- Information
- AI Chat
MLL305 Exam 1 Review
Introduction to Intercultural Communication (MLL 305 )
University of Maryland Baltimore County
Preview text
My son BILAL My nephew Abraaar Yo Mama Nida My son reyana Nidwho? Aunty? Exam 1 Study Guide Term/Point Definition/Explanation/Example CULTURE Culture Analogy of the iceberg ● Traits of culture A group of people influenced by social and physical environment that share similar values and beliefs to varying degrees. ● Top: anything observable/experienced (i. food, fashion, symbols), 5 senses ● 2nd Layer: meaning we attach to symbols, social norms, emotions. Actions ● 3rd Layer: values, traditions, status/power, beliefs ● Bottom: universal needs ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Learned Passed down/transmitted generationally Developed Shared Taught Influenced Acquired Distinguishes Observational Experienced Requires grouping Individuality/internal variation Communication Changeable/dynamic Static Has patterns Abstract Symbolic ○ Stands for something ○ Has meaning ○ Upholds your values Big C/Little c culture Cultural knowledge is often described in terms of “little c” culture, comprised of cultural beliefs, behaviors, and values, and “big C” culture, such as literature, art, and institutions. Students most often identify cultural learning with “big C” culture, which is a small part of the whole picture. “Little c” culture is more subtle and more difficult to teach, but can reveal important cultural differences. Little c is found mostly in your surroundings and the people you are around. Cultural competence ● Competent means to be aware, able, have knowledge, understanding, skilled, “KSA’s” ● Having knowledge of your own culture and have the knowledge and ability to apply someone else’s culture (application and knowledge) ● Does NOT mean that you have to give up your own cultural values ● Recognizing that you have different cultural values and norms than another person Intercultural competence ● Competent means to be aware, able, have knowledge, understanding, skilled, “KSA’s” ● Having knowledge of your own culture and have the knowledge and ability to apply someone else’s culture (application and knowledge) ● Does NOT mean that you have to give up your own cultural values ● Recognizing that you have different cultural values and norms than another person The communication process ● Two things happen: intent and interpretation ○ Goal: successful communication is to make intent and interpretation match ● A ↔B ○ Symbolic exchange ● Making/negotiating meaning Norms Values Behavioral, “rules”/expectations of proper/improper behavior ● (Cultural) Values… ○ influence our behaviors ○ inform our behaviors ● Beliefs about… ○ Time ○ Respect ○ How friendships are formed 5. Locus of control--Internal/external I: You have control over your life events and your happiness, life is what you make of it Emphasize of free will. You are the pilot of your own life. Ex: Fate plays a major role in life outcomes, little control, life is what happens to you. External determinism. 6. Importance of face--Less/more important Less: Honesty is the best policy, telling the truth is more important than sparing feelings, doesn’t focus on saving face More: Saving face and preserving peace is more important. One says what other person wants to hear. 7. Power distance--Low/high Power distance is the extent to which the lower ranking individuals of a society "accept and expect that power is distributed unequally". It is primarily used in psychological and sociological studies on societal management of inequalities between individuals, and individual's perceptions of that management. In high power distance countries and organizations, people don't question the decisions of their leaders. Low power distance organizations are looser, decentralized hierarchies, where employees or subordinates are considered equal, or nearly equal. 8. Attitude toward uncertainty Positive/skeptical Positive- People are not afraid of taking any kind of risks or failing. Tradition is not values. Skeptical- opposite. Refers to how a culture feels about change and tradition and about what is new and different. It also examines cultural attitudes toward taking risks and failing. 9. Key to productivity Results/harmony Result - focusing on task ensures success. Getting results is more important than how you get them . Employee loyalty is not as important as performance/productivity. Harmony- in the workplace ensures the success of an organization; what matters in employees is their ability to get along/work well with others, which is related to personal qualities. 10. Source of status Achieved/ascribed Achieved- rank and respect must be earned, it does not come with a position/title/age. People promoted/respected based on performance easy to move up. Superior do not treat lesse people differently. Ascribed- Autocracy; rank, position, and title confer automatic status and respect 11. Work attitude Quality of life/achievement Quality of life- better quality is what motivates people - Work to live, spending time with family is as important as the lure of achievement. Achievement- people are motivated by achievement. - Work over family, live to work, chance to make more money is more important than job security. 12. One thing/many things at a time Monochronic and polychronic 13. NOT TESTED Short/long term orientation Long-term orientation is when you are focused on the future. You are willing to delay short-term material or social success or even short-term emotional gratification in order to prepare for the future. If you have this cultural perspective, you value persistence, perseverance, saving and being able to adapt. Short-term orientation is when you are focused on the present or past and consider them more important than the future. If you have a short-term orientation, you value tradition, the current social hierarchy and fulfilling your social obligations. You care more about immediate gratification than long-term fulfillment. 14. NOT TESTED Restraint/indulgence INDULGENCE: "Stands for a society that allows relatively free gratification of basic and natural human drives related to enjoying life and having fun" (Dimensions). RESTRAINT: "Stands for a society that suppresses gratification of needs and regulates it by mean of strict social norms" (Dimensions). Direct/indirect and Low context/high context (know characteristics of these) ● One is not “clear” and the other “convoluted” ● Indirect/High context are not “hiding the message”: the message is clear and in plain view if you are prepared to understand the message ● Cultures don’t use these styles exclusively, but there are tendencies Direct/low context ● context matters less: spoken word carries the meaning ● more explicit, spell things out ● “mean what you say, say what you mean” Indirect/high context ● infer, suggest, and imply ● “read between the lines” ● listener is expected to be able to interpret according to the context ● nonverbal cues are very important ● tends to be found in more collectivistic culture Communication Styles 3. Bicultural identity: Integrative approach (comfortable for their culture and ethnicity). 4. Marginal identity: Separation, alienation, and ambiguity. NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION Body/kinesic ● Nonlinguistic Cues ○ Eye contact/Oculesics (eye movement, gaze) ○ Postures ○ Body movements/gestures ○ Expressions (facial) S.A.D.F.I.S. (sad, anger, disgust, fear, interest, surprise, happy) ○ Touching/Haptics (e. holding, guiding, kissing, hugging) Paralanguage ● Cues ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Tone of voice Pitch Volume Rate Accent Proxemics ● Personal space ● Conversational distance ● Seating arrangements Time ● ● ● ● ● Artifacts and physical qualities ● Physical Qualities ○ Body shapes ○ Odors ○ Height ○ Weight ○ Hair color, skin color, eye color Environment ● Territory – where the communication is taking place ● Architectural influences Extra credit: Meeting time Arrival and departure time Waiting time Speaking time Monochronic/polychronic (one thing at a time versus many things at a time) ○ Time is linear vs time is flexible 6 stumbling blocks 1) Preconceptions and Stereotypes 2) Language differences 3) Nonverbal misinterpretations 4) Anxiety 5) Tendency to Evaluate 6) Assumption of Similarities
MLL305 Exam 1 Review
Course: Introduction to Intercultural Communication (MLL 305 )
University: University of Maryland Baltimore County
- Discover more from:
