Quiz 2
What is organizational identity?
A person's organizational affiliation(s) can be an important source of identity in some cultures. This is especially true in collectivistic cultures but much less so in individu- alistic cultures.
Future orientation?
An old adage holds that Americans are not especially interested in history because they have so little of it. While that is somewhat an overstatement, it does point out that in the United States, what lies ahead usually takes precedence over the past. What is going to happen holds the greatest attraction because, it seems, whatever we are doing is not quite as good as what we could otherwise be doing or will be doing in the future. Change, taking chances, a stress on youth, and optimism are all hallmarks of U.S. culture and reflect the value placed on the future.
What is cyber and fantasy identity?
Fantasy identity, which also extends across cultures, centers on characters from science fiction movies, comic books (manga), and anime. Our lives increasingly focus around the Internet. On a near daily basis, we spend time online engaged in a variety of activities—communicating, searching for information, shopping, seeking leisure, conducting work-related tasks, social exchanges, and a vari- ety of other endeavors.
Which cultures are considered to be more masculine?
Masculinity is the extent to which the dominant values in a society are male oriented. In a masculine-oriented culture, "emotional gender roles are clearly distinct: men are supposed to be assertive, tough, and focused on material success, whereas women are supposed to be more modest, tender, and concerned with quality of life. United states
In what ways are identities enacted?
Once established, identities are enacted in multiple ways, beginning in childhood and progressing through adolescence int religion, commomerative events,
Which cultures tend to be high context? Low context?
High-context cultures rely on the context; low-context cultures rely on words. japan, china, korea, african american, native american (HIGH CONTEXT low context- germany, scandanavia, us, france
What is personal identity?
Personal identity is what sets you apart from other in-group members and marks you as special or unique. This form of identity can come from an innate talent, such as the ability to play a musical instrument without formal training or from some special achievement, like winning an Olympic gold medal. Personal identity can also come from something as intangible as a gregarious personality.
Which cultures are considered to be low in power distance?
austria, israel, denmark, new zealand, ireland, sweden
What is perception?
how we make sense of the world, how we construct reality
Which cultures are considered to be high in power distance?
malaysa, guatamala, panama, philipines, mexico, venezuala "Individuals from high power distance cultures accept power as part of society. As such, superiors consider their subordinates to be different from themselves and vice versa."66 People in high power distance countries (see Table 6.6) believe that power and authority are facts of life.
What are the functions of language?
social interaction, social cohesion, expression of identity,
What is the link between values and behavior?
values motivate behavior
What is ethnic identity?
Ethnic identity, like all identities, can be communicated through art forms that are unique to a particular ethnicity.
What are some of the conversational taboos mentioned by the authors of our textbook?
"All linguistic communities have certain topics of conversation, conversational taboos, that are considered inappropriate in either polite conversation or in a business setting."82 Crystal tells us that a culture's verbal taboos generally relate "to sex, the supernatural, excretion, and death, but quite often they extend to other aspects of domestic and social life."
What is an accent?
"An accent can range from perfectly native pronunciation (no discernible foreign accent) to pronunciation of the foreign language using the same sounds that the non-native learned in order to speak his or her own mother tongue (a very heavy foreign accent)."2
Which cultures tend to have a long-term orientation?
"China and other East Asian countries tended to score high on the dimension, suggesting a long-term orien- tation. Continental European countries had average scores, whereas Anglo, African, and South Asian countries had low scores, suggestive of a short-term orientation."
Why is being aware of cultural variations in the use of language important?
, you should be aware of some of the following cultural differences: (1) how conversations are opened and terminated, (2) how the participants take turns talking, (3) the impor- tance of silence in interaction, (4) reaction to being interrupted, (5) knowing what are appropriate and inappropriate topics of conversation with "strangers," and (6) the sequencing of topics from specific to general or general to specific.
Which cultures are considered to be high in uncertainty avoidance?
"the extent to which the members of a culture feel threatened by ambiguous or unknown situations."60 As you will learn below, cultures vary in their ability to tolerate ambiguity and unpredictability. Greece 19 2 Portugal 20 TABLE 6.5 Uncertainty Avoidance Values for Fifty Countries and Three Regions COUNTRY RANK Israel 37 Colombia 38 COUNTRY Australia Norway South Africa New Zealand Indonesia Canada United States Philippines India Malaysia Great Britain Ireland Hong Kong Sweden Denmark Jamaica Singapore 3 Guatemala 4 Uruguay 5/6 Belgium 5/6 El Salvador 7 Japan 8 Yugoslavia
What is the connection between language and culture?
(1) of how language and thought are linked; (2) cultural var- iations in accents, dialects, argot, slang, and texting; and (3) differences in the special ways cultures employ language. A
How is language used for social cohesion?
, language allows a group of people to maintain a record of the cultural values and expectations that bind them. The maintenance of social relations also relies on lan- guage for more than communicating messages.
What are some of the benefits of learning a second language?
-help you com- municate with other people and even see the world differently, it also tells the native speakers that you are interested in them and their culture. -can provide greater insight into the emotions and values of another culture, which will increase your intercultural under- standing and competence, and also provide a greater awareness of cultural influences in general. A Belgian busi
What are the characteristics of language that the textbook discusses?
-words are only symbols -words are arbitrary -words evoke denotative or connotative meaning
Which cultures are considered high in individualism?
. Hofstede's findings (see Table 6.4) indicate that Western democracies have a strong tendency toward individualism. United States 19 2 Australia 20 3 Great Britain 21 4/5 Canada 22/23 4/5 Netherlands 22/23 6 New Zealand 24 7 Italy 25 8 Belgium 26/27 9 Denmark
How is language used for social interaction?
. Language allows you to speak, read, write, listen to others, and even talk to yourself—or to think. Language allows you verbally to convey your inter- nal emotions and relieve stress by simply uttering a phrase (darn it) or a swear word (damn). You use language to express pain (ouch!), elation (great!), disappointment (oh no!), and amazement or surprise (OMG!).5
How do humans use language to express their identity?
. Language, of course, is the major mechanism through which much of individual and group or cultural identity is constructed. Identities do not exist until they are enacted through language.
Why is being conscious of differences in vocabulary important?
. Until you are sure that the other person has the requisite second language ability, avoid professional vocabulary, technical words, acronyms, and words with multiple mean- ings.
List the four caveats regarding cultural patterns.
1. you are more than your cultre 2. culture patterns are integrated 3. culture patterns are dynamic 4. culture patterns can be contridoctory
List the five characteristics of perception as identified by Alder and Gunderson.
1. is selective 2. learned 3. culturally determined 4. consistent 5. inaccurate
Competition and free enterprise?
A positive attitude toward competition is an integral part of life in the United States and begins during childhood. Whether it is through games or being continually asked to answer questions in the classroom, a competitive nature is encouraged among American children. People are ranked, graded, classified, and evaluated so that everyone will know who is the best. The media continually pro- vide "Top 10" lists of people, schools, hospitals, movies, vacation locations, and endless other topics.
Materialism and acquisitiveness?
Acquiring material possessions is an integral part of life for most Americans, so much so that "shopping" is sometimes used as a leisure activity and businesses facilitate purchases by offering easy access to credit cards and installment payment plans, along with frequent sales. From their perspective, U.S. Americans consider their materialistic nature "natural and proper,"28 which Bender sees as a natural outgrowth of the nation's philosophy of equal opportunity for all.29 In other words, material well-being and easy access to quality products is not the preserve of an elite class.
What is argot?
Argot is specialized informal language used by people who are affiliated with a particular co-culture.
What does it mean to be 'mindful' when interacting with someone who speaks a different language?
Being mindful can also entail being aware that using a second language is more physically and cognitively demanding than speaking one's native language.
What does 'checking' mean when interacting with someone who speaks a different language?
By "checking" (often referred to as seeking feedback), we mean that you should employ measures to help ensure that your intercultural partner understands your mes- sages. If you feel the second language speaker is having difficulty comprehending something said, simply say, "Let me say that another way," and rephrase your state- ment. Also, while checking for understanding, try to do so from a subordinate posi- tion. That is, instead of asking, "Do you understand?" which places the burden on the other person, ask, "Am I being clear?" In this manner you take responsibility for the conversation and lessen the potential for embarrassing the other person.
Change and progress?
Closely aligned with control of the environment is the value of change and progress. Since the country's inception, people have subscribed to forward-looking beliefs and attitudes that promote progress through modernization. Various aspects of this orienta- tion are optimism, receptivity to change, emphasis on the future rather than the past or present, faith in an ability to control all phases of life, and confidence in the perceptual ability of the common person.
What did Collier point about effective communication in an intercultural situation?
Collier is saying that in order to communicate effectively in an intercultural sit- uation, to lessen the potential of tension and misunderstanding, an individual's avowed cultural identity and communication style should match the identity and style ascribed to him or her by the other party.
What is a dialect?
Crystal explains the difference between accents and dialects noting, "Accents refers just to distinctive pronunciation, whereas dialect refers to spoken grammar and vocabulary as well."24 What they have in common is that they are differences in a given language as spoken in a particular location or by a collection of people.
Equality and egalitarianism?
Equality is a most prized American value and is enshrined in the preamble to the United States Declaration of Independence, which states, "all men are created equal."19 The concept is further preserved in the Constitution, which specifies, "No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States."20 The founders of our nation had escaped the English social caste system, controlled by the landed, hereditary aris- tocracy, and sought to ensure that it could not develop in America.
Time and its control?
For U.S. Americans, time is a valuable commodity, something to be measured and used wisely. Schedules, which are often divided into hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, and even yearly segments, dictate life in the United States.17 Deadlines and due dates are a constant reminder of when projects must be completed. U.S. business represen- tatives tend to move quickly past introductory formalities and rapidly "get down to business."
What is gender identity?
Gender identity refers to ways particular cultures and co- cultures differentiate masculine and feminine roles.
In what ways do our identities influence us?
Identities such as race and biological sex are always present, albeit usually in a secondary role. However, regardless of the identity or identities being exhibited, all are influenced to vari- ous degrees by culture. page 248
Describe how people acquire and develop their identities?
Identity is acquired through interaction with other members of one's cultural group. The family exerts a primary influence on early identity formation. • Identities are established through group membership and are enacted in various ways, including rites of passage, personal appearance, and participation in com- memorative events. Concepts of identity within the same group can change over time. • C
How do individualistic cultures differ from collectivistic cultures?
In an individualistic culture, people usually have many friends but a weak sense of mutual obligation; in collectivistic cultures, peo- ple usually have a few close friends with a strong sense of mutual obligation.
What is language?
Language allows people to establish relationships and to express and exchange ideas and information.
Which cultures are considered high in collectivism?
People in collective societies are often born into extended families, clans, or tribes that support and protect them in exchange for their allegiance. As events in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya continue to demonstrate, tribalism is an important social fac- tor in many Middle East nations and African societies. "African thought rejects any view of the individual as an autonomous and responsible being."57 Collective cultures emphasize group membership, and the individual is emotionally, and in some cases, physically dependent on organizations and institutions.
Practicality and efficiency?
Practicality and efficiency are also hallmarks of the dominant U.S. culture. Unlike some Asian cultures, gift giving in the United States is usually kept within the limits appropriate to the giver's budget. Garage sales are common in the United States because U.S. Americans are not embarrassed to buy used items. At a restaurant with a large group, people often "go Dutch," with everyone paying for their own meal. It is easy to see that individuality, independence, and self-reliance are central considera- tions in the pragmatic attitude evinced by U.S. Americans.
What is slang?
Slang designates those nonstandard terms, usually used in instances of infor- mality, which serve as a "means of marking social or linguistic identity."27 The notion of "marking identity" is at the core of slang in that, as Crystal notes with a clever rhyme, "The chief use of slang is to show you're one of the gang."
What are social identities?
Social identities are represented by the many groups you belong to, such as racial, ethnic, occupational, age, hometown, and numerous others. Social identities are a result of being a member of some social groups and nonmember of others (i.e., the in-group/out-group dichotomy).
Action and work orientation?
Soon after meeting for the first time, people frequently ask each other, "What do you do?" or "Where do you work?" Embedded in this simple query is the belief that working (doing something) is important. For most U.S. Americans, work represents a cluster of moral and affective conditions of great attractiveness, and voluntary idleness is often seen as severely threatening and damaging to society as a whole. Unlike cul- tures where physical labor is considered the fate of the less privileged, Americans place considerable value on the "dignity of human labor." This value can be seen in the activities of U.S. presidents—Ronald Reagan chopped wood, George W. Bush cleared brush, and President Obama has spent time helping Habitat for Humanity construct homes for the less fortunate.
What does it mean to value personal control over the environment?
That you think you can control nature
Informality
The emphasis on equality and individuality has produced a pervasive sense of infor- mality in the United States, which can be seen in people's dress, deportment, and communication. Casual dress is the norm in most contexts, and blue jeans are a fre- quent sight among media stars, Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, and occasionally even our presidents. This informality is also evident in the widespread use of first names, even among recent acquaintances.
Self-help and personal achievement?
The importance U.S. Americans place on self-help and personal achievement is an out- growth of the values of independence, equality, and individuality, which are exempli- fied in commonly heard expressions such as "be self-reliant," "stand on your own two feet," or "don't depend on others." In the United States, your family name or the school attended will normally only help you to get an initial introduction or interview. Any subsequent gain must be earned through personal merit. Theoretically, the concept of equality underlying U.S. societal structure provides everyone the same opportunity for material and social improvement. One just has to work for it.
Directness, openness, and honesty?
The language style used by most U.S. Americans can be characterized as direct, frank, and explicit. Phrases such as "Just tell it like it is," "Don't beat around the bush," and "Give me the bottom line" are frequently heard.
What is national identity?
The majority of people associate their national identity with the nation where they were born. However, national identity can also be acquired through immigration and naturalization. People who take citizenship in a country other than their birth- place may eventually adopt some or all aspects of a new national identity, depend- ing on the strength of their attachment to their new homeland.
What is facework? Which cultures tend to place a high value on saving face?
The term "face" is commonly used as a metaphor to designate the self-image a person projects to other people. In other words, your "face" is your public identity, how you are per- ceived by others.Accordingly, people from individualistic societies are usually more concerned with maintaining their own face. HIGH VALE ON SAVING FACE-Asian cultures commonly place greater emphasis on "face" than do Western cultures.
How does speech rate help in such a situation?
There- fore, until the other person's level of language competence is determined, you should speak a bit more slowly and distinctly than you normally do. By closely monitoring feedback from the second language speaker, you can adjust your speech rate accord- ingly. It is also important to look in the direction of the other person, as this can aid in understanding a second langua
What is regional identity?
These cultural contrasts may be mani- fested through ethnicity, language, accent, dialect, customs, food, dress, or different historical and political legacies. Residents in these areas often use one or more of those characteristics to exhibit their regional identity.
Explain how identity is dynamic.
Throughout life you are continually acquiring newidentities and discarding old ones. To illustrate these two points—dynamic and mul- tiple identities—reflect on how you identified yourself in grade school, in high school, and after entering college.
What is racial identity?
Today, racial classifications and identity are usually associated with a person's external physical traits—principally skin color but also physiognomy and hair texture. Modern science, however, has discovered very lit- tle genetic variation among human beings, which erodes the belief that race can be used to categorize people.
What is the connection between language and thought?
You may assume that everyone speaks and thinks in much the same way—that they just use different words. This is not the case. While words and meanings differ from one culture to another, thought processes and perceptions of reality also differ.
Which culture's activity orientation embraces the being? Being-in-becoming? Doing?
being- latin american cultures. A being orientation refers to spontaneous expression of the human personal- ity. "People in being-orientated cultures accept people, events, and ideas as flowing spontaneously. They stress release, indulgence of existing desires, and working for the moment."38 being-in-becoming- hiduism/buddhism-Being-in-becoming stresses the idea of development and growth. It emphasizes the kind of activity that contributes to the development and improvement of all aspects of the self as an integral whole. This usually correlates with cultures that value a spiritual life over a material one. doing-us americans-The doing orientation describes activity in which accomplishments are mea- sured by standards external to the individual. The key to this orientation is a value system that stresses action.
What are cultural patterns?
characterize the dominant group within a culture. these patterns encompass the condition that contribute to a social groups perception of the world and how they live in the world
Which cultures tend to value flexhumility?
china, taiwan, japan, south korea, germany netherlands
Which cultures tend to be more indulgent?
china, vietnam, south korea, india. Simply stated, this dimension considers how work and leisure are prioritized differ- ently in national cultures. Not surprisingly, as shown in Table 6.8, most underdevel- oped nations place a high priority on industriousness, or hard work, while those countries with a developed economy tilt more toward leisure. This indicates that as a nation's economy improves and people gain more wealth and social security, they begin to value enjoyment of life over work.
Which cultures tend to value monumentalism?
egypt, iraq, jordan, nigeria, morocco
Individuality and privacy?
ften referred to as "freedom" by U.S. Americans,22 individualism is perhaps the most revered U.S. cultural value and is a particularly salient social characteristic. Broadly speaking, individualism, as developed in the works of the seventeenth- century English philosopher John Locke, holds that each person is unique, special, completely different from all other individuals, and "the basic unit of nature."23 Locke's view is simple—the interests of the individual are or ought to be para- mount, and all values, rights, and duties originate in individuals. Individualism commands so much influence among Americans that it gives rise to other U.S. values, such as personal initiative, self-reliance, and equal opportunity.
Which culture's human nature orientation believe people are intrinsically evil? Good and evil? Good?
good and evil- united states, europeans good-buddhism
Which cultures person nature orientation tend to value: humans subject to nature, harmony with nature, and master of nature?
humans subject to nature-Cultures holding this orientation believe the most powerful forces of life are beyond human control. Whether the force is a god, fate, or magic, it cannot be overcome and must, therefore, be accepted. This perspective is found in India and parts of South America. harmony with nature- The middle or cooperative view is widespread and often associ- ated with East Asians. In Japan and Thailand, there is a perception that nature is part of life and not a hostile force waiting to be subdued. This orientation affirms that people should, in every way possible, live in harmony with nature. master of nature-At the other end of the scale is the view that compels us to con- quer and direct the forces of nature to our advantage. This orientation is characteris- tic of the Western approach, which, as noted earlier in the chapter, has a long tradition of valuing technology, change, and science. Americans have historically believed that nature was something that could and had to be mastered.
What are idioms?
idioms are a group of words that when used together have a particular meaning differ- ent from the sum of the meanings of the individual words in isolation. Hence, idioms are not capable of literal translation. Try to imagine having English as a second language and defining each word of the following on its own because you do not know the cultural meaning of the idiom:
What does it mean to'attend to nonverbal behaviors' when interacting with someone who speaks a different language?
intercultural situation you need to be aware of cultural differences in nonverbal cues, which will be discussed more in depth in Chapter 9. For instance, if your Japa- nese counterpart is giggling at something you said that you know is not humorous, it might be a signal that your message is not fully understood.
Which cultures are considered to be more feminine?
norway and sweden. Cultures that value femininity as a trait stress nurturing behaviors. "A soci- ety is called feminine when emotional gender roles overlap: Both men and women are supposed to be modest, tender, and concerned with the quality of life."73 A feminine worldview maintains that men need not be assertive and that they can assume nurtur- ing roles. It also promotes sexual equality and holds that people and the environment are important.
Which cultures tend to have a past orientation? Present? Future?
past orientation-In past-oriented cultures, history, established religions, and tradition are extremely important. There is an intense belief that contemporary perceptions of people and events, decision making, and determinations of truth should be guided by what happened in the past. Respect for the past is especially evident in most Asian nations because of their long and eventful histories. and french present-philipines, latin americans, mexicans and mexican americans, african americans. Present-oriented cultures hold that the here and now carries the most significance. The future is seen as ambiguous, capricious, and in a sense, beyond the control of the individual. future- us americans/ china. . Future-oriented cultures value what is yet to come, and the future is expected to be grander than the present or past. Change, taking chances, a stress on youth, and optimism are all hallmarks of cultures that hold this orientation.
Which cultures are considered to be low in uncertainty avoidance?
singapore, jamaica, denmark, sweden
What is identity?
the fact of being who or what a person or thing is.
What is history the study of?
the past as it is described in written documents
What are values?
the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something.
