Chapter 3

Verbal Communication: The Way People Speak.

To know anothers Language and not his culture is a very good way to make a fluent of ones self

Pre-Reading Discussion
1. What does the above quote mean? How do you think it is related to verbal communication? 2. What if anything have you observed about Americans and their way of having conversation? Is it similar to the way people carry on conversations in your language and culture? Explain. 3. In your native language, is it considered acceptable for people to interrupt each other when talking? Or do people wait for others to finish what they are saying? What are your observation of Americans regarding interruptions?

Pre-Reading Vocabulary
1. Definition a) Heated conversation: conversation characterized by argument loudness, a rapid exchange of words, and interruption. b) Hesistant conversation: conversation characterized by politeness, indirectness, pauses, and a lack of interruptions Discussion: in some culture, heated conversation are considered disrespectful and more hesitant, polite styles of communication are preferred. In other cultures, people think life is boring unless they can get involved in heated conversation. 2. Definition a) Direct communication: a style af taking in which speakers do not avoid issues: they get to the point b) Indirect communication: a style of taking in which speakers tend to avoid issues, hesitate, and talk in circle Discussion: Can you make any generalization about mainstream American Style communication? Does it seem direct or indirect compared to yours? 3. Definition a) Conversation structure: the way people converse; the pattern of their conversations Discussion: It is said that the structure of a good American conversation is like a PingPong game. What do you think this means? 4. Definition a) Judgment: an opinion, thought, or critical conclusion

Discussion: Why do people judge others incorrectly? How do different cultural styles of communication contribute to peoples misjudgment of each other?

Reading Text
Verbal Communication: The Way People Speak Culture influence communication styles. Although this point may seem obvious, cultural styles can do create misunderstandings in conversation among people from different cultures. For example, consider for following conversation between an Italian and an American. The Italian made a strong political statement with which he knew his American friend would disagree. The Italian wanted to involve the American in a lively discussion. The American not openly disagree and make a statement indirectly. In general, the American did not enjoy verbal conflicts over politics or anything else. Conversational Involvement From the book You Just Dont Understand, the motion that people from same cultures value high involvement conversation patterns, while others value high considerateness patterns. Many people from cultures that prever high involvement styles tend to: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Talk more Interrupt more Expect to be interrupted Talk more loudly at times Talk more quickly than those from cultures favoring high consideratness style.

Many high involvement speakers enjoy arguments and might even think that others are not interested if they are not ready to engage in a heated discussion. On the other hand, people from cultures that favor high considerateness styles tend to: 1. 2. 3. 4. Speak one at a time Use polite listening sounds Refrain from interrupting Give plenty of positive and respectful responses to their conversation partner

Incorrect Judgments of Character American can have problems when talking to each other because of differences. For exemple, New Yorkers tend to talk faster and respond more quickly (high involvement) than Californians (high considerateness). To some New Yorker, Californians seem slower, less intelligent, and not as responsive. To some Californians, New Yorkers seem pushy and domineering. The judgments that people make about regional differences within a country are similar to those they make about people from another culture. Directness and Indirectness Cultural beliefs differ as to whether directness or indirectness is considered positive. In the mainstream American culture, the ideal form of communication includes being direct rather indirect. (Ideal here means that the culture values this style, although not everyone speaks directly.) Many Americans believe that honesty is the best policy, and communication are strongly related. It is not a surprise then to find out that cultural groups misjudge each other based on different beliefs about directness and honesty in communication. American Male-Female Differences in Directness It is impossible to say that everyone in one culture communicates similarly. Older people often communicate according to more traditional norms than younger people, and as mentioned, there are regional variation in the way people speak and carry on conversation. In addition, there are gender differences in communication styles. To generalize (and we do not want to stereotype), American women have traditionally been less direct (more polite and soft) than men in making requests, expressing criticism, and feelings, women tend to be more direct than men. Women are defined as a cultural group. Cross-Cultural Implications Americans may judge members of cultural groups that value indirectness as not being assertive enough. However, many Americans in the business world do not realize that a large percentage of the worlds cultures value indirectness and consider it rude to insist on getting to the point. When Americans go to work in countries where indirectness is valued (in Latin America or Asia), they may need to modify their communication style. In such cultures, Americans should not be too direct when giving criticism, making requests, and expressing needs and opinions.

Conversation Structures Many north Americans are impatient with culturally different conversation styles simply because the styles are unfamiliar. For example, to many North Americans, it seems that some Latin Americans monopolize conversation or hold the ball too long. The North American woman didnt know how to interrupt the Latin American conversations because North American ways of listen politely until the other person had finished talking. (Once again, there are gender differences: it has been observed that men tend to interrupt women more than women interrupt men). Ping-Pong and Bowling Conversation Styles An example of a conversation style that contrast with the American Ping-Pong conversation style is formal conversation among the Japanese, which has been compared to bowling. Each participant in a Japanese conversation waits politely for a turn and knows exactly when the time to speak. The American who is used to the Ping-Pong style og communication is probably going to have some difficulty with someone whose conversational style is like a bowling game. Ethnocentric Judgment The judgment that people make about each other are often ethnocentric. That is, they interpret, judge, and behave in a way that they assume to be normal, correct, and therefore universal. However, normal and correct often mean what is normal and correct in ones own culture. People cannot assume that their way of communicating is universal. If people from another culture seem to be communicating in what you feel are mysterious ways, consider the following four points: 1. It is possible that the way they speak reflects a cultural style 2. Your success in developing cross-cultural rapport is directly related to your ability to understand others culturally influence communication style 3. Your ways seem as mysterious to other as their ways seem to you 4. It is often valuable to talk about cultural differences in communication styles before they result in serious misunderstanding. However, if you can anticipate differences in communication style, your judgments about people will be more accurate and you will have fewer cross-cultural misunderstanding.

Chapter 4

NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION : SPEAKING WITHOUT WORDS

Pre-Reading Discussion 1. Can you think of what culture hides in the area of noverbal communication? What does the last part of the above quote mean : what it hides,it hides most effectively from its own participants? 2. What are some of the ways that people communication without using words?compare your answers whit those of other students. 3. In your culture,how close do you stand to people when you are talking to them ? demonstrate the distance .do you think this space differs across cultures?

Pre-Reading Vocabulary 1. Definitions a. Verbal communication : spoken communication,including the use of word and intonation to convey meaning. b. Nonverbal communication : silent communication,including the use of gestures,facial expressions,eye contact,and conversational distances. Discussion :do you depend very much on nonverbal language to communication ?or is most of your meaning conveyed through verbal communication?can you make any cultural generalizations reganding the degree of verbal and nonverbal communication that people use ? 2. Definition Universal :global,worldwide Discussion : what types of nonverbal communication do you think are universal ? foe example , do you think the smile,eye contact,or facial exspressions have the same functions across cultures?

3. Definition Gesture : movement of the body or part of the body,especially the hands Discussion : from your observations of Americans,do you think that they talk a lot with their hands? Have you noticed differences among Americans from various ethnic groups?

Reading Text Nonverbal Communication : Speaking Without Words He didnt look at me once . I know hes guilty . never trust a person who doesnt look you in the eye. American Police Officer American smile at strangers. I dont know what to think of that . Russian Engineer American seem cold . they seem to get upset when you stand close to them. Jordanian Teacher A. The American police officer,the Russian engineer,and the Jordanian teacher made these comments about interactions they had with someone from a different cultural .their comment demonstrate how people can misinterpretnon verbal communication that is culturally different from their own. B. Language studies traditionally emphasized verbal and written communication .since about the 1960s.however ,researchers seriously began to consider what takes place without word in conversations.in some instances,more nonverbal than verbal communicationoccus. C. One study done in the united state showed that 93 percent of a message was transmitted by the speakers tone of voice and facial exspressions . only 7 percent of the persons attiudes more nonverbally than verbally.

Cultural Different in Nonverbal Communication A. Nonverbal communication exspresses meaning or feeling without words. Universal emotions,such as happiness,fear,and sadness,are exspressed in a similar nonverbal way throughout the world. There are,however ,nonverbal differences across cultures that may be a source of confusion for foreigners. B. Lets take another example of how cultures differ in their nonverbal expression of emotion. Feelings or friendship exist everywhere in the world ,but their expression varies. C. As with verbal communication . what is considered usual or polite behavior in one culture maybe seen as unusual or impolite in another . one culture may determine that snapping fingers to call a waiters is appropriate. Gesture and Body Positioning A. Gesture are specific body movements that carry meaning . hand motions alone can covey many meanings come her,go away ,its okey and thas expensive! are just a few examples. The gestures for these phrases often differ across cultures. B. As children . we imitate and learn to use these nonverbal movements to accompany or replace words.when travelling to another country ,foreign visitors soon learn that not all gestures are universal. C. Many American business executives enjoy relaxing with their feet up on their desks . but to show a person from Saudi Arabia ot tahiland the sole of ones foot is extremely insulting ,because the foot is considered the dirtiest part of the body.can you imagine the reaction tn Thailand when a foreign shoe company distributed an advertisement showing a pair of shoes next to a sacred sculpture of Buddha ?

Facial Expressiveness A. Facial expressions carry meaning that is determined by situationios and relationships. For instance,in American culture the smile is typically an expression of pleasure . B. Our faces reveal emotions and attitudes ,but we should not attempt to read people from another culture as we would read someone from our own culture. The degree of facial expressiveness one exhibits varies among individuals and culture.the fact that members of one culture do not express their emotions as openly as do members of another does not mean that they do not experience emotions. C. It is difficult to generalize about Americans and facial expressiveness because of individualand ethnic background in the united states. People from certain ethnic backgrounds in the united states tend to be more facially expreesive than others . the key ,is to try not to judge people whose ways of showing emotion are different . if we judge according to our own cultural norms. We may make the mistake of reading the other person incorrectly.

Eye Contact A. Eye contact is important because insufficient or excessive eye contact can create communication barriers.in relationships. It serves to show intimacy,attention,and influence. As with facial expressions.ther are no specific rules governing eye behavior in the united states.except that it is considered rude to stare,especiallu at stargers.in parts of united states ,however such as on the west coast and in the south.it is quite common to glace at strangers when passing them. B. Patterns of eye contact are different across cultures.some Americans feel uncomfortable with the gaze that is sometimes associated with arab or Indian communication patterns. For Americans ,this style of eye cintact is too intense . yet too little eye contact may also be viewed negatively,because it may convey a lack of interest,inattention,or even mistrust. The relationship between the lack of eye contact an mistrust in the Americans culture is stated direcly in the expression . never trust a person who doesnt look you in the eyes. In contrast, in many other parts of the world (especially in Asian countries), a persons lack of eye contact toward an authority figure signifies respect and deference. Conversational Distance A. Unconsciously, we all keep a comfortable distance around us when we interact with other people. This distance has had several names over the years, including personal space, interpersonal distance, comfort zone, and body bubble. This space between us and another person forms invisible walls that define how comfortable we feel at various distance from other people. B. When one persons nonverbal language matches that of another, there is increased comfort. In nonverbal communication across cultures there are similarities and differences. Whether we choose to emphasize the former or the latter, the silent language is much louder than it first appears.