Intercultural Communication in Contexts
1. What is meant by the phrase “communication is rule governed”? Compare some of the different “rules” that govern your communication in the following contexts:
(a) A meeting with your professor to discuss grades and a meeting at a social event.
(b) Giving your professional opinion to the company president and to a co-worker.
(c) Discussing a medical concern with a doctor and with a close friend.
2. In almost any context, first-time meetings will involve initial conversational talk. The rules governing what are appropriate or inappropriate topics for these interactions vary across cultures. Work with other classmates to compile a list of what would be correct and 378 CHAPTER 10 • Intercultural Communication in Contexts Copyright 2017 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or e Chapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
What cultural differences of values and behaviors are most important for a manager to be aware of?
How could a business manager best handle cultural conflicts?
4. What are some of the ways that a culture’s attitude toward education can become manifest in the classroom? In the workplace? Identify some
of the outcomes of a culture’s overemphasis and underemphasis on education.
5. Examine you own beliefs about the causes and prevention of disease. Which healthcare perspective do you most identify with? Why? Do you engage in health practices that would be considered a part of one of the other traditions? If so, why?
6. Recall the Consider This example of Hanako’s visit to the medical laboratory. How could the lab tech have better phrased his question to promote
understanding?
7. Imagine you are a doctor and have just diagnosed one of your patients with a terminal illness. How would you present the news to a German American, a Mexican immigrant, and someone from China?
