LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO STATE COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

Learning Module

in

GE - Purposive Communication

Prepared by:

Kristopher M. Ngilangil, LPT, MA

Assistant Professor II

Adopted by:

Merdolyn B. Canda-Lloren, MAEd

Subject Teacher

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LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO STATE COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

Module 3

TOPIC: Module 3 – LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNICATION IN MULTICULTURAL

SETTINGS

3.1 Culturally Appropriate Terms, Expressions, and Images

3.2 Linguistics Preferences and Nonverbal Behaviour
3.3 Language Register for more Effective Communication

TIME FRAME: 6 hrs.

INTRODUCTION:

You have seen from the previous module that we exist in multicultural environment
where all of us belong to multiple, overlapping cultures (such as national, regional, social class,
ethnic, professional, age, religious, and gender cultures). We learn and imbibe these cultures
not only from people we interact and associate with (families, relatives, friends, neighbors,
classmates, teachers, and churchmates) but also from the media (radio and television, books,
and any other printed materials and the Internet). Our multiple cultures make communication
complicated, but if we expose ourselves to varied cultures and learn to recognize and respect
cultural differences, we can lessen our own communication difficulties, and life in multicultural
society will become much easier to deal with.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES: In this lesson, the students will lead to:

1. Discern and use culturally appropriate terms, expressions, and images;

2. Adopt cultural and intercultural awareness and sensitivity in their communication of
ideas;
3. Make a poster slogan depicting unity multicultural communication

PRE – ASSESSMENT: Answer the questions below or supply the statement in your own
words.

Why did English become the international Explain the meaning of this statement:
language? “Nonverbal symbols are unspoken and
largely unconscious, so the implied
meanings are more felt than
understood.”

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LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO STATE COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Let’s CommuniCate

Culturally Appropriate Terms, Expressions, and Images

Freya Stark, in her book The Journey’s Echo: Selections from Freya Stark (Ecco
Travels), says, “Every country has its own way of saying things. The important thing is that
which lies behind people’s words.” Cultural differences result in misunderstanding, and
“language, more than anything else, is the heart of culture” (Stevenson, as cited in Lee, 2017).
This means that being proficient in English, for instance, does not guarantee our being able to
fully understand what another speaker of English is trying to communicate unless we become
fully aware of how that speaker uses English based on his own culture.

To illustrate this, let’s take a look at the two major or dialects of English, American
English (AmE) and British English (BrE). In AmE, the first floor is equivalent to the BrE ground
floor, and the American second floor is the British first floor. Elevator, apartment, eggplant,
hood and trunk (of a car), drugstore, garbage can, and parking lot in AmE are lift, flat,
aubergine, bonnet and boot (of a car), chemist’s, dustbin, and car park, respectively, in BrE.
If Londoners says, “I left my child’s dummy and nappy in the pram” a New Yorker needs to
know that dummy is pacifier, nappy is diaper, and pram is baby carriage to understand the
Londoner’s statement. Since Filipinos use American English, we have to know differences in
vocabulary between the two varieties of English if we want to successfully communicate with
a speaker of British English.

One more difference between the two English varieties is found in spelling. British-
English spelling usually keeps the spelling of words it absorbs from another language, like
French, but American English adapts the spelling to reflect the way the words actually sound
when they are spoken. These are the main differences in spelling.

1. Words ending in –re in BrE end in –er in AmE.

centre, litre, theatre (BrE); center, liter, theater/theatre (AmE)

2. Words ending in –our in BrE end in –or in AmE.

colour, humour, neighbor (BrE); color, humor, neighbor (AmE)

3. Words ending in –ize or –ise in BrE end in –ize in AmE.

apologize/apologise, organize/organize, recognize/recognize (BrE)
apologize, organize, recognize (AmE)

4. Words ending in –yse in BrE end in –yze in AmE

analyse, breathalse, paralyse (BrE); analyze, breathalyze, paralyze (AmE)

5. Words ending in a vowel plus l in BrE double the l when adding ending that begin
with a vowel, but the l is not doubled in AmE.
travel, travelled, travelling, traveller (BrE)
travel, traveled, traveling, traveler (AmE)

6. Words spelled with the double vowels ae or oe are just spelled with an e in AmE.
leukaemia, manoeuver, oestrogen, paediatric (BrE)
leukemia, maneuver, estrogen, pediatric (AmE)

7. Nouns ending with –ence in BrE are spelled –ense in AmE.

defence, licence, offence (BrE)

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LEARNING MODULE SURIGAO STATE COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

defense, license, offense (AmE)

8. Nouns ending with –ogue in BrE end with either –og or –gue in AmE.
analogue, catalogue, dialogue (BrE)
analog/analogue, catalog/catalogue, dialog/dialogue (AmE)

Linguistics Preferences and Nonverbal Behaviour

Variations in the way difference cultures use language-like linguistic preferences and
nonverbal behaviors—also clause miscommunications. Nuances in linguistic preference
provide hints about behavior, manners, and thinking as a cultural group (Lee, 2017; Zelinski,
2017). For instance, Spaniards and Italians, who prefer eloquence and expressiveness to
exactness, tend to be flowery with their language. In contrast, the English, who are very polite,
is understatement to avoid confrontation, so they sometimes end up being ambiguous.

Here are some differences in the nonverbal behaviors of some other cultures that can
help us coexist with them in the globalized community we are in because of technology;
International Etiquette, 2017; Dimensions of Body language, 2017)

Australia The popular American “thumbs up” sign is considered obscene.

The V-sign with the palm facing toward the speaker is the obscene
“up yours” insult.

France
Your hands should be visible at all times even when seated at a
table.

Germany It is impolite to put your hands in your pockets. Gum chewing in

pub is rude. Sit down only after you have been offered a seat.

Use titles to show respect; be punctual because punctuality is

important.

Hong Kong Maintain a two arm’s length distance with the person. Touching
and patting are taboo. When you are seated, your feet should be
facing the ground; the soles of your shoes should not be shown.

Indonesia When you are in a private home or mosque, be sure to remove

your shoes. Position them by pointing them toward the door from
which you entered.

Hugging and kissing in public is inappropriate.

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Japan The bow is still the tradition in greetings. Bend your body bout a
30-degree angle from the waist. For men: Palms should be face
up, toward the knee. For women: Hands should be folded in front
of your as you bow.

Exchanging business cards is important. When given one, receive

it with care- use two hands and study the card carefully, treating it
with the same respect you would give its owner.

Keep your shoes in good condition and spotlessly clean because

Japanese inspect them as he bows.

Even if you are experiencing displeasure or are upset about

something, you should smile to show self-control.

Saving face is important to the Japanese, so instead of saying “no”

they say “It is very difficult” or “We will give this positive study,” to
really mean “Let’s forget the whole thing and go home.”

Japanese uses a repertoire of smiley nods and polite noises as he

listens only to encourage the speaker to continue talking, not to
agree with him. He nods his head to show politeness, not to agree.

Do not touch. When you need to blow your nose, do so discreetly,

preferably in private, with a paper tissue. Dispose of the tissue
immediately. Never put the used tissue in an pocket or purse; this
is regarded as crude.

Bear this in mind: to the Japanese, laughter can mean confusion

rather than reacting to something funny.

Be careful: The American “okay” sign means “money” in Japan.

Be sure to remove your shoes at the front door; you will be offered
a pair of slippers.

Chopstick etiquette dictates that you put the sticks on the rest
when are not using them; never leave them in your food. Whatever
you do, avoid standing sticks up in their air or pointing them toward
your host.

Saudi Arabia Expect greetings to be very emotional. They consist of a “salaam

alaykum”9May God be with you”) followed by a handshake and
then a “keef halak” (“How are you?”).

To show mutual respect, two men hold each other’s hand in public.
This is true to all Middle Eastern countries.

When reacting for something or offering something, be sure to do

so with your right hand. Using the left hand is considered taboo.

When sitting, be sure the soles of your shoes face the ground. It
is considered taboo for the soles to be showing.

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Singapore Gesture with your entire hand in conversation. Pointing with one
or two fingers is rude. Avoid showing the soles of your shoes.

Your feet should be used for walking-nothing else. Feet are

considered unclean parts of the body and should never, for
instance, be used for moving anything (a chair closer to a table,
for example).

South Korea When meeting someone, a slight bow is appropriate.

It is considered good manners to acknowledge an older person by

standing when the person enters a room.

One way to show respect for elders is by lowering your eyes.

Loud laughter is rude. When laughing in public, cover your mouth.

Nose blowing is also in poor taste and should be done in private.

Be sure to remove your shoes when entering a temple or a

person’s home.

A hug or patting another on the back is rude.

United Kingdom When meeting someone, respect space by maintaining a two

arm’s-length distance.

Men should wait for a British woman to extend her hand before
shaking hands. When meeting someone, rather than saying, “It’s
nice to meet you,” a more appropriate response is, “How do you
do?”

The V-sign with the palm facing toward the speaker is the obscene
“up yours” insult and frequently used to signify defiance (especially
to authority), or contempt, or decision, but with the palm facing out
it is the victory sign.

Your hands should always be visible. It is rude for hands to be in

pockets.
Flags were taken from: www.bing.com/images/search?q

Language Register for more Effective Communication

Languages vary according to either the user or its use. Our previous lessons and
discussions focused on dialects or variations according to the user (defined by variables, such
as social background, geography, sex, and age-for example, American English, British
English).Variations according to use, on the other hand, are called registers.

A register, therefore, is characterized by “difference in the type of language selected

as appropriate to different types of situation.”

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The term “register” refers to particular varieties or styles of speaking and writing, which
vary in their degrees of formality depending on the topic (what), purpose (why),context
(where), and audience (who). For example, there is a legal register, a register of advertising,
registers of banking, and a register of whether forecasting.

Registers, recognized because of their specialized vocabulary and their particular use
of grammar, are categorized into five varieties: very formal, formal, neutral, informal, and very
informal.

Notice the different registers as shown in the table for greetings in both speaking and writing
(“Register and Style,” 2011).

Very Formal Formal Neutral Informal Very Informal

How do you Hello! Hello! Hi! What’s

do? up?/Hey!

1. Very formal, frozen, or static register. This register is “frozen” in time and content
because it rarely or never changes. Examples are poetry, The Lord’s Prayer, laws,
marriage vows, insurance policies, lease, and wills.
2. Formal or regulated register. This is the formal and impersonal language, which is
one-way in nature and used in formal situations. Examples are books, news reports,
magazine or journal articles, business letters, official speeches, and sermons.
3. Neutral, professional, or consultative register. This is the normal style of speaking
between communicators who use mutually accepted language that conforms to formal
societal standards. Examples are the types of communication between strangers,
teacher and student, superior and subordinate, doctor and patient, and lawyer and
client.
4. Informal, group, or casual register. This is the informal language between friends
and peers, which uses slang, vulgarities, and colloquialisms. Examples are
conversations, chats and emails, blogs, tweets, and personal letters.
5. Very informal, personal, or intimate register. This is the private, intimate language
reserved for family members or intimate people. Examples are the kinds of interactions
between husband and wife, boyfriend and girlfriend, siblings, and parent and child.

A. Determine how well you can connect by identifying whether the given sentences are AmE
or BrE. Write your answer inside on the blanks.

_____ 1. The Cruzes are on vacation in Baguio until next week.

_____ 2. The car is out of petrol.
_____ 3. Shall we go now?
_____ 4. The teams are playing tomorrow morning.
_____ 5. The students needn’t come to school today.
_____ 6. The prankster has never gotten caught.
_____ 7. Mary is busy cleaning the cabinets.
_____ 8. John puts the tea and biscuits in his trolley.
_____ 9. The twins need to go the bathroom.
_____ 10. Happy Holidays!

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B. Make a slogan poster incorporating cultural and intercultural awareness and sensitivity in
your communication of ideas.

SELF- EVALUATION: To assess your leaning in this module, do what is asked.

Four options are given for each number, but one of them is incorrect. Cross out this wrong
word.

1. Nonverbal language is (direct, spontaneous, unuttered, felt)

2. American English and British English vary in (spelling, grammar, pronunciation,

vocabulary).

3. English dialects exist in some society circles, which are called (expanding, outer,
secondary, inner).

4. Registers differ not only according to topic but also according to (purpose, semantics,
context, audience).

5. Let us (accept, avoid, respect, endure) cultural differences for a harmonious and
profitable coexistence with people in this global society.

POST TEST: Answer the following questions briefly.

1. In what aspects do American English and British English vary?

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

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2. Why do we need to be familiar with the various registers of a language?

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

REFERENCES

1. Bernales, R. et al. (2018). Purposive Communication in Local and Global Contexts.

(pp.30-38)
2. Padilla, M. et.al (2018). Communicate & Connect! Purposive Communication. Mutya
Publishing House, Inc., Manila, Philippines
3. Uychoco, MT, & Santos, ML (2018). Communication for Society: Purposive
Communication.1st Ed.

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