Lesson 2: Local and Global

Communication in
Multicultural Settings
Presented by: Alexis Faye D. Garcia
2nd Sem 2022-2023
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to achieve the following:
1. Describe the styles in communication considering various
multicultural settings.
2. Determine varieties and registers of spoken and written language.
3. Adopt cultural an intercultural awareness and sensitivity in
communicating ideas.
4. Develop a sense of appreciation on the richness and diversity of
registers used in written and spoken communication.
COMMUNICATION STYLES IN VARIOUS
MULTICULTURAL CONTEXTS

Each style has two dimensions: the (1) assertiveness level and the (2)
emotiveness level, which is shown in the Communication Styles Matrix on the next
slide.
The Communication Styles Matrix
People who are categorized within the assertive communication level tend
to tell or instruct others what to do and sometimes even how to do it, while the
less assertive styles usually tend to be on the receiving end, often asking for
guidance, instructions or directions. On the other hand, people who fall under
the expressive level usually show their real feelings and emotions through
facial expressions, tone of voice, or language use. The less expressive ones tend
to either hide their feelings or exert some effort for these feelings not to show.
The combination of these levels result to the basic
communication styles:

Spirited = High Expressiveness + High Assertiveness

Considerate = High Expressiveness + Low Assertiveness
Direct = Low Expressiveness + High Assertiveness
Systematic = Low Expressiveness + Low Assertiveness
Tips for People with a Spirited Communication Style

1. Respect decisions and agenda that have been agreed upon, as well as time
limits during meetings or any communicative situation.
2. Try to limit your sharing of personal anecdotes that may take the discussion
off-topic.
3. Make sure you are allowing others to contribute their ideas and suggestions
– and that you are genuinely listening to them.
4. Be certain that any request you make is clear and that you convey the
reason for such request.
5. Communicate your appreciation for others’ work and input.
Tips for People with a Considerate
Communication Style
1. Recognize that other people’s opinions about a topic are separate from
their opinions about you.
2. Realize that not everyone is comfortable discussing personal topics with
colleagues.
3. Allow others to open personal matters before asking questions of that
nature.
4. Respect your own opinion as you respect that of others’.
5. Recognize that you don’t have to be friends with everyone, but you should
treat others and be treated professionally.
Tips for People with a Direct Communication
Style
1. Make an effort to listen carefully to others. Avoid interrupting.
2. Allow time for ‘chatting’ at the beginning of a meeting.
3. Recognize that others may also feel the need to express themselves.
4. Recognize that brainstorming can be effective and is not a waste of time.
5. Take some time to show your appreciation for others’ contributions.
Tips for People with a Systematic Communication
Style

1. Recognize that for good working relationships, consideration for others’

feelings is important.
2. Learn to ask qualifying questions that will help you get the information you
need.
3. Make sure you understand the background of the discussion or scope of the
conversation so no time is wasted.
4. Politely ask other questions about themselves if you want to build rapport.
5. If you need to ask for more time to know, analyze or discuss something,
explain the benefit of the information you need to know.
 VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN
AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE
In a multicultural society,
people must use
culturally-appropriate
terms, gestures,
expressions and images in
any communicative
situation.

The ‘I Love You’ Map

 Language Varieties
Also called “lects”, these refer to the different variants of a language that can be
sufficiently delimited from one another in terms of social, historical, or geo-spatial
factors, thus forming language clusters.
In addition, language varieties may also be grouped in the following classifications:
a. Pidgin. It refers to a new language that develops into situations where speakers
of different languages need to communicate but do not share a common language.

b. Creole. It is a pidgin that becomes the first language of the children, or the
mother tongue of a certain community.
c. Regional Dialect. It is not a language that is not distinct from a national
language, but rather a variety of a language spoken in a particular area of a
country.

d. Minority Dialect. This is a variety used as a marker of identity, usually

alongside a standard variety, by the members of a particular minority ethnic
group..

e. Indigenized Varieties. These are spoken mainly as second languages in

former colonies with multilingual populations.
 POINT FOR DISCUSSION
How do you classify the ‘conyo’ language
in the Philippines? What do you think are
the unique characteristics of this language
variety? How do you feel about people
using this variety?

Discuss your answers in a whole bond

paper and submit it on our Gclassroom.
Language Registers
A language register is characterized by the way a speaker uses language
differently in different social circumstances. These are determined by such
factors as social atmosphere, purpose of communication, audience, and the
general context of the discourse.

Generally, language registers can be classified as (1) formal, (2) casual, (3)
intimate, (4) frozen, and (5) consultative.
a. Formal. These registers are used in professional, academic, or legal
settings where communication is expected to be respectful, uninterrupted,
and restrained to specific rules. Slang is never used and contractions are rare.

b. Casual. These registers are used when communicating with friends, close
acquaintances, colleagues, and family members.

c. Intimate. Intimate language registers are reserved for special occasions,

usually between only two people and often in private
d. Frozen. It refers to historic language that is intended to remain
unchanged.

e. Consultative. It is used in conversations when people are speaking with

someone who has specialized knowledge or is offering advice. Tone is often
respectful, such as the use of honorifics or courtesy titles, but may be more
casual if the relationship between or among the communicators is friendly.
Language registers can also be classified as Formal, Informal, or Neutral.
Formal language registers are appropriate for professional situations, such as
when speaking to a supervisor or writing an invitation letter. Informal
language registers, on the other hand, are conversational and appropriate
when speaking or writing to a friend or to someone you know quite well.
Lastly, neutral language registers are non-emotional and laden with facts.
These are most appropriate for research or technical writing.
Improving one’s Ability in Communicating
in a Multicultural Setting
The following specific guidelines can enhance your ability to handle
situations involving intercultural communication, and better prepare
yourself to meet the communication challenges in an increasingly
global environment.
• Refrain from forming expectations based solely on your culture.
Knowing and accepting the validity of cultural differences are key in
communicating with people having diverse communication styles.
• Remove personal biases or any stereotype that may impede
understanding. You do not want to be at the receiving end of a biased
judgment, right? You don’t want people avoiding you just because of how
they see other members of your group or culture. Determine how much
your family, friends and colleagues have ‘dictated’ how you view or feel
about other people or other groups, and identify which among these pre-
judgments are stereotypes that can damage relationships.
• Make a personal commitment to develop communication skills appropriate in
multicultural settings. Your ability to develop intercultural communication skills
largely depends on how many – and how much – of these promises you are
willing to make:

o I will make a commitment to seek information from persons whose

cultures are different from my own.
o I will try to understand how the experiences of persons from different
cultures leads them to develop perspectives that differ from mine.
o I will pay attention to the situation and the context when I communicate
with persons from different cultures.
o I will make every effort to become a more flexible communicator.
o I will not insist that persons from other cultures should communicate
with me on my terms.