Module 10: Language & Communication Flashcards
language
an important part of our culture and distinguishes us from other animals. it is a universal psychological skill of humans which brings shared intentionality, helps with communication of belief and intention and is the starting point of human culture. differences in language also reinforce our different cultures
lexicon
the words that make up a language
syntax and grammer
the system of rules about the word forms and how words must fit together to give meaning
phonology
the system of rules about how words should sound
semantics
the meaning of words
pragmatics
the system of rules about how language should be used and understood in a social context
self-other references
what do people call themselves and others. in the english language we only know “you”, in france it is already vous and tu. but japan is more extensive in this
high-context communication
most of the information is within the person, there is little in the explicit part of the message. how it is said is more important than what is said. more saying, reading between the lines and “silence is golden”
low-context communication
most of the information is in the explicit code. what is said is more important than how it is said. direct communication, “i mean what i say and i way what i mean”
sapir-whorf hypothesis
states that speakers of different languages think differently because of the differences in their language. thus, language affects cognition. this is also knowns as linguistic relativity
evidence against sapir-whorf hypothesis
- the 11 terms for the primary colors are universal in hierarchal terms. different cultures can distinguish between light and dark. colors are gradually added by a fixed hierarchy. thus, color perception is universal and not dependent on language
- thoughts can be formulated without words. like experiencing emotions, for which we have no word
- Raramuri Indians in Mexico only have one word for shame and guilt. however, they do distinguish between the experience of shame and guilt
nonverbal communication
most communication is nonverbal. facial expressions, voice characteristics, gestures and body position, interpersonal distance, touch and visual attention/look are nonverbal communications. these often reveal our intentions
speech illustrations
gestures used to support speech
emblems
culture-specific gestures that have some meaning without involving speech
contact cultures
people are used to eye contact, touching and being close to each other
proxemics
use of space in interpersonal relationships
voice sound
of course we make sound with out voice, but our voice has its own characteristics called para-linguistic cues such as tone, intonation, speed or volume
message
the information and meaning exchanged when people communicate
encoding
the process by which people select, embed and signal information
signals
observable behaviors in which messages are encoded during communication
channels
specific sensory channels which signals are sent and received (such as speech and body language)
decoding
process by which signals are received and translated into understandable messages
intracultural communication
between people of the same cultural backgrounds
intercultural communication
between people of different cultural backgrounds
obstacles of intercultural communication
- assumption of similarities
- language differences
- nonverbal misinterpretation
- stereotypes
- tendency to evaluate
- stress and anxiety
- uncertainty and ambiguity
mindfulness
people are aware of their own habits, mental scripts and cultural expectations. this can be motivation, knowledge or skill related, do we have the right knowledge and skills to adapt these?
uncertainty reduction
the process by which people try to reduce uncertainty and stress of intercultural communication
face
you must be aware of your own face and its preservation. face is the concern that comes with your own presentation in public and the possible embarrassment that may arise in the process
emotion regulation
the skill of controlling your negative emotions that makes you more cooperative in constructive intercultural processes
bilingual
being bilingual would have its advantages for cognitive tasks. exposure to multiple languages in the environment would accelerate effective communication. in addition, bilinguals can better select their attention to stimuli
