C U L T U R A L A D A P T A T I O N
Communication Across Cultural Contexts
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Intercultural & Interlanguage Pragmatics
Pragmatics is the study of
Context
Why people say something
How people say something
What situation it is taking place in
Presupposition
Common ground
Assumptions
Inference
Interpretation of utterance
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Intercultural & Interlanguage Pragmatics
Speech Act Theory Scripted and conventionalized types of regular linguistic
actions
Rules govern appropriateness of how speech acts are carried out
Cultural differences in what speech acts are carried out, to what extent they are scripted, when they are appropriate and how they should be enacted
For speech acts to be successful, they have to be:
Said with right intentions
Interpreted in the way intended by the speaker
Meet cultural expectations
Comply with a cultures rules and regulations
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Intercultural & Interlanguage Pragmatics
Politeness Theory
Utterances are never innately polite/impolite
Cultural rules based on social and situational context determine if and when something is polite
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Intercultural & Interlanguage Pragmatics
Sociopragmatic Factors
Power
Distance
Imposition
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Intercultural & Interlanguage Pragmatics
Interlanguage Pragmatics
Similarity between cultures
Transferrability of pragmatic norms
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Intercultural & Interlanguage Pragmatics
Pragmatic Transfer
Transfer of L1 norms to L2
Interference or facilitative
Depends on:
Perception of language distance between L1 and L2
Learning context/access to L2
Instructional effect
L2 proficiency
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Intercultural & Interlanguage Pragmatics
Pragmatic failure
Miscommunication
Communication breakdown
Based on overgeneralization
Based on simplification
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation The Basics
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Purpose of this Class
Get you ready for intercultural communication in action
Help prepare you for your own exchange programme or help you understand experiences that you have already made abroad better
Introduce you to the concepts of culture shock & stress
Discuss several adaptation process models with you
Explore personal growth and development through intercultural adaptation processes
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation
Adaptation
Geographical mobility
Intracultural (moving within a culture)
Across cultures (moving abroad)
Temporary sojourn
Mid-term sojourn
Permanent
In situ
Cultural & technological changes in society
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation
Depends on
The personal drive
Voluntary
Involuntary
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation
Depends on
Outer circumstances for the move
Occupational
Promotion
Refugee
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation
Depends on
Sentiments for home country
Positive
Negative
Sentiments for host country
Positive
Negative
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation
Depends on
Length of stay
Short term
Long-term
Permanent
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation
Depends on
Personality type
Open/adventurous
Conservative/anxious
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation
Depends on
Area of adaptation
Public order
Religious beliefs
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation
Enculturation: childhood socialization processes
Acculturation: re-evaluation of ones behaviour and adaptation to new culture
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation
Adaptation depends to a large degree on ethnic proximity
The more similarity, the easier the adaptation process
The higher the compatibility, the easier the adaptation process
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Culture Shock and Stress
Misleading: the term culture shock implies a sudden onset with immediate effects
Reality: culture shock is a slow process
culture shock is accumulative
Time-frame: the onset of culture shock varies between individuals
often delayed
Further factors: e.g. motivation, personality, coping mechanisms, previous overseas experience
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Culture Shock and Stress
What does culture shock refer to?
A sense of loss and feeling of deprivation
Feelings of helplessness
Feelings of isolation
Confusion
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Culture Shock
Reactions differ between different people
Individualized impact
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Culture Shock and Stress
Potential effects of culture shock Psychological
Anxiety Depression Frustration Paranoia Anger Self-pity Withdrawal Excessive concern over cleanliness and health Irritability Home-sickness
Physiological Effect eating and sleeping habits Minor illnesses Loss of ability to work effectively
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Case Study
Soon after arriving in the US from Peru, I cried almost every day. I was so tense I heard without hearing, and this made me feel foolish. I also escaped into sleeping more than twelve hours at a time and dreamed of my life, family, and friends in Lima. After three months of isolating myself in the house and speaking to no one, I ventured out. I then began to have severe headaches. Finally I consulted a doctor, but she only gave me a lot of drugs to relieve the pain. Neither my doctor nor my teachers ever mentioned the two magic words that could have changed my life: culture shock! When I learned about this, I began to see things from a new point of view and was better able to accept myself and my feelings.
I now realize most of the Americans I met in Lima before I came to the US were also in one of the stages of culture shock. They demonstrated a somewhat hostile attitude toward Peru, which the Peruvians sensed and usually moved from an initially friendly attitude to a defensive, aggressive attitude or avoidance. The Americans mostly stayed within the safe cultural familiarity of the embassy compound. Many seemed to feel that the difficulties they were experiencing in Peru were specially created by Peruvians to create discomfort for gringos. In other words, they displaced their problem of adjustment and blamed everything on Peru.
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Culture Shock
Some researchers argue that culture shock is no different/differs little from other forms of transition shock
Culture shock is an emotional reaction to loss of the familiar/change
In that sense it is no different from other forms of transitions, such as
Divorce
Death of a loved one
Change of lifestyle related to passages
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation Process
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
U-curve model
Honeymoon At Home
Hostility Humour
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Sergeants Model
Exploratory Phase: fight
Crisis Phase: flight
Adjustment Phase: filter
Accommodation Phase: flex
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
W-curve model
Home Host Country Home
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Reverse Culture Shock
Top 10 re-entry challenges
Boredom
No one wants to hear
You cant explain
Reverse homesickness
Relationships have changed
People see wrong changes
People misunderstand
Feelings of alienation
Loss of experience
Inability to apply new knowledge/skill
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Kims Model of Adaptation
Adaptation
Growth over time
Stress
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation Process
Normality
Positive
Negative
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation Process
Honeymoon Phase
Crisis Phase
Recovery Phase
Adjustment Phase
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation
Intercultural adaptation requires 3 domains of adaptation
Workplace
Interpersonal
Environment
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation
Adaptive domains interact
Spill-over links domains
General adjustment of expats is significantly related to work adjustment, which in turn is related to interaction adjustment
Cross-over links people
Adjustment of one individual is linked to adjustment of other individual(s)
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Cultural Adaptation Model
Managing the Ups and Downs of Living and Studying (MUDLS)
A study on international student adaptation conducted primarily at the University of Nottingham in the UK by Gu, Q., Schweisfurth, M. and Day, C.
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
MUDLS: Alanna
Previous Years
Jan Sep 2006
Oct Dec 2006
Jan Mar 2007
Apr Jun 2007
Jul Sep 2007
Oct Dec 2007
Jan Mar 2008
Apr Jun 2008
Managing Well (most satisfied)
Satisfied
Not Managing Well (least satisfied)
First school; problems with roommate no friends; didnt get on with host family in 2nd year
Chineal friends; been invite by British girls to their parties; though not close friends, but feeling grateful!
Different school, nice Ts, learned a lot of things; disappointed with British girls cultural problems, couldnt be friends
Getting good results in new school
International school A-level
Missed people in school; didnt get on with people here
University
no guidance lost
Didnt go to lectures; not many friends
Difficulties in personal life had negative impact on study
Felt good and wanted to get 2.1
Friends getting her well
plagiarism, other problems in personal life (mobile phone, driving lessons) ,lack of motivation
Good results in coursework
Messy personal life (mobile, driving, Spanish)
Felt need to catch up with uni. work
Exams
Waiting for result
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Previous Years
Jan Sep 2006
Oct Dec 2006
Jan Mar 2007
Apr Jun 2007
Jul Sep 2007
Oct Dec 2007
Jan Mar 2008
Apr Jun 2008
Managing Well (most satisfied)
Satisfied
Not Managing Well (least satisfied)
Christmas
Back to England
During semester
Exams 07
Holidays - summer
Back to England
Christmas
Exams
Results (Jan exam)
Exams
Holidays
MUDLS: Tristan
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation
Predisposition to adaptation
Ethnic proximity
Overall similarity
Compatibility
Personality
Openness
Strength
Positivity
Preparedness
Knowledge
Realism
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation
Denial Defense Minimization Acceptance Adaptation Integration
Bennetts Model of Adaptation
Ethnocentric Stages Ethnorelative Stages
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation
Denial Characteristics
Inability to construe cultural difference
Benign stereotyping
Superficial statements of tolerance
Cognitive Structure
No categories
Affective Quality
Benign on the surface
Behavioural Emphasis
Aggressive ignorance
Stress on the familiar
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation
Defence Characteristics
Dualistic us/them thinking Overt negative stereotyping Exaggerating positive aspects of own culture
Cognitive Structure Better elaborated categories for cultural difference, but protection of
original world view
Affective Quality State of siege Defense of identity
Behavioural Emphasis Same-culture segregation backlash actions
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation
Minimization
Characteristics
Recognition and acceptance of superficial cultural differences
Retains emphasis on similarity of people and commonality of values
Cognitive Structure
Worldview is protected by subsuming difference into familiar categories
Affective Quality
Insistently nice
Behavioural Emphasis
Active support for universal religious, moral or political principles
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation
Acceptance Characteristics
Recognition and appreciation of cultural differences in behaviours and values
Cultural relativity
Beginning of ability to interpret phenomena within context
Cognitive Structure
Differentiation and elaboration of cultural categories
Affective Quality
Curiosity
Behavioural Emphasis
Acquisition of knowledge about cultures, including own
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation
Adaptation Characteristics
Development of communication skills (pertaining to intercultural communication)
Effective use of empathy Frame of reference shifting
Cognitive Structure Knowledge and behaviour are linked by conscious intention Category boundaries become more flexible and permeable
Affective Quality Competence
Behavioural Emphasis Intentional perspective-taking Empathy
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation
Integration
Characteristics
Internalization of multiple frames of reference
Culture-independent identity
Cognitive Structure
Worldview categories are seen as cultural constructs
Affective Quality
Confusion, authenticity
Behavioural Emphasis
Formation and maintenance of constructed affiliation groups; cultural mediation
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation
Degrees of Adaptation
Adjustment
Adaptation
Acculturation
Assimilation
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Assimilation or Adaptation?
What do you think?
Assimilation you should aim to become a member of the host society
Adaptation you should remain who you are and only adjust to a degree that allows you to function in the host society
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation
When in Rome do as the Romans do?
This advice has been given to international business people for the past 2000 years, but is it really true?
This advice is based on the assumption that what works for natives will also work for foreigners
It is assumed that
The more similar foreigners are the more they are accepted
Adaptation reduced the probability of inappropriate behaviours and misunderstandings
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation
When in Rome? However: this view fails to acknowledge that behaviour regarded as
appropriate for natives may be considered inappropriate for foreigners
In certain situations similarity is disliked (e.g. in competitive situations)
Research suggests that substantial adaptation can be viewed as presumptuous
Moderate adaption is seen to reflect respect and sensitivity to the other culture
Substantial adaptation, however, is disliked as it is perceived as signalling a less positive view of the observers culture than moderate or no adaptation
Substantial adaptation reduces interpersonal attraction
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation: A Choice or No Choice?
A Choice:
Do I want to even make an effort to integrate into a new culture/society?
To what extent do I want to be integrated?
Isolate self
Function in society but keep a distance
Stay true to self, but adapt to local circumstances
Become part of local culture/society
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Adaptation: A Choice or No Choice?
No Choice:
Can you decide if you want to adapt?
Does host society make the decision for you?
Even if you may want to adapt, the host society might not be receptive to letting you integrate
Some cultures embrace sojourners/immigrants
Some cultures exclude
Some cultures include some, but not other cultural groups
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler
Homework
Reading
Textbook Jackson (2014) - Chapter 8
Gu, Q., Schweisfurth, M. and Day, C. (2010). Insights into the experiences of international students in the UK.
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler