LOCAL AND GLOBAL

COMMUNICATION IN
MULTICULTURAL SETTING
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
- Refers to communication between people whose cultural perception and symbol
system are distinct enough to alter the communication.

FORMS OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION:

a. Interracial Communication – communicating with people from different
races.
b. Interethnic Communication – interacting with people of different ethnic
origin.
c. International Communication – communicating between representatives
from different nations
d. Intracultural Communication – interacting with members of the same
racial or ethnic group or co-culture.

COMMUNICATION STYLE
- Defined by our tendency to communicate directly or indirectly.
Passive Communication

 Not expressing feelings or needs; ignoring your own personal rights and
allowing others to do so
 Deferring to others for decision making in order to avoid tension or conflict
 Often leads to misunderstanding, built-up anger, or resentment
 Can be a safer communication option when a conflict may escalate to
violence

Examples include statements like “I’m okay with whatever you want to do”; body
language includes failing to make eye contact or looking down.
Aggressive Communication

 Expressing feelings, needs, and ideas at the expense of others; ignoring

others’ rights in order to support your own
 Defensive or hostile when confronted by others
 Often alienates and hurts others
 Can help meet your needs quickly

Examples include statements like “this is what we’re doing,” or “get over it”;
body language includes crossing arms, eye rolling, or finger pointing.

Passive-Aggressive Communication

 Appearing passive on the surface, but subtly acting out anger

 Exerting control over others by using sarcasm and indirect communication,
or avoiding the conversation
 Limited consideration for the rights, needs, or feelings of others

Examples include passive statements and body language followed by giving the
"silent treatment", spreading rumors, and sabotaging another person’s efforts.

Assertive Communication

 Direct, honest communication of thoughts and feelings

 Respecting the feelings, ideas, and needs of others while also asserting your
own
 May not be effective when interacting with individuals that threaten your
personal safety
 People often misinterpret assertive behavior as aggressive – Americans
and women are often mislabeled as a result

Examples include “I” statements like “I feel...when you…and I need for you to
do…” body language includes eye contact, straight posture, and relaxed gestures.
COMMUNICATION BARRIERS
Awareness that miscommunication can arise due to ethnicity, race, gender, age,
ability, and other difference such as religions and lifestyles is the first step towards
multicultural communication. Greater cultural diversity in the workplace and
marketplace increases the need for understanding how cultural background affects
communication. A number of communication barriers exist when you are
interacting with people from cultures other than your own.

1. Cultural Relativism and Ethnocentrism - Cultural Relativism compares

the values and behaviors of different cultures and usually means judging them
against standards of right and wrong for your own culture. This approach to other
cultures becomes a barrier when you assume that cultural beliefs, values and
behaviors are wrong if they differ from those of your own culture. People around
the world are ethnocentric to a degree. Beliefs, values, and behaviors that differ
from those of your own culture may seem peculiar, strange and even wrong.
However, as you study different cultures, recognize that there is not just right and
wrong way but that different ways can be equally correct.

2. Lack of Knowledge and Understanding of Cultures - Although a

particular culture may generally exhibit similar behaviors or characteristics, this
does not mean all individuals in that culture are alike. People form stereotypes
when they assume that behaviors or characteristics typical of a particular culture
define all members of that cultural group. Stereotypes result from a limited
knowledge of cultural diversity. Interacting with and learning more about
individuals within a culture help dispel stereotypes. An understanding of cultures
means being aware that individuals within each culture have similarities and
differences. It means responding to people as individuals while recognizing that
cultural backgrounds and experiences influence behaviour and communication.

3. Discrimination and Harassment - Discrimination is showing favoritism

toward or prejudiced rejection of people because of differences. Discriminatory
practices include failing to hire or promote individuals from a protected group,
making arbitrary or capricious decisions that adversely affect their employment, or
failing to treat them with the same dignity and respect reasonably afforded to to
any human being. Communication between sexes, especially in the business or
formal context, calls for a clear understanding of remarks and actions that could be
construed as sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is an unwelcome behavior of
a sexual nature or with sexual overtones.
4. Language - Language may be a barrier to communication. An increase in
multicultural interactions present language challenges. When organizations
communicate with large numbers of people who speak languages other than
English - employees, clients, customers, suppliers and government personnel-
misunderstandings can occur. Words may have different meanings and
connotations in different countries and cultures. Some words or phrases are
difficult to translate from one language to another because of mental associations
that only native language speakers have for them. For example, if a country does
not have baseball teams, it will be difficult for them to translate baseball-related
sports expressions. Not understanding cultural differences in nonverbal messages
causes communication problems.

MULTICULTURAL COMMUNICATION GUIDELINES

You can become an effective multicultural communicator if you follow a few simple
guidelines.

1. Understand your own culture. Improve communication with others by

increasing awareness of your own culture and and its influences on your beliefs,
values and behaviour patterns. Recognize that your cultural background and
experiences shape how you think, what you value, and how you communicate.

2. Keep an open mind and respect diversity. Learn about other cultures,
beliefs and customs without judging them by your own cultural identity and
unexamined biases. However, avoid accepting stereotypes that assume the
characteristics of all individuals in that culture. Knowledge of an individual’s
ethnic or other cultural background is only an initial clue to understanding his or
her interests, needs and values.

3. Identify and adapt to language differences. If you are communicating with

persons from another culture, learn how that culture’s verbal and non-verbal
languages differ from your own. Observe and learn the meaning of nonverbal
communication signals such as facial expressions, social distance for conversing,
and hand gestures. Avoid nonverbal signals that may be offensive.

When speaking or writing, alter language and change traditional word usage to
avoid language that offends someone. Be sensitive and considerate of other’s
beliefs. When reading or listening, do not be overly sensitive if good intent is
evident. Good judgment and mutual respect should prevail.
 LANGUAGE REGISTERS
What is Language Register?
- A register is a variety of a language that is appropriate in specific
situations. More generally, the term refers to degrees of formality
in language use. It is one of the many styles or varieties of
language determined by factors such as the audience (who), the
topic (what), purpose (why), and location (where).

Different situations and people call for different registers. There are five
language registers or styles. Each level has an appropriate use that is
determined by differing situations.

1. Static Register - This style of communication RARELY or NEVER

changes. Language is literally “frozen” in time, content and form. It does
not change. This type of language is often learned and repeated by rote
e.g. the Pledge of Loyalty, the Lord’s Prayer, the Preamble to the
Philippine Constitution, the Alma Mater song, a bibliographic reference,
laws.

2. Formal Register - This language is used in formal settings and is

one-way in nature. This use of language usually follows a commonly
accepted format. It is usually impersonal and formal. The speaker uses
complete sentences, avoids slang and may use technical or academic
vocabulary. It is likely that the speaker or writer will use fewer
contractions but opt instead for complete words. This is the register used
for most academic and scientific publishing. A common format for this
register are speeches e.g. sermons, rhetorical statements and questions,
pronouncements used by judges, announcements

3. Consultative Register - is a standard form of communication. - is a

standard form of communication. This is the register used when
consulting an expert and the language used is more precise. It is formal
and societal expectations accompany the users of this speech. The
speaker is likely to address the expert by a title such as “Doctor”, “Mr.”
or “Mrs.” Because it is a professional discourse, users engage a mutually
accepted structure of communication e.g. when strangers meet,
communication between a superior and a subordinate, doctor and
patient, lawyer and client, lawyer and judge, teacher and student,
counselor and client.
4. Casual Register - This informal language or controversial-in-tone is
used by peers and friends. Words are general rather than technical.
Slang, vulgarities and colloquialisms are normal. This is “group
language”. One must be a member to engage in this register e.g. buddies,
teammates, chats and emails, and blogs, and letters to friend. Families
and groups of friends develop their own words related to their shared
experiences. Usually communicators do not even realize they have
developed these specialized words and meanings until someone outside
the group asks what a word or phrase means.

5. Intimate Register - This communication is private. It is reserved for

close family members or intimate people e.g. husband or wife, siblings,
parent and children. It is best avoided in public and professional
situations. Kinship and friendship language brings out people together
but at the same time it can make others left out. You are most likely to
use friendship and kinship language on special occasions, such as in a
wedding toast or in a farewell speech at a going-away party.