Explain how personal cultural values and biases, and verbal and non-verbal communication impact relationships Describe the value of understanding intercultural communication in our work with individuals or groups from different cultures Be able to apply your understanding to a more recent immigrant/refugee group ( such as Syria, Somalia, other Arab cultural groups etc). coming to Canada.
In your response you are expected to include examples as well any pertinent concepts from Thomas & Inkson “Cultural Intelligence and Ing’s book chapter on “Cultural Competence.” and Module 6. Again, please choose one refugee/immigrant group that recently came to Canada for your examples. You must provide examples in your discussion so it teaches your readers how to work with that group and important intercultural communication and information to know about the group. Below are some module readings.
Successful intercultural communication depends on an awareness of the verbal content – or the words and message. Verbal communication includes not only verbal language but the cognitive process people use to communicate meaning to verbal language (Porter, Samovar & McDaniel, 2012). Through language we shape how we express our values, attitudes, and beliefs, and how we categorize our world. It is a learned system of symbols and words that describe objects, feelings, thoughts experiences, and events. It is through language we deliver our messages.
Language shapes our thinking. It determines the way we think and shapes our realty. However, as we know, words and their meanings can change from culture to culture. For instance, the word “chicken” means a food we eat or an expression about someone who is afraid. Language can be divided into three areas: translation, expressions, and words and symbols. Translation: One aspect of language is that direct translation is not easy. When it comes to translation or leaning another language, we must learn the words, phrases, and grammar, but also how the language is used.
Here is an example of a multinational company language translation problem: translation for the KFC slogan: “finger lickin’ good” became “eat your fingers” in Chinese. Expressions: Honorific expressions vary from culture to culture. In Canada, for example, “could or would you” indicates a level of politeness. The degree of politeness in many traditional Asian cultures will vary depending the position or form one is taking. There are humble and polite forms, depending on whom you are talking to.