Communication is public (Week 6:Lecture 2) October 31, 2019

Topics: Terms:

1)intercultural communication Cultural Dimensions theory

2)Cultural dimensions theory Speech code theory

3)Speech code theory Value dimensions

4)Civil Conversations Individualism (collectivism dimension)

5)Types of Listening High context/ low context

Power distance dimension

Informational listening

Critical listening

Empathetic listening

INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

- Intercultural communication and ethnocentrism

- 2 views:
1) Cultural Dimensions Theory
2) Speech Code Theory

Cultural dimensions theory

This version of intercultural communication studies argues:

1) Surface differences between cultures change

2) Deep core values are highly stable and resist change
3) We can compare and evaluate cultures according to several predetermined changes

5 primary value dimensions:

1) Individualism VS Collectivism  Individualism stresses individual goals and the rights of the
individual person. Collectivism focuses on group goals, what is best for the collective group, and
personal relationships.
2) Power Distance index  The extent to which the less powerful members of organizations and
institutions (like the family) accept and expect that power is distributed unequally.
3) Uncertainty avoidance  Expresses the degree to which the members of a society feel
uncomfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity.
4) Masculinity VS Femininity  Masculinity implies a society's preference for assertiveness,
heroism, achievement and material reward for attaining success. On the contrary, femininity
represents a preference for modesty, cooperation, quality of life and caring for the weak.
5) Long term Orientation VS Short term orientation Long-term orientation is when you are
focused on the future. Short-term orientation is when you are focused on the present or past
and consider them more important than the future.
1)Individualism Collectivism dimension

Communication styles:

1) Individualist – Self promotion

2) Collectivist – Group Support

Individualist – Low Context

Collectivist – High Context

2)Power Distance Dimension

Low Power Distance – Horizontal Culture

High Power Distance – Vertical Culture

Are the Inupiat high or low power distance? Individualist or Collectivist? (Kizzia)

Speech Code Theory

Speech code theory response to cultural dimension theory:

- Target Population Choice

- Confirmation Bias
- Change Over time
- Divisions within the population
- Ethnography over survey / big data

Intercultural communication: Speech Code Theory

1) Identify and describe one of your communities

2) What is a term used within the community? What does it mean and when do you use it?
3) What is a speech norm that exits within that community but not outside of it?

6 central tenants:

1) Distinctive culture = distinctive speech code

2) In any given speech community, multiple speech codes are used
3) A speech code invokes a distinct psychology, sociology and rhetoric
4) The significance of languages depends on the speech codes of speaker and listener
5) Terms, rules, and premises of speech code are woven into daily speech
6) The artful use of a shared speech code is a sufficient condition for predicting, explaining, and
controlling the form of discourse about the intelligibility, prudence, and morality of
communication conduct.
CIVIL CONVERSATIONS

Having Constructive Conversations

1) (Sincere) praise and then describes

2) “I” statements, not “you” statements
3) Make your descriptions specific
4) Eliminate editorial comments

TYPES OF LISTENING

Listening is a very dangerous thing. If one listens one may be convinced. -Oscar Wilde

Listening Competence:

1) Informational Listening is listening with the goal of learning, understanding, and grasping
information.
2) Critical Listening is a form of listening that if usually not mentioned, since it involves analysis,
critical thinking and judgment.
3) Empathetic Listening  is paying attention to another person with empathy [emotional
identification, compassion, feeling, insight].

Empathetic Listening: Poor Response styles for empathetic listening:

- Commiserating (that happened to me, too)

- One upping
- Silver-lining
- I told you so
- Advice (without being asked)
- Analyzing their feelings for them
- Correcting
- Interrogating
- Focus on the content only
- Cliches

Empathetic Listening Responses

- Probing Response:
1) Clarifying question
2) Exploratory
- Understanding response:
1) Paraphrasing
2) Checking perception
- Supporting response:
1) Reassurance
2) Agreement
3) Praise
4) Assistance
5) Validating feelings