Understanding Face-to-Face & Mediated Communication

1. Understanding Face-to-Face & Mediated Communication Intercultural Communication = communication among diverse peoples (pg. 35).

2. IC Communication Competence “…refers to one’s skill in facilitating successful IC outcomes” “the multicultural person is one who respects cultures and has tolerance for differences” p35

3. Competence: Communication Approach, pg. 35-36 • Personality Strengths: Traits that affect IC are self-concept, self-disclosure, self-monitoring, and social relaxation. • Communication Skills: Message skills, behavior flexibility, interaction management, social skills. • Psychological Adjustment: Culture shock- frustration, stress and alienation in ambiguous situations. • Cultural Awareness: Understand social customs and social system of host country. How people think & behave. • Intercultural sensitivity • Cognitive or intercultural awareness • Behavior or intercultural adroitness

4. IC Communication Ethics Guides for living, the moral right & wrongs we learn from our culture. Different cultures have different ethical guidelines. Common to all is the belief that Peace is a fundamental human value. Respect Truthfulness Uniqueness Identification

5. Environmental Ethics • Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring -1962 • Paul Erlick’s -1968 The Population Bomb “What duties do humans have with respect to the environment, and why?”

6. Cultural Definitions ofCommunication We can better understand how culture and communication are interconnected by analyzing two different cultural systems of communication. Confucianism was chosen because it is a philosophical system that has influenced Asian beliefs since 550-478 B.C.E. Aristotle, represents a Western perspective 384-322 B.C.E.

7. Communication theories reflect how a culture thinks Confucianism guides interpersonal relationships by focusing on balance and harmony. Here are five specific differences between Asian and Western communication: 1. Particularism 2. Role of intermediaries 3. Reciprocity 4. In-group/out-group distinction 5. Overlap of personal and public relationships Connections

8. Modern Chinese Family Confucianism provides an ethical system to guide interactions in the family, the community, and the state. Of the five social guidelines set forth, three relate to the family relationships: husband and wife, father and son, elder brother and younger brother. Filial piety is the belief that the son honors and respects his father and elders.

9. Particularism Unlike the United States where communication is guided by the value of equality, Confucian influenced cultures communicate based on status. The rules guide who talks to whom, about what, and in what manner. In Confucian cultures, a specific language form, an honorific, is used to address those who are older or who have higher status. When someone from the U.S. interacts with a Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Lao, Japanese --anyone from an area with a large Chinese population (now including Tibet and western Tajikistan), this rule will govern the interaction.

10. Role of Intermediaries The photos show wedding ceremonies in Japan, Korea, and China. The second effect that Confucianism has on interpersonal relationships involves situations where conflict can occur. Because confrontations or disputes disrupt harmony, direct dealings that may result in conflict are handled by a third party. This person negotiates an agreeable solution between the two or more parties.

11. ReciprocityIn-group/out groupOverlap of personal and public relationships In-Out groups. You belong to one or the other. In-groups membership means you have access to a deeper level of disclosure and knowledge of the others in the group. Overlap of personal and public relationships. There is no distinction between business hours and private time. These three remaining effects relate to how people understand their role in relationship to others. Reciprocity means each party in a complementary relationship owes the other something. It is an obligation and it ensures that someone will always be looking out for you.

12. Confucian Verbal Strategies • Compliments, greeting rituals, etc. reinforce understanding and guide interpersonal relationships. • Use of honorific forms of speech to distinguish social status, gender, occasion, and degree of intimacy. • Respect for relationship is emphasized over information disclosed. • Modesty and concern about loss of face dominate.

13. Western Perspectives on Communication • Communication is intention, is symbolic, and involves at least two people. • Context = Culture

14. The Media of Intercultural Communication Human Couriers & Intermediaries Internet Language use, design elements, Social Network Sites From semaphore flags to smoke signals, ticker tape to the telegraph, carrier pigeons to carrier radio waves, human history has countless examples of technologies developed to help people communicate.

15. The Special Case of Prejudice & Racism • Prejudice is discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior. • Hate Speech includes threats or verbal slurs directed against specific groups, burning crosses, painting swastikas (p.52) Racism defined (dictionary.com) rac·ism a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others. 2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination. 3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races. Origin: 1865–70; < French racisme.

16. “Communication can play a role in either spreading prejudice & racism or stopping their spread.” “Research shows that evaluations of individual minority group members can be biased by overheard derogatory ethnic labels when the person’s behavior is less than perfect” (p. 52)

17. Hank Williams Jr. Blasts Obama Again "We’ve got a Muslim for a President who hates cowboys, hates cowgirls, hates fishing, hates farming, loves gays, and we hate him," Williams Jr. bellowed. As the Dallas Sun reported, the crowd responded with a loud cheer. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/03/hank-williams-jr-obama-gays_n_1852739.html

18. Experiment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWtiPcX-mZ0

19. How to effect change? • Racism and prejudicial beliefs are often rooted in early childhood socialization and fostered in communication with people who are themselves prejudiced and racist. • Is it possible to combat racism and prejudice? • Establish cultural norms against behavior. • Speak up against racism/prejudicial comments. Your vocal opinions matter.