Prelims Reviewer For Purposive Communication 4.

Communication Channel:
Communication
Communication is defined into three (3)
- Is a process of exchanging ideas between two or
more persons
- The act of process of using words, sounds,
signs, or behaviors to express or exchange
information or to express your ideas, thoughts,
feelings, etc. to someone else
- A process by which information is exchanged
between individuals through a common system
of symbols, signs or behavior
Value of Communication
- The word communication came from the Latin
word “communis” which means common or to
“commune” or to come together or to share
something in common.
“Communication in its most basic sense is the cement
that holds society together. Without it, society will fall
apart” – Maslog 1988
- The person who is interested in communicating
has to choose the channel for sending the
required information, ideas etc. This information
is transmitted to the receiver through certain
channels which may be either formal or informal.
5. Receiver:
- Receiver is the person who receives the
message or for whom the message is meant for.
It is the receiver who tries to understand the
message in the best possible manner in
achieving the desired objectives.
6. Decoding:
- The person who receives the message or
symbol from the communicator tries to convert
the same in such a way so that he may extract
its meaning to his complete understanding.
7. Feedback:
- Feedback is the process of ensuring that the
receiver has received the message and
understood in the same sense as sender meant
it.

Nature of Communication

Communication represents the important role inside

personal existence, family member’s existence, cultural
existence, company existence and many others.

1. Communication is related to human

activity: Communication exchanges are actually
directly linked with every single ball of human
being lifetime.
2. Communication involves two or more parties: At
least, two parties are involved in virtually any
communication exchange process.
3. Communication could be one-way or maybe
two-way process: Communication might take the
design involving two-way or maybe one-way
process. With two-way communication, the
receiver sends his feedback to the sender after
receiving the message. Communication is:
4. Success of communication depends on a proper
understanding of the parties involved: Powerful Reciprocal because we cannot separate
communication comes about if your receiver communicators into sender and receiver.
feels your concept you might say your sender Process because it keeps on “evolving
posts the idea. If the receiver doesn’t deliver his changing”.
or her reaction to your sender, your sender is not
going to fully grasp your receiver’s view. involves creating and sharing of meaning.
5. Conversation in organization flows in a variety of
Process of Communication:
styles: With organization, information flows in a
variety of recommendations, for example way
upward direction, down way, horizontal way and
many others.

7 Major Elements of Communication Process

1. Sender:
- The person who intends to convey the message
with the intention of passing information and
ideas to others is known as sender or
communicator.

2. Ideas:
- This is the subject matter of the communication.
This may be an opinion, attitude, feelings, views,
orders, or suggestions.
3. Encoding:
- Since the subject matter of communication is
theoretical and intangible, its further passing
requires use of certain symbols such as words,
actions or pictures etc. Conversion of subject
matter into these symbols is the process of
encoding.

Six Basic Elements of Communication
1. Sender/Receiver – Persons
2. Message – Topic/Information
3. Channel – Medium/Tool
4. Feedback – Reaction/Response
5. Noise – Disturbing Factor
6. Setting – Time/Place
Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication
Non-Verbal Communication is a form of sharing insights
and ideas, information, experiences etc. without the use
of words
*Most of the time verbal communication is supported by
non-verbal communication to better portray the
meanings a speaker would like to share.
Type of Non-verbal Communication
1. Body Movements
a. Emblems – These are body movements
which have direct translation into word (Ex.
Thumbs up)
b. Illustrators – These are used to accent,
emphasize or reinforce words (Ex. Pointing
Fingers in giving direction)
c. Regulators – These are signs showing
control at the back and forth natures of
speaking and listening (Ex. Head nods,
hand gestures, shifts in posture during
interaction)
d. Display of Feelings – A persons face or
body movements may convey how intense
his emotion is. (Ex. Tight Hug signify an
intimate relationship)
e. Adaptors – there are non-verbal ways used
in adopting to the communication situation
(Ex. A woman visited a friend’s house and
when she was there, she started picking up
scattered things on the floor. She implied
that her friend could hardly clean her
house.)
2. Paralanguage – refers to the ways of saying
something. It includes the characteristics as:
Rate – speed of speaking
Pitch – highness/lowness of tone
Volume- loudness
Quality- pleasing / unpleasing sound
3. Body types – can also communicate a message
Ectomorphs (thin people)
Endomorphs (fat people)
Mesomorphs (athletic people)
4. Attractiveness can get positive response than
those who are perceived not to be attractive.
Physical Attributes of a person may mean
something to the people around her.
5. Body Adornment involves form of clothing, make
up, jewelry and hairstyle (Ex. An applicant who
is dressed appropriately might likewise be hired
than those who are not.)
6. Space and Distance/ Proxemics
- It concerns the way a person uses the space
around him as well as the distance where he
stands. It may be explained through the
following:
a. Intimate distance
b. Personal distance
c. Social distance
d. Public distance
7. Touch- the kind of touch used in communication
reflects meaning about the relationship between
the sender and the receiver.
(Ex. The more intense the relationship, the more
frequent and more intimate the touch)
8. Time - There are two kinds of people based on
time; punctual and late
Verbal Language
- Verbal language consists of symbols like letters,
words, and other marks that you need to subject
to language or grammar rules for a coherent or
organized means of understanding or
expressing ideas. This verbal or spoken
language becomes a written language once you
put on paper or any surface the marks or prints
symbolizing or representing the ideas you intend
to convey or have spoken to others.
LESSON 2: Principles and Characteristics of
Communication
1. Communication is a Schemata-driven
- Communication begins within yourself, you
begin with what you have already stocked in
your brain or with what you have already known
or understood about the subject matter of the
communicative act. Transmitted messages
become understandable or meaningful because
of your innate or old knowledge about the
messages.
2. Communication is an interpretative act.
- The only person who knows the exact or full
meaning of the message transmitted is the
sender or speaker. Being the creator or source
of the ideas, he/she has the absolute knowledge
about his message. It is called interpretative act
because the role of the receiver or listener is just
to interpret, infer, or guess the meaning of things
appealing to his sense of hearing.
3. Communication does not guarantee a direct or
automatic link between two minds.
- These forms of knowledge become meaningful
only to others when you initiate communication
with them.
4. Communication is active, powerful, or forceful
- Communication is generally taken as an active
messages, because it has varied effects on all
participants in any communicative event. It
engages speakers and listeners in action of
giving and receiving information. Communication
is powerful and forceful for it elicits different
meanings or reactions, these messages are
prone to changes. Subjected to the changeable
and continued existence of the world,
communication is dynamic (A process or system
characterized by constant change) as life that
goes on and on like a river. Nothing remains
permanent or fixed in the world of
communication.
5. Communication is symbolic.
- Symbols, signs, or marks like letters, words,
sentences, graphs, pictures and other concrete
objects represent or stand for ideas that you
intend to convey verbally. For non-verbal
communication, you resort to bodily actions
(gestures, eye movements, posture, facial
expressions) voice quality, space and time
 elements to stand for the ideas you want to
express.
6. Communication always results in something.
- It refers to two or more persons participate in
any communicative act. The first, expresses or
sends a message; the second, responds or
reacts to the message.
7. Communication is irreversible.
- You are free to talk about anything under the
sun. But once you utter something, the things
you have said remains as it is susceptible to
different interpretations or meanings.
8. Communication is contextual.
- An exchange of views, ideas, or feelings doesn’t
only involve the sender and the receiver, but
also other aspects of the communication setting
like time, place, topic, occasion, purpose, and
manner of communication.
9. Communication is developmental or progressive.
- To communicate ideas is to go through the
different stages of language learning that begins
from birth to elementary, highschool, and college
levels. It is not a one-time learning towards
communicative competence.
10. Communication is a process.
- Several stages of communication take place
when people exchange or share ideas with one
another. Each stage involves elements with
different functions.
11. Communication is ethical.
- Any communication event is expected to apply
rules, moral values, and beliefs agreed upon by
societal members. Guided by these standards
determined by the cultural group you belong to,
your communication becomes ethical, good or
desirable.
12. Communication is influenced by media and
technology.
- Now, you are in the era of knowledge explosion
or modern technology. This period is
characterized by an instant global exchange of
knoeledge, services and technology. Using
modern electronic communication devices, an
exchange of ideas occurs just in seconds or
minutes regardless of the distance between or
among the participants. With the speedy turn out
of varied modern media and devices of
communication like the e-mail, cellphone, web
cam, internet and other computer-run gadgets,
you now find interaction with anyone in any
corner of the world easily and quickly.
CROSS-CULTURAL communication is a field of study
that looks at how people from differing cultural
backgrounds communicate, in similar and different ways
among themselves, and how they endeavor to
communicate across cultures. Intercultural
communication is a related field of study.
GLOBAL COMMUNICATION is the term used to
describe ways to connect, share, relate and mobilize
across geographic, political, economic, social and
cultural divides. It redefines soft and hard power as well
as information power and diplomacy in ways not
considered by traditional theories of international
relations.
Close your eyes. Imagine you are walking down a busy
street in New York. You may spot a sushi bar, an
authentic Italian gelato stand, or perhaps, a henna booth
all within a few city blocks. Today, immersion in different
cultures is inevitable. Especially in American cities,
different countries' cultural elements are displayed for a
person from any cultural background to experience. It is
a truly beautiful thing to know and understand different
culture and their practices and to have that opportunity
to experience it everyday. Yet, some people exploit this
cultural exchange of goods. They adopt another's culture
in a way that is disrespectful and ignorant of one's
culture, without realizing the implications it can have on
the borrowed culture.
This phenomenon is called cultural appropriation.
Cultural appropriation is the umbrella term that captures
this ignorance and disrespect of others' culture. It is
defined as a sociological concept that considers
adoption of one's cultural elements to be negative and
harmful to the culture from which traditions are being
borrowed. It is different than cultural exchange because
cultural exchange is neutral, while cultural appropriation
is negative. The assumption is that the culture which is
adopting the values of the other is the more dominant
one, while the one borrowed from is the oppressed
culture. For example, in today's pop culture many
American artists "borrow" cultural elements from minority
groups such as African Americans and Latinos.
Miley Cyrus brought out the trend of the "twerk"--
originally, it was a dance style rooted in African
American culture-- and made it a popular dance move.
Katy Perry performed her song "Unconditionally" during
the American Music Awards in 2013 which she said was
a tribute to Asian culture. How is it a tribute when the
songs bring out the stereotype that Asian women will
love their partners unconditionally no matter how they
are treated as humans? How is even an enjoyable
performance justifiable when it is misrepresenting an
entire culture? People can't see the effects or the "big
deal" right there in that performance because it's
supposed to just be entertainment, no big deal. Yet, here
what we have are examples of how some cultures take
advantage of other culture's elements and twist them in
a way either for their own advantage or to gain
popularity. There is a lack of knowledge and
understanding of this borrowed culture and sometimes
disrespect of the roots of where these elements come
from.
Of course, it is hard to not want to adopt another
culture's cool styles, foods, and music. I would be hard
pressed to find people who don't like to dress up on
Halloween in some type of cultural costume, or even
want to adopt certain dance moves as their own. Yet,
this exchange comes at a price. What crosses the line
from cultural exchange into cultural appropriation? When
is it okay to take some sort of traditional knowledge or
cultural expression without a culture's permission and
make it your own? Especially when the culture being
borrowed form is a minority group that has been
exploited in the past.
The best way to target and prevent cultural appropriation
is for people to take small steps. We can’t expect people
to adopt these cultural elements and take the time to
understand them right away, especially when people
don’t even realize what they are doing. The key is to
become aware of the dangers of cultural appropriation
and to try the one thing that is guaranteed to make some
sort of difference: respect.
Effects of Globalization on Global Communication
Connecting with people on the other side of the world is
now much easier than it was a few years ago. Satellites,
fiber-optic cables and the internet make it effortless to
share information with those in different time zones and
locations. Global communication is directly affected by
the process of globalization, and helps to increase
business opportunities, remove cultural barriers and
develop a global village. Both globalization and global
communication have changed the environmental,
cultural, political and economic elements of the world.
1. Increased Business Opportunities
Many companies today hire employees that are located
in other countries. Using communication vehicles such
as video calling make it simple to converse with
colleagues across the globe, almost making it feel as if
they are in the same room. Technology also makes it
easier to connect with suppliers and customers all over
the world, and to streamline those relationship through
improves ordering, shipment tracking and so on. With
this kind of communication technology, many businesses
are able to take advantage of opportunities in different
countries or cities, improving the economic outlook on a
global level.
Thanks to global communications, information itself can
be transferred as a valuable business asset from one
country to another. This has the effect of making
everyone's operations more modern and efficient,
regardless where they are located.
2. Fewer Cultural Barriers
Many people perceive culture to be the root of
communication challenges. When people from two
different cultures try to exchange information, the
way they speak, their body language or their
mannerisms can be interpreted differently by the
other person. The way people approach problems
and how they participate in communities is all
influenced by culture. Globalization has made it
possible, for example, for someone in Japan to
understand how someone in the U.S. goes about
their day. With television and movies, cultural
barriers are becoming less prevalent. Being able to
communicate effectively and frequently with
colleagues or friends across the planet helps people
understand each other’s cultures a little better.
3. Creation of a Global Village
You’ve likely heard of the phrase "global village,"
coined by theorist Marshall McLuhan. Affected both
by globalization and global communication, the
global village is created when distance and isolation
no longer matter because people are connected by
technology. Wide-spread telephone and internet
access have been life-changing for many people
across the world, especially those in developing
countries. Many are now enrolling in universities
across the world without having to leave their desk
chair. Virtual assistant jobs are becoming
commonplace, where employees from developing
countries work with companies in North America or
Europe, providing administrative support and other
business services that can easily be conducted over
the phone or via the internet.
Globalization and global communication have made
it easier to see people on the other side of the world
as a neighbor, instead of a stranger from a faraway
land. There is so much knowledge about other
countries and cultures available online, that it’s no
longer a complete mystery.
The Cost of Cultural Ignorance
Cultural misunderstandings often lead to lost
opportunities and increased levels of tension between
people. Communicators who fail to realize that persons
from different cultures may not look, think, or act as they
themselves do run the risk of having those with whom
they interact judge them to be insensitive, ignorant, or
culturally confused. The culturally confused pay a high
price. The following examples demonstrate the extent to
which cultural
Definition of Terms (A MUST BE READ PART)
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Accommodation – It is the means by which co-culture
members maintain their cultural identity
while striving to establish relationships with members of
the dominant culture.
Assimilation – It is the means by which co-culture
members attempt to fit in with members of
the dominant culture.
Co-cultures – It refers to group of people who differ in
some ethnic or sociological way from the
parent culture.
Collectivistic Cultures – It refers to cultures in which
group goals are stressed.
Cultural Imperialism – It is the expansion of dominion of
one culture over another culture.
Cultural Pluralism – It is the adherence to the principle of
cultural relativism.
Cultural Relativism – It refers to the acceptance of other
cultural groups as equal in value to
one's own.
Culturally Confused – It refers to the lacking an
understanding of cultural difference.
Culture – It is a system of knowledge, beliefs, values,
customs, behaviors, and artifacts that are
acquired, shared, and used by members during daily
living.
Diversity – It refers to the recognition and valuing of
difference such factors as age, gender,
race, ethnicity, ability, religion, education, marital status,
sexual orientation and income.
Ethnocentrism – It is the tendency to see one's own
culture as superior to all others.
Globalization – It refers to the increasing economic,
political, and cultural integration and
interdependence of diverse cultures.
High-context Communication – It is a tradition-bound
communication system which depends
on indirectness.
High-power-distance Cultures – It pertains to the
cultures based on power differences in which
subordinates defer to superiors.
Individualistic Cultures - It pertains to the cultures in
which individual goals are stressed.
Intercultural Communication – It is the way of
interpreting and sharing meanings with
individuals from different cultures.
Interethnic Communication – It refers to the interaction
with individuals of different ethnic
origins.
International Communication. It refers to the
communication between persons representing

different nations.

Intracultural Communication. It refers to the interaction

with members of the same racial or

ethnic group or co-culture as yours.

Interracial Communication - It is the way of interpreting

and sharing of meanings with

individuals from different races.

Low-context Communication – It is a system that

encourages directness in communication.

Low-power-distance Cultures – It pertains to the cultures

that believe that power should be

used only when legitimate.

Masculine Cultures - It pertains to the cultures that value

aggressiveness, strength, and

material symbols of success.

Melting-pot Philosophy – It is the view that different

cultures should be assimilated into the

dominant culture.

Multiculturalism – It refers to the engagement with and

respect toward people from distinctly

different cultures.

Prejudice – It is a positive or negative prejudgment.

Separation – It is the means co-culture members use to

resist interacting with members of the

dominant culture.

The Serious Case of Communication and Globalization

Communication – is the act of conveying a certain

message between or among people. In connection,
therefore it involves unity which plays a vital role in
establishing exceptional opportunities across cultures
and nations

The Fundamental Role

- The role of communication across different

cultures is essential in achieving unity and even
utopia , thus being familiar and knowledgeable
on other culture important

Reason why knowing one’s culture is important

1. It helps one to be more accepting of diversity

2. It creates curiosity
3. It leads to global awereness
4. It promotes harmony

The Cost of Globalization

1. Increased Business Opportunities
- Many companies today hire employees that are
located in other countries. With the usage of
technology in communicating
2. Fewer Cultural Barriers
- Cultural Barriers is when people of different
cultures are unable to understand each other’s
customs.
3. Creation of Global Village
- Global village was based on the idea that culture
would move toward greater personal interaction
after leavin’ behind early years of humanity
The inevitability of Problems Across Cultures
(ON MODULES WATCH THE VIDEO ON CULTURAL
DIFFERENCES)
Cultural sensitivity refers to a set of skills that allows you
to understand and learn about people whose cultural
background is not the same as yours. But, what does
that really mean? Let's take a look at some examples.
Example
Avery Jones, a 55-year-old African-American woman,
has not been feeling well. Since she is new in town and
has not yet had a chance to establish care with a
physician, she decides to go to Dr. James Morrison at
her friend's recommendation. Upon their first meeting,
the 32-year-old Dr. Morrison introduces himself as 'Dr.
Morrison' and calls her 'Avery.' Dr. Morrison then
assumes that she is on Medicaid. Avery Jones leaves
Dr. Morrison's practice upset and decides to find a
different doctor. Dr. Morrison is obviously confused
about her response. So, what did he do wrong?
In this example, Dr. Morrison was not being culturally
sensitive. In many cultures, it is customary to call people
by their last names, especially when they are older than
you. Since Dr. Morrison called his patient 'Avery' instead
of 'Mrs. Jones,' she took it as a sign of disrespect. To
make matters worse, Dr. Morrison assumed that Avery
was on Medicaid based solely upon his initial impression
of her. This not only upset Mrs. Jones, but also
prevented her from getting the medical treatment that
she needed.
So, what would the culturally sensitive approach look
like? Instead of calling her 'Avery,' Dr. Morrison would
have asked her how she would like to be addressed. He
could then make a note in her chart so that all of the staff
know to address her as 'Mrs. Jones.' Instead of
assuming that Mrs. Jones was on Medicaid, Dr. Morrison
would have asked her if she had medical insurance and
who her insurance provider was. Or maybe, he would
have avoided the subject all together, as most practices
have a billing department that handles insurance
matters. Let's look at another example.
Lesson 3: Local and Global Communication in
Multicultural Settings
Culture originates from a French term, which in turn
derives from the Latin "colere," which means to tend to
the earth and grow, or cultivation and nurture
(Zimmermann, 2017). In other words; culture
encompasses religion, food, what we wear, how we
wear it, our language, marriage, music, what we believe
is right or wrong, how we sit at the table, how we greet
visitors, how we behave with loved ones, and a million
other things (De Rossi, 2017).
The Center for Advance Research on Language
Acquisition goes a step further, defining culture as
shared patterns of behaviors and interactions, cognitive
constructs and understanding that are learned by
socialization. Thus, it can be seen as the growth of a
group identity fostered by social patterns unique to the
group.
Furthermore, as stated by Cristina De Rossi, Live
Science Coordinator; culture appears to become a key in
our interconnected world which is made up of so many
ethnically diverse societies but also riddled by conflicts
associated with religion, ethnicity, ethical beliefs, and the
elements which make up culture.
If cultures provide diverse ways of interpreting the
environment and the world, as well as the relationship to
other people; it is important to acknowledge that
effective communicators have the ability to select and
perform communication appropriate to various settings
(Fred, 2013).
Cultural Globalization
Culture is the lifeblood of a vibrant society, expressed in
many ways we tell our stories, celebrate, remember the
past, entertain ourselves, and imagine the future. Our
creative expression helps define who we are, and helps
us see the world through the eyes of others.
In this way, cultures can be part of culture globalization
which involves the formation of shared norms and
knowledge with which people associate their individual
and collective cultural identities. Henceforth,
globalization brings increasing interconnectedness
among different populations and cultures. This has been
successful through the use of Internet, popular
culturemedia, and international travel.
The following are the importance of having one’s culture:
A. Individual and social benefits of culture
1. Intristic Beliefs - Cultural experiences are
opportunities for leisure, entertainment, learning,
and sharing experiences with others. From
museums to theatres to dance studios to public
libraries, culture brings people together.
2. Improved Learning valuable skills for the future -
Cultural heritage broadens opportunities for
education and lifelong learning, including a
better understanding of history. Many
jurisdictions make strong linkages between
culture and literacy and enhanced learning
outcomes, in both public education and in the
development of valuable workforce skills.
3. Better Health and Well being - Participation in
culture contributes to healthy populations in
several ways. Creativity and cultural
engagement have been shown to improve both
mental and physical health. Participation in the
arts can relieve isolation and promote identity
formation and intercultural understanding.
4. Vibrant Communities - The benefits of culture for
individuals can spill over to society as a whole.
Culture helps build social capital, the glue that
holds communities together. By bringing people
together, cultural activities such as festivals,
fairs, or classes create social solidarity and
cohesion, fostering social inclusion, community
empowerment, and capacity-building, and
enhancing confidence, civic pride, and tolerance.
B. Economic Benefits of Culture
1. Contribution to Job Creation
- Economic opportunities created by culture have
taken on greater importance as economies
transition from the industrial model, and work
based on physical labour, to a new model in
which knowledge and creativity drive productivity
and growth.
2. Contribution to Tourism
- Culture makes a significant contribution to the
tourism industry, further supporting job creation
and encouraging infrastructure development.
The many festivals and events hosted each year
coupled with the province’s museums, art
galleries, and historic sites, are magnets for
cultural tourists.
3. Cultural Planning
- Increasingly, municipalities are recognizing the
contribution of culture to sense of place, quality
of life, and community and economic prosperity
through a process called “cultural planning.”
Cultural planning is led by local governments
and involves broad community engagement to
identify and leverage a community's cultural
resources, strengthen the management of those
resources, and integrate them in all facets of
local planning and decisionmaking
Cultural Differences
Culture influences many parts of people’s lives
including the food, dress, opinions, identity, music,
buildings, manners, social interaction and language.
We need to understand others cultural background
to make sense of different view points and opinions.
Cultural awareness is important in creating cross-
cultural understanding and acceptance. Cultural
 awareness can give us a better understanding of our
own culture and how it is perceived by outsiders.
Similarly, culture is the customary beliefs, social
forms and materials traits of a racial, religious or
social group. Moreover, culture makes up a large
part of ou day to day life. Thus, cultural differences
include differences in food, clothes, religion and
language. For example, think about the different
ways of different cultures about drinking a tea.
Below are some examples of Cultural differences:
(Expressions)
• In Mediterranean European countries, Latin America
and Sub Saharan Africa, it is normal or at least widely
tolerated to arrive half an hour late for a dinner invitation,
whereas; in most northern European countries this
would be considered extremely rude.
• In England, the thumb and forefinger together to form
an ‘O’ means Ok, whereas; in France it means ‘nothing’
or ‘without any value’.
• Laughing is considered a sign of happiness in most
countries, but in Japan it is considered a sign of
confusion, embarrassment or insecurity
In most countries, shaking the head from side to side
means ‘No’, whereas; in India shaking the head from
side to side means ‘Yes’
Keep your shirt on!" may be a frequently heard idiom in
the U.S. But if you're traveling in South Korea, it's a
smart piece of advice for men. Yes, even at the beach.
(Terms) •
Fart
We all know the English meaning of the word fart, but
did you know that fart means speed in Danish,
Norwegian, and Swedish? If that doesn’t make you
snicker enough, the words for speed bump in each
language are fartbump, fartshump, and farthinder.
Gift
In German, a gift is not quite as pleasant as in English –
it means poison! Taking it a step further, gift in the
Scandinavian languages can mean both poison and
marriage. These two meanings are related and stem
from the same root word, to give.
Crap
In Romanian, crap means carp, which is a type of
commonly-eaten fish. To be fair, English has a fish
called a crappie.
Brat
As perhaps the most fitting example on our list, brat
means brother in Russian, Polish, Ukrainian, Croatian,
and Serbian. Next time you call your brother a brat, just
tell him you’re learning one of these languages.
Kiss
Kiss has a more juvenile meaning in Swedish – pee.
Simple, yet amusing!
Preservative
In France, a préservatif isn’t quite what you might
expect. If you tend to have many conversations about
jams and jellies, it might be useful to be aware that
préservatifactually means condom. In fact, many
European languages have variations of preservative that
all mean condom.
Lol
The ubiquitous piece of Internet slang lol is either an
acronym or initialism depending on how you would
pronounce it, but in Dutch it means fun.
Slut
Slut is yet another false friend coming from Swedish, in
which it means end (and rhymes with loot). If you
happen to see Slut onscreen after watching a film, it’s
the equivalent to The End. And Slutstation is not what
you might hope – it’s just the last stop on a train route
In order to avoid possible problems, here are some ways
on how to be culturally aware:
1. Engage with other’s cultures by aksing questions.
2. Be Open! Don’t get into the habit of thinking your way
is the only way of doing
something.
3. Think about what you can learn from them no matter
how unusual it is.
4. Invite someone to share his/her culture with you.
5. Overcome stereotypes
Cultural Sensitivity
Cultural sensitivity begins with a recognition that there
are differences between cultures. These differences are
reflected in the ways that different groups communicate
and relate to one another. Cultural sensitivity is more
than an awareness that there are differences in culture
in order to interact effectively either through verbal or
non-verbal communication. People who don’t recognize
differences between cultures fall on stereotyping and
discriminating minority group.
Cultural sensitivity is an attitude and way of behaving in
which you are aware of and acknowledge cultural
differences; it’s crucial for such global goals as world
peace and economic growth as well as for effective
interpersonal communication (Franklin & Mizell, 1995).
Without cultural sensitivity there can be no effective
interpersonal communication between people who are
different in gender or race or nationality or affectional
orientation.
Sensitivity to Gender is being aware that there are
differences between male and female, but those
differences are not universal.
Aspects of Gender:
1. Assignment. This is the gender from birth, either being
male or female, it is also the gender
prescribed by the society.
2. Role. This is the set of behaviours, mannerisms and
other traits that society use to express
as part of the assigned gender.
3. Identity. This is what we think the gender should be at
any given time.
4. Attribution. This is the gender assigned to people
when we first meet them and is based on a
set of cues that differentiate from culture to culture.
Increasing Cultural Sensitivity
Prepare yourself. Read about and listen carefully for
culturally influenced behaviors.
Recognize your fears. Recognize and face your own
fears of acting inappropriately
toward members of different cultures.
Recognize differences. Be mindful of the differences
between yourself and those from
other cultures.
Recognize differences within the group. At the same
time that you recognize
differences between yourself and others, recognize that
there are often enormous
differences within any given cultural group.
Recognize differences in meaning. Be aware that
words don’t always mean the same
thing to members of different cultures.
Be rule conscious. Think mindfully about the cultural
rules and customs of others
Cultural Appreciation vs Cultural Appropriation
Culture is important in a society, without culture; there is
no identity on a particular area. It is the quality of a
person or society that arises from a concern for what is
regarded as excellent in arets, letters, manners,
scholarly pursuits, etc. In Anthropology it is the sum total
of ways of living built up by group of human beings and
transmitted from one generation to another. In today’s
quickly changing times, many different cultures are being
brought into light, but in the wrong way. We imitate the
culture without properly knowing why certain place has
that kind of practices among them. We are bound to use
one’s culture in another way and purpose.
Appropriation is the action of taking something for one's
own use, typically without the owner's permission.
Appreciation on the other hand is the recognition and
enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or
something. The two are strikingly different but can easily
be confused as the same thing due to the fact that a lot
of people don’t know when they are culturally
appropriating.
Cultural appreciation is when elements of a culture are
used while honoring the source they came from. It is
important to note that appreciation involves respect and
value.
Cultural appropriation is taking intellectual property,
traditional knowledge, cultural expressions, or artifacts
from someone else's culture without permission. This
can include unauthorized use of another culture's dance,
dress, music, language, folklore, cuisine, traditional
medicine, religious symbols, etc.
1. Research the Culture
- Prior to using another culture’s intellectual
property, it pays to properly research and
understand it. Taking without respect,
knowledge or insight will ultimately lead to a
serious backlash and accusations of cultural
theft and cultural misrepresentation.
2. Avoid the Sacred
- In the West, it can be easy to sometimes
overlook the sacred. What might seem a bit of
fun, a joke or an innocent mistake to some, may
cause serious distress to others. Much of the
world still holds some things sacred, whether
that be God, gods, spirits, symbols or anything
else. Using the sacred is a serious no-no unless
you want to cause trouble.
3. Don’t Stereotype
- A big issue with adopting from other cultures is
that it can be based on stereotypes, often
negative and incorrect. It is natural when a
foreigner peers into another culture for them to
do so with their own cultural preconceptions and
baggage. They cannot have an objective opinion
nor an insider’s insights and therefore their
understanding of the culture may be based on
stereotypes.
4. Promote Diversity
- One area in which many fail when it comes to
borrowing from other cultures, is that more than
often that culture is not represented in any
shape or form in the decision-making process.
There is a dire need for more diversity in
businesses and organisations, whether media,
marketing, fashion or art. Having people with
knowledge of different cultures and who
understand the psychology of minority cultures
or faiths is a sure-fire way of avoiding many of
the potential pitfalls.
5. Engage, Promote & Share Benefits
- Perhaps the most effective way to avoid cultural
appropriation is to engage with the culture you
are adopting from. Spend time in it, understand
it, engage with it and then when it comes to
using a pattern, symbol, headdress or anything
else make sure you use that platform to promote
that culture, its people and if possible share
benefits with them.

Examples of Cultural Appropriation

• In 2013, Miley Cyrus became the pop star most

associated with cultural appropriation. During recorded
and live performances, the former child star began to
twerk, a dance style with roots in the African-American
community. Writer Hadley Freeman of The Guardian
particularly took issue with Cyrus’ twerking at the MTV
Video Music Awards in August 2013.

• Nike caused so much anger when they ‘borrowed’

some Samoan tattoo designs for their Pro Tattoo Tech
collection that it actually led to a petition calling on the
company to stop sales.

When adopting from a foreign culture it is crucial to

follow some basic steps that will help you avoid being
accused of cultural appropriation and instead help create
cultural awareness.
LESSON 3: Writing a Reaction Paper
A reaction paper is an analysis and an evaluation of the
material presented.
A reaction paper should:
make sure to give a detailed overview of the experience
and tell what exactly
was taken out of the experience.
be more than a simple summary of the material that you
are reacting upon.
include your opinion or reaction to the material.
This may take on a variety of forms:
You may compare the work to other related material;
You may come up with ways to improve the work;
You may express what you learned;
You may concur with the work or argue against the work
You can even use “I” or the first person, in this type of
paper.
Guidelines in Writing a Reaction Paper
Consider these general steps as you plan your writing:
Pull your thoughts together on what you just
experienced.
Come up with a thesis statement.
Come up with what reaction you want to put down on
paper.
Decide on your organization and format draft your
reaction paper.
As a starting point for your reaction paper, select two or
three major points from the
following list and write a paragraph for each point.
React to the ideas presented.
o Are they clear and suitable? Explain the ideas, give
examples of their application
in the material presented, and compare/contrast the ideas
with your own.
Compare it to another material.
o How was it similar to the other material? How was it
different? Which did you
enjoy more? What makes it more enjoyable? Which did
you learn more from?
Discuss specific insights or facts you have learned or
gained from reading the material
presented.
o Discuss each insight or fact you have learned in a
detailed paragraph, using
direct examples from the material presented. Include a
page reference to the
material you are reacting to.
Make a judgment about the material presented and
support it.
o Did you like it? Why or why not? Elaborate on your
answer by commenting on
the content, style, clarity, validity of ideas and method of
presentation.
Analyzed the material presented.
o What is its purpose? How does it go about achieving its
goal? What is the
plan/method of presentation?
Tell what others might gain from the material presented.
o Is it valuable? Is it informative, entertaining, or accurate?
Do you think your
instructor should use it again? Why or why not?
In your conclusion, summarize your ideas and tie them
together.
Writing a Reaction or Response Essay
Reaction or response papers are usually requested by
teachers so that you willl consider
carefully what you think or feel about something you have
read. The following guidelines are
intended to be used for reacting to a reading although they
could easily be used for reactions to
films too. Read whatever you've been asked to respond to,
and while reading, think about the
following questions.
How do you feel about what you are reading?
What do you agree or disagree with?
Can you identify with the situation?
What would be the best way to evaluate the story?
Keeping your responses to these questions in mind, follow
the following prewriting steps.
Prewriting for Your Reaction Paper
The following statements could be used in a
reaction/response paper. Complete as
many statements as possible, from the list below, about
what you just read.
My Reaction to What I Just Read Is That . . .
I think that; I see that; I feel that; It seems that; In my
opinion; Because; A good quote is;
In addition; For example; Moreover; However;
Consequently; Finally; In conclusion.
What you've done in completing these statements is
written a very rough
reaction/response paper. Now it needs to be organized.
Organizing Your Reaction Paper
A reaction/response paper has an introduction, a body,
and a conclusion.
The introduction should contain all the basic information
in one or two paragraphs.
Sentence 1:
This sentence should give the title,
author, and publication you read.
Sentence 2, 3, and
sometimes 4:
These sentences give a brief summary of what you
read (nutshell)
Sentence 5:
This sentence is your thesis statement. You agree,
disagree,
identify, or evaluate.
The introduction should include a concise, one
sentence, focused thesis. This is the
focused statement of your reaction/response.
The body should contain paragraphs that provide
support for your thesis. Each
paragraph should contain one idea. Topic sentences same scenario as proof that your essay was helpful in
should support the thesis, and the creating a new understanding.

final sentence of each paragraph should lead into the next Example
paragraph.
Introduction
Topic Sentence
From the parking lot, I could see the towers of the castle of
detail -- example --quotation --detail -- example -- the Magic Kingdom standing
quotation -- detail -- example --
stately against the blue sky. To the right, the tall peak of
quotation -- detail -- example –quotation The Matterhorn rose even higher.

Summary Sentence From the left, I could hear the jungle sounds of
Adventureland. As I entered the gate, Main
You can structure your paragraphs in two ways:
Street stretched before me with its quaint shops evoking
Author an old-fashioned small town so
You charming it could never have existed. I was entranced.
Disneyland may have been built for
OR
children, but it brings out the child in adults.
Author
Conclusion
in contrast to
I thought I would spend a few hours at Disneyland, but
You
here I was at 1:00 A.M., closing
The conclusion can be a restatement of what you said in
time, leaving the front gates with the now dark towers of
your paper. It also be a comment
the Magic Kingdom behind me. I
which focuses your overall reaction. Finally, it can be a
could see tired children, toddling along and struggling to
prediction of the effects of what you are
keep their eyes open as best they
reacting to. Note: your conclusion should include no new
could. Others slept in their parents' arms as we waited for
information.
the parking lot tram that would take
Strategies for Writing a Conclusion
us to our cars. My forty-year-old feet ached, and I felt a bit
Conclusions are often the most difficult part of an essay to sad to think that in a couple of days I
write, and many writers feel
would be leaving California, my vacation over, to go back
that they have nothing left to say after having written the to my desk. But then I smiled to think
paper. A writer needs to keep in mind
that for at least a day I felt ten years old again.
that the conclusion is often what a reader remembers best.
Challenging the reader: By issuing a challenge to your
Your conclusion should be the best
readers, you are helping them to
part of your paper.
redirect the information in the paper, and they may apply it
A conclusion should to their own lives.

1. stress the importance of the thesis statement, Example

2. give the essay a sense of completeness, and
Though serving on a jury is not only a civic responsibility
3. leave a final impression on the reader.
but also an interesting
Suggestions
experience, many people still view jury duty as a chore
4. Answer the question "So What?" that interrupts their jobs and the
5. Show your readers why this paper was important.
routine of their daily lives. However, juries are part of
Show them that your paper
America's attempt to be a free
was meaningful and useful.
and just society. Thus, jury duty challenges us to be
6. Synthesize, don't summarize interested and responsible citizens.
7. Don't simply repeat things that were in your paper.
Looking to the future: Looking to the future can
They have read it. Show them how the points you
emphasize the importance of your
made and the support and examples you used were
not random but fit together. paper or redirect the readers' thought process. It may help
8. Redirect your readers them apply the new
o Give your reader something to think about, perhaps a information to their lives or see things more globally.
way to use your paper in the "real" world. If your
introduction went from general to specific, make your Example
conclusion go from specific to general. Think globally.
Without well-qualified teachers, schools are little more
• Create a new meaning than buildings and equipment. If
• You don't have to give new information to create a
new meaning. By demonstrating how your ideas work higher-paying careers continue to attract the best and the
together, you can create a new picture. Often the sum brightest students, there will
of the paper is worth more than its parts. not only be a shortage of teachers, but the teachers
Strategies available may not have the best

Echoing the introduction: Echoing your introduction can qualifications. Our youth will suffer. And when youth
be a good strategy if it is meant suffers, the future suffers.

to bring the reader full-circle. If you begin by describing a Posing questions: Posing questions, either to your
scenario, you can end with the readers or in general, may help your

readers gain a new perspective on the topic, which they

may not have held before
reading your conclusion. It may also bring your main ideas
together to create a new

meaning.

Example

Campaign advertisements should help us understand the

candidate's qualifications and

positions on the issues. Instead, most tell us what a boob

or knave the opposing

candidate is, or they present general images of the

candidate as a family person or Godfearing American. Do
such advertisements contribute to creating an informed
electorate

or a people who choose political leaders the same way

they choose soft drinks and

soap?

Summary

In summary, this handout has covered prewriting and

organizing strategies for

reaction/response papers.

Prewriting

o Read the article and jot down ideas.

o How do you feel about what was said?

o Do you agree or disagree with the author?

o Have you had any applicable experience?

o Have you read or heard anything that applies to this

what the writer said in the

article or book?

o Does the evidence in the article support the statements

the writer made?

Organizing

• Write the thesis statement first.

• Decide on the key points that will focus your ideas.
These will be your topic
• sentences.
Develop your ideas by adding examples, quotations,
and details to your
• paragraphs.
• Make sure the last sentence of each paragraph leads
into the next paragraph.
• Check your thesis and make sure the topic sentence
of each paragraph supports it