LESSON 1 PURPOSIVE COMM

1. Local and Global Communication
in Multicultural
Settings

2. “Isolated cultures stagnate; cultures that communicate with other
evolve.”
-T. Sowell, Race and Culture 1994

3. Communication can be a challenging activity
because of the highly pluralistic nature of the
people participating in the communication
process. Each participant may differ in
cultural, social and biological backgrounds,
which are all critical factors to effective and
successful intercultural communication.

4. Instances there are that these differences may
lead speakers to misinterpretation or
misunderstanding. So in order to understand
communication within and outside the
context of one’s culture, it is necessary to
identify first the challenges that may be
encountered, then the form of intercultural
communication, and the ways on how to
improve communicative competence in
multicultural settings.

5. Living in a globalized world, you encounter
people with diverse cultural backgrounds. Such
interactions occur in a social, educational,
political and commercial settings.
Hence, in today’s era of increased global
communication, it is imperative to understand
intercultural communication for us to enhance
our intercultural awareness and competence.
Intercultural competence is essential for us to
live harmoniously despite our differences in
culture.

6. It has become a widespread notion that speakers’
use of different languages results in
intercultural miscommunication and
misunderstanding. As Scollon and Scollon
(1995) state:
“When we are communication 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.”

7. It is thus important to emphasize that the
ownership of English cannot be attributed to
just one country or to those who use it as a
native or home language. The varieties of
English spoken by different speech
communities have evolved for a reason. They
use it for communal purposes. These
varieties have been heavily influenced by the
local culture and its speakers.

8. Indeed, the lack of shared knowledge and
beliefs and cultural diversity make it more
complicated to arrive at the correct
inference or interpretation of meanings.

9. But it can also be argued that English is
now a global lingua franca. In fact, with
the ASEAN integration, English has been
declared the official or working language
of ASEAN. So with just one language to be
spoken or used by many countries
including the 10 member countries of the
ASEAN, what else can go wrong?

11. Communication is like a kaleidoscope. Many
units of different sizes, shapes, and color
make up the whole picture. Any action, shift,
or change adjusts the pattern and the
relationship of all of the units to each other,
thereby altering the picture.

12. a.Interracial communication – communicating
with people from different races
b.Interethnic communication – interacting with
people of different ethnic origin
c.International communication –
communicating between representatives
from different nations
d.Intracultural communication – interacting
with members of the same racial or
ethnic group or co-culture

13. According to Gamble and Gamble (2008),
communication style among cultures
differs, it may be high context or low-
context communication.

14. High-context communication is a tradition-
linked communication system which adheres
strongly to being indirect.
Low-context communication is a system
that works on straightforward
communication.

15. The following guidelines may help you
enhance your ability to communicate
effectively across cultures (Gamble & Gamble,
2008):
1.Recognize the validity and differences of
communication styles among people.
2.Learn to eliminate personal biases and
prejudices.
3.Strive to acquire communication skills
necessary in a multicultural world.

17. The spoken mode is often associated
with everyday registers while the written
mode is strongly associated with
academic registers. However, this is not
always true.

18. • For instance, in everyday communication,
face to face conversations are usually
supplemented by text messaging. In
academic contexts, significant forms of
oral communication are used along with
written communication.

19. • Significantly, both every day and academic
communications are characterized by
multi-modality or the use of multiple
modes of communication, including
spoken, written modes and images, music,
videos, gestures, etc.

20. Lin (2016) presents the following nature of
language variation as prescribed by most
linguists based on the ideas of Mahboob
(2014).
1.Language varies when communicating with
people within (local) and outside (global) our
community.
2. Language varies in speaking and in writing.
3.Language varies in everyday and specialized
discourses.

21. There are five language registers. Each level has an
appropriate use that is determined by differing
situations.
a. Frozen
This style of communication rarely or never
changes. It is “frozen” in time and content.
This is official business and educational
language which features complete sentences
and specific word choice, which often contains
archaisms.

22. Example:
We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the
aid of Almighty God, in order to build a just and
humane society, and establish a Government that
shall embody our ideals and aspirations, promote
the common good, conserve and develop our
patrimony, and secure to ourselves and our
posterity, the blessings of independence and
democracy under the rule of law and a regime of
truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace,
do ordain and promulgate this Constitution
(Preamble, 1987 Constitution)

23. b. Formal/Academic
This language is used in formal setting
and is one-way. This use of language
usually follows a commonly accepted
format. It is generally impersonal and
formal. It is often used to show respect.

24. Word selection is more sophisticated,
and certain words are always or never used
depending on the situation. In a formal
register, the story structure focuses on the
plot: It has a beginning and ending and it
weaves sequence, cause and effect,
characters, and consequences into the plot.

25. Example:
“The strongest reason why we ask for woman a
voice in the government under which she lives; in
the religion she is asked to believe; equality in
social life, where she is the chief factor; a place in
the trades and professions, where she may earn
her bread, is because of her birth right to self-
sovereignty; because, as an individual, she must
rely on herself (a speech delivered by Elizabeth
Cady Stanton (1892).”

26. c. Consultative
It is a standard form of
communications. Users engage in a
mutually accepted structure of
interfaces. It is formal and societal
expectations accompany the users
of speech.

27. This register can be described as two-
way participation, professional setting,
background information is provided
(prior knowledge is not assumed),
interruptions and feedback fillers
allowed (“uh-huh,” “I see”), more
complex syntax, and longer phrases.

28. Sentence structure need not be
complete, since non-verbal assists, hand
movements and body language, are
often used to convey meaning

29. Example:
Patient: Hello doctor! Can you spare me a few minutes?
Doctor: Certainly! Come in and sit down. Now, what is the matter with
you?
Patient: I seem to be generally out of sorts. I have no appetite for my
food, and yet I am always suffering from indigestion.
Doctor: Are you troubled with headaches?
Patient: Yes, I am. And what is worse I cannot sleep at night.
Doctor: I see. What is your work?
Patient: I am a clerk in an office, and have to work for long hours.
Doctor: I see, Well, you are evidently run down and need a rest and
change. All your troubles are signs of nervous exhaustion. I will give you
a nerve tonic, but the main thing is rest. If you do as I say, you will soon
be alright.
Patient: Thank you, doctor. I will follow your advice.
Doctor; Let me know how you get on.

30. d. Casual/Informal
The language used in conversation with
friends. A casual register is characterized
by 400- to 500- word vocabulary, broken
sentences, and interruptions are common.

31. Very informal language, idioms, ellipsis,
and slang are common. No background
information is provided, “group” language –
must be a member to use, interruptions are
common, and context and non-verbal
communication are important.

32. General word choice and conversation are
dependent upon non-verbal assists. The
focus of the story is characterization. It is an
indirect, random approach with many
omissions and does not have a sequence,
cause, and effect, or consequence.

33. Example:
Marie: Hey, D! I’m stressing about weight gain on
Xmas. Got any ideas for me?
Diane: It’s only one day, so don’t worry too much.
Marie: I’m worried I’ll eat a gazillion calories at my
in-laws! 
Diane: Just make sure you don’t arrive too hungry,
have a healthy snack beforehand (nuts, granola bar,
etc.)
Marie: Yeah, you’re right. Thanks, D! You’re the best!
Xx
Diane: No worries, M! xx

34. e. Intimate
This communication is private. It is reserved
for close family members or intimate
relations. It is non-public, the intonation is
as crucial as wording and grammar, and
often a special vocabulary full of coded
words is used.

35. Example:
Husband: Hi honey, how was your day?
Wife: Great, We got a lot done. And yours?
Husband: Fine, but stressful. Pass me that
magazine, please.
Wife: Here you go, darling.

36. In what specific ways can you enhance your
ability to communicate with people from
diverse cultures? (one whole sheet of yellow
paper)
“Human beings draw close to one another by
their common nature, but habits and customs
keep them apart.” (Confucius) Do you agree
or disagree? Give concrete situations to
support your stand.