Local and Global Communication

in Multicultural Setting
LOCAL AN GLOBAL COMMUNICATION
IN MULTICULTURAL SETTING

Communication is guided by
culture and context. The context
of communication brings a better
understanding about culture in
general and in particular.
LOCAL AN GLOBAL COMMUNICATION
IN MULTICULTURAL SETTING

Edward T. Hall

▪ a cultural anthropologist he
conceptualized, context as
anything that refers to the
stimuli, environment or
ambiance surrounding an
event.
 LOCAL AN GLOBAL COMMUNICATION
IN MULTICULTURAL SETTING
LOCAL COMMUNICATION
It is highly grounded on the cultural context. This context
of communication reflects the culture of the people
who are creating their self-identity and community.

GLOBAL COMMUNICATION
It has become the modifying factor of local
communication.
LOCAL AN GLOBAL COMMUNICATION
IN MULTICULTURAL SETTING

INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION
▪ It refers concerns to the ability to
understand and value cultural
differences.
 LOCAL AN GLOBAL COMMUNICATION
IN MULTICULTURAL SETTING

LANGUAGE
▪ It is a cultural component that linked to
intercultural understanding. In using language
and its non-verbal clues it enhance oral and
written communication in intercultural
environment to achieve intercultural
competence.
 LOCAL AN GLOBAL COMMUNICATION
IN MULTICULTURAL SETTING
PRINCIPLE OF COOPERATIVE CONVERSATION
▪ Local and global communication are kept constant
in a multicultural setting.
▪ The norm or convention in communicating should be
observed by the communicators.
▪ Culture is considerable and context recognizable,
however communicators should communicate
following Grice's Principle of Cooperative
Conversation.
 GRICE’S PRINCIPLE OF COOPERATIVE
CONVERSATION
MAXIM OF RELATION/RELEVANCE
▪ The communicators should be relevant to or in conversation

EXAMPLE 1
▪ Waiter: How do you like your steak cooked?
▪ Customer: Medium rare, please.

EXAMPLE 2
▪ CEO: Daniel, is Morgan good as finance manager?
▪ Daniel: He is a polite man and works on time.
 GRICE’S PRINCIPLE OF COOPERATIVE
CONVERSATION
MAXIM OF QUANTITY
▪ Grice underscore that every interlocutor should observe a "fair-
share-talk-time"

EXAMPLE 1
▪ Person A: What did you have for breakfast this morning?
▪ Person B: I had some toast and jam.

EXAMPLE 1
▪ Person A: What did you have for breakfast this morning?
▪ Person B: I had some breakfast before yoga class. The daily
stretching is really making difference to my fitness.
 GRICE’S PRINCIPLE OF COOPERATIVE
CONVERSATION

MAXIM OF QUALITY
▪ The truth value of a message is held primary in a conversation. The
accuracy of the message should be upheld

▪ Try to make your contribution one that is true.

▪ Do not say what you believe to be false.

▪ Do not say that for which you lack evidence.

 GRICE’S PRINCIPLE OF COOPERATIVE
CONVERSATION
MAXIM OF MANNER
▪ In the local culture, the manner of saying a word is more regarded than
its content

▪ Be perspicuous
▪ Avoid obscurity of expression
▪ Avoid ambiguity
▪ Be brief
▪ Be orderly
 MODES OF COMMUNICATION

Words and gestures are used in particular

region or country to give meaning to certain
ideas. Words are primary in communication,
but gestures would even make a meaningful
communication.
 WORDS, GREETINGS, EXPRESSIONS USED
IN INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Language is linked to intercultural understanding. Words, greetings,
and expression are used based on culture and context.

How do you say “Take care” in different language?

Language Translation Context

Filipino Ingat
Kapampangan Mimingat
Cebuano Dap-a śap ag-atiman
Iluko agannadka Added is the topic
“ka” which means
“you”
 WORDS, GREETINGS, EXPRESSIONS USED
IN INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Language Translation Context

Indonesian Hatihati

Malay Jagadiri

Mandarin Băozhòng
 WORDS, GREETINGS, EXPRESSIONS USED
IN INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Common words, greetings, and expressions in four languages

Words/Expressions French Spanish Korean Mandarin/Chinese

Hello bonjour hola annyeong Ni hăo

Goodbye Oh reh- Adios Annyeong zaijian

vwah higasipsio

Thank you Merci! gracias Gomawo Xie xie ni

I love you Je t’aime Te amo Sarang Wo ai ni
Haeyo
 BODY LANGUAGE USED IN INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION

▪ Body language is a form of non-verbal

communication in which visible body language
communicates particular messages, either in
place of, or in conjunction with speech.

▪ In multicultural context of communication, you

should be culturally sensitive to the differences
of this body language.
 BODY LANGUAGE USED IN INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION

SHAKING
HANDS A-OK Sign
 BODY LANGUAGE USED IN INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION

THUMBS-UP SITTING WITH

CROSSED-LEGS
 BODY LANGUAGE USED IN INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION

EYE-CONTACT NODDING THE HEAD

 BODY LANGUAGE USED IN INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION

POINTING BROAD ARM

USING LIPS MOVEMENT
 THE ABC’s OF INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION

Communication is complex.
▪ the cultural and contextual factors embedded
in it.
▪ It is also challenging due the many ways in
which communication can very between
cultures as well as individuals plus the
requirements needed by an individual to satisfy
the conversational convention.
 THE ABC’s OF INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION

ACKNOWLEDGE

▪ Difference in communication style should be

acknowledge
▪ Every person in a group has a particular
communication style which give her/his own
identify
▪ Awareness on differences will increase awareness
of uniqueness
 THE ABC’s OF INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION

BI-LEVEL

▪ Communication does not only uphold speaking

and listening but also require a holistic process that
includes verbal and non-verbal channels.
 THE ABC’s OF INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION

CLARIFY

▪ If in doubtful of your understanding about what is

being communicated.
▪ Ask for clarification
▪ Devote a little extra time to verify
understanding so that you can save time and
avoid frustration.
 CULTURAL COMMUNICATION BARRIERS

▪ Sometimes, the goal of communication is

not achieved due to communication
barriers brought by culture. These barriers
obviously give difficulty in understanding
people, whose language is different, and
evidently challenge people who are trying
to work harmoniously with others of a
different background.
 CULTURAL COMMUNICATION BARRIERS

LANGUAGE BARRIER
▪ Language is evidently the primary barrier of communication in
second and foreign language context.

HOSTILE STEREOTYPES
▪ Stereotypes are generalization or assumptions people make
about the characteristic of members of a group based.

EMOTIONAL DISPLAY
▪ Like at some workplace, showing off extreme anger may imply
unprofessionalism
DEVELOPING WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
TO MULTICULTURAL AUDIENCES
▪ Guffey (2008), elaborates that written
messages can be improved by:
▪ Considering local formats
▪ Observe title and status
▪ Using short sentences and paragraphs
▪ Avoiding ambiguous expression
▪ Striving for clarity
▪ Using correct grammar
▪ Citing number carefully
▪ Accommodating readers in organization, tone,
and style
DEVELOPING WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
TO MULTICULTURAL AUDIENCES
GUFFEY’S SUGGESTIONS

1. Consider local styles

▪ Documents have their standard
formats
▪ Decide whether to use your
organization's preferred format or
adjust to local styles
DEVELOPING WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
TO MULTICULTURAL AUDIENCES
GUFFEY’S SUGGESTIONS
2. Observe titles and status
▪ Use last names, titles, and other signals of
rank and status
▪ For instance, in writing the inside address of
a letter, the title and position of the receiver
should be explicitly written
▪ This signals politeness in business letters
DEVELOPING WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
TO MULTICULTURAL AUDIENCES
GUFFEY’S SUGGESTIONS
OBSERVANCE OF TITLE AND STATUS
▪ Engr. Marco Philip S. Mercado
District Engineer, Tarlac 1st District Engineering Office
Hilario Street, Tarlac City, Tarlac

NON-OBSERVANCE OF TITLE AND STATUS

▪ Marco Philip S. Mercado
Tarlac 1st District Engineering Office
Hilario Street, Tarlac City, Tarlac
DEVELOPING WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
TO MULTICULTURAL AUDIENCES
GUFFEY’S SUGGESTIONS
3. Use short sentences and short paragraphs
▪ The use of a few words in sentences and a few lines in
paragraphs is greatly considered for the readability of the
message
▪ Check the lexical feature of your sentences and
paragraphs
▪ Barrot (2014) reported in his study that lexical and
syntactic features contribute to complexity in reading
comprehension. However, he found out that not all short
sentences and short paragraphs are readable and
comprehensible
DEVELOPING WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
TO MULTICULTURAL AUDIENCES
GUFFEY’S SUGGESTIONS
4. Avoid ambiguous expressions
▪ Use action-specific words
▪ Also include relative pronouns (that,
which, who) for clarity in introducing
clauses
▪ Do not use contractions (don't,
can't, weren't)
DEVELOPING WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
TO MULTICULTURAL AUDIENCES
GUFFEY’S SUGGESTIONS
Stay away from using the following:
a. Idioms and figurative clichés. This form of language
uses words and expressions with meaning that is
different from the literal interpretation
Example:
▪ Beat the clock —to do something before the
deadline
▪ Do the dirty work — to do the disagreeable, illegal,
dishonest things
DEVELOPING WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
TO MULTICULTURAL AUDIENCES
GUFFEY’S SUGGESTIONS
Stay away from using the following:
b. Slang. It is a shortcut or highly colloquial word
that suggest excessive informality and lack of
appreciation in the workplace setting
Example:
▪ Gonna— going to
▪ Wanna—want to
▪ Okay— all right
DEVELOPING WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
TO MULTICULTURAL AUDIENCES
GUFFEY’S SUGGESTIONS
Stay away from using the following:
c. Acronym. It is formed from the initial letters of
other words and pronounced as a word
Example:
▪ LAM— Leave a message
▪ IMO— in my opinion
▪ AKA— also known as
▪ AWOL— absent without leave
DEVELOPING WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
TO MULTICULTURAL AUDIENCES
GUFFEY’S SUGGESTIONS
Stay away from using the following:
d. Abbreviation. It is a short form of a lengthy
expression
Example:
▪ Acct— account
▪ Ad— advertisement
▪ Fwd— forward
▪ W/o— without
 DEVELOPING WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
TO MULTICULTURAL AUDIENCES
GUFFEY’S SUGGESTIONS
Stay away from using the following:
e. Jargon. It is a type of language that is used in a
particular occupation, often words are meaningless
outside a certain context
Example:
▪ Helicopter view— an overview of a job or a project
▪ Desk job— a job that is typically confined to duties from
a desk
DEVELOPING WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
TO MULTICULTURAL AUDIENCES
GUFFEY’S SUGGESTIONS
5. Strive for clarity
▪ To present the message clearly
▪ Avoid words that have multiple
meanings
▪ Clarify words that may be confusing
▪ Rephrase phrasal verbs with clear single
words
DEVELOPING WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
TO MULTICULTURAL AUDIENCES
GUFFEY’S SUGGESTIONS
6. Use correct grammar
▪ Any written documents should be
grammatically correct
▪ Accuracy in writing guarantees the
writers
 DEVELOPING WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
TO MULTICULTURAL AUDIENCES
GUFFEY’S SUGGESTIONS
7. Cite numbers carefully
▪ Numbers should be written following the metric system
▪ Spell out numbers one to nine and write the figure for
number 10 and above, but spell out the number if it begins
in sentences
▪ Always convert dollar figures into local currency
▪ Avoid using figures to express the date for example,
February 14,2020 should not be written as 2/14/20
▪ Guidelines on data format must be observed
DEVELOPING WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
TO MULTICULTURAL AUDIENCES
GUFFEY’S SUGGESTIONS
8. Accommodate the reader in organization, tone, and
style
▪ Organize your message, observing appropriate tone
and style, to appeal to your audience
▪ Style is the way in which your document is written
which influences the readers impression of the
information itself
▪ The overall tone or the attitude of a piece of writing
should be appropriate to the audience and the
purpose
 ENHANCING ORAL COMMUNICATION IN A
MULTICULTURAL SETTING
1. Learn Foreign Phrases.
▪ learn how to speak their language —greetings and
survival expressions in this language

2. Use Simple English

▪ Use simple vocabulary with short sentences
▪ The simplicity of the language contributes to
comprehensibility and appreciation of the
communication process
▪ Avoid using culture specific terms
 ENHANCING ORAL COMMUNICATION IN A
MULTICULTURAL SETTING
3. Speak slowly and enunciate clearly
▪ Do not talk fast when communicating.

4. Observe eye message

▪ The eyes are the windows of the soul
▪ The sincerity of speakers is gauged at their eyes

5. Encourage accurate feedback

▪ Let your listeners respond verbally
▪ Non-verbal responses, such as, a head nod or a smile do
not indicate comprehension
ENHANCING ORAL COMMUNICATION IN A
MULTICULTURAL SETTING

6. Check frequently for comprehension

▪ Do not proceed to B unless A has been grasped

7. Accept blame
▪ If your listener were not able to understand
what you said, and they became inquisitive,
graciously accept the blame.
▪ It is your obligation as the speaker to talk with
clarity
 ENHANCING ORAL COMMUNICATION IN A
MULTICULTURAL SETTING
8. Listen without interrupting
▪ Do not attempt to fill out ideas for the speaker, else
you will be described impolite
▪ Turn taking is a rule of thumb and must not be taken
for granted

9. Smile when appropriate

▪ Smile is a useful form of communication
▪ Do not smile excessively because in other cultures, it
would mean insincerity
ENHANCING ORAL COMMUNICATION IN A
MULTICULTURAL SETTING

10. Follow up in writing

▪ Results of conversations or oral negotiation
should be confirmed with follow up letters
▪ For documents that require a full
understanding of the recipient (e.g.,
proposal and contracts)
▪ Translation of this kind in the local
language is highly recommended
 LET US PONDER

“It is not our differences that divide us. It is

our inability to recognize, accept, and
celebrate those differences.”

-Audre Lorde
THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING!