LOCAL AND

GLOBAL
COMMUNICATION IN
MULTICULTURAL
SETTINGS

LESSON 3
Lesson Objectives:

• Determine culturally appropriate terms,

expressions, and images (sensitivity to
gender, race, class, etc.)
• Adopt cultural and intercultural awareness
and sensitivity in communication of
ideas
 WORLD ENGLISHES

As defined by Celce – Murcia (2014), the regionally

distinct varieties of English that have arisen in parts
of the world where there is a long and often colonial
history of English being used in education,
commerce and government.
WORLD ENGLISHES

 Indian English
 West African English
 Singapore English
 Filipino English
TRIVIA

 40 Filipino- coined words added in the Oxford English

Dictionary in 2015, all of which were categorized under
Philippine English. These includes words such as :
BALIKBAYAN, HIGH –BLOOD, CARNAP, GIMMICK,
DESPEDIDA, AND DIRTY KITCHEN.
 not often intelligible to users of other varieties
of English.
in Singapore – having here, or take away?
in the Philippines – dine in, or take out?
 KIRKPATRICK (2007)
Scale with two extremes that characterize the problems:

EXTREME 1: THE GOAL OF NATIONAL AND REGIONAL

IDENTITY.
: people use a regional variety of English with its
specific grammar, structure and vocabulary to
affirm their own national or ethnic identity.
(senatoriable, congressman,
chancing, bedspacer)
KIRKPATRICK (2007)
Scale with two extremes that characterize the problems:

EXTREME 2 : THE GOAL OF Intelligibility

Users of a regional variety should ideally still be
readily understood by users of English everywhere else in the
world to fully participate in the use of English as an international
language.
KIRKPATRICK (2007)
extreme 2:
bin – trash can
lift - elevator
rubber –eraser
telly – tvBRITISH ENGLISH
dummy –pacifier
trainers –sneakers
zed – zee
cashpoint -atm
 COMMUNICATING IN A
MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Culture guides communication. It is the lens

through which people should see the world. It
tells people who they are --- their identity and
how they act, think and communicate.
 In order to better prepare for effective
communication in a multicultural context

CULTURE – a system of knowledge, beliefs values, customs,

behaviour, and artifacts that are acquired, shared and used by
members of a society.
MULTICULTURALISTS – persons respectful of and engaged
with people from distinctly different cultures.
CULTURALLY –CONFUSED – lacking of understanding of
cultural differences.
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION – interaction with individuals

from different cultures.

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION – communication between
persons
representing different nations.
INTERETHNIC COMMUNICATION – interaction with individuals of

different ethnic origins.

INTRACULTURAL COMMUNICATION – interaction with members of
the same
ASSIMILATION – the means by which co –cultural members
attempt to fit in with the members of a dominant culture.
CO –CULTURE - group of people who differ in some ethnic or
sociological way with other groups of the same ( parent) culture.
ACCOMMODATION – the means by which co –culture members
maintain their cultural identity while striving to establish
relationships with members of dominant culture.
SEPARATION – the means that co –culture members use to resist
interacting with members of a dominant culture.
ETHNOCENTRISM – the tendency to see one’s own culture as
superior to all others.
CULTURAL RELATIVISM – the acceptance of other culture
groups as equal in value to one’s own.
MELTING POT PHILOSOPHY – the view that different culture
should be assimilated into the dominant culture.
CULTURAL PLURALISM – adherence to the principle of
cultural relativism, that other culture can blend with the dominant
culture without losing their identity.
MELTING POT PHILOSOPHY – the view that different culture
should be assimilated into the dominant culture.
CULTURAL PLURALISM – adherence to the principle of
cultural relativism, that other culture can blend with the dominant
culture without losing their identity.
STRATEGY EXAMPLES
ASSIMILATIO non –coffee drinker drinking coffee with officemates
N a non –catholic doing the sign of cross

ACCOMMODA  wearing a sari to work

TION Adjusting work hours to pray as required in one’s religion

SEPARATIO eating lunch alone

Refusing to sing the national anthem since it is against one’s
N beliefs
 IMPROVING ONE’S ABILITY ON
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Everything should start with a personal

desire and strong conviction to relate
more effectively with persons having
different cultural backgrounds. Doing
so, will create positive personal
relationship and open more
opportunities for professional growth.
 IMPROVING ONE’S ABILITY ON
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

 Limiting one’s reliance on

preconceived notions and
established stereotypes is also a
major leap towards effective
intercultural communication.
 IMPROVING ONE’S ABILITY ON
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

 Refrain from forming expectations based solely on your

culture.
Remove personal biases or any stereotype that may impede
understanding.
Make a personal commitment to develop communication
skills appropriate in multicultural settings.
VARIETIES AND REGISTERS
OF SPOKEN AND WRITTEN
LANGUAGE
VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN
AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE

In a multicultural society, people must use

culturally- appropriate terms, gestures,
expressions and images in communicating. Most
cultures experience evolutions in the use of
registers or words in both formal and informal
settings.
VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN
AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE

Register is defined as the level of formality

in language that's determined by the context in
which it is spoken or written. It can be formal or
informal. Formal speech is proper, while informal
speech is conversational or casual.
 The five basic English language register
definition levels

High formal
It is the level of language that you would use in spoken
English on formal occasions to address the Queen, an archbishop,
president or prime minister.
Formal
It is used when you speak or write to your boss, a client or in a
transactional letter.The formal language definition is also called the
consultative register. You use it when, for example, you are referring to or
talking to your doctor and using the polite address of Dr.
 The five basic English language register
definition levels

Neutral
It is the formal or conventional language level you
would use in transactional situations. The subject matter could
include business letters, report writing, business plans, marketing
presentations or speaking to a client.
Vulgar
The vulgar definition is not the language of a smutty joke.
This intimate register refers to the type of language we use when we talk to
immediate family members, very close friends, a child or a family pet.

Frozen or static
Register is language that remains unchanged due to custom or
etiquette, particularly in printed or often repeated form.
Examples include biblical quotations, oaths of office, prayers or a pledge of
allegiance.
ASSESSMENT

Research and report on various cultural and intercultural

modes of communication
(e.g., words/gestures used in a particular region or country
to pay respect) and/or
various issues in communication (e.g., use of politically
correct words in today’s world; gender sensitivity through
language)