Third Class

THE TWO MOST RELEVANT POINTS FOR ME 

1.  Barriers to communication

There are barriers to communication that are easily identified:  Anxiety, Language Differences, Assumption of similarities, Non-verbal misinterpretation and Stereotypes.

a) Anxiety: According to Oxford Online Dictionary, anxiety is "A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome". When there is initial interaction and you do not know what to do, there tends to be high anxiety and as a consequence, people try avoiding interactions.

b) Language Differences:  We need to pay special attention to this matter, specially when the language is the same, for example, spanish in Latin America,  because what varies in such cases are the idioms, jargons (special words or expressions used by a profession or group that are difficult for others to understand) and argot (jargon or slang of a particular group or class) which changes depending on the country or even the region we go.

c) Assuming similarity: Every culture, no matter how close or similar is it to ours have its differences, it is better to first observe or ask rather than assuming is the same way as what we are used to.

d) Non-Verbal communication encompasses actions that have a socially shared meaning without  the need of saying a single word.  It is  really usual to misinterpret a non-verbal communication mostly because for instance, hand signals and bodily expressions are not universal, as well  gestures, eye contact and greetings which could vary from region to region. As an example we use the difference in proxemics; For cultures such as the Japanese or Korean, personal space is really important and they do not touch each other unsells it is strictly necessary, unlike the Brazilians, which can hug you or kiss you repeatedly and constantly touch you when they are talking to you.

e) Stereotypes: general judgments of a group of people or a culture based on one or two individuals.  It can be positive or negative.  This type of barrier can blind and prevent other people about learning a new culture and traveling to a distinct territory or in the opposite hand, can motivate to travel and  explore a different country.  In general, stereotypes tend to judge harsh a community and categorized them with imprecise and vague characteristics.  Ex: All germans are really strict, serious and tend to be unfriendly.  It could be that due to their culture they tend to be more strict in some aspects but as far as I am concerned, and taking into account all the germans that I have met, probably two out of then ten germans I have met meet these characteristics. 
                                    
                                                         http://www.lifeofnav.in/2012/07/stereotypes-are-like-rules.html

2.  Face Negotiation Theory

This theory was conceived by Ting Toomey and it says that "regardless of the culture, people are all concerned  with saving face" (Communication Studies).  This theory seeks to understand the dynamics of intercultural communication, as well as helping to avoid misunderstandings between persons of different cultures.

There are different viewpoints of this theory in collectivist and individualist cultures. In collectivist cultures, members seek to avoid possible threats that might damage the group, that is why they tend to avoid conflict and when a conflict is unavoidable they often allow others to safe face.
In the contrary, in individualistic cultures the face of the group is not considered as primary but instead as secondary or not considered at all and members feel the need to make others lose face in order to save their own.
  

      Conflict Styles: 

Learned behaviors developed though socialization within one's  culture.

• Dominating:"Self above other",  one person has more contra.
• Avoiding: Eluding conflict.
• Obliging:  Satisfied the needs of the others. 
• Compromising: Give and take to come to a solution
• Integrating: Collaborate with others to solve a conflict and achieve a solution.

      Face Content:

Different levels an individual will engage in face work on.

• Inclusion: need to be recognized as likable, agreeable, friendly and good companions.
• Approval:  need for others to distinguish our appearance, reputation, social attractiveness.
• Reliability:  need for others to realize that we are trustworthy, dependable and loyal.
• Competence:  need for others to recognize our intelligence, skills, expertise and ability to work hard.
• Moral: need for others to respect our integrity, moral and property.

HOW/ IN WHICH CIRCUMSTANCES COULD THIS BECOME RELEVANT

1.  It is essential to appreciate the importance of effective communication and to overcome these type of barriers so it is easier to reach and achieve our goals and objectives.  Applying strategies and techniques can improve communication in our daily life and in the workplace.   When traveling, negotiating with people from different regions or countries or simply when talking to a friend from  a different cultural background, we need to observe, try to understand where she or he comes from and analyze the way she/he speaks. 

2.  Face negotiation theory can help understanding cross cultural differences in conflict resolutions styles. When dealing with conflict, it is important to try to comprehend the other person's communication style.  Trying to understand and apply an approach where the other persons (specially if its from a different cultural background) feel more comfortable, will make it easier to reach a solution.



RESEARCH QUESTION

Who is Stella Ting Toomey?


Dr. Stella Ting-Toomey is a Professor of Human Communication Studies at California State University, Fullerton. Her teaching passions include intercultural communication theory, intercultural communication training and design, and intercultural and interpersonal conflict management.

Stella Ting Toomey was the one who proposed the face negotiation theory in order to understand how different cultures throughout the world respond to conflict.

In addition, Stella has held major leadership roles in international communication associations and has served on more than fifteen editorial boards. She has delivered major keynote speeches on the theme of mindful intercultural communication in South Africa, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Portugal, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Canada, and different regions of the U.S. As a trainer, consultant, and certified mediator, she has designed and conducted a variety of intercultural conflict competence workshops for corporations, universities, and non-profit centers and institutes. 

SOURCES

Face Negotiation Theory. (n.d.).Communication Studies. Retrieved August 19, 2014, from http://www.communicationstudies.com/communication-theories/face-negotiation-theory

Oxford Dictionaries. (n.d.). Oxford Dictionaries. Retrieved August 16, 2014, from 

STELLA TING-TOOMEY's Home on the Web. (n.d.). STELLA TING-TOOMEY's Home on the Web. Retrieved August 24, 2014, from http://commfaculty.fullerton.edu/stingtoomey

Ting-Toomey, S. (1988). Intercultural Conflict Styles: A face-negotiation theory. In Y.Y. Kim & W. Gudykunst (eds.). Theories in intercultural communication (pp. 213-235). Newbury Park. CA: Sage