We “build worlds” using communication tools provided by our cultures, they are language, beliefs, attitudes, values, roles and rules. Our culture influences how we communicate with each other and what roles we will play. Communicating the right message in the right way can be the key to building successful relationships. According to Trenholm (pg 31), “we must take our parts in the social drama our culture has laid out for us.”
In the American culture people are encouraged to speak freely, because freedom of speech is a right. This is not the case in the Asian culture, where freedom of speech is not always a right in public and usually not so for women. Asians consider the interests of others and the implications of what they say or do upon their family and society. Their communication puts the interest of a community ahead of the individual unlike the west, so Asians are forced not to dream for themselves. Thoughtful and self-disciplined silence is often valued above speech and verbalizing thoughts in Asian cultures.
However, times are changing and as people become educated, they are beginning to decide for themselves what is right and not allowing their culture to influence what they say or do. Not everyone in a culture may view the actions of speech and disclosure in a culturally normative way. Each individual’s communication behavior will differ based on that individual’s experience and other factors such as acculturation, environmental influences, personality, and participation in cultural sub-groups.
Here is a link to a hilarious British comedy called “Mind Your Language,” it shows how different cultures communicate in an English class and their varying perspectives!!
1. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1038032130269325008#docid=-3160152744456346475
2. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6737881634317446434#
I like your example of “Freedom of Speech” as a world we, as Americans have built through communication. Sometimes we forget that while we may have this freedom, it doesn’t necessarily mean others value what we have to say! While we have the right to speak freely, our culture has conditioned us to think that we should always do so, without edit. Your example about Asian cultures reminds me of another chapter in the book, where they mention that Native Americans are careful not to be show offs or express all of their knowledge in front of other Native Americans.
ReplyDeletethelittletomatoe,
ReplyDeleteYour comparison of the Asian example to the Native American concept is a good one. I forgot about that one!!!