Chapter Overview

Summary--From the Intercultural Perspective

   Verbal intercultural communication happens when people from different cultural backgrounds communicate with each other by using language.

    It is agreed that language helps in communicating with people from different backgrounds. However, people may be less aware that cultural literacy is necessary in order to understand the language being used. Words in themselves do not carry the meaning. The meaning comes out of the context. Although people use the dictionary to explain one language with another language, words of different languages don’t mean the same thing because of the cultural influence on word meaning.

    There are mainly five verbal communication styles introduced in this chapter: direct / indirect; self-enhancement / self-effacement; elaborate / exacting / succinct; personal / contextual; and instrumental / affective.

    Language is a cultural phenomenon which is used to express different uses and to communicate different meanings. Language varies according to the communicative uses but also according to the users. In fact, users of the same language in a sense all speak differently and the kind of language each of them chooses to use is in part determined by their cultural background. 

    In short, some language variations result from the language user, that is, his or her geographical origin (dialect), or his or her social condition (sociolect). However, some language variations result from the circumstances of communication, such as pidgin, Lingua Franca, jargon, taboo and euphemism. Dialect refers to geographic variation, while sociolect refers to variation in terms of social class or style. Pidgin refers to a mixed language that is used for trading purposes, while Lingua Franca refers to a specific language that is used as an international means of communication. Taboo refers to expressions that are considered impolite, while euphemism refers to polite expressions used to soften the offensive and disturbing language. Jargon refers to a special or technical vocabulary that is developed for professional purposes within professional groups like medicine or law.

    Furthermore, verbal communication involves both oral and written forms. Written communication is especially important in intercultural business communication. As the modern technological renovation (e-mail and e-commerce) calls for the written communication in business, businessmen should be more conscious about the written communication because mistakes made in written form are more serious and permanent. 

    Cultural patterns influence not only oral communication but also written communication. Cultural impact on discourse patterns is to be classified into two categories: direct plan and indirect plan. In direct plans, clarity and conciseness are essential to a successful business writing style. The indirect plan has other priorities than the quick delivery of ideas, such as nurturing a relationship or developing some other context for the message. Direct plan is favored by results-oriented cultures. Indirect plan is favored by relationship-oriented culture.    

Case Analysis for Chapter 5

Critical Thinking Questions

Keywords for Chapter 5

(1) Verbal intercultural communication happens when people from different cultural backgrounds communicate with each other by using language.来自不同文化背景的人用言语进行的交际即言语跨文化交际。

(2) Dialect is a form of language peculiar to a group of people, as distinguished from the literary language of the whole people. 方言是某一群体特有的语言，与整个群体的言语不同。

(3) Sociolect refers to variation in terms of social class or style. （社会方言指由于社会阶级或言语风格不同而产生的方言。）

(4) Pidgin is a special language variety that mixes or lends languages for restricted purposes such as trading. 洋泾浜，是一种特殊的语言变体，指为贸易等目的将两种或几种语言混合使用。

(5) When a pidgin language begins to acquire native speakers and becomes the permanent language of a region, it is called a Creole. 当有人以洋泾浜为母语，并成为某一地区永久的语言是，它就成为克里奥耳语或混合语。

(6) Lingua franca refers to a specific language that is used as an international means of communication. 通用语指作为国际间交流手段的一种特殊语言。

(7) Taboo refers to prohibition of a set of behaviors that should be avoided because they are offensive and impolite. 禁忌语指被禁止或避免的具有冒犯性的不礼貌行为。 

(8) Euphemism is Taboo’s linguistic counterpart because it substitutes the offensive and disturbing vocabulary. 委婉语是替代具有冒犯性的不礼貌的禁忌语词语。

(9) Jargon refers to the special or technical vocabularies developed to meet the special needs of particular professions such as medicine and law. 行话指演变而来的专门的或科技词汇，用以满足特殊职业的特殊需要，例如医药和法律。

Now you've finished studying Chapter 5, have you mastered all the key points in this chapter? If the answer is YES, move on to Assessment to check your comprehension and mastery of Chapter 5.