Chapter 14

Stereotype

A standardized conception or image of a group of people. Forces a simple pattern upon a complex mass and assigns a limited number or characteristics to all members of a group. Stereotypes are simple, acquired, often erroneous and resistant to change.

Spiral pattern

A type of holistic pattern in which the speaker builds up dramatic intensity by moving from smaller and less intense scenarios to bigger and more intense scenarios, in an upward spiral.

Wave pattern

A type of holistic pattern that follows a crest-trough wave pattern where speakers use examples and stories to slowly build up to the main point at the crest of the wave.

Star pattern

A type of holistic pattern, the star pattern presents a set of main points connected by an underlying common theme. For different audiences, speakers will start with different main points. However, all main points will be united by one theme.

Triangle of meaning

Refers to the symbolic, arbitrary nature of language wherein the word spoken or the symbol of the actual object in nature (the referent), has no actual connection to the object it represents. The symbol and the referent are connected only by the thought in one's mind.

Individualism- collectivism

The dimension of individualism-collectivism refers to the degree to which a culture relies on and has allegiance to the self or the group.

Kinesics

The study of body movement including gestures, hand, arm and leg movements, facial expressions, eye contact and stance or posture.

Holistic pattern

instead of directly and explicitly presenting key ideas, use examples and stories to convey the main idea and leave it to the audience to interpret the message encoded in the examples and stories told.

Low-context message

one where the message is encoded in the words used or in the verbal expression and not as much in the context

Prejudice

refers to a negative attitude toward a cultural group, often based on little or no experience

Cultural patterns

refers to common themes through which different cultures can be understood. They consist of beliefs, values and norms shared among a group of people and remain stable over long periods of time.

Polychronic time

refers to cyclical time. Time is less tangible and is seldom considered "wasted". People from polychronic cultures can often be involved in multiple activities at the same time, with no strict division among the different activities.

monochronic time

refers to linear time; is tangible and can be "saved, spent, lost wasted," etc. People from monochronic cultures tend to focus on one thing at a time. Schedules and deadlines are sacrosanct, and punctuality is highly regarded.

masculinity-femininity

refers to the degree to which a culture values such behaviors as assertiveness and the acquisition of wealth or caring for others and the quality of others

Power distance

refers to the degree to which the culture believes that institutional and organizational power should be distributed unequally and the decisions of the power holders should be challenged or accepted

High-context message

the meaning or the message is implied by the physical setting or is presumes to be part of the cultures shared beliefs, values and norms

Connotative meaning

the meaning you attach to a word based on your personal experiences and associations

Ethnocentrism

the notion that one's own culture is superior to any other

Denotative meaning

the socially agreed conventional meaning found in a dictionary

uncertainty avoidance

this index refers to the extent to which the culture feels threatened by ambiguous, uncertain situations and tries to avoid them by establishing more structure

Paralanguage

vocal cues that accompany spoken language such as volume, rate and pitch