Weeks 4-7

Question 1

Positive Politeness

Answer 1

The term within politeness theory that refers to the desire to appear good to others, be well liked, valued, and to build rapport.

Question 2

Negative Politeness

Answer 2

The term within politeness theory that refers to the desire not to threaten someone else’s ‘face’, by avoiding any offence or imposition.

Question 3

A face threatening act

Answer 3

An action in which you are challenging someone’s ‘face’, for instance by requesting, inviting, criticising, advising, or apologising.

Question 4

A face-saving act

Answer 4

The attempts to lessen the impact of threatening someones face, by saying something that minimises the imposition.

Question 5

Registers

Answer 5

This refers to the level of formality you use when communicating with somebody

Question 6

Level of verbosity

Answer 6

This refers to how complex the words are that are used in communication

Question 7

Paralanguage

Answer 7

All elements of communication apart from words, including non-verbal communication, pitch, intonation, register, etc.

Question 8

Chronemics

Answer 8

This is regarding monochronemic and polychronemic: the way time is viewed in different cultures, either as flexible, valuing multitasking, or value punctuality and generally do one task at a time.

Question 9

Proxemics

Answer 9

Proxemics is a term used in non-verbal communication to describe the interpersonal distance, or social distance when communication, eg., how close you are sitting.

Question 10

Kinesics

Answer 10

Kinesics refer to physical gestures that are used to accompany words that are being spoken, but may not have meaning without the words. This includes any flourishing, counting, pointing, or acting out situations.

Question 11

Ascribed identity

Answer 11

This is the identity that others ‘ascribe’ to you, or place expectations on you of having. They usually perceive this based on your culture, physical appearance, race, ethnicity, heritage, etc.

Question 12

Avowed identity

Answer 12

This refers to your own identity that you choose for yourself, and wish others to perceive you as.

Question 13

Structure vs Agency

Answer 13

Structure sees you as part of a culture that is ‘set in stone’ that you cannot change, such as nationality, religion, ancestors. Agency refers to someone having the ability to choose their own identity that transcends nationality

Question 14

An essentialist perspective on identity

Answer 14

Someone with this perspective will see identity as a fixed point, with a fixed path, and places parameters to where those people can belong.

Question 15

An existentialist perspective on identity

Answer 15

This views a person as more than their culture, and regards them to be able to choose their own path, values, beliefs, and make meaning of their own in life.

Question 16

A Yin Yang Chinese perspective on identity

Answer 16

This perspective on identity suggests that two opposing elements of identity don’t clash, but balance each other out and become harmonious because of those opposing forces.

Question 17

A Wabi Sabi Japanese Zen perspective on identity

Answer 17

Wabi Sabi directly translates to ‘incomplete/imperfect, and impermanent’. This view on identity suggests that contentment should be found in the imperfect, incomplete, and impermanent nature of culture and identity, and that it’s okay not to have one ‘whole’ cultural identity.

Question 18

Berry’s four acculturation categories

Answer 18

Berry suggests there are four ways someone can acculturate: Integration, Assimilation, Segregation and Marginalisation.

Question 19

U-curve phases of acculturation

Answer 19

The U-curve shows acculturation having four stages: Honeymoon, Culture shock, Adjustment and Mastery.

Question 20

Reverse culture shock

Answer 20

The transition shock of re-entering your home country and having to re-adjust to the culture after being away for a long period of time, either because you have changed, your home has changed, or you are unsure of your role, etc.

Question 21

Language shock

Answer 21

The effects of being surrounded by a new language and having to adjust to it. This can cause sensory overload, language fatigue, be overwhelming, and result in miscommunications.

Question 22

Identity/Self Shock

Answer 22

The feeling of disorientation of your sense of self when acculturating to another culture. Lack of familiarity, social systems, your culture, language, value system, and standing out from others can influence this.

Question 23

Acculturative stress

Answer 23

The stress and tension caused by the acculturation process that can have physical effects such as lack of sleep, tiredness, and affect you emotionally such as homesickness, loneliness or isolating yourself.

Question 24

Acculturation expectations

Answer 24

This is expectations held by an individual or group of how they will acculturate when entering a new country; this may be unrealistic expectations.

Question 25

Deculturation

Answer 25

The act of a group losing their culture, traditions, etc, such as Indigenous tribes and lost cultures.