Chapter 3: Exploring Texts Reflecting

Different Cultures

LESSON 1: Cultural Texts

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this lesson, you should
be able to:
1. demonstrate an understanding
of the importance of cultural context
in the communication process;
2. analyze texts that reflect varied
cultures and practices; and
3. appreciate various cultural
identities and differences

MOTIVATION:

Have you ever watched Harry Potter movies? Or do you have a friend who lives
in the UK? Do you also like watching Peppa Pig the Movie? What have you observed in
the way they speak and the words they use? How about American movies? I’m pretty
sure you have watched one. Try to compare the two languages (American English and
British English) in terms of pronunciation and the terms they use. Are there any
differences?

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 INCULCATING CONCEPTS:

CULTURAL TEXT

Awareness of the different varieties of

English with their features as well as
understanding the registers of English should
be the goal of everyone so that there is less
misunderstanding and miscommunication.

Note that one cause of

miscommunication is pronunciation. Speakers
of different varieties of English have different
ways of pronouncing the words. This is so
because of the differences in phonology.

Kachru and Nelson (2006, p.37)

claimed that in terms of pronunciation, most
Outer- and Expanding- Circle varieties ,
display differences from the Inner-Circle
varieties, similar to those found between
regional dialects within the Inner-Circle varieties.
These differences may lead to grammatical consequences affecting
comprehension.

For instance, among Singaporean and Malaysian speakers of English, a feature

noted is simplification of final consonant clusters, e.g. [lef] for left and [pick] for picked.
Such is also the case in Philippine English.

Interpretations then vary because of differences in pronunciation. If one says “hit

it” instead of “heat it” or “She ass” instead of “She asks,” miscommunication is likely to
happen.

In Philippine languages, every vowel is pronounced with full distinct sound.

Filipinos pronounce words as they are written or spelled out making it syllable-timed and
not stress-timed.

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Americans, on the other hand, blend syllables or sometimes even drop some sounds
making the syllables short.

1. American English: Gotcha!

Philippine English: Got you!
2. American English: Whatche say?
Philippine English: What did she say?
3. American English: Wherd yu go?
Philippine English: Where did you go?
4. American English: Ja hitit?
Philippine English: Did you hit it?
5. American English: Can I getche sdrink?
Philippine English: Can I get you a drink?

A cultural barrier does not only pertain to different languages. It may also be in
form of a cultural practice or even a bodily gesture. For instance, in English-speaking
countries and even in the Philippines, the thumbs-up gesture signal approval. However
it is considered offensive in other countries such as Greece, Italy, and in some parts of
the Middle East.

Likewise, making a circle with one’s thumb and forefinger generally means okay
in many Western cultures but this is not so in countries like Japan where it is interpreted
as a sign for money, and in some Arab cultures as a threat. Thus, one should be careful
in using bodily gestures.

FORMAL and INFORMAL LANGUAGE

Your purpose for communication and the relationship you have with the listeners/
readers will determine if you are to use formal or informal language.

When you are in a gymnasium and a teenager offers you a seat, you
acknowledge the kind gesture by saying: “Thanks for a seat.”
However, if you are in an academic forum and an organizer offers you a seat, you say:
“Thank you very much, (Sir or Ma’am).

When speaking impromptu on a certain topic, you should use ordinary,

conversational language. However, if you are to give a lecture in a conference, your
language should be formal. In the same manner that when you write your speech and
your purpose is to inform your audience on climate change, it is expected that your
language is formal. In contrast, if your speech is meant to entertain your listeners on a
light topic, your language should be informal.

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LESSON 2: Coping with the Challenges of Intercultural
Communication

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

1. Recognize the challenges of intercultural communication

2. Determine the sources of misunderstanding
3. Appreciate the value of co-existing with individuals of different cultural
backgrounds.

INCULCATING CONCEPTS:

Challenges of Intercultural Communication

Scollon and Scollon (1995) stated “When we are communicating with people who are
very different from us, it is very difficult to know how to draw inferences about what they
mean, and so it is impossible to depend on shared knowledge and background for
confidence in our interpretation.”
Lack of shared knowledge and beliefs, and cultural diversity make it more complicated
to arrive at the correct inference or interpretation of meanings.
But, English is now a global lingua franca…With just one language to be spoken or
used by many countries, what else can go wrong?

Misunderstanding
may not always
be caused by
verbal utterances
but may also
occur due to
wrong
interpretation of
the non-verbal
code.

The Handshake

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 Country or Region Type of Handshake
United states Firm handshake
France Soft handshake

Germany Form handshake, for men, traditionally

accompanied by a slight bow
Japan Handshake with arm firmly extended,
accompanied by a bow
Middle East Handshake and free hand placed on
forearm of the other person

Greetings
Japan

Thailand

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 Sources of Misunderstanding (Kaur, 2016)

 Ambiguity
 Performance-related misunderstanding
 Language-related misunderstanding
 Gaps in world knowledge
 Local context

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1. Ambiguity

Lack of explicitness on
the part of the speaker
in the form of
problematic reference
and ambiguous
semantics in which an
utterance is open to
different interpretations

Did you see her dress? What is your interpretation of this?

2. Performance-related misunderstanding- Slips of the tongue and mishearing

which may be due to utterances spoken quickly and unclearly.

Archie Bunker: We need a few laughs to break up the monogamy.

Is the word “monogamy” correctly used in the sentence? I bet we have the same
thing in our minds. No, it is not. The term should be monotony.

monotony (noun)- a lack of change

that makes something boring
monogamy (noun) – the state or
practice of being married to only
one person at a time. (Merriam-
Webster dictionary)

How about this picture?

What’s wrong in here?

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3. Language-related misunderstanding- Ungrammaticality of sentences

 Sarah gave a bath to her dog wearing a pink t-shirt.(What do you think of this?)

 Answer me with Yes or No.Do you mind if I borrow your pen?

(What would be your answer?) If you will let me borrow your pen, you should
reply with “No I don’t mind it. You may borrow it for a while”, not “Yes”.

4. Gaps in world knowledge- Gaps in content rather than language.

Filipinos should be wary of using expressions like:

Blowout (a treat)
Dirty ice cream (local ice cream bought from street vendors)
Jingle (urinate)
Go down (get off a vehicle)

5. Local Context- turns and turns within sequences produced by the participants
themselves, and the orientation of the participants as well as the repair moves
that follow the displayed understanding.
Study the examples below.

A man approaches a woman sitting on a bench.

A dog sits on the ground near her.
Man: Does your dog bite?
Woman: No.
(The dog bit the man.)
Man: You said he doesn’t bite!
Woman: Well, MY dog’s at home!

Effective Intercultural Communication

 Be clear. Avoid using ambiguous words, phrases or signals.

 If you suspect possible miscommunication, repair right away.
 Avoid using idioms and metaphors understood only on our local context, but may
be confusing to other cultures.
 Learn the correct uses of idioms and figures of speech in other languages
(English)
 Asians to Westerners: be direct; say a polite yet clear “No.”
 Westerners to Asians: clearly convey a rejection but also “soften” this with
buffers, such as an explanation or good news preceding the outright “No”
To be Effective:

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 adjust to the culture and mode of address of the other; or
 choose not to take offense because you understand the culture that drives the
linguistic convention

“A genuine effort to
understand another
person goes a long
way in the path to
communication.”

~Unknown