This document discusses the connection between verbal communication and culture. It covers several topics: 1) Human languages have distinctive features like arbitrariness and creativity as well as rule patterns for phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics. 2) Language serves cultural worldview, social reality, cognitive and group membership functions. It also shapes social change. For example, linear vs. relational worldviews influence logical reasoning styles. 3) Verbal communication styles differ between low-context cultures (LCC) and high-context cultures (HCC). LCC uses direct styles while HCC uses more indirect and situation-dependent styles. 4) Intercultural communication requires empathy, parap

1. Understanding Intercultural
Communication Second Edition
Chapter 6
What is the Connection between Verbal
Communication & Culture?
Stella Ting-Toomey & Leeva C. Chung
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
PowerPoint Slides Designed by Alex Flecky and Noorie Baig

2. TODAY’S MENU
I. Human Language: Distinctive
Features and Rule Patterns
II. Appreciating Diverse Language
Functions
III. Verbal Communication
Styles: A General Framework
IV. Intercultural Reality Check: Do-
Ables

3. Do you know…
• The Top-3 Countries with the Most Native
English-Language Speakers?
• The Top-3 Countries with the Most Native
Spanish-Language Speakers?
• The Top-3 Most Widely-Spoken
Languages Worldwide?
(Ethnologue Database, 2010-11)

4. I. Human Language: Distinctive
Features
and Rule Patterns
Language:
An arbitrary, symbolic system that labels
and categorizes objects, events, groups,
people, ideas, feelings, experiences, and
many other phenomena.
Can you guess how many languages exist
worldwide?

5. I. Human Language: Distinctive
Features
and Rule Patterns
A. Distinctive Language Features
• Arbitrariness: sounds and symbols
Ω A  € ∞
• Abstractness: concrete to abstract
levels
• Meaning-Centeredness: denotative and
connotative levels of meaning
• Creativity: productivity, displacement,
eta-communicative

6. I. Human Language: Distinctive
Features and Rule Patterns
B. Multiple Rule Patterns
• Phonological Rules: Smallest unit of a
word
• Morphological Rules: Multiple sounds
• Syntactic Rules: Grammar
• Semantic Rules: Meaning
• Pragmatic Rules: Contextual rules

7. II. Appreciating Diverse
Language Functions
Click here to find out the “Meaning of Love”
From 7 Billion Others from YouTube

8. II. Appreciating Diverse Language
Functions
A. Cultural Worldview Function
• Linear worldview vs. Relational worldview
B. Everyday Social Reality Function
C. Cognitive Shaping Function
• Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: “the shaper of ideas”
• Strong Form vs. Weak Form
D. Group Membership Function
• Code switching (Click to view related video)
E. Social Change Function

9. II. Appreciating Diverse Language
Functions: Cultural Worldview
Function
Linear Worldview Relational Worldview
Rational thinking Connected thinking
Objective reasoning Context-based reasoning
Facts and evidence Context and relationship
Polarized interpretation Continuum interpretation
Analytical dissecting Holistic big-picture mode
mode
Long-term relational
Tangible outcome outcome

10. II. Verbal Communication Styles:
A General Framework
LCC Patterns HCC Patterns
Individualistic values Collectivistic values
Linear logic Spiral logic
Direct verbal style Indirect verbal style
Matter of fact tone Understated or animated
tone
Informal verbal style Formal verbal style
Verbal assertiveness or
talkativeness Verbal reticence or silence
Verbal self- Self-humbling style
enhancement style

11. II. Verbal Communication Styles: A General Framework
LCC – HCC Application Analysis:
• The Joy Luck Club: Film Clip
• Roommates Video
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
• Compare and contrast the different verbal styles of the
people in the videos.
• What did the low-context communicator say/do? What
did the high-context communicator say/do?
• What recommendations do you have for these
communicators to make this conversation go better?

12. II. Verbal Communication Styles: A General
Framework
Beliefs Expressed in Talk and Silence
• Silence is interpreted and evaluated differently
across cultures and between persons.
• How do you interpret silence?
Take a look at how the Japanese people use
silence to mean different things…

13. IV. Intercultural Reality Check: Do-
Ables
When using your native language with a
nonnative speaker, to be flexible verbal
communicators, try to practice the following
guidelines:
– Practice intercultural empathy
– Learn to paraphrase and perception check
– Use multiple modes of presentation
– Practice language variation usage
– Pay attention to nonverbal tone of voice
– Understand basic differences of LCC and HCC
patterns
– Use nonverbal gestures to complement

14. Parting Thoughts…
If you talk to a man
in a language he understands,
that goes to his head.
If you talk to him in his language,
that goes to his heart.
~ Nelson Mandela
Learn a new language
and get a new soul.
~ Czech Proverb