LESSON 2: COMMUNICATION STYLES IN

VARIOUS MULTICULTURAL CONTEXTS

GED 106 | Purposive Communication (Lecture)
BSCHEM-1101 | PROF. Marie Czarielle M. Godoy | SEM 1 2022

COMMUNICATION STYLE

– refers to the choices people make and the strategies or tools they use in the process of
communication.
– depend on the demands of the communicative situation, as well as on the needs and
requirements of the target recipients of the information.
– this only means that the level of formality varies depending on who you are talking with.

Four Different Communication Styles

– developed by Dr. Eileen M. Russo

– divided in four categories (direct, spirited,
systematic, and considerate) and two dimensions
(level of assertiveness and expressiveness)

SPIRITED

– key phrase: “involve me” (positive)

– dimension: High Expressiveness + High
Assertiveness
– strengths: good story teller, creative thinker,
enthusiastic
– trouble spots: poor listener, doesn’t hear
details, exaggerated

Tips for SPIRITED

1. Respect decisions and agenda that have been agreed upon, as well as time
limits during meetings or any communicative situation.
2. Try to limit your sharing of personal anecdotes that may take the discussion
off-topic
3. Make sure you are allowing others to contribute their ideas and suggestions–
and that you are genuinely listening to them.

CONSIDERATE

– key phrase: “show me you care” (positive)

– dimension: High Expressiveness + Low Assertiveness
– strengths: relationship builder, attentive listener, approachable
– trouble spots: avoid conflict, prefer what is comfortable, emphasizes feelings

Tips for CONSIDERATE

1. Recognize that other people’s opinions about a topic are separate from
their opinions about you.
2. Realize that not everyone is comfortable discussing personal topics with
colleagues.

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LESSON 2: COMMUNICATION STYLES IN
VARIOUS MULTICULTURAL CONTEXTS
GED 106 | Purposive Communication (Lecture)
BSCHEM-1101 | PROF. Marie Czarielle M. Godoy | SEM 1 2022
3. Allow others to open personal matters before asking questions of that nature.

DIRECT

– key phrase: “be bright, be brief, be gone.” (negative)

– dimension: Low Expressiveness + High Assertiveness
– strengths: clear speaker, good decision maker
– trouble spots: impatient, poor listener, overlook details
– recognize that brainstorming is important, consider your members’ thoughts.

Tips for DIRECT

1. Make an effort to listen carefully to others. Avoid interrupting.

2. Allow time for ‘chatting’ at the beginning of a meeting.
3. Recognize that others may also feel the need to express themselves.

SYSTEMATIC

– key phrase: “give me details” (negative)

– dimension: Low Expressiveness + Low Assertiveness
– strengths: precise communicators, good listener
– trouble spots: they can’t make decisions, perceived as dull or boring
– politely ask others about themselves and explain the benefit of asking such questions (e.g. in
an interview.)

Tips for SYSTEMATIC

1. Recognize that for good working relationships, consideration for others’

feelings is important.
2. Learn to ask qualifying questions that will help you get the information you
need.
3. Make sure you understand the background of the discussion or scope of
the conversation so no time is wasted.

Types of people that we might met in the Multicultural Context:

● Analysts – direct, straight to the point, objective, and

innovative.
● Sentinels – detail oriented, specific person
● Diplomats – appreciate the ideas of other people, people
oriented
Explorers – action oriented, spontaneous interaction, and considerate

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LESSON 2: COMMUNICATION STYLES IN
VARIOUS MULTICULTURAL CONTEXTS
GED 106 | Purposive Communication (Lecture)
BSCHEM-1101 | PROF. Marie Czarielle M. Godoy | SEM 1 2022

LANGUAGE REGISTERS

– it is characterized by the way a speaker uses language differently in different social

circumstances.

– determined by such factors as social atmosphere, purpose of communication, audience, and

the general context of the discourse.

CCIFF

● CONSULTATIVE

– used in conversations when people speaking are with someone who has specialized
knowledge or is offering advice.
– two-way participation: listener participates by giving feedback, both speaker and
listener are active participants.
– most operational among others,
– tone is often respectful such as the use of honorifics or courtesy titles.
– can be casual if the relationship between communicators is friendly.

↪ example: patient and doctor, student and teacher, employer and employee.

● CASUAL

– used when communicating with friends, close acquaintances, colleagues, and

family members.
– two-way communication between the speaker and listener.
– friendly, occasional, informal

↪ example: in a club or bar situation tugs tugs parteh parteh, family gathering,
group activity

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LESSON 2: COMMUNICATION STYLES IN
VARIOUS MULTICULTURAL CONTEXTS
GED 106 | Purposive Communication (Lecture)
BSCHEM-1101 | PROF. Marie Czarielle M. Godoy | SEM 1 2022

● INTIMATE

– reserved for special occasions, usually between only two people and often in private.
– private or closed
– rarely shared in public and communicators usually use endearments.

↪ example: opening up to friends, conversation between a couple

● FROZEN

– refers to historic language that is intended to remain unchanged.

– fixed speech and highly formal
– used in ceremonies, rituals, bible, wedding vows.

↪ example: Pledge of Allegiance, Preamble of the 1987 Constitution, Our Father

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LESSON 2: COMMUNICATION STYLES IN
VARIOUS MULTICULTURAL CONTEXTS
GED 106 | Purposive Communication (Lecture)
BSCHEM-1101 | PROF. Marie Czarielle M. Godoy | SEM 1 2022

● FORMAL

– used in professional, academic, or legal settings where communication is expected

to be respectful, uninterrupted, and restrained to specific rules.
– one way communication wherein there is no feedback from the audience.
– Slang is never used and contractions are rare.

↪ example: SONA, announcement, news, email, thesis defense, business letters

Classification of Language Registers

● Formal – appropriate for professional situations. Example: speaking to a supervisor, writing an

invitation letter.
● Informal – conversational and appropriate when speaking or writing to a friend or to someone
you know quite well.
● Neutral – used in non-emotional topics and information, it is neither formal or informal, neither
positive or negative. Example: writing articles, reviews, research, technical writings.