Verbal Communication The Way People Speak

Ardiyan MirzaRagil NovianingsihSofiyana

Verbal Communication :The Way People Speak

Conversational Involvement

Deborah Tannen in You Just Don’t Understand discusses the notion that people from some cultures value:High involvementConversational styles include (Russian, Italian, Greek, Spanish, South American, Arab and African)High considerateness (General styles)(Chinese, Japanese)

Incorrect Judgments of Character

Directness and Indirectness

Cultural beliefs differ as to whether directness or indirectness is considered positive.

One way to determine whether a culture favors a direct or indirect style in communication is to find out how the people in that culture express disagreement or how they say, “No.”

Many Americans believe that “honesty is the best policy,” and their communication style reflects this.

American Male and Female Differences in Directness

There are gender differences in communication styles.American women have traditionally been less direct than men in making requests, expressing criticism, and offering opinions.In the mid-1980s, “assertiveness training” courses were designed to help women communicate more directly, especially in the business world.

Cross cultural implication

Americans judgement toward people who value indirectness

Large percentage of world’s culture Americans effort when working out with people

who value indirectness

Different Conversational Style

Two types of conversational style Ping-Pong and Bowling

Indonesia (in general) bowling

In some specific circumstances, it depends Ping-Pong/bowling

Different Conversational Style

American:•Keep the flow of conversation by asking or saying•If one person doesn’t say enough or ask enough, the conversation ends

Japanese:•Each person waits politely for a turn and speak when the time is right

other styles of conversation structure: basketball and rugby

Dribbling a basketball have a turn to speak Hesitate other people see as an opportunity to jump

in and steal the ball (speaking-turn)

Rugby expect to interrupt and to be interrupted Rapid change of topic, changing of speakers, and

overlapping on speech

ETHNOCENTRIC JUDGMENTS

According to encyclo.co.uk:ethnocentric is Understanding the ideas or practices of another culture in terms of those of one`s own culture.

There some ways to avoid ethnocentrism:

Recognise differences. Avoid assumption and do not

pre-judge. Learn about other cultures.

Why Should We Know The Conversational Styles?

To understand people’s styles of speaking, so we don’t get angry because of the way the other people speak due to their styles

To understand the way they speak is because they are accustomed to, not because they want to annoy you when speaking