Intercultural Communication

Communication and Language

Culture and School As Agent of Change
Social Dimension of Education
Presented by: Mr. Richmond S.Yap, RGC,RPm,MA
Professional Teacher
Guidance Director/College Guidance Head
Adamson University
Learning Objectives:
 1. Understand the relationship of language and
culture
 2. Identify differences of language between man
from animals
 3. Enumerate characteristics of culture
 4. Show better perspective about material
components of culture and cultural relativism
 5. Application of the knowledge in practice of the
profession
Communication
 Verbal-use of language
 Non-verbal-use of gestures, facial
expressions and or body movements

 Language-abstract system of word meaning

and symbols for all aspects of culture,
including speech, written characters,
numerals, symbols and gestures and
expressions of non-verbal communication
Communication
 6 Components of Effective Communication
 1. Communication source/sender
 2. A message
 3. A channel
 4. A receive
 5. Feedback
 6. Environment
Communication
 Barriers

 1. Semantics-study of word meanings and combinations

 2. Filtering of negative information
 3.Lack of credibility, communication skills
 4. Mixed signals, different frames of reference
 5. Value judgements and Information Overload
Communication
 Highly culture-bound techniques over years
by observing and imitating=Paralanguage
 or language of gestures, expressions and
postures

 Symbols to convey complex meanings like

paintings, musical scores, algebraic
expressions etc.
Communication
 Language store meanings, experiences to
pass heritage, symbols with rules and
enables man to imagine future plans and
ideas

 Reflection of the kind of person, family

background, level of education, and index
of behavior expected of him/her
Communication
 4 areas on study of language
 1. Phonology-system of sounds (cat/bat)
 2. Semantics-word meanings and word
combinations (vocabularies to encompass new
knowledge)
 3. Grammar-morphology or prefixes, suffixes
and root words to produce plurals, past tenses
and when combined into sentences=syntax
 4. Pragmatics-use of appropriate language for
particular contexts
Communication and Language
 Overcoming Barriers:
 1. Clarify ideas before sending
 2. Motivate the receiver
 3. Discuss differences in frames of reference
 4. Foster informal communication
 5. Communicate feelings behind facts
Communication and Language
 Overcoming Barriers:
 6. Be aware of nonverbal communication
 7. Obtain feedback
 8. Adapt to other person’s communication style
 9. Engage in change on levels of communication
Developments of Communication
and Its Impact
 1. Technology leading to opening of information

 2. Electronic creating personal and business bond

 3. Computers utilized for educational purposes

 4. Computers and technology where employers and

employees regular work responsibilities easier
Social Good and Human Rights
 Language as a tool for social good and human rights:
 1. collective assets, virtues and efficacies
 2. human faculties and attributes, oppurtunities and benefits
 3. characteristics of rationality, perception, affectivity,
intentionality and spiritual consciousness
 4. recognition of fundamental values like truth, freedom,
peace, wisdom, justice, beauty, well-being, dignity, love,
honor, fellowship, happiness and good will
Language and Culture
 Collective memory of myths, fables, sayings etc.
 Linguistic diversity from cultural diversity
 No read, no write communities=spoken language
 Maintain norms, values, ideas and experiences
 Lexical content or vocabulary-singled out words
 Children speaking different languages from
different cultures =formation of concept
 Determines the way speakers view the world
Language and Culture
 The linguistic-relativity hypothesis asserts that
language determines thought and therefore
culture. In reality language and culture influence
each other-Edward Sapir (linguist)

 No other known species except human language

transmit their culture from one generation to the
next
Culture
 Set of learned behaviors, beliefs, attitudes, values
and ideals that are characteristics of a particular
society or population

 Sum total of symbols, norms, knowledge, morals,

customs, material products associated with way
of life, capabilities, habits, technology shared by
people in society that characterize a social group
Characteristics of Culture
 1. Learned-developed
 2. Shared by a group of people-followed
 3. Cumulative -added
 4. Change-new
 5. Dynamic-modified
 6. Ideational-ideal pattern of behavior
 7. Diverse-different
 8. Permissible behavior-allowed
Components of Culture
 1.Communication-Language and Symbols
 2. Cognitive-Ideas, Knowledge, beliefs, values
and context/reasoning
 3. Behavioral-Norms, mores, laws, folkways,
rituals, how we act
 4. Material-practical reasons or artistic on how
humans make objects that expresses culture like
artifacts, minerals, technology to solve problems
in society
Organization of Culture
 1.Cultural traits transmitted through
Enculturation-learning culture of ones’ own
group
 2. Acculturation-learning some new traits from
another culture
 3. Assimilation-individual entirely loses any
awareness of his/her previous group identity and
takes on culture and attitudes of another group
Importance and Functions of Culture
 1.Fulfill ones’ potential as human being-self-
regulation to participate in the group life
 2. Overcome physical disadvantages, allowing to
provide through inventions and technology
 3. Provide rules of proper conduct for living in a
society
 4. Provides the individual concepts of family,
nation, and class leading to create new needs and
arranges ones’ satisfaction
Cultural Relativism
 Practices considered immoral or taboo to a
certain group of people but are accepted by other
groups with a different cultural orientation

 In anthropology, a key methodological concept

which is universally accepted within discipline,
understanding ones’ anthropological frame of
mind
Cultural Relativism
 Glazer said it posits that all cultures are of equal
value and need to be studied in a neutral point of
view, basis for scientific view of culture, rejects
value judgements

 Rosado mentioned that in essence an approach to

the question of nature and role of values in
culture that group organized its collective life and
goals
Cultural Relativism
 Hunt said that in particular setting certain traits
are right because they work in that setting while
other traits are wrong because they clash painfully
with parts of the culture