Chapter 3 Communication and Culture

Question 1

Advances in Communication technologies

Answer 1

Which have brought tremendous changes to communication medai and to the role of communicators, require us to rethink conventional definitions of communicaiton.

Question 2

Communication has a multifacet nature

Answer 2

Which makes it hard to describe. It can better be theorized as a ‘‘family’’ of related concept, rather than as a unitary concept.

Question 3

As communication researchers, we look at the following things and therefore describe communication as follows:

Answer 3

’’ the process by which people use shared verbal or nonverbal codes, systems and mediums to exchange information in a particular cultural context.’

Question 4

Components of communication

Answer 4

1. Source
2. Message
3. Channel
4. Reveier
5. Encoding
6. Decoding
7. Noise
8. Feedback

Question 4

Source

Answer 4

a source is the origin of information. Someone who needs and wants to exchange information with others. This need can be conscious or unconsious.

Question 5

Message

Answer 5

a message is the verbal and/or nonverbal form of
ideas, thoughts, or feelings
that one person intends to communicate to another person or group in a specific context. It is composed of verbal codes such as language and/or nonverbal codes.

Question 6

Channel

Answer 6

The route by which messages move from one person to another. The channel can be sound, dight, words, telephone, internet etc.

Question 7

Receiver

Answer 7

The intended target of the message, which/ who shares the same code as the source.

Question 8

Encoding

Answer 8

The process by which the source uses shared codes to convert concepts, thoughts and feelings into a message. In encoding we select and arrange verbal and nonverbal symbols according to rules that are known and shared by the group.

Question 9

Decoding

Answer 9

The process by which the receiver converts the coded message into meaning, which permits the receiver to attach meaning to the source message

Question 10

Noise

Answer 10

Refers to all factors that interfere with information transfer and the receipt to the message.
It can be physical (distracting sounds or sights),
psychological (nervousness), and semantic (different interpretations of a concept)

Question 11

Feedback

Answer 11

refers to the response of the receiver after receiving the message.
It allows the source to judge the ocmmunication while it is still takking place.

Question 12

Characteristics of communication:

Answer 12

1 a dynamic process
2. interactive
3. symbolic or conventionalized
4. contextual

Question 13

Communication as dynamic process

Answer 13

The process of communication does not have a definite beginning or end point, since encoding and decoding, feedback etc, is influenced by prior interactions (ongoing process). Also, we cannot take words back or experience the same again.

Question 14

Communication is interactive

Answer 14

Because it requires the active participation of at least 2 parties. A communicators thoughts and feelings may also be adjusted during the interaction process.

Question 15

Communication is symbolic or conventionalized

Answer 15

A symbol is an arbitrarily selected and learned stimulus that represents something else, which can be verbal or non-verbal. They are the vehicles by which the thoughts and ideas of one person can be communicated to another.

Question 16

Communication is contextual

Answer 16

it always occurs in a specific setting/ context, on which the nature of communication largely depends on.

Question 17

Models of communication

Answer 17

• Linear model
• Sender-Message-Channel-Receiver (SMCR)
• Transmission model
• 5W model
• Schramm’s model (more mathematic)
• Barnlunds transactional model
• Constructionist approach
• Interactive model Rogers and Steinfatt
• Tagowski and Bowman

Question 18

Lineair model

Answer 18

The model from Shannon and Weaver is the most frequently used linear model of communication. They worked at a telephone company, so they acted as if the model worked for a telephone conversation

So: the linear model is one-way only (with no room for feedback); the context and situation
are not present; non-verbal communication is also not present.

sender (info source) >encoder (transmitter)> channel>Decoder (reception) >Receiver (destination)

Question 19

SMCR model Sender- Message- Channel- Receiver

Answer 19

Berlo adapted the lineair model of Shannon and Weaver.
Also focuses on context, non-verbal communication, and knowledge and more.

Question 20

Transmission model

Answer 20

How we know today the lineair model.
This conceptualizes messages as ‘‘containers’ of meaning, and communication as a process of sending and receiving information. It was applied to study media effects of persusasion

Question 21

5W model

Answer 21

Who, says What, in Which channel, to Who, and with What effect.

Question 22

Criticism of lineair model:

Answer 22

• It does not account for the complexity of communication.
• It suggests that communication is a technical process, whereas meaning is actually derived symbolically.
• Communication is not a one-way process; but involves interaction

Question 23

Schramms model

Answer 23

more mathematical.
It also takes feedback context and the experiences of interactants into account (two-way process).

However it still cannot account for complex, multiple levels of communication across several sources.

Question 24

Barlund’s transactional model

Answer 24

an elaboration of the lineair model of commucation

Basic premise: individuals are stimultaneously engaging in sending and receiving of messages. Communication is continuously changing and transforming, depended on the context.

Question 25

Constructionist approach

Answer 25

Embedded in Barlunds transactional model.

It relates communication to an individual or group of people in social, cultural and relational contexts. In other words saying that contexts shape communication. This emphasis on context and people form the basis for the interactive model of communication

Question 26

Interactive model Rogers and Steinfatt (1999)

Answer 26

interactive model which had emphasis on subjectivity of communication. People are subjective which means that encoding and decoding process is influenced byh past experiences, perceptions and paradigms; the sme message is decoded into variolus meanings depending on the receiver.

The interactive model aslo staqtes that the participants exert mutual control over the process

Question 27

Targowski and Bowman model

Answer 27

Improvement on interactive model, because it takes into account contextual knowledge, verbal and non-verbal factors, a maximum of ten multiple layers/ factors that can cause noise.

• for communication to be effective, the receiver has to decode the message from the source in the way the source meant it (encoded it)
• This model shows the complexity of (intercultural) communicaton

Question 28

10 factors that that can cause noise (Targowski and Bowman)

Answer 28

1. Physical link
2. System link
3. Audience link
4. Session link
5. Environmental link
6. Functions/ role link
7. Symbols link
8. behavior lin ik
9. Values link
10. Storage retrieval link

Question 29

Physical link

Answer 29

the presence/absence of communication channel/means

Question 30

System link

Answer 30

is the chosen channel/ means suitable to get message across?

Question 31

Audience link

Answer 31

Does the message ‘‘fit’’ the audience, ( knowledge. attititude etc)

Question 32

Session link

Answer 32

is the message sent and received at the same time, and under the same circumstances (time zones or the appropriateness of the moment) ?

Synchronous or asynchronous communication:
sent and received at same time, or not?

Question 33

Environmental link

Answer 33

In which environment was the message produced? Do the sender and receiver experience the environment similarly?

Question 34

Functions/ role link

Answer 34

Do the sender and receiver have the same ideas about their own functions and roles? (leadership, economic status, parent/ child, lover/ friend)

Question 35

Symbol link

Answer 35

Are the symbols used to exchange information interpreted in same way by sender receiver?

Question 36

Behavior link

Answer 36

Does the receiver interpret the message as intended by sender? How is behavior evaluated? Are words or deeds seen as decisive?

Question 37

Values link

Answer 37

Do sender and receiver share the same values?

Question 38

Storage retrieval link

Answer 38

How is the communication influenced by previous experiences of sender/ receiver?

( personal experiences, shared experiences, and/or cultural background)

Question 39

influence of culture on communication

Answer 39

they mutually influence one another.
Culture is learned and shared through communication

Question 40

Socialization

Answer 40

the process of learning significant rules, rituals and procedures, which refers to the process by which we develop a sense of proper and improper behavior and communication within the confines of those cultural rules.

Question 41

Culture also

Answer 41

• Cultivates and reinforces beliefs and values.
  *It also teaches us how to develop relationships with others.
• imprints also verbal and nonverbal behaviors

Question 42

Communication shows that we are alike and different at the same time

Answer 42

• We are similar in that each of us experiences the same feelings
• however, our unique cultural experiences and habits keeps us apart.

Question 43

Misunderstanding

Answer 43

occurs when we dont understand each others cultural rules governing communication behavior

Question 44

Intercultural communication is complex because

Answer 44

of the potential ‘‘noise’’ through differences in cultural frameworks (values and beliefs), codes, meaning of verbal and non-verbal symbols, relationship perspectives, communication styles, and thinking and stereotypes.