UNIT 1

Communication Concepts and Principles

Communication is the process of meaning-making through a channel or a medium in a specific context. It is very vital in any aspect of life.

Etymologically, communication comes from the Latin word communicare, meaning to make common. Communicating the concepts involves components of communication. These are the:

1. Source or Sender: The source or sender refers to the person or entity that initiates the communication process by creating and transmitting a message.

2. Message: The message is the information or content being conveyed by the sender to the receiver. It can be in the form of verbal, written, or non-verbal communication.

3. Channel: The channel is the medium through which the message is transmitted from the sender to the receiver. It can be face-to-face conversation, phone calls, emails, letters, or any other communication medium.

4. Receiver: The receiver is the person or entity for whom the message is intended. They receive and interpret the message sent by the sender.

5. Feedback: Feedback is the response or reaction provided by the receiver to the sender after receiving and interpreting the message. It helps in confirming understanding, clarifying information, or initiating further communication.

6. Environment - the condition of the speaker and receiver; physical, emotional etc.

7. Context - interrelated conditions in which communication spring

8. Interference - communication barriers that may affect communication; psychological, physical, linguistic and cultural (language and cultural environment), or mechanical barriers (channels like tablet, cellphone)

Principles of Effective Communication

1. Clarity - Clarity has to be observed in crafting and in delivering messages. Fuzzy language, jargon, clichés, euphemisms, and similar others should be avoided when they interfere with clarity. Clarity, especially in technical fields, should never be compromised.

2. Concreteness - Be specific. Messages are made more understandable with specific data. The use of accurate words helps in achieving concreteness. A 50-kilometer drive is more specific than a long drive. Likewise, a 100-square-meter 2-story house is much more specific than an average-sized house.

3. Courtesy - Be courteous. Be polite in words and in manner. Courtesy builds goodwill and sustains good human relationships.

4. Correctness - Strive to achieve grammatically correct sentences. Serious grammar and pronunciation errors lead to meaning inaccuracies. Edit and proofread messages before delivering them.

5. Consideration - Consider the receiver’s level of education, race, and other social orientations when crafting and delivering a message. A simple word for you may not be that simple for others. Also, in pointing other peoples’ mistakes, consider that no one commits mistake intentionally. Hence, it is always good to approach the person with kindness.

6. Creativity - Make your message interesting and captivating. Say for example, the message “Follow the traffic rules” can be creatively expressed in different ways: “Drive safely and get home to your loved ones” or it could be made to sound as a warning “You will get to our jail when you drive fast.” Effective business taglines are good examples of how creativity in communication achieves the desired impact.

7. Conciseness - Be direct and simple in your message. Make each word count – that is, no word should be used that does not contribute to the meaning. Conciseness requires communicators to choose accurate words to express intended meanings so that messages are kept short. Conciseness, however, does not set a specific number of words used. It is always relative to the nature of the message.

8. Cultural Sensitivity - Be attentive to people’s cultural differences. A joke in one culture might be an insult to another. Remember one of those instances when you were misunderstood or you misunderstood someone. Narrate in three sentences how and why miscommunication happened.

UNIT 2

Communication & Globalization

Globalization

• a multifaceted phenomenon which encompasses economic, social, political, technological and cultural dimensions.

• it has opened the door of diversities. One of which is cultural diversity.

Cultural Diversity - a reality, may it be in school or in your future workplace. Hence, as students and as future professionals, we have to know how to address the challenges brought about by the diversity in culture.

Cultural Relativism - refers to not judging a culture to our own standards of what is right or wrong, strange or normal. Instead, we should try to understand cultural practices of other groups in its own cultural context.

UNIT 3

LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNICATION IN MULTICULTURAL SETTINGS

INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE - ESSENTIAL FOR US TO LIVE HAMONIOUSLY DESPITE OUR DIFFERENCE IN CULTURE

CULTURE

• A WAY OF LIVING

• ALL KNOWLEDGE AND VALUES SHARED BY A GROUP

• A SYSTEM OF BEHAVIOUR THAT HELPS US ACT IN AN ACCEPTED OR FAMILIAR WAY

CULTURAL DIVERSITY - THE EXISTENCE OF A VARIETY OF CULTURAL OR ETHIC GROUPS IN A SOCIETY

INTERCULTURAL KNOWLEGE AND COMPETENCE - "a set of cognitive, affective, and behavioral skills and characteristics that support effective and appropriate interaction in a variety of cultural contexts.”

INTERCULTURALLY COMPETENT PEOPLE - WILL ADJUST THEIR BEHAVIOUR ACCORDING TO THE CONTEXT THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN

CULTURAL DIMENSIONS

1. ACCORDING TO THE DEGREE TO WHICH INDIVIDUALS PERCEIVE THEMSELVES AS MEMBERS OF A GROUP

   A. individualistic culture- An action is done for the self. Those who belong in this culture will be willing to sacrifice personal relationships if that is necessary for personal gain.

   B. collectivist culture - An action is done for the community or society.

2. ACCORDING TO CONTEXT

   c. low- context culture

   • uses direct speech or manner

   d. high-context culture

   • uses indirect, subtle speech or manner

3. ACCORDING TO CHRONEMIC, SENSE OF TIME

   e. monochromic culture

   • strict with time

   f. polychromic culture

   • flexible with time

4. ACCORDING TO UNCERTAINTY AVOIDANCE

   g. low-uncertainty avoidance culture

   • open to spontaneous decisions and gives leeway

   h. high-uncertainty avoidance culture

   • very organized so errors are not acceptable; has many rules

5. ACCORDING TO POWER DISTANCE

   i. low-power distance culture

   • Everybody is on equal footing.

   j. high-power distance culture

   • there is hierarchy or ranking in power or status.

6. ACCORDING TO GENDER

   k. masculine culture

   • Men are dominant or superior in the society over their females.

   l. feminine culture

   • Women and men have different roles but are both valued equally.

7. ACCORDING TO OUTCOME

   m. short-term orientation culture

   • Believes in immediate, fast outcomes or performance

   n. long-term orientation culture

   • Outcomes or performance may take time.

THE 4 Rs of Applying Transcultural Competence By Trompenaars & Woolliams, 2004

1. Recognition: The first step is recognizing what the cultural dilemma may be primary in a situation.

2. Respect: The second step is respecting that there is a dilemma and that both sides of the dilemma have cultural legitimacy.

3. Reconciliation: The third is reconciling the dilemma through coming to some sort of agreement that honors all sides. It is looking at a win-win scenario and not a win-lose one.

4. Realization: Finally, the fourth is bringing into realization the needed change to sustain a reconciled solution.