FATHER SATURNINO URIOS UNIVERSITY

PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
LESSON IV
LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNICATION IN MULTICULTURAL SETTINGS

Communication can be 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.
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 multiculture settings.
Living in globalized world, you encounter people with diverse cultural backgrounds.
Such interactions occur in 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.

CHALLENGES OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

It has become a widespread notion that speakers use of different languages results
intercultural miscommunication and misunderstanding. As Scollon and Scollon
(1995) state:
“When we are communicating 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 shares knowledge and background for confidence in our
interpretation.”
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. But it
can also be argued that English is now a global lingua franca. In fact, with ASEAN
integration, English has been declared the official or working language of AEAN. So,
with just one language to be spoken or used by many countries including the 10
member countries of ASEAN, what else can go wrong?
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.

FORMS OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNCATION

Communication is like a kaleidoscope. Many units of different sizes, shapes, and
color make up the whole picture. Any action, shift, or change adjust the pattern and
the relationship of all of the units to each other, thereby altering the picture.
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. Intercultural communication – interacting with members of the same racial or
ethnic group or co-culture.
e. According to Gamble and Gamble (2008) communication style among
cultures differs, it may be high contest or low-context communication.
f. 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.
IMPROVING INTERCULTURAL COMMUNCATION COMPETENCE
The following guidelines may help you enhance your ability to communicate
effectively across cultures (gamble and Gamble (2008):
1. Recognize the validity and differences of communication style among people
2. Learn to eliminate personal biases and prejudices
3. Strive to acquire communication skills necessary in multicultural world

VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN AND WRITTEN LANGAUGE

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. For instances, in the everyday communication, face to face conversations is
usually supplemented by test messaging. In academic context, significant forms of
oral communication are used along with written communication. Significally, both
every day and academic communication, including spoken, written modes and
images, music, videos, gestures, etc.
 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
TYPES OF LANGUAGE REGISTER ( Joos, 1961 as citied in Biber, 1994)
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 archaism.

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 ideas and aspirations, promote the common good, conserve and
develop our patrimony, and secure our selves and our posterity, the
blessings of independence and democracy under the rule of law and regime
of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace do ordain and promulgate
this constitution (preamble, 1987 constitution)

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. Word selection
is more sophisticated, and certain words are always or never used
depending on the situation. In 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.
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 pace 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).”

c. CONSULTATIVE
 It is a standard form of communication. Users engage in a mutually
accepted structure if interfaces. It is formal and societal expectations
 accompany the users od speech. 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. Sentence structure need not be complete, since non-verbal
assists, hand movements and body language, are often used to convey
meaning.

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 I have to work for 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.

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. Very informal language – must be a member
to used, interruptions are common, and context and 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

EXAMPLE:
 MARIE: Hey, D! I’m stressing about weight gain on X-mas. Got any ideas
for me?
 DIANE: Its 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 bars, etc.)
 MARIE: Yeah, you’re right! Thanks, D! You’re the best!
  DIANE: No worries, M! xx

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 coded words are used.

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.

RECITATION
In what specific ways can you enhance your ability to communicate with people
from diverse cultures?

 “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.