UNIVERISTY OF CALOOCAN CITY
Brgy. 173, Congressional Road, Caloocan City
PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
MODULE 3
LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNICATION IN MULTICULTURAL
SETTING
LESSON 1: DIVERSITY AND THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY
What is Diversity? Diversity has various definitions and thus cannot be easily defined. The term
often refers to the great variety of distinctions that exist between persons and groups, yet the
ambiguity of these distinctions entail an exhaustive list of attributes. The following quotes
demonstrate a few of the numerous definitions of diversity:
“Diversity is differences among people with respect to age, class, ethnicity, gender, physical and
mental ability, race, sexual orientation, spiritual practice, and other human differences.”
– Kathy Castania
“[Diversity] means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual
differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation,
socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other
ideologies.”
– Office of Equity and Inclusion Oregon Health Authority
“’Diversity’ as used here [in this sentence] refers to human attributes that are different from your
own and from those of groups to which you belong.”
– The University of Michigan
By considering these definitions, we acknowledge only a few of the various attributes associated
with diversity. In a more general sense, these attributes may differ in particular environments
such as academia, healthcare, or the workplace.
ADVANTAGES OF DIVERSITY
There is substantial literature which argues that diversity has performance advantages
over homogenous work structures (Cox, Lobel and MacLeod, 1991; Cox and Blake, 1991). First,
multicultural organizations have an advantage in attracting and retaining the best talent. The
capabilities of women and minorities offer a wider labor pool. Organizations that are able to
attract and retain qualified minority group members and keep faith with them through fair and
equitable career advancement treatments, gain competitive advantage and derive high quality
human resources dividends. Second, a multicultural organization is better suited to serve a
diverse external clientele in a more increasingly global market. Such organizations have a better
understanding of the requirements of the legal, political, social, economic and cultural
environments of foreign nations (Adler, 1991). Third, in researchoriented and hi-tech industries,
the broad base of talents generated by a gender-and ethnic-diverse organization becomes a
priceless advantage.
“Creativity thrives on diversity” (Morgan, 1989). Fourth, multicultural organizations are
found to be better at problem solving, possess better ability to extract expanded meanings, and
are more likely to display multiple perspectives and interpretations in dealing with complex
issues. Such organizations are less susceptible to “groupthink.” Fifth, multicultural organizations
tend to possess more organizational flexibility, and are better able to adapt to changes. Women,
for instance, are said to have higher tolerance for ambiguity than men (Rotter & O’Connell,
1982). A study of the U.S. Forest Service suggests advantages of a culturally diverse
organization in the development and management of natural resource policies. It concluded that
the creation of a diverse mix of employees was not only more reflective of the diverse public
which the Forest Service serves, but also resulted in better land management decisions that were
more responsive to the desires and needs of the populations served (Brown and Harris, 1993).
DISADVANTAGES OF DIVERSITY
Diversity has some drawbacks which moderate its significant advantages. In problem-solving
situations, extraordinary costs in time and financial resources can negate the benefits of synergy,
and can even degenerate into dysfunctional conflicts. Diversity does not fare as well under
conditions of uncertainty and complexity which may lead to confusion and frustration. Diversity
can make it harder to arrive at an agreement on a particular course of action, and can result in
negative dynamics and cultural clashes that can create work disadvantages for women and
minorities. Traditionally, cultural conflicts between majority and minority group members are
usually resolved in favor of the majority groups.
This, in turn, creates significant barriers to full participation by minority members in potentially
conflict situations. In an analysis of 151 work groups, Tsui, Egan and O’Reilly (1992) found
diversity to be associated with lower levels of psychological identification with group members
which would tend to detract from overall performance and result in adverse effects on
organizational measures of productivity, absenteeism and turnover. Homogenous groups have
been reported to outperform culturally diverse groups especially where there are serious
communication issues which make it more difficult for everybody to make optimal contributions
to the group effort (Sheridan, 1994).
LESSON#2
LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNICATION IN MULTICULTURAL SETTING
Introduction
COMMUNICATION
Communication is simply the act of transferring information from one place, person or group to
another. Every communication involves (at least) one sender, a message and a recipient.
LOCAL COMMUNICATION
Local communication is being able to communicate with the members of your local area. It can
either be in your local language (mother tongue), or a common language that you speak within
your town.
GLOBAL COMMUNICATION
Global communication is the term used to describe ways to connect, share, relate and mobilize
across geographic, political, economic, social and cultural divides. It redefines soft and hard
power as well as information power and diplomacy in ways not considered by traditional theories
of international relations.
MULTICULTURAL VS. INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
What’s the difference between multicultural, intercultural, and cross-cultural
communication?
MULTI-CULTURAL
MULTICULTURAL
Multicultural refers to a society that contains several cultural or ethnic groups. People live
alongside one another, but each cultural group does not necessarily have engaging interactions
with each other.
INTERCULTURAL
Intercultural describes communities in which there is a deep understanding and respect for all
cultures.
CROSS-CULTURAL
Cross-cultural deals with the comparison of different cultures. In cross-cultural communication,
differences are understood and acknowledged, and can bring about individual change, but not
collective transformations.
Diversity in a workplace
DIVERSITY IN WORKPLACE
ACCEPTANCE
AND RESPECT
ACCOMMODATION OF BELIEFS
ETHNIC AND CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
LANGUAGE AND COMMUNCATION
GENDER EQUALITY
PHYSICAL, MENTAL DISABILTIES AND GENERATION GAP
ISSUES
Impact of Global Communication
Increased Business Opportunities
Creation of a Global Village
Fewer Cultural Barriers
LESSON 3:
VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE
What is a variety?
A variety refers to any variant of a language which can be sufficiently delimited from one
another.
✘ Social
✘ Historical
✘ Spatial
✘ Or a combination of these
Varieties of language
1. Pidgin - is a new language which develops in situations where speakers of different
languages need to communicate but do not share a common language.
- A lexifier is a particular language where the vocabulary of a pidgin comes from.
Examples:
✘ Nigerian pidgin
✘ Bislama (spoken in Vanuatu)
Varieties of language
2. Creole - is a pidgin that becomes the first language of the children and the mother tongue
of a commuinity.
Examples:
✘ Gullah
✘ Patwa (Jamaican creole)
✘ Pidgin (Hawai’I Creole English)
3. Regional Dialect - is not a distinct language but a variety of a language spoken in a
particular area of a country.
Examples:
✘ Hillbilly English (from the Appalachians in the USA)
✘ Geordie (from the Newcastle upon Tyne in the UK)
4. Minority Dialect
- is a variety used as a marker of identity, usually alongside a standard variety, by the members
of a particular minority ethnic group.
Examples:
✘ African American Vernacular English in the USA
✘ London Jamaican in Britain
✘ Aboriginal English in Australia
5. Indigenized Varieties
- are spoken mainly as second languages in ex-colonies with multilingual populations.
Examples:
✘ Singlish (spoken in Singapore)
LANGUAGE REGISTERS
What is a register?
According to Nordquist (2018), a register is:
- defined as the way a speaker uses language differently in different circumstances
- determined by factors as social occasion, context, purpose, and audience
- determine the vocabulary, structure, and some grammar in one’s writing and even in one’s oral
discourse.
5 distinct registers (nordquist, 2018)
1. Frozen - it refers to historic language or communication that is intended to remain
unchanged, like a constitution or a prayer.
Examples: The Holy Bible, The United States Constitution, The Bhagavad Gita, and
Romeo and Juliet
2. Formal - is used in professional, academic, or legal settings where communication is expected
to be respectful, uninterrupted, and restrained. Slang is never used and contractions are rare.
Examples: a TED talk, a business presentation, the Encyclopedia Brittanica, and Gray’s
Anatomy by Henry Gray
3. Consultative - is used in conversation when they are speaking with someone who has
specialized knowledge or who is offering advice. Tone is often respectful (use of courtesy titles),
but may be more casual if the relationship is longstanding or friendly.
Examples: the local TV news broadcast, an annual physical examination, a service provider like
a plumber
4. Casual - is used when they are with friends, close acquaintances and co-workers, and family.
Examples: a birthday party, a backyard BBQ
5. Intimate - is reserved for special occasions, usually between only two people and often in
private Examples: an inside joke between two college friends or a word whispered in a lover’s
ear
LANGUAGE REGISTERS ARE CLASSIFIED AS:
1. Formal Language Register - is more appropriate for professional writing and letters to a
boss or a stranger - is impersonal, meaning, it is not written for a specific person and
without emotion
Examples: a. business letters b. letters of complaint
Examples: c. some essays d. reports e. official speeches f. announcements g. professional e-
mails
RULES IN FORMAL WRITING:
A. Do not use contractions. cannot instead of can’t have not instead of haven’t is not instead of
isn’t
B. Spell out numbers less than one hundred. nineteen twenty-two seventy-eight six
C. Write in third person point of view. avoid using the following: I you we us
D. Avoid using too much passive verbs. Passive: The bone was eaten by the dog. Active: The
dog ate the bone.
E. Avoid using slang, idioms, exaggeration (hyerboles) and clichés. awesome/cool check it out
ok/okay
F. Avoid abbreviations and acronyms. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Department of Education (DepEd) influenza (flu) Philippine Pesos (PhP)
G. Do not start sentences with words like, and, so, but, also. Here are some good transition words
and phrases to use in formal writing: Nevertheless However As a result of Additionally In
addition Although
H. Always write in complete sentences.
I. Write longer, more complex sentences.
LANGUAGE REGISTERS ARE CLASSIFIED AS:
1. Informal Language Register - is conversational and appropriate when writing to
friends and people you know very well.
Examples: a. personal e-mails d. friendly letters b. phone texts e. most blogs c. short
notes f. diaries and journals
There are no major rules to informal writing but you can include things such as:
a. slangs and cliches i. jokes
b. figurative language j. personal opinions
c. symbols and abbreviations k. extra punctuation
d. acronyms l. passive and active voice
e. incomplete sentences
f. short sentences
g. first person, second person POV
h. paragraphs or no paragraphs
LANGUAGE REGISTERS ARE CLASSIFIED AS:
NeutralLanguage Register - is not necessarily formal or informal.
- is used to delvier facts.
Examples: a. reviews d. some letters b. articles e. technical writing c. some letters
ACTIVITY#1
Direction: Define “diversity” that was stated from the following.
DEFINITION
KATHY CASTANIA
OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION
OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY
THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
ACTIVITY#2
Direction: Using the venn diagram compare and contrast the LOCAL COMMUNICATION
and GLOBAL COMMUNICATION
ACTIVITY#3
Direction: List down below the difference of MULTICULTURAL and INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION
MULTICULTURAL INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION
ACTIVITY#4
Direction: Answer the following questions .
1. What is a variety?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________
2. What are the difference between Pidgin and creole?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________
3. What is a register?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
________________________________________
4. What are the 5 distinct registers, give example each.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
________________________________
5. Give the rules in formal writing.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
________________________________________
ACTIVITY#5
Direction:Give your insights about the following pictures.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________
