Communication Skills

BM002-4-0

Diploma - Foundation (Level 0)

 Topics & Structure of Lesson

• Communication
– What is culture?
– What is intercultural communication?
– Low context and high context culture

– What is communication barrier?

– What are the types of barrier?
– How do we overcome them?

Communication Skills BM002-4-0 Communication Skills Slide 2 (of 36)

 Learning Outcomes

• At the end of this chapter, you should:

– Know what is culture
– Know why it is important to know other culture
– Know the different types of barriers
– Know how to overcome barriers in communication

Communication Skills BM002-4-0 Communication Skills Slide 3 (of 36)

 Culture

Communication Skills BM002-4-0 Communication Skills

 Definition :
1. "Culture has been defined in a number of ways, but most simply, as the learned
and shared behavior of a community of interacting human beings“ –Useem-

2. "Culture is the shared knowledge and schemes created by a set of people for
perceiving, interpreting, expressing, and responding to the social realities
around them“ -Lederach-

3. “culture is defined as the shared patterns of behaviors and interactions,

cognitive constructs, and affective understanding that are learned through a
process of socialization. These shared patterns identify the members of
culture group while also distinguishing those of another group.” -Carla-

Communication Skills BM002-4-0 Communication Skills

 What are the elements of
Culture?
Things that all cultures have in common:
1. Social organisation
2. Customs and traditions
3. Language
4. Arts and literature
5. Religion
6. Forms of government
7. Economic systems
Communication Skills BM002-4-0 Communication Skills
 What are the elements of
Culture? (contd.)

1. Social Organisation

-When a culture organise its members into smaller groups.-

E.g. families, friends, religious groups,
interest groups, social classes and occupations

Communication Skills BM002-4-0 Communication Skills

 What are the elements of
Culture? (contd.)

2. Customs and traditions

-Rules and behavior (written or unwritten)-
E.g. Marriage, funeral, birthday celebration and etc.

Communication Skills BM002-4-0 Communication Skills

 What are the elements of
Culture? (contd.)

3. Language
-Important for communication and passing
on traditional beliefs.-

Communication Skills BM002-4-0 Communication Skills

 What are the elements of
Culture? (contd.)

4. Arts and literature

- teach about culture’s value -
- promote cultural pride and unity –

Communication Skills BM002-4-0 Communication Skills

 What are the elements of
Culture? (contd.)

5. Religion
- monotheism  believe in one god

- polytheism  believe in more than one god

Communication Skills BM002-4-0 Communication Skills

 What are the elements of
Culture? (contd.)

6. Forms of government
- people form government to provide for

their common needs -

E.g. Democracy, republic, dictatorship

Communication Skills BM002-4-0 Communication Skills

 What are the elements of
Culture? (contd.)

7. Economic systems
- How goods are acquired -
- Form of currency -

E.g. Tradition economic system, market economic system,

command economy system & mixed economic system.

Communication Skills BM002-4-0 Communication Skills

 Your Culture!

Communication Skills BM002-4-0 Communication Skills

 Intercultural Communication

Intercultural communication simply refers to

exchanging information between two or more
cultures.

Communication Skills BM002-4-0 Communication Skills

 High Context & Low Context Culture

What is high context culture?

(Including much of the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and South America)
 Are relational, collectivist, intuitive, and contemplative. 

 This means that people in these cultures emphasize interpersonal relationships.

 Very indirect

What is low context culture?

(Including North America and much of Western Europe)
 Are logical, linear, individualistic, and action-oriented.
 This means that people from low-context cultures value logic, facts, and
directness.
 Very direct.
Communication Skills BM002-4-0 Communication Skills
 The End

Question? 

Communication Skills BM002-4-0 Communication Skills

 Tutorial Activity
 Form into 5 (maximum) different culture groups.

 Discuss on the 7 elements (minimum 5) of particular

culture.

 Each team has to do a minimum of 15 minutes

presentation.

 This presentation carriers 10% of your assessment

marks.

Communication Skills BM002-4-0 Communication Skills