Lesson 2: Local and Global Communication

in Multicultural Settings
 LEARNING OUTCOMES
• 1. Describe the styles in communication considering various
multicultural settings.
• 2. Determine varieties and registers of spoken and written language.
• 3. Adopt cultural an intercultural awareness and sensitivity in
communicating ideas.
• 4. Develop a sense of appreciation on the richness and diversity of
registers used in written and spoken communication.
 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 more quiet yet on
point. Some always seem formal, while
some have a lot of introduction before
getting to the main point.
 COMMUNICATION STYLES IN VARIOUS
MULTICULTURAL CONTEXTS
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.
 COMMUNICATION STYLES IN VARIOUS
MULTICULTURAL CONTEXTS
• https://youtu.be/TcN0kLqrUnc?list=PL1XWPBr23LzLDq-
Y53QMbynhAD4FzkiP1
COMMUNICATION STYLES MATRIX
 COMMUNICATION STYLES

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.
 COMMUNICATION STYLES

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.
 COMMUNICATION STYLES

The combination of these levels result 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.
PERFORMANCE TASK NO.2_GROUP ACTIVITY NO.2

Create scenarios to show the basic communication

styles. Apply the tips for each style.

Spirited = High Expressiveness + High Assertiveness

Considerate = High Expressiveness + Low Assertiveness
Direct = Low Expressiveness + High Assertiveness
Systematic = Low Expressiveness + Low Assertiveness
PERFORMANCE TASK NO.2_GROUP ACTIVITY NO.2

Take note of the following rubric in assessing your

response:
Content (4 pts.): Original. Follow the given instructions.
Presentation (4 pts.): Present with confidence using the
English language.
Collaboration (2 pts.): All members of the group
participated actively in the activity.
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.
VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN
AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE
 LANGUAGE VARIETIES

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.
 Classifications of Language Varieties

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.
 Classifications of Language Varieties

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.
 Classifications of Language Varieties

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.
 Classifications of Language Varieties

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.
 Classifications of Language Varieties

E. Indigenized Varieties. These are spoken

mainly as second languages in former
colonies with multilingual populations. A
classic example is Singlish (or Singaporean
English).
POINT FOR DISCUSSION
 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? Discuss your answers in class.
 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.
 Language Registers

https://youtu.be/FO_qEjiNsfk
Classifications of Language Registers

(1) Formal
(2) Casual
(3) Intimate
(4) Frozen
(5) Consultative
Classifications of Language Registers
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.
Classifications of Language Registers

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.
Classifications of Language Registers

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.”
Classifications of Language Registers

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

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.
 FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
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.
 FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
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.
 Question:
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.
Improving one’s Ability in Communicating in a
Multicultural Setting
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.
Improving one’s Ability in Communicating in a
Multicultural Setting
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.
Improving one’s Ability in Communicating in a
Multicultural Setting
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.
Improving one’s Ability in Communicating in a
Multicultural Setting
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:
Personal Commitment to develop communication
skills appropriate in multicultural settings:
o I will make a commitment to seek information from persons
whose cultures are different from my own.
o I will try to understand how the experiences of persons from
different cultures leads them to develop perspectives that differ
from mine.
o I will pay attention to the situation and the context when I
communicate with persons from different cultures.
o I will make every effort to become a more flexible communicator.
o I will not insist that persons from other cultures should
communicate with me on my terms.
 Thank you!
God bless us all always!

• Ms. Angelene Libunao

• angelene.r.libunao@g.batstate-
u.edu.ph