. drink driving vs. drunk driving
6. fortnight vs. two weeks
7. raincoat vs. mckintosh
8. whisky vs. whiskey
9.rubbish vs. garbage
10. expiry date vs. expiration date

American English British English

1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. 4.
5. 5.
6. 6.
7. 7.
8. 8.
9. 9.
10 10

Activity 4

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Directions: Answer the following questions

1. What is the importance of studying the different varieties and registers of

English?

2. How does non-verbal communication in general or bodily gestures in

particular pose miscommunication between two persons coming from different
cultures?

E. Activities/Exercises
Rubrics for Grading Essay

4 3 1
Organization Information is well- Information is organized but The information appears to
organized with well- paragraphs are not well- be disorganized
constructed paragraphs. constructed
Quality of Information clearly relates Information clearly relates Information has little or
Information to the main topic. It to the main topic. No details nothing to do with the main
includes several supporting and/or examples are given topic
details and/or examples
Grammar, No spelling, punctuation or Few spelling and So many spelling,
Usage and grammatical errors punctuation errors, minor punctuation and
Mechanics grammatical errors grammatical errors that
alter the meaning of the
sentences.

F. References

Madrunio M. R. & Martin I. P. (2018) Purposive Communication Using English in

Multilingual Contexts C & E Publishing, Inc. Quezon City

Magan, R. G., Nano M. C. B., Turano C., (2018) Purposive Communication in the
21st Century Mindshapers Co. Inc Manila

Mercado E. D, Delos Reyes J. M. S., Leocadio V. S., Pacificar J. M. E., Irarum J.

R., Magpantay N. F. (2018) Purposive Communication Jimczyville
Publications, Malabon City

Uychoco, M. T. A & Santos M. L (2018) Communication for Society Purposive

Communication REX Book Store, Manila Philippines

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This module contains items taken from copyrighted materials without

express permission from the copyright owner. Such materials remain the
copyright of the original holder and is used here for educational purposes
only.

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WPU-QSF-ACAD-82A Rev. 00 (09.15.20)