communicative competence: expectations in a ‘western’ context corrie b. macmillan, m.a....
TRANSCRIPT
Communicative Competence:
Expectations in a ‘Western’ context
Corrie B. MacMillan, M.A.Department of Applied English
Communicative competence • ‘grammatical knowledge’
(syntax, morphology, phonology/phonetics)
• social knowledge about how and when to use utterances appropriately.
• Dell Hymes 1966
Noam Chomsky’s (1965)
competence and performance• In ESL/EFL, Communicative Approach
Canale and Swain (1980)
1. Grammatical competence: words & rules
2. Sociolinguistic competence: appropriateness
3. Strategic competence: communication strategies
4. Discourse competence:
cohesion & coherence (Canale 1983)
Canale and Swain (1980)
Sociolinguistic competence: appropriateness
Strategic competence: communication strategies
Intercultural Communication
AIMS/OBJECTIVES• To discuss Individualistic/Collectivist Cultures
and High/low Context Cultures • Apply these terms to ourselves• Understand the role of Intercultural
Communication in an English business setting• Discuss expectations in a ‘Western’ business
context
Individualism & Collectivism
Individualism & Collectivism
DisclaimerThese terms are to be treated as comparatives, like tall/short
eg. The giraffe is taller than the elephant.
They are not to be understood as implying positive of negative features, only a degree of difference
DisclaimerWe must also be very careful when describing any identity, especially that of a group
Must recognize that identities do not exist in any singular or static form
Within any groups there are different groups and various factors to take note of
age, gender, economic position, class etc.
Disclaimer
These concepts/terms are useful in understanding difference
Not for defining the Other
IndividualismTriandis traces origins to Greeks
(see the Illiad & the Odessey)
Concerned more with the Self, Individual value independence and ‘outside the box thinking’
The individual is responsible for his/her actions, is accountable
CollectivismConcerned more with the Group, the Collective value group goals, harmony, & interdependence
Tend to belong to less groups than those in individualistic cultures
Shared responsibility, collectively accountable
Emotionally connected to the in-group
Horizontal IndividualismThe *autonomous self is valued
*independent, makes own choicesBut the individual is equal in status to others
The self is independent but the same as others
Vertical IndividualismThe autonomous self is valued
But the individual is unequal in status to others
The self is independent and different than others
Horizontal CollectivismThe Individual sees the self as part of an in-group
Whose members are similar to each other
The self is interdependent and the same self of others
Equality is expected and practiced
Vertical CollectivismThe individual sees self as an integral (important) part of the in-group
Whose members are different from each other
Some having more status than others
The self is interdependent and inequality within the group is valued
High & Low Context Communication
High & Low Context Communication
High Context Communication“Because interactants in a high-context culture know and understand each other and their appropriate roles, words are not necessary to convey meaning”
One acts in accordance with one’s role
Communication is implicit (context dependent)
Low Context CommunicationThe spoken word is the primary source of information
While they may recognize non-verbal communication they focus on the verbal code
Rules and expectations are explicitly explained
There is a need to speak, meaning is explicit
Expected to act in a way consistent with their feelings
Canale and Swain (1980)
Sociolinguistic competence: appropriateness
Strategic competence: communication strategies
Intercultural Communication
Business English?
English is now understood as…
A Global Language
An International Language
A Lingua Franca
English is now spoken as a Second &/or Foreign Language more than by Natives
What can we expect in a Western Business context?
CLOSING REMARKS• Have discussed Individualistic/Collectivist
Cultures, in terms of both horizontal and vertical orientations
• Have discussed High/low Context Communication approaches
• Applied these terms to ourselves• Understand the role of Intercultural
Communication in an English business setting• Discussed expectations in a ‘Western’ business
context
