Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
every individual. Individual members of a culture may always be
exceptional. Assumptions about cultural traits and cultural differences
must therefore always be made with caution and checked for validity.
Since cultural differences may have an infl uence on all aspects of
communication, this means that they can have an infl uence on both
main message features (choice of communicative, referential content
and expressed attitudes) and features of communication management
(turn management, feedback, sequencing, i.e. ICM, choice and change
management, i.e. OCM). See above. They may, for example, infl uence
the frequency and the way in which we move our head in order to
give positive or negative feedback to our interlocutor or the way in
which we hesitate in order to keep the fl oor.
A very clear example of differences in the main message part of
a contribution concerns the content different languages allow us to
express in different social activities. What may be easily and directly
expressed in one language may perhaps only be awkwardly expressed
by paraphrase, if at all, in another language. Usually, differences of
this sort reflect the fact that what has been in focus and conceptually
developed in one culture and language need not have been of interest
and developed in another culture and language.
Cultural differences can concern different types of relations
between interlocutors, like power and trust relations. Cultures vary
with regard to how much power and what type of power is connected
with different social relations, like boss—employee, parent—children
or doctor—patient. Likewise, they vary with regard to how much
and who you trust. Do you trust your parents, your children, your
boss, your employees, your doctor, your patients, the police and your
politicians?
Also ethical aspects of communication can be subject to cultural
differences. When and to what extent is it acceptable to lie to other
people? When and to what extent is it acceptable to hurt other people?
Can you lie to or hurt your parents, your children, your spouse, your
boss, your employees, your doctor, your patients etc.?
9.4 Culture and activity
Activity parameters like purpose, roles of participants, procedures,
media and other instruments as well as environment (organizational
and physical) are to some extent different in different cultures: This can
play a role for the communicative behavior in the activity and can be
seen in features of communicative acts, interpretation and interaction
patterns. Thus, cultural differences can be found, for example:
Search WWH ::
Custom Search