Global Understanding Key Concepts of Culture and Communication.

Global UnderstandingGlobal Understanding

Key Concepts of Culture and Key Concepts of Culture and Communication Communication

ContentsContents

Theme I: Theme I: – Culture and EthnographyCulture and Ethnography

Theme II:Theme II:– Ethnographic Inquiry and Communication Ethnographic Inquiry and Communication

TipsTips

Theme III:Theme III:– Sharing CultureSharing Culture

Assignment – Journal 1 Assignment – Journal 1

Theme I: Culture and Theme I: Culture and Ethnography Ethnography

Key TermsKey Terms

Key PointsKey Points

Our goal in this Our goal in this course is to course is to understand others by understand others by exploring both what exploring both what makes us alike and makes us alike and what makes us what makes us different. different.

We should approach We should approach this class as though this class as though we were doing we were doing ‘ethnography’. We are ‘ethnography’. We are all both cultural all both cultural informants and informants and ethnographers. ethnographers.

Key TermsKey Terms

EthnographyEthnographyCultural Informants Cultural Informants AnthropologyAnthropologyCultureCultureEnculturationEnculturationNaïve RealismNaïve RealismCultural RelativismCultural RelativismEthnocentrismEthnocentrism

Key Terms and MeaningsKey Terms and Meanings

Ethnography:Ethnography:– (N) A written account (N) A written account

of cultureof culture– (V) The process of (V) The process of

learning about culture learning about culture that involves that involves generalizing generalizing meanings systems by meanings systems by observing what people observing what people do, what people say do, what people say and the artifacts and the artifacts people use.people use.

Cultural Informants: Cultural Informants: – Cultural experts whom Cultural experts whom

help us learn about help us learn about their respective their respective cultures cultures

Anthropology:Anthropology:– The study of The study of

humankindhumankind

Key Terms and MeaningsKey Terms and Meanings

Culture:Culture:– Acquired knowledge that Acquired knowledge that

people use to interpret, people use to interpret, experience and generate experience and generate social behaviorsocial behavior

– A complex meaning system A complex meaning system developed through developed through interaction with the interaction with the environment and other environment and other people that is used to direct people that is used to direct behavior, understand behavior, understand ourselves and others and ourselves and others and to make sense of the worldto make sense of the world

Enculturation: Enculturation: – The process through which The process through which

we learn culture by we learn culture by extrapolating meaning extrapolating meaning through observing what through observing what people do, what people say people do, what people say and the artifacts people and the artifacts people use. use.

Naïve Realism:Naïve Realism:– The fundamental belief that The fundamental belief that

all people share the same all people share the same meaning meaning system/understanding of system/understanding of how the world works.how the world works.

Key Terms and MeaningsKey Terms and Meanings

Cultural Relativism:Cultural Relativism:– Viewing beliefs, Viewing beliefs,

practices, etc. in the practices, etc. in the context of the culture context of the culture in which they are in which they are found.found.

Ethnocentrism:Ethnocentrism:– Judging other cultures Judging other cultures

based on your own based on your own cultural values.cultural values.

Theme II:Theme II:Ethnographic Inquiry and Ethnographic Inquiry and

Communication Tips Communication Tips

Ethnography and CommunicationEthnography and Communication

Ethnography and this course, Global Ethnography and this course, Global Understanding, are both about learning about Understanding, are both about learning about other cultures from the people who live in those other cultures from the people who live in those cultures. cultures.

Interviewing our partners/informants is the best Interviewing our partners/informants is the best way to achieve this. Such interaction is also a way to achieve this. Such interaction is also a process of communication.process of communication.

The success of your communication is The success of your communication is dependent on 1) the rapport your develop with dependent on 1) the rapport your develop with your partner and 2) how you ask questions. your partner and 2) how you ask questions.

1. Building Rapport 1. Building Rapport

In this course, due to time limit, we need to build In this course, due to time limit, we need to build rapport quickly.rapport quickly.The rapport between you and your partner start The rapport between you and your partner start with mutual understanding from general topics to with mutual understanding from general topics to more sensitive ones. more sensitive ones. Through the process of interaction, you learn to Through the process of interaction, you learn to trust and respect your partners. trust and respect your partners. Trust and respectTrust and respect are essential elements of are essential elements of building rapport.building rapport.You achieve this by sharing information about You achieve this by sharing information about yourself that relates to what your informant is yourself that relates to what your informant is talking about. talking about.

Remember!Remember!

It’s not what you ask but ‘how’ you ask it!It’s not what you ask but ‘how’ you ask it!

You are here to learn, not to ‘judge’!You are here to learn, not to ‘judge’!

You should get a meaningful response to You should get a meaningful response to any question on any topic as long as it is any question on any topic as long as it is asked in a respectful manner. asked in a respectful manner.

2. Asking Questions 2. Asking Questions

How you ask a question will greatly affect How you ask a question will greatly affect the response you get. the response you get. Some types of questions elicit single word Some types of questions elicit single word responses, some elicit lists. responses, some elicit lists. You should think about the types of You should think about the types of response you are looking for and response you are looking for and formulate the question accordingly.formulate the question accordingly.Watch your tone, too. Try to ‘chat’, not to Watch your tone, too. Try to ‘chat’, not to ‘interrogate’. You are your partner’s equal ‘interrogate’. You are your partner’s equal and friend, not a police officer!and friend, not a police officer!

ExamplesExamples

Do you…? - Typically, one word responsesDo you…? - Typically, one word responses– Do you celebrate Halloween?Do you celebrate Halloween?

What are/do…? Typically, listsWhat are/do…? Typically, lists– What holidays do you celebrate?What holidays do you celebrate?

How do/did…? Typically, processes or How do/did…? Typically, processes or descriptions of things.descriptions of things.– How do you celebrate Halloween?How do you celebrate Halloween?

Why do/did…? Typically, more speculative and Why do/did…? Typically, more speculative and reflective, impli8citly asking about meaning.reflective, impli8citly asking about meaning.– Why do you celebrate Halloween?Why do you celebrate Halloween?

Remember!Remember!

Using a descriptive question followed by Using a descriptive question followed by additional questions asking the informant additional questions asking the informant to: to: – Elaborate on Elaborate on – or Clarify or Clarify

an aspect of what they said is a very effective an aspect of what they said is a very effective way to learn about another culture. way to learn about another culture.

3. Probing3. Probing

The key to interaction in this course is to The key to interaction in this course is to encourage your partner to talk. encourage your partner to talk.

Probing is an effective way to encourage Probing is an effective way to encourage your informants to elaborate and/or your informants to elaborate and/or continue talking after you’ve asked your continue talking after you’ve asked your initial question. initial question.

By probing you show your partner that you By probing you show your partner that you are interested in what they have to say. are interested in what they have to say.

ExamplesExamples

Uh-huhUh-huh– As your partner is talking As your partner is talking

occasionally give a nod or occasionally give a nod or some vocalization, such as some vocalization, such as uh-huh, that doesn’t uh-huh, that doesn’t interrupt the flow of your interrupt the flow of your partner talking and lets partner talking and lets them know you want them them know you want them to continue.to continue.

EchoEcho– Repeat something that Repeat something that

your partner says and ask your partner says and ask them a follow-question them a follow-question about that.about that.

Tell me more…Tell me more…– Based on what your Based on what your

partner has said, ask them partner has said, ask them to tell you more about the to tell you more about the subject.subject.

Summarize and confirmSummarize and confirm– You summarize or You summarize or

paraphrase what your paraphrase what your partner has said and check partner has said and check if you understand them if you understand them correctly. correctly.

4. Returning and Sharing4. Returning and Sharing

In this class, you are both ethnographers In this class, you are both ethnographers and informants. You learn as well as and informants. You learn as well as teach.teach.

When being the culture informant to your When being the culture informant to your partners, you should also help them partners, you should also help them understand you and your culture. understand you and your culture.

You should try to explain things in detail You should try to explain things in detail and elaborate. and elaborate.

Remember!Remember!

Communication is ‘not’ a one-way Communication is ‘not’ a one-way process.process.

Communication should be mutual and Communication should be mutual and bilateral! bilateral!

You take as well as give. You take as well as give.

Topics for Practice Topics for Practice

College LifeCollege Life

Family Family

Culture TraditionsCulture Traditions

Meaning Life/ReligionMeaning Life/Religion

Stereotypes and Prejudices Stereotypes and Prejudices

Theme III:Theme III:Sharing CultureSharing Culture

Key QuestionsKey Questions

How much do you know about your culture?How much do you know about your culture?

Do you take your native culture for granted?. Do you take your native culture for granted?.

Can you define key elements of your own Can you define key elements of your own culture and think about the meaning behind culture and think about the meaning behind it?it?

Have you thought about how to approach Have you thought about how to approach sharing your culture to your international sharing your culture to your international partners?partners?

Remember! Remember!

To share your culture in cross-cultural To share your culture in cross-cultural communication, you must first know your communication, you must first know your culture!culture!

Concern about your culture and try to Concern about your culture and try to articulate it from now on!articulate it from now on!

Key Points for Sharing CultureKey Points for Sharing Culture

The Difficulty in Sharing CultureThe Difficulty in Sharing Culture

The Way of Sharing CultureThe Way of Sharing Culture

Ideal VS. RealIdeal VS. Real

Generalized VS. Personalized Generalized VS. Personalized

The Difficulty in Sharing CultureThe Difficulty in Sharing Culture

Because of the process of enculturation, we tend Because of the process of enculturation, we tend to take our own culture for granted.to take our own culture for granted.Everything we do just seems natural and right Everything we do just seems natural and right because that is what we are raised to believe, so because that is what we are raised to believe, so we tend not to question it.we tend not to question it.We only tend to question and critically think We only tend to question and critically think about our own culture when faced with another about our own culture when faced with another that is different. that is different. This makes it very difficult for us to share our This makes it very difficult for us to share our culture with others because we ten not to have culture with others because we ten not to have thought much about it in any significant way.thought much about it in any significant way.

The Way of Sharing CultureThe Way of Sharing Culture

When asked, “why do you do X”, of the first thing When asked, “why do you do X”, of the first thing that comes to mind is “Because it is a part of my that comes to mind is “Because it is a part of my culture.”culture.”This, however, really doesn’t explain anything. This, however, really doesn’t explain anything. Culture is a meaning system that directs belief Culture is a meaning system that directs belief and behavior.and behavior.We must think deeper about the issue and ask We must think deeper about the issue and ask ourselves?ourselves?– Why is that a part of my culture?Why is that a part of my culture?– What is the meaning behind it?What is the meaning behind it?

If you are not sure about it, try to think further, If you are not sure about it, try to think further, consult seniors or research in the subject. consult seniors or research in the subject.

Ideal VS. RealIdeal VS. Real

When we do think of our own culture we When we do think of our own culture we generally think of the “ideal” of our own culture.generally think of the “ideal” of our own culture.That is, we think of the values we were taught as That is, we think of the values we were taught as children and that we would like to pass on to our children and that we would like to pass on to our own children. own children. However, of the ‘ideal’ is not the same as what However, of the ‘ideal’ is not the same as what culture is. culture is. When sharing culture, you need to think what When sharing culture, you need to think what you want to share:you want to share:– The real or the ideal or a mixture of both?The real or the ideal or a mixture of both?– Regardless of what you choose to say, you must Regardless of what you choose to say, you must

recognize this difference.recognize this difference.

Generalized VS. Personalized Generalized VS. Personalized

Not everyone within a given culture shares the Not everyone within a given culture shares the same exact experiences. same exact experiences. When discussing “culture” we usually speak in When discussing “culture” we usually speak in generalities, which mean what the majority in a generalities, which mean what the majority in a particular culture believe/do.particular culture believe/do.However, this may not be true of any one However, this may not be true of any one individual’s own personal experience.individual’s own personal experience.When sharing culture, you need to think what When sharing culture, you need to think what you want to share:you want to share:– The generalities or your own experiencesThe generalities or your own experiences– Or placing your experience in context of the general Or placing your experience in context of the general

culture (this choice is of course better!)culture (this choice is of course better!)

AssignmentAssignment

Journal 1Journal 1

There should be two sections of your Journal 1: There should be two sections of your Journal 1: A) Short Essay B) A Cultural List A) Short Essay B) A Cultural List Write a 500-word essay on one the following Write a 500-word essay on one the following topics with a title, thesis statements and topics with a title, thesis statements and organized paragraphs :organized paragraphs :– What does it mean to be:What does it mean to be:

a Taiwanese?a Taiwanese? a Chinese?a Chinese? a citizen of ROC?a citizen of ROC? people of (your hometown)?people of (your hometown)? student of Fu-Jen University?student of Fu-Jen University? follower of (your religion)?follower of (your religion)?

Give a list of things you associate with ‘Taiwan’ Give a list of things you associate with ‘Taiwan’ or ‘Living in Taiwan’or ‘Living in Taiwan’

Cultural ListCultural List

Make a list of the words or phrases you Make a list of the words or phrases you associate with ‘Taiwanese’.associate with ‘Taiwanese’.

Make a list of the words or phrases you Make a list of the words or phrases you associate with ‘Chinese’. associate with ‘Chinese’.

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