MODULE 3

Local and Global Communication in Multicultural Settings

COMMUNICATION STYLES IN VARIOUS MULTICULTURAL CONTEXTS

As mentioned in Lesson 1, each person has a unique style of communicating, which may depend not
only on his/her linguistic ability but also on his/her cultural and social context. Some are outspoken; some
are quieter yet on point. Some always seem formal, while some have a lot of introductions before getting to
the main point. Communication style refers to the choices people make and the strategies or tools they use in
the process of communication. A style may sometimes depend on the demands of the communicative
situation, as well as on the needs and requirements of the target recipients of the information.

Each style has two dimensions: the (1) assertiveness level and the (2) emotiveness level, which is
shown in the Communication Styles Matrix below.

The model, developed by Dr. Eileen M. Russo, shows four different communication styles (direct,
spirited, systematic and considerate), categorized further into two different dimensions (level of
assertiveness and level of expressiveness). All of these must be considered because people with different
cultural contexts tend to have varying levels and styles of communication.

People who are categorized within the assertive communication level tend to tell or instruct others
what to do and sometimes even how to do it, while the less assertive styles usually tend to be on the
receiving end, often asking for guidance, instructions or directions. On the other hand, people who fall under
the expressive level usually show their real feelings and emotions through facial expressions, tone of voice,
or language use. The less expressive ones tend to either hide their feelings or exert some effort for these
feelings not to show.

The combination of these levels results to the basic communication styles:

Spirited = High Expressiveness + High Assertiveness
Considerate = High Expressiveness + Low Assertiveness
 Direct = Low Expressiveness + High Assertiveness
Systematic = Low Expressiveness + Low Assertiveness

Tips for People with a Spirited Communication Style

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.
4. Be certain that any request you make is clear and that you convey the reason for such request.
5. Communicate your appreciation for others’ work and input.

Tips for People with a Considerate Communication Style

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.
3. Allow others to open personal matters before asking questions of that nature.
4. Respect your own opinion as you respect that of others’.
5. Recognize that you don’t have to be friends with everyone, but you should treat others – and be
treated – professionally.

Tips for People with a Direct Communication Style

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.
4. Recognize that brainstorming can be effective and is not a waste of time.
5. Take some time to show your appreciation for others’ contributions.

Tips for People with a Systematic Communication Style

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.
4. Politely ask other questions about themselves if you want to build rapport.
5. If you need to ask for more time to know, analyze or discuss something, explain the benefit of the
information you need to know.

VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE

In a multicultural society, people must use culturally-appropriate terms, gestures, expressions and
images in any communicative situation.

Language Varieties

Also called “lects”, these refer to the different variants of a language that can be sufficiently
delimited from one another in terms of social, historical, or geo-spatial factors, thus forming language
clusters.

In addition, language varieties may also be grouped in the following classifications:

a. Pidgin. It refers to a new language that develops into situations where speakers of different
languages need to communicate but do not share a common language. Examples are Chavacano in the
Philippines and Bislama, a language spoken in Vanuatu.
 b. Creole. It is a pidgin that becomes the first language of the children, or the mother tongue of a
certain community. Examples are the Gullah and the Patwa, is a creole in Jamaica.
c. Regional Dialect. It is not a language that is not distinct from a national language, but rather a
variety of a language spoken in a particular area of a country. Examples are as Cebuano, Waray, Ilocano, and
Hiligaynon in the Philippines.
d. Minority Dialect. This is a variety used as a marker of identity, usually alongside a standard
variety, by the members of a particular minority ethnic group. Examples are the Sinama of the Badjaos in the
Philippines and the London-Jamaican variety in Britain.
e. Indigenized Varieties. These are spoken mainly as second languages in former colonies with
multilingual populations. A classic example is Singlish (or Singaporean English).

The “I love You” Map

POINT FOR DISCUSSION

How do you classify the ‘conyo’ language in the Philippines? What do you think are the unique
characteristics of this language variety? How do you feel about people using this variety? Write your
answers in a piece of paper.

Language Registers

A language register is characterized by the way a speaker uses language differently in different social
circumstances. These are determined by such factors as social atmosphere, purpose of communication,
audience, and the general context of the discourse. Generally, language registers can be classified as (1)
formal, (2) casual, (3) intimate, (4) frozen, and (5) consultative.

a. Formal. These registers are used in professional, academic, or legal settings where
communication is expected to be respectful, uninterrupted, and restrained to specific rules. Slang
is never used and contractions are rare. Examples are registers used in research paper,
government documents, business letters, and in business presentations.
 b. Casual. These registers are used when communicating with friends, close acquaintances,
colleagues, and family members. These are used in birthday parties or family gatherings.

c. Intimate. Intimate language registers are reserved for special occasions, usually between only
two people and often in private. Examples are an inside joke between two high school friends or
sweet nothings whispered to your “special someone.”

d. Frozen. It refers to historic language that is intended to remain unchanged. Examples are the
registers used in the Philippine Constitution and the Holy Bible.

e. Consultative. It is used in conversations when people are speaking with someone who has
specialized knowledge or is offering advice. Tone is often respectful, such as the use of
honorifics or courtesy titles, but may be more casual if the relationship between or among the
communicators is friendly. Examples are registers used in local television broadcast or in a
conversation with a doctor during medical examination.

Language registers can also be classified as Formal, Informal, or Neutral. Formal language registers
are appropriate for professional situations, such as when speaking to a supervisor or writing an invitation
letter. Informal language registers, on the other hand, are conversational and appropriate when speaking or
writing to a friend or to someone you know quite well.

The use of one or a combination of these registers highly depends on the audience (person/s for
whom the message is intended) and the context (nature of the communicative situation). Using the proper
registers show respect, interest, and a certain level of professionalism, hence enhancing harmonious personal
and professional relationships. These are also used in writing short notes, personal journals, or diaries.
Lastly, neutral language registers are non-emotional and laden with facts. These are most appropriate for
research or technical writing.

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT

Most cultures experience evolutions in the use of registers or words in both formal and informal
settings. In the Philippines, for example, some linguistic phenomena have taken the country by storm,
affecting the way people communicate with each other. This is briefly explained in the excerpt below.

The modern generation has ushered a new era of language users who have consistently challenged
the traditionally accepted, conventional notions on linguistic structures and grammar. Truly, language has
inevitably evolved with the influence both of social sub-groups and of language theorists who somehow
“create” their own rules on grammar and syntax. This is evident in most societies, and is very much
apparent in the Philippine context.

One obvious example is the use of a different set of words, meanings and sentence structures by
the members of various sectors of society. It was only in the first few years of the 21st century when terms
such as ‘chugbak’ (die/death), ‘keber’ (do not care), ‘eklavu’ (false, lie) and many more were introduced
in the Philippine working vocabulary. Although the formal inclusion of such words to the corpus of
Filipino language is still doubtful, it would not be surprising if in the future, these linguistic structures are
printed on Filipino dictionaries, as these are continuously being used in the streets, in the mass media, and
in many social circles. Their use and predominance are probably inescapable, even when some purists and
conservatives are not keen to using such language.

In the past, one of the strongest and creative linguistic features that emerged in the Philippines is
word reversal, where people reverse the way words are uttered. It originally intended to be a convenient
way to hide meanings within a clique or social circle, as if it were a code, but its massive popularity
prompted its proliferation. Primary examples are “repapips” (pare, or friends), “ermats” (mater, or
 mother), “erpats” (pater or father), “yeko” (okey or okay), “yosi” (first and last syllable of ‘SIgarilYO’ or
cigarette), and many more. This was a linguistic phenomenon in the Philippines in the early 80s up to the
late 90s, and has seen a recurrence in late 2016, with terms such as “lodi” (idol) and “petmalu” (malupit,
or tremendous) taking the entire country by storm.

(an excerpt from the academic paper “Modern Linguistic Phenomena in the Philippines” by Tejada, K.
2017)

In an explanatory essay, what do you think is the next linguistic phenomenon that will evolve in the
Philippines? Why do you say so?

Improving one’s Ability in Communicating in a Multicultural Setting

Everything should start with a personal desire and strong conviction to relate more effectively with
persons having different cultural backgrounds. This will not only create positive personal relationships, but
also open more opportunities for professional growth. Limiting one’s reliance on preconceived notions and
established stereotypes is also a major leap towards effective intercultural communication.

The following specific guidelines can enhance your ability to handle situations involving
intercultural communication, and better prepare yourself to meet the communication challenges in an
increasingly global environment.

• Refrain from forming expectations based solely on your culture. Knowing and accepting the
validity of cultural differences are key in communicating with people having diverse
communication styles. Being an effective communicator requires allowing yourself to be
immersed in the multicultural society and embracing diversity.

• Remove personal biases or any stereotype that may impede understanding. You do not want
to be at the receiving end of a biased judgment, right? You don’t want people avoiding you
just because of how they see other members of your group or culture. Determine how much
your family, friends and colleagues have ‘dictated’ how you view or feel about other people
or other groups, and identify which among these pre-judgments are stereotypes that can
damage relationships.

• Make a personal commitment to develop communication skills appropriate in multicultural

settings. Your ability to develop intercultural communication skills largely depends on how
many – and how much – of these promises you are willing to make:
✓ I will make a commitment to seek information from persons whose cultures
are different from my own.
✓ I will try to understand how the experiences of persons from different cultures
leads them to develop perspectives that differ from mine.
✓ I will pay attention to the situation and the context when I communicate with
persons from different cultures.
✓ I will make every effort to become a more flexible communicator.
✓ I will not insist that persons from other cultures should communicate with me
on my terms.