Ministry of science and education of the republic of kazakhstan

MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND EDUCATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

KAZAKH ABLAI KHAN UNIVERSITY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND WORLD LANGUAGES

CHAIR OF THEORY OF LINGUISTICS AND COMMUNICATION

TASKS

for

SIW

MODULE 1

Done by: Mukhitova A.

413 group

Almaty, 2015

Tasks for individual work of students on Basics of Intercultural Communication

4 course. 8 semester

2012-2013 a.y.

Module 1

IWS №1 (2 hours)

Theme: The notion of Intercultural Communication

Subtheme #1: Intercultural Communication and cultural linguistics.

Task 1: Make a table and give examples to each of the following objects of cultural linguistics:

1) Words and phrases which have no equivalents in another language;

2) rituals, beliefs, and superstations reflected in language;

3) proverbs and sayings;

4) symbols and stereotypes;

5) metaphors and images;

6) stylistic norms;

7) speech behavior;

8) speech etiquette.

Words and phrases which have no equivalents in another language	1) There is no equivalent of "dying" in Chinese. In most Chinese languages, death is an event happening at a precise point in time, not a drawn-out process. You can say "John is about to die", "John will die very soon", "John is as good as dead", and even "Die, John!"... but you can't directly translate "John is dying" into Chinese without an unnatural amount of verbal contortions. (E.g., you can translate "John is experiencing the process of death.") 2) sleep in 3) top off 4) mess around 5) butter up (someone) 6) muffin-top (the pinch of side fat you get from tight pants) 7) puppy love 8) rain check 9) bedhead 10) bad hair day 11) morning breath 12) morning wood
rituals, beliefs, and superstations reflected in language	The meaningful contents of the key concepts determine national conceptosphere that demonstrates guards national cultural heritage. Through singling out the conceptosphere and defining the linguistic means verbalizing concepts we can reveal peculiar national and cultural values perceived by this ethnos. The concepts Eternity Fatherland Law Freedom Love are defined as the meaningful concepts (universality class concepts). Love is inherent in all human cultures. The concept love is one of the most common and withal one of the least defined concepts in modern science. It is evident that Love is essentially an abstract concept much easier to experience than to explain. From a position of various dictionaries the notion “Love”can be defined as “an intense feeling of affection emotional intimacy and shared interests and experiences are common in friendships of all human beings”. In ordinary use it usually refers to ‘interpersonal love. It has many different meanings in English from something that gives a little pleasure to something one would die for (patriotism).
proverbs and sayings	1) African Proverbs · “A tree is known by its fruit” – (of Zulu origin - this means that success is shown by the deeds.) · “I have been bitten by a tsetse fly” – (of Tanzanian origin – this means that a person will continuously be a pest until you pay off a debt.) · “The word of friend makes you cry – the word of an enemy makes you laugh” – (of Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger – this means that a friend will tell you the truth and sometimes the truth hurts, whereas an enemy will only lead you down the wrong path by giving you advice that seems good but is not.) 2) American Proverbs · "Absence makes the heart grow fonder” – (this means that when you separate from someone that you love by putting distance between you that you will inevitably love them more and yearn to see them.) · "All that glitters is not gold” – (this means that just because something looks good, does not necessarily mean that it is good.) · "A monkey in silk is a monkey no less” – (this means that just because someone dresses fancy does not necessarily mean that they are fancy or of good character.) 3) Arabic Proverb: An army of sheep led by a lion would defeat an army of lions led by a sheep. 4) Finnish proverb: Even a small star shines in the darkness. 5) Italian Proverb: After the game, the king and pawn go into the same box. 6) Jewish Proverb: God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers. 7) Russian Proverb: Better to stumble than make a slip of the tongue. 8) Spanish Proverb: Since we cannot get what we like, let us like what we can get.
symbols and stereotypes	1) Russia: The stereotypical understanding is that Russia is a faraway, snowy country, where one must wear a furcoat and valenki (felt boots), people do nothing but drink vodka and play balalaikas, while bears are leaving their forest homes to go walking down village streets. However, the reality of our life is very far from this idyllic myth: balalaikas, bears, and felt boots have more or less become symbols of Russia rather than attributes of everyday life. 2) Canada Canadians are well known for their love of beer, hockey, and outdoor life
metaphors and images	Current understanding of metaphors has centered on identifying conceptual metaphors in a particular language, such as the following metaphors in English: TIME IS UNDERSTOOD AS MONEY, LIFE IS A JOURNEY, GOOD IS UP, BAD IS DOWN, etc. These are conceptual metaphors, that is, they map one conceptual domain (i.e. money) onto another (i.e. time), as opposed to image metaphors, which map only one visual image onto another visual image. An example of a image metaphors is: 'Her waist is an hour-glass.' The visual image of the shape of an hour-glass is mapped onto the waist.
stylistic norms	Norm is "the invariant of the phonemic, morphological, lexical, and syntactical patterns circulating in language-in-action at a given period of time." Literary norm is defined with the help of works of literature, scientific and publicistic prose, as I.R. Galperin noted as well. As I.V. Arnold says, speech is defined by the type and conditions of communication, that is why its correctness is relative. That is why when the character in a work of literature violates the grammar rules it does not necessarily mean that he /she is low-educated, because we should take into consideration the setting, the mood of the character and the situation of communication.
speech behavior	Indirect complaining/commiserating is described in detail with specific reference to the effect of the variable of social distance on its distribution. The way in which indirect complaints and commiserative responses pattern out along the social distance continuum indicates that the characteristic Bulge is not in the middle (among friends and acquaintances) but is always skewed toward one end of the continuum (strangers) or the other (intimates). In contradistinction to the way in which compliments and invitations appear to be socially distributed with reference to social distance, commiseration occurs almost as frequently among strangers as it does among friends. The conclusion to be drawn is that some rapport-inspiring speech behaviors occur almost as frequently among interlocutors of extreme social distance as they do among friends and acquaintances.
speech etiquette	Every culture across the ages has been defined by the concept of etiquette and accepted social interaction. However, it is the British – and the English in particular – who have historically been known to place a great deal of importance in good manners. Whether it be in relation to speech, timeliness, body language or dining, politeness is key. British etiquette dictates courteousness at all times, which means forming an orderly queue in a shop or for public transport, saying excuse me when someone is blocking your way and saying please and thank you for any service you have received is de rigueur. The British reputation for being reserved is not without merit. Overfamiliarity of personal space or behaviour is a big no-no! When meeting someone for the first time a handshake is always preferable to a hug and a kiss on the cheek is reserved for close friends only. Asking personal questions about salary, relationship status, weight or age (particularly in the case of more ‘mature’ ladies) is also frowned upon. Traditionally, one of the best examples of the British etiquette is the importance placed on punctuality. It is considered rude to arrive late to a business meeting, medical appointment or formal social occasion such as a wedding. As such it is advisable to arrive 5-10 minutes early to appear professional, prepared and unflustered as a mark of respect to your host. Conversely, should you arrive too early to a dinner party this could also appear slightly rude and ruin the atmosphere for the evening if the host is still completing their preparations. For the same reason an unannounced house call is often frowned upon for risk of inconveniencing the home owner.

Task 2: Make up your own problem questions or tasks on the given theme.

Make a questionnaire among 5 people from different nationalities about words and phrases which have no equivalents in another language;rituals, beliefs, and superstations reflected in language;proverbs and sayings;symbols and stereotypes;metaphors and images;stylistic norms; speech behavior;speech etiquette in their mother language.

Task 3: Based on the information you have found from the recommended literature and Internet prepare a report concerning to the given theme.

Intercultural communication is a form of communication that aims to share information across different cultures and social groups. It is used to describe the wide range of communication processes and problems that naturally appear within an organization or social context made up of individuals from different religious, social, ethnic, and educational backgrounds. Intercultural communication is sometimes used synonymously with cross-cultural communication. In this sense it seeks to understand how people from different countries and cultures act, communicate and perceive the world around them. Many people in intercultural business communication argue that culture determines how individuals encode messages, what medium they choose for transmitting them, and the way messages are interpreted. The European researcher Daniele Trevisani pointed out the semantic distinction between Intercultural and Cross-Cultural Communication should be clearly specified: Intercultural Communication properly refers to the study of the "interaction" between people from different cultures, while Cross-Cultural Communication specifically refers to the comparison of how people from different cultures communicate. In other words, Cross-Cultural Communication is a "static differential image" depicting differences in communication patterns across different cultures, while Intercultural Communication studies "dynamic interactional patterns", what happens when people from at least two different cultures meet and interact, and what "frames" are generated from this interaction, e.g. understanding vs. misunderstanding, agreement vs. disagreement, cultural adaptation vs. cultural isolation, emerging of "third cultures", conflict vs. cooperation, intercultural team cohesiveness vs. team misunderstandings, intercultural projects success vs. projects failure, emotional improvement vs. emotional deterioration, and any other relational outcome (Trevisani, 2005). In a broader sense, Intercultural communication encompasses cross-cultural communication, international communication, development communication, and intercultural communication's narrower referent, intercultural communication proper.[3] With regard to intercultural communication proper, it studies situations where people from different cultural backgrounds interact. Aside from language, intercultural communication focuses on social attributes, thought patterns, and the cultures of different groups of people. It also involves understanding the different cultures, languages and customs of people from other countries. Intercultural communication plays a role in social sciences such as anthropology, cultural studies, linguistics, psychology and communication studies. Intercultural communication is also referred to as the base for international businesses. There are several cross-cultural service providers around who can assist with the development of intercultural communication skills. Research is a major part of the development of intercultural communication skills.

Task 4. Divide into small groups of 3 or 4 students. You are going to participate to the students’ scientific conference related to the theme “The problems and topical issues of Intercultural Communication”. Think of different points to include in your scientific presentations. Consider different ideas of your team and discuss your ideas and decide on the best five to include in your presentations. Make an outline or program of the conference.

INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Significance Of Intercultural Communication

Importance Of Intercultural Communication In Today’s World

Basic Intercultural Communication Principles

RECOGNIZE CULTURE DIFFERENCE:

RECOGNIZE CULTURE DIFFERENCE “The greater the difference between cultures, the greater there is chance of misunderstanding” We can improve intercultural sensitivity by recognizing and accommodating four main types of culture differences: Contexual Ethical Social Nonverbal

CONTEXTUAL DIFFERENCE:

CONTEXTUAL DIFFERENCE Cultural context is basically of two types: High context culture Low context culture Contextual differences are apparent in the way culture approaches situation such as: Decision making practices Problem solving techniques Negotiating styles

LEGAL AND ETHICAL DIFFERENCE:

LEGAL AND ETHICAL DIFFERENCE Legal systems differ from culture to culture. Ethical choices can be even more complicated when communicating across culture

SOCIAL DIFFERENCES:

SOCIAL DIFFERENCES Social behavior is another distinguishing factor among cultures. In any culture, rules of social etiquette may be formal and informal. Some are like: Attitude towards materialism Roles and status Use of manners Concept of time

NONVERBAL DIFFERENCES:

NONVERBAL DIFFERENCES Nonverbal communication is another very important factor while recognizing culture differences Some concepts of nonverbal differences are: Concepts of personal space Use of body language

EFFECTIVE INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION CULTURAL SENSITIVITY COMMUNICATION SKILL Cultural Languages (overcoming barriers) Cultural Exposure (studying other cultures) Cultural Technique (Developing written/oral skill) Cultural Awareness (recognizing difference) Cultural Flexibility)

CULTURAL FLEXIBILITY:

CULTURAL FLEXIBILITY Acknowledge distinction Avoid assumptions Avoid judgments

Cultural Exposure (studying other cultures):

Cultural Exposure (studying other cultures) Tips for communicating more effectively. Assume differences until similarity is proved. Take responsibility for communicate. Withhold judgment Show respect Look beyond the superficial Be patient Be flexible Send clear messages

Cultural Languages(overcoming barriers):

Cultural Languages(overcoming barriers) Avoid using slang and idioms Pay attention to local accents and pronunciation Be aware of vocal variations Respect preferences for communication styles Learn a foreign language

CULTURAL TECHNIQUE (Developing written/oral skill):

CULTURAL TECHNIQUE (Developing written/oral skill) Improve Your Writing Skills – Use plain English, be clear, avoid slang and idioms, be brief. Improve your oral skills – Try to eliminate noise, look for feedback, speak slowly,don’t talk down to other person, use objective; accurate language

INTERCULTURAL TRAINING:

INTERCULTURAL TRAINING It is necessary for---- Understanding and appreciating intercultural differences. Maximization of potential on the global stage Developing skill and approaches to deal with cross cultural. Business growth.

TYPES OF INTERCULTURAL TRAINING:

TYPES OF INTERCULTURAL TRAINING Youth cross cultural training Business and culture Corporate leadership training

BENEFIT FROM INTERCULTURAL TRAINING:

BENEFIT FROM INTERCULTURAL TRAINING The Organisational Level The Managerial/Staff Level The Societal Level

Case study: Case study The Chinese-German team

Introduction:

Introduction Research and development (R&D) is based in Germany, and production is based in China. The business is starting to be profitable. But tensions develop in the team, and an external consultant is brought in to analyse the situation. This is what she reports after interviewing representatives from both sides.

The German manager's view of the Chinese:

The German manager's view of the Chinese Our Chinese colleagues seems to be keen to learn and open-minded, but they aren't prepared to take responsibility or follow agreed procedures. They think in a hierarchical way and there is very little horizontal communication. They seem reluctant to make independent decisions. They have started to turn up late to meetings or not come at all. When we ask them about a problem, they often beat about the bush, and it is very difficult to know what they are really thinking. They smile politely and say yes, but don't do anything. We've hired quite a few new Chinese colleagues but, although they have excellent qualifications on paper, we've been disappointed with their performance. The other issue is loyalty. We hire them, train them and then they leave and join one of our competitors."

The Chinese manager's view of the Germans:

"The Germans are excellent planners, and very logical. We like their focus on quality and straightforward approach. On the other hand, they don't seem to trust us. They don't give us any real responsibility. Instead, they set up complicated processes that just slow everything down and stop us from reaching our targets. They waste time with too many meetings. They are never available when we need them - they often seem to be away on holiday. If we can't get an answer to our questions quickly, we have a problem with the deadlines that they have set for us and keep insisting on. Maybe there are too many temptations in Shanghai. They complain about the Chinese stealing Western know-how but, at the same time, if they have a few hours free before their flight to Germany, they go to the fake market and buy watches and clothing for their family and friends." The Chinese manager's view of the Germans

Case study:

Case study Analysis Responsibility Decision making Meetings Directness Educational background Work and private life

Recommendations:

Recommendations The consultant advised her clients to think about the following points: Time has to be invested in discussing people's expectations of one another and agreeing on how everyone wants to work together. Some flexibility on both sides is desirable. Different management styles: agree on an appropriate style for the whole team. Trust between the parties Western companies hiring Chinese staff should seek local advice on what the qualifications mean. The German side needs to make sure they ask someone to stand in for them when they are out of the office

IWS№2 (4 hours)

Theme: The history of Intercultural communication

Subtheme #1: Individualistic and Collectivistic Cultures

Task 1: Writing: information sheet

1. Your local tourist office has asked you to write an information sheet (about 250 words) for visitors to your country. The purpose is to inform foreigners about any culturally sensitive issues so that they avoid offending local people by mistake.

What is Cultural Sensitivity? Cultural sensitivity begins with a recognition that there are differences between cultures. These differences are reflected in the ways that different groups communicate and relate to one another. Cultural sensitivity is more than an awareness that there are differences in culture in order to interact effectively. A culturally competent person views all people as unique individuals and realizes that their experiences, beliefs, values, and language affect their perceptions.Recognizing differences among cultures is important, but we should also be aware that differences also exist within cultures.The assumption that a common culture is shared by all members of a racial, linguistic, or religious group is erroneous. We must recognize our own cultural values and draw parallels where possible; we should also identify any prejudices and stereotypes that prevent us from communicating effectively with people from different cultures. Realize that, like it or not, we most likely hold some stereotypes about culture and gender.Questions To Ask Ourselves: Do we try to learn the names of those from other cultures? Are we patient with their attempts to use English? Do we make assumptions about people based on their race, ethnicity, or gender? Are we doing everything we can to learn about them? There are some advice to avoid misunderstanding:Find an ethnic market. Have them help you buy and prepare food from their country and make it part of your regular menu. Ask them to sing and/or dance for you, if they are comfortable doing so.Explain some of your religious traditions and ask them about theirs. Ask about times that are important to them and make them important to you. Be mindful of their connection to religion, community, culture, and family. Control Emotions even when not directed at the children. They will read your body language and assume it ’s them. 80-90% of communication is non-verbal. Save frustration for private moments with spouse or consultant. In conclusions: in our society today, communities are made up of people with a wide range of ideas and orientations, even about issues as fundamental as race, ethnicity, and gender. Anyone engaging in his/her community may be challenged by ideas and orientations that they have not considered. Among these ideas, differing ideas about race, culture, and gender can be very challenging, especially if a person hasn ’t thought about the issues. Expectations about others affect day-to-day working relationships. Drawing conclusions based on stereotypes is wrong and can be harmful.

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