Diversity and Communication - InterMediaKTintermediakt.org/interprise/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/... · 2014-12-18 · diversity with communication: A. Diversity is not only a fact

Dr. JA Spinthourakis

Multilingual & Multicultural Education

DOEE-University Of Patras [email protected]

Diversity and

Communication

The reality of social change

JA Spinthourakis - PTDE - University of Patras - 2014

In 2013, Europe had around: 733 million inhabitants

Of which were of non-European origin, which translates into 35 to 40

million inhabitants;

The European Union congregates two thirds of that population – in January

2014 it had 507.4 million inhabitants.

In the EU, foreigners from other countries make up 9.4% of the population

(which was 47.3 million in January 2010);

It is estimated that the flow of immigrants received by the EU since 2003 is

almost 1.5 to 2 millions per year,

With an estimated increase of 350,000 to 500,000 per year.

• Sources: UN data, European demographic data sheet, website of Jacques Delors European Information Centre


What do these pictures have in common?



WHAT IS DIVERSITY?


Diversity is about people.

It’s about the environment we work in

and all of us reaching our panacea of

accomplishments

Its about how we value and appreciate

those that are unlike ourselves.

In terms of diversity what is it we want: Assimilation or

Integration?

If you are the outsider and not a member of

the dominant group, it means giving up your

own values and adopting the values of

others, as a means to survival.

The process is not only uncomfortable it is a

violation of another’s identity and inner self.


How do we achieve integration it?

We know that we can learn to understand and appreciate the values, expectations, and communication styles of other traditions without giving up our own.

We can adjust appropriately and effectively to deal with different values and communication styles if we learn How to first perceive and then adapt to them.


Achieving Integration versus Assimilation calls for:

Multicultural communicative competence

“You begin to understand that behavior that

makes no sense to you might make perfect

sense to others. And vice versa.

You are not so quick to judge anymore…you

begin to tolerate opinions and actions you

would have dismissed before.” ~Craig storti, the art of crossing cultures


What Does It Mean To Communicate?

• Communicate comes from Latin word “to share”

• Exchange information: to give or exchange information, for

example, by speech or writing

• Convey: to transmit or reveal a feeling or thought by speech,

writing, or gesture so that it is clearly understood

• Understand one another: to share a good personal

understanding.

• Exchange of information: the exchange of information

between individuals, for example, by means of speaking,

writing, or using a common system of signs or behavior.


Fact--

All behaviors are learned and displayed in

a particular cultural context

AND

Culturally effective communication can be

learned


What is this trying to communicate?


Counting by hand in Chinese, is it different from Korean?


Non-verbal Communication


What is Culture?

Culture is the distinctive life-way

of a people united by a common

language and governed by rules

and models for their beliefs and

behavior.

In layman’s terms, culture is

what we live everyday and what we

bring with us to all our encounters.

Culture is the root, the stem and the branch, while

civilization is the branch, the leaf and the blossom.

-Nelson Brooks, 1973

“Parameters of Culture” JA Spinthourakis - PTDE - University of Patras - 2014

Culture is what water is to a fish

…IT TAKES IT FOR GRANTED UNTIL IT IS OUT OF ITS ENVIRONMENT (URSALA

LEITZMAN, 2004)

One's own culture provides the "lens" through which we view the world;

the "logic"... By which we order it; the "grammar" ... by which it makes

sense. (AVRUCH AND BLACK, 1993)



Cultural Iceberg: Appearances can be deceptive - more is hidden than

revealed…, verbal & non-verbal UBER important


Given that learning is influenced by:

• Individual experiences

• Individual talents

• Prior learning

• Language

• Culture

• Family

• Community values

• Multicultural communicative competence needs to comes into play!


The framework of multicultural competence and

communication (Sue et al, 1998).

AWARENESS Of your own culture in relationship with

the other cultures around you, and an awareness of

the culturally learned assumptions which control

your life, with or without your permission.

COMPREHENSION Depends on having the right facts and

information about the cultural context.

COMPETENT SKILLS Depends on an accurate assessment

of the situation and meaningful understanding to

bring about positive change in each cultural context.

ADAPTED FROM: DR. MARY F. HOWARD-HAMILTON HTTP://PSY6129.ALLIANT.WIKISPACES.NET/FILE/VIEW/PSY6129.PPT


Multicultural Competence includes:

Knowledge about the parameters of cultures and

how they impact

Skills - acquire new information, analyze,

manage our own responses, being flexible and

adaptable

Motivation - cultural understanding and respect,

desire and need to improve and develop

professionally.


Thus to help diverse groups avoid the game of “assimilation” but rather embrace integration …

We need to understand the role culture plays

directly and indirectly in our dealings with

others and to develop our multicultural

communicative competence so that we can be

more effective in provide services to the changing

populations within society.

BUT MYTHS ABOUT COMMUNICATION ABOUND…


Myths related to multicultural competence, intercultural communication and working with

individuals and groups.…

“BASICALLY, DEEP DOWN, WE ARE ALL THE SAME…”

“IT ALL COMES DOWN TO PERSONALITY…”

“IF I’M MYSELF, DON’T PUT ON AIRS, IT WILL ALL BE

OK…”

“COMMUNICATION ONLY TAKES PLACE WHEN WE

CHOOSE TO SEND INFORMATION.”

“CHOOSING NOT TO DISCUSS CERTAIN ISSUES CAN

MINIMIZE PROBLEMS AND DISCOMFORT”.


Six fundamental patterns of cultural differences (adapted from DePraw and Axner, 1997)

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY THESE?

1. DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION STYLES

2. DIFFERENT ATTITUDES TOWARD CONFLICT

3. DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO COMPLETING TASKS

4. DIFFERENT DECISION-MAKING STYLES

5. DIFFERENT ATTITUDES TOWARD DISCLOSURE

6. DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO KNOWING


Guidelines for developing Multicultural Communicative Competence

Learn from generalizations, but don't use those generalizations to stereotype..

Don't assume there’s one right way to communicate.

Don't assume communication breakdowns are because other people are on the wrong track.

Listen actively and empathetically

Respect others' choices about engaging communication with you.

Don’t pre-judge, try to look at the situation as an outsider, put

yourself in the place of the person you are dealing with.

Use this as an opportunity to develop an understanding from "the

other's" point of view


26

Multicultural Premise

• We are all CULTURAL BEINGS

• Our cultural identities are simultaneously multidimensional, multifaceted, and include interdependent characteristics on the:

• Individual level

• Group level (e.G. Social group identities)

• Universal level

We bring the fullness of our identities into any human interactions we engage in and so all of our

relationships are “cross-cultural” in nature


Prejudice

Ethnocentrism

Stereotype

Sexism

Multiculturalism

Cultural Sensitivity

Ethnicity

Racism

Race

Internalized

Oppression

Discrimination

Heterosexism

Culture

The ability to be

open to learning

about and

accepting of

different cultural

groups

Cultural Awareness &

Intercultural Sensitivity

What and how can we become better culturally attuned communicator’s

today?


Positively linking diversity with

communication:

A. Diversity is not only a fact but also an added value to modern societies

B. In a time of paradigm change, a special role is played both by politics and praxis for multicultural communicative competence and social cohesion; we ALL have a shared responsibility on this issue.


Least we forget a basic truth

Diverse voci fanno dolce note; cosi diversi scanni in nostra vita rendon dolce armonia……

(Diverse voices make sweet music; as diverse conditions in our life render sweet harmony….)

DANTE, PARADISO IV:124-126


Σας Ευχαριστώ Πολύ, Thank you very much, Moltes Gràcies, Mercès, Muchas gracias Merci,

Hartelijk dank, Danke sehr, Köszönöm, Takk, Arigato, Paldies, Achu, Dziekuje, Muito Obrigado, Va multumim

frumos, Spasibo balshoye, Tapadh Leat, Dakujem, TackHvala lepa, Dekuji Wa'-do,

Falemenderit shumë, Grazie Mille, Shukriya, Tashakkur, Çok tesekkür ederim ...

JA Spinthourakis, 2014


Documents

Diversity and Communication - InterMediaKTintermediakt.org/interprise/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/... · 2014-12-18 · diversity with communication: A. Diversity is not only a fact