Module 4A.

Communication in Multicultural Setting

Subject: GEC102 (Purposive Communication)

Lesson Title: Communication in Multicultural Setting

M4A. Learning Outcomes: At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:

• define intercultural communication;

• recognize the importance of intercultural communication in today’s world; and
• recognize cultural differences among people from different countries.

M4A. ACTIVITY
Cultural Self-assessment Questionnaire

Assess your ability to communicate in a multicultural setting using this questionnaire

https://mhsfaculty.auckland.ac.nz/amh/culture.pdf (Last Page)

M4A. Analysis
What are your scores? (Please match twice.)
Higher than total A | Lower than total B | Lower thank total A | Higher than total B

Total A - ____________

Total B - ____________

Total A - ____________

Total B - ____________

M4A. ABSTRACTION
Communication in Multicultural Setting

Intercultural communication happens anywhere, whether in business, school or in everyday life. It has
become a necessary part of today’s world as we join in the growing global community. Because of this, knowing
how to communicate cross-culturally is a skill you must have in order to succeed.

Intercultural Communication

Intercultural communication refers to communication between individuals and groups of different cultural
backgrounds. Language, gestures, mannerisms, customs, and systems of power and authority can be different
between cultures.

Other terms related to intercultural communication are multicultural, diversity, and cross-cultural.
Multicultural means a group or organization that has multiple cultures within it, or is made up of several cultures.
Crosscultural means between multiple groups of different cultures, whereas intercultural means between members
of those cultures.

Intercultural communication is an important part of intercultural competence — or the ability to effectively

function across cultures. As our world gets smaller and globalization gets stronger, intercultural competence and
communication become a necessity to be successful.

Question:

Intercultural communication cannot occur within one's own country.

a) True
b) False

Cultural Differences

Intercultural communication takes place between or among people from different cultural backgrounds. It
is imperative that cultural differences should be recognized to avoid breakdowns in communication.

Value given to time

Americans value promptness. They generally make use of schedules and evaluate each other’s behavior
in these terms. This is the same with the Japanese. Their trains and people are expected to arrive on schedule.
However, it is different in the Philippines where arriving late is the norm rather than the exception. It has a
different meaning depending on how late one is, the circumstances of the meeting, and how well one knows the

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 Module 4A. Communication in Multicultural Setting

person being met. Arriving one minute late will not merit an apology, but one hour would. There is also a ‘politics
of time’. Some can arrive ‘fashionably late' even in professional contexts because of their importance.

Language differences

Language reflects the realities of a given culture and affects the way its members define their
experiences. It can reflect how concepts such as time, distance, color, pain, are perceived differently from
different cultures. For example, the Tagalog language has two equivalents for the English ‘we’: ‘kami’ and ‘tayo.’
Kami is exclusive and used to refer to the in-group excluding the outsider while tayo is inclusive. This pronoun
system suggests the Filipino value for in-group loyalty. Philippine English with expressions like blowout (treat),
dirty ice cream (local ice cream bought from street vendor), jingle (to urinate), or go down (get off a vehicle)
should be used warily. These English expressions with meanings that are different locally will not be understood
by non-Filipinos.

Saying ‘No’

In western countries, like the US, clarity is important. Communicating a refusal has to be brief and direct.
However, in many Asian countries, more focus is placed on the context of communication than the
communication itself. A direct ‘no’ is considered harsh and off-putting. Speakers and writers from these contexts
find alternative or ‘indirect’ ways of saying ‘no’. For example, the Japanese have at least sixteen ways of avoiding
saying ‘no’ including tangential responses, counter questions, a conditional ‘no’, or silence.

Directness vs. Circumlocution

Brevity, clarity, and directness of communication are favored in American and British cultures. This means
that a message, an idea, or a request should be conveyed to the audience or recipient clearly and in as few words
as mandatory. For example, when communicating a refusal or rejection to Westerners, Asians should avoid
circumlocution or indirectness but with a polite yet clear ‘no’. A Westerner, on the other hand, communicating with
an Asian should be aware of the latter’s culture of valuing smooth interpersonal relationships (SIR). To avoid
being viewed as ‘brutally frank’, the American can attempt to clearly convey a rejection but also ‘soften’ this with
buffers, such as an explanation or good news preceding the outright “no.”

Personal/Friendly Language vs. Respectful Language

In Western contexts, people use friendly and personal language in the workplace. Employers and
employees are encouraged to use personal pronouns such as you, me, and we in writing. The objective of this is
the establishment of rapport between communicator and audience. However, in Asia, the use of formal titles is a
way of showing respect for someone considered superior in age, economic status, education, and profession. In
the Philippines, the dropping of a title in favor of using the first name of someone older and higher in rank is
considered rude and disrespectful.

For intercultural communication to be effective, speakers and writers from Eastern and Western contexts
should be familiar with these conventions. They may either adjust to the culture and mode of address of the other
or choose to not take offense because they understand the culture that drives the linguistic convention or
difference.

Question:

It's quite common for the Japanese to make a bowing gesture to people. What should you do if a
Japanese person bows at you?

a) Smile
b) Bow back
c) Shake hands
d) Nod

M4A. APPLICATION
Match the following American English words with their British English equivalent.

Nappy | Chips | Full Stop | Lift | Dustbin | Trouser | Flat | Wardrobe | Biscuit | Pavement

Apartment - ________ French Fries - ________

Closet - ________ Pants – ________
Cookie - ________ Sidewalk - ________
Diaper – ________ Garbage Can - ________
Elevator – ________ Period (punctuation) - ________

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 Module 4A. Communication in Multicultural Setting

M4A. ASSESSMENT
Question:

The following are common ways to say no among Chinese which are also observed by Filipinos except.

a) Make excuses - you need to confer with the boss

b) Express embarrassment
c) Be roundabout and vague
d) Tell a "white lie"

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Cultural Self-assessment Questionnaire
For each of the pairs of statements below, choose either A or B as most representative of your attitudes.

1A Although people may speak different languages and dress in different ways, beneath the surface everyone
is the same.

1B Beneath the surface, the values and assumptions held by diverse cultures may be very different from each
other.

2A Other people probably have the same basic beliefs and attitudes as I do.

2B People in different cultures may well not have the same basic beliefs and attitudes as I do.

3A I would find it relatively hard to identify a range of external influences (for example, profession, nationality
and so on) on the way in which I think and behave.
3B I would find it relatively easy to identify a range of external influences (for example, profession, nationality
and so on) on the way in which I think and behave.

4A It is not ususally necessary to know too much about someone's background in order to come to an
understanding of who they are.
4B The only way to really know someone is to understand something about the cultures and social groups to
which they belong.

5A I think that first impressions are ususally quite a good way of coming to a judgement about someone.

5B I think that first impressions are rarely quite a good way of coming to a judgement about someone.

6A I think that there is usually one best way of arriving at a decision.

6B I think that different perspectives can contribute greatly to good decision-making.

7A I think that diversity makes it harder for people to work together.

7B I think that diversity makes a positive contribution to working together.

8A I would find it quite hard to describe my basic values and beliefs, and the things that are most important to
me as a person.
8B I would find it quite easy to describe my basic values and beliefs, and the things that are most important to
me as a person.

9A I can rarely recognize when culture is having an impact on the effectiveness of my communication with
people from different backgrounds.
9B I can ususally recognize when culture is having an impact on the effectiveness of my communication with
people from different backgrounds.

10A I find it easy to recognize when I am suffering from stress and anxiety.

10B I find it difficult to recognize when I am suffering from stress and anxiety.

Count the number of A and B answers and write down the totals below:

Total As: More As than Bs means being more culturally effective.

More Bs than As means there is a need to develop more understanding of

Total Bs: cultural implications.

Adapted from The Cross-Cultural Communication Trainer's Manual - Volume Two:

Activities for Cross-Cultural Training, John Cutler, Gower: Aldershot, 2005. Activity
3.1