Deck 5: Culture and Context in Communication

Question 1

Communication includes verbal and nonverbal cues. According to the cartoon below, this is an example of what the Triangle of Meaning explains regarding the concept of:

A) Frame of Familiarity
B) Frame of Reference
C) Saving Face
D) Misidentification

Answer 1

B

Question 2

___________ time puts people into more rigid time-frames.

A) monochrome
B) monosaturated
C) polychronic
D) monochronic

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The concept of ____________ describes people's attitude towards the ambiguity and unpredictability of life.

A) Context
B) Uncertainty avoidance
C) Identity
D) Power distance

Answer 3

B

Question 4

In business dealings, the Chinese tend to be more formal. They have a preference for strict form in negotiations - by following certain protocol. This usually means the opening discussion will be very formal. The host side will first describe themselves - who they are and what they do - with many statistics. Then they will expect the guests to do the same. Why?

A) This formality helps the Chinese to blend with the physical environment in harmony.
B) This negotiation tactic helps to throw the competitor off-balance so that the Chinese can then break protocol and be tough with the deal.
C) This formality helps the Chinese to blend with the social environment through developing harmony.
D) One must preserve face by being formal - then one can relax.

Question 5

___________ time puts people into more rigid time-frames.

A) Monochrome
B) Monochronic
C) Polychromic
D)Monosaturated

Question 6

In Kenya, speeches are organized differently (more fluid) than mainstream U.S. speech styles (more linear). Therefore, when speaking, a Kenyan speaker will probably not get to the point as quickly as someone from the U.S. When you think about the focus on time -the Kenyan style of time would be more:

A) Monochronic
B) Polychronic
C) Chronological
D) Chromatic

Question 7

Cultures can have different styles of communication. For example, the "bicycle wheel" or "web" speech pattern in Africa would indicate that communication flows from the center to 'connect' all of the spokes to the tire or "catch" all of the strands of the web so that they bind together. This analogy could be representative of the ______________ dimension.

A) Constraint
B) Femininity
C) Collectivist
D) Particularistic

Question 8

We have learned that all communication (both verbal and non-verbal) is symbolic, deciphered by both communicators as they try to be on the same frame of reference. This means that:

A)Meaning is in language.
B) Meaning is in words.
C) Meaning is in gestures.
D) Meaning is in people.

Question 9

Language doesn't only consist of the words you use with the literal meaning (___________) As we discussed in the Triangle of Meaning, language is symbolic and carries with it interpretive meaning (___________) - even images carry meaning.

A) significant…insignificant
B) accurate…more accurate
C) denotative….connotative
D) connotative…denotative

Question 10

Regarding the Triangle of Meaning, when we act as interpreters, we hope to select symbols that others will understand in precisely (or approximately) the same way we do. Remember, communication is only successful when both the sender/receiver

A) Create meaningful symbolism
B) Are effective
C) Think they share the same meaning
D) Share the same meaning

Question 11

Since Edward T. Hall arranges cultures on a continuum going from low-context to high-context communication, he seems to suggest that a low-context culture cannot be high context. However, his descriptions of cultures argue against this proposition. For example, he describes the high-context way that the Japanese communicate with one another but the low-context way they communicate with Westerners. Also, the karaoke bar is a Japanese innovation which is popular with other Asian nations (e.g., S. Korea and Malaysia) presumably because it allows for the expression of low-context behavior and serves as an emotional outlet for such rules-focused and high context cultures. Even when businesspeople from a high-context culture entertain their counterparts from a low-context culture in a karaoke bar, they tend to move away from high-context behavior toward low-context behavior.
Which response is the most pragmatic (reasonable) response?

A) We can't really accept Hall's basic formulation about low-context and high-context cultures because he appears to contradict himself.
B) Hall's framework is just a starting point for us to begin the discussion about communication contexts.
C) Hall's continuum is too rigid and fixed and the more discerning person would rationalize that a cultural group cannot be both.
D) While it is possible to describe the dominant profile of a culture as either low context or high context, we must realize that cultures can be both low context and high context but in different situations and contexts.

Question 12

If we look at the metaphor, "Time is money," this means that people pay close attention to time and don't 'waste' time. This would best refer to the concept of:

A) Polychronic
B) Monastic
C) Monochronic
D) Polysaturated

Question 13

According to the discussion on language in the text, all language (both verbal and nonverbal) is actually a code, which means it is ________________. In other words, there is no inherent meaning in words (or characters) except when people create meaning for them.

A) symbolic
B) flexible
C) predictable
D) negotiable

Question 14

When dealing with someone from a collectivistic and traditional culture, one should focus on

A) Spending a lot of time talking about the details of the contract
B) Not spending too much time talking about details of the contract
C) Looking for stability in a long-term relationship that can continue to grow over time
D) The opportunity for short-term gains because "sealing the deal" is crucial to the Japanese

Question 15

Many global companies have made egregious errors regarding miscommunication during sales and marketing of their products. This can happen with

A) Translation of grammar/words
B) Translation of meaning
C) Packaging (images and pictures)
D) All of the above

Question 16

In Japanese culture, the art of silence, or "extra-verbal" communication, is called haragei or "belly art," which is the equivalent of what "heart" connotes for Americans. For the Japanese, it is the belly (or the heart in our perspective) that houses a person's essence. The art of haragei is in the intuitive understanding and tolerance gained through experience - something U.S. Americans might call wisdom. In Japan, a business person would use silence and controlled listening. This is an example of

A) Pre-context communication
B) Low-context communication
C) High-context communication
D) Uncertainty-avoidance communication

Question 17

Jack, a rather boisterous but well-liked British chap, had a roommate from Thailand, named Pitchit. They seemed to get on fairly well and Jack remarked to one of his U.S. American friends how easy Pitchit was to live with compared with some of his previous roommates. However, several months later, Pitchit suddenly announced that he was moving out next week. Jack was quite upset and puzzled, and asked Pitchit why. At first Pitchit was reticent about saying anything, but after persistent questioning he told Jack that he could not tolerate his habits - Jack was always playing loud music, had friends visiting at all hours, and was untidy. Jack reacted by pressing him as to why he had not told him before... he had not realized that he was disturbing Pitchit in any way. Pitchit said nothing.
According to this critical incident what is the most likely reason Pitchit didn't tell Jack previously of his dissatisfactions?

A) He was scared about angering Jack since Jack had been there first.
B) Using a direct style to confront Jack directly was not his style of communicating.
C) He felt overwhelmed by Jack's boisterous behavior and was uneasy.
D) Jack's cooperative style of communicating made him feel ashameD.

Question 18

Cultures and societies with ____________ appreciate flexibility and have a greater tolerance for differences. Not every aspect of behavior needs to be legislated.

A) Low uncertainty avoidance
B) High masculinity
C) Low collectiveness
D) High uncertainty avoidance

Question 19

A high power distance country's overall organizational culture would probably include

A) Flatter organizations, with supervisors and employees considered as almost equals
B) Having centralized companies, strong hierarchies, and large gaps in compensation, authority, and respect
C) Emphasis on building skills and becoming masters of something
D) None of the above

Question 20

Communication includes verbal and nonverbal symbolic cues. The triangle of meaning explains the concept of

A) Communication trends
B) Frame of reference
C) Saving face
D) Understanding future orientation

Question 21

Meaning resides in one's mind and not the symbol. No two humans can communicate 100% effectively because no two humans have learned to perceive identically.

Question 22

Analyze the following scenario regarding specific experiences and observations about differences in cultural groups based upon course concepts. Choose the best answer.
Joint Venture: A major U.S. telecommunications company was working on a joint venture project with a communications company based in India. On the first visit, Casey Maddox, a senior engineer, headed the U.S. team. On the second visit, one of her subordinates led the team. Over the course of the next few scheduled visits, the composition of the U.S. team kept changing.
The Indian team could not understand why different individuals would show up each time. The project was soon riddled with problems. The members of the Indian team were reluctant to act on decisions and enact processes that had already been agreed upon because they did not feel they knew any of their U.S. counterparts well enough to trust them.
-What are the most accurate cultural explanations for the U.S. team's actions?

A) The U.S. team members are frustrated by their counterparts and think that the lack of speed and non-responsiveness indicate low priority for this possible joint venture. The U.S. Americans follow their strong orientations of 'doing',' individualism' and 'equality'.
B) There are differing frames of reference here. The U.S. team members see themselves as exchangeable based upon their individual subject matter expertise, skills, and motivation. Leadership is shared and task oriented considerations have overriding importance. They espouse 'doing',' individualism' and 'equality' orientations.
C) There are concerns here about their counterpart's leadership ability. This joint venture will not work if the Indian counterparts do not make decisions more quickly. The U.S. Americans believe strongly in 'doing',' individualism' and 'equality' orientations.
D) Both parties have their own ways of doing things. Since the U.S. Americans are the visitors in India, they expect that their business partners will welcome them and accommodate their U.S. styles of 'doing',' individualism' and 'equality'

Question 23

Symbols have specific meaning.