How Different are We? Spoken Discourse in

This book examines the influence of cultural values and communication styles on intercultural communication and demonstrates how training can develop intercultural communication competencies. A large number of interactions between well-educated immigrants from all continents and from more than a hundred countries, together with some including native speakers, are examined and participants’ answers to questionnaires compared with their actual communicative behaviour. The author raises questions of interest to many groups: linguists, educators, business people and sociologists. Which values are most salient and enduring, and which cause clashes between cultural groups? To what extent do people retain the communication style identified with their first language and how do these different styles impact on others?

Helen FitzGerald is an advanced skills teacher at the Canberra Institute of Technology, teaching immigrants in the Adult Migrant Education Program.

Foreword

vii

Acknowledgements

ix

Transcribing Symbols

x

Introduction

1

(10)

Purpose and Scope of This Book

1

(1)

Outline of Content

2

(1)

Broader Purposes and Issues Relevant to This Study

2

(4)

Australia's Immigration Program & English Language Provision

6

(3)

Theories of Intercultural Communication

9

(2)

The Data

11

(10)

The Participants

11

(1)

The Procedure for the Data Collection

12

(4)

The Procedure for the Data Analysis

16

(1)

General Features of the Sample Interactions

17

(4)

Cultural Value Systems: An Overview of the Literature

21

(10)

Definitions of Culture and Cultural Values

21

(1)

Cultural Value Systems

22

(1)

Collectivism versus Individualism

23

(1)

Power Distance

23

(1)

Masculinity versus Femininity

24

(1)

Ascription versus Achievement

25

(1)

Problem Solving and Decision Making

25

(1)

Interpersonal Relations

26

(2)

Modernisation and Convergence

28

(1)

Discussion

28

(3)

Data Analysis: Cultural Values Reflected in the Discourse

31

(48)

Introduction

31

(1)

Evidence of Values Reflected in the Discourse: Recurring Patterns

31

(14)

Different Values & Unshared World Knowledge

45

(17)

Productive Diversity

62

(12)

Discussion

74

(1)

Conclusion

75

(4)

Communication Styles: An Overview of the Literature

79

(7)

Introduction

79

(2)

Frameworks of Communication Styles

81

(5)

Data Analysis: Discourse Organisation and Rhetorical Strategies

86

(25)

Introduction

86

(1)

Discourse Organisation

86

(17)

Rhetorical Strategies

103

(6)

Discussion

109

(2)

Data Analysis: Turn-Taking Patterns & the Distribution of Talk

111

(25)

Introduction

111

(3)

General Features of the Interactions

114

(1)

High-Involvement and High-Considerateness Styles

115

(4)

Turn-Taking Styles

119

(5)

Dominating Individuals

124

(8)

Discussion

132

(4)

Data Analysis: Assertiveness, Disagreement and Conflict

136

(34)

Introduction

136

(10)

Assertiveness and Disagreement

146

(11)

Disagreement

157

(4)

Discussion

161

(4)

Conclusion

165

(5)

Developing Communicative Competencies

170

(35)

Introduction: What Competencies Should Be Taught

170

(10)

Evidence of the Development of Competencies

180

(23)

Discussion

203

(2)

Conclusion

205

(9)

The Key Role of the Situational Context

205

(1)

General Findings

206

(3)

Indications for Teaching and Training

209

(5)

Appendix 1: The Participants

214

(4)

Appendix 2: Problems

218

(2)

Appendix 3: Training: Methods and Materials

220

(25)

Appendix 4: Explanations for Exercise 2

245

(1)

Appendix 5: Explanations of Case Studies: Exercise 5

246

(1)

Appendix 6: Explanations of Non-Verbal Behaviour: Exercise 6

247

(1)

References

248

(10)

Index

258

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How Different are We? Spoken Discourse in Intercultural Communication

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials