PURC Week 1: Communication Cues

Communication Cues

• Verbal Language: Comprises symbols such as letters and words that adhere to grammar rules for effective communication of ideas.
• Non-verbal Language:
  • Norms differ across countries and cultures, impacting non-verbal communication practices.
  • Some behaviors in non-verbal communication are innate and universally recognized.

Communicative Competence

• Definition: The ability to understand and effectively use language in various contexts and for multiple purposes.
• Linguistic Competence: Involves knowledge of language forms and structures.
• Strategic Competence: Refers to skills in using communication strategies to overcome challenges in communication.
• Socio-linguistic Competence: Understanding social context's influence on language use.
• Discourse Competence: Ability to produce and interpret larger units of communication, such as conversations or written texts.

Cultural Ignorance

• Consequences: Misunderstandings due to cultural ignorance can lead to perceptions of insensitivity, ignorance, or cultural confusion.
• Risks: Such ignorance may result in lost opportunities and heightened tensions in interactions across cultures.

Key Cultural Concepts

• Collectivistic Cultures: Cultures prioritizing group well-being over individual desires.
• Cultural Imperialism: One culture imposing its values over another.
• Cultural Pluralism: A society that celebrates and accommodates diverse cultural groups.
• Cultural Relativism: The principle of understanding cultural practices in their own context rather than judging them by one's own standards.
• Culturally Confused: Individuals unable to navigate cultural differences effectively.

Key Terms in Diversity

• Diversity: Variety in cultural or ethnic groups within a society.
• Ethnocentrism: Evaluating other cultures based on the standards of one's own culture.
• Globalization: Increased interconnectedness and interaction among cultures worldwide.

Communication Contexts

• High-context Communication: Relies heavily on context, including non-verbal cues and implied meanings.
• High-power-distance Cultures: Cultures that accept unequal distribution of power and authority.
• Individualistic Cultures: Cultures that value personal autonomy and individual rights over group goals.

Types of Communication

• Intercultural Communication: Interactions between people from different cultural backgrounds.
• Interethnic Communication: Communication between individuals of different ethnic groups.
• International Communication: Cross-border interactions involving global communications.
• Intracultural Communication: Communication within the same cultural or ethnic group.
• Interracial Communication: Interaction between different racial groups.

Additional Concepts

• Low-context Communication: Relies more on explicit verbal expressions rather than context.
• Low-power-distance Cultures: Cultures that believe in minimizing power differences among individuals.
• Masculine Cultures: Cultures valuing competitiveness, achievement, and material success.
• Melting-pot Philosophy: Concept of assimilating diverse cultures into a single cohesive culture.
• Multiculturalism: Promotion of multiple distinct cultures within a society.

Social Dynamics

• Prejudice: Preconceived opinion or judgment towards a group or individual based on characteristics such as race, ethnicity, or culture.
• Separation: The act of distancing or withdrawing from different cultural or ethnic groups.