Intellectual Communication Theories Examples
Theory #1: Communication Accommodation Theory
1. Dealing with work
Joy was a new employee at A-Plus Company. While understanding about her new work environment, she came to know that her senior is passionate about painting. During a face-to-face meeting in her senior’s office, she glorified a painting in the office that had been done by the senior. This pleased the officer creating an impression on him.
2. Dealing with family
Ashley has to accommodate her younger sister by trying to match her vocabulary to the younger ones. She talks using gestures and words that the young one can easily understand. She pronounces certain words in a similar manner to the young one to enhance understanding. She talks slowly to enable the young one grasp what she is saying (Yogya, 2016).
3. Dealing with the media
Betty is a news presenter. She works for a certain TV station in the United States. She has gone to Britain to cover news for certain events that were taking place there. She sometimes uses British terms when reporting the day’s events. For instance, she uses terms like center instead center and labor instead labor.
Theory # 2: Face-Negotiation Theory
1. Dealing with work
Cliff will be working for a new Korean company that will have expanded its market in the United States. He has been working for five years in an American company that followed individualistic culture. However, he has to learn to follow collectivist culture to please her bosses who value such cultures. He must learn to protect himself as well as protect fellow employees. This will help him save his face as well as the faces of others while experiencing conflicts.
2. Dealing with family
Jack comes from the western culture. He believes that maintaining eye contact while communicating implies respect. He keenly looks at his father advice him on how to excel in his academics. He maintains eye contact to show interest and respect to what his father is saying.
3. Dealing with the media
Jimmy has gone on a business trip to Japan. He will be interviewing several prominent people to include their information in the company’s newsletter. He is aware that maintaining too much eye contact among the Japanese is considered disrespectful (Uono & Hietanen, 2015). He plans not to directly gaze at his interviewees but show some interest by looking at them in the eyes once in awhile. He must try to avoid troubles with them by directly gazing at them that could make him be considered disrespectful stirring conflicts.
Theory #3: Speech Codes Theory
1. Dealing with work
Intercultural communication conflicts exist at a certain university. The challenge occurs between faculty members and administration members who recently joined the institution. Faculty members believe in communication that is guided by a code of “collegiality.” They value talking when resolving problems to show respect and trust. However, new members of the administration value putting their problems and solutions in written form. They believe this provides maximum protection to people’s rights. This distinctive speech codes results to intercultural communication conflict (Chornet & Parr, 2017).
2. Dealing with family
It is common for Jack to appreciate any good deed that his elder brother Tony does for him. Tony bought Jack a new shirt and pair of shoes that cost him quite a lot. He was rewarding his younger brother for great improvement in his performance in school. He was doing so to keep him motivated to perform even better in his academics. Jack was happy and told Jimmy “thank you.” However, Jimmy’s response seemed quite rude as he asked him “Is that the best you can do?” Jack considered it an inappropriate response for expressing his gratitude.
3. Dealing with the media
Understanding communication through cultures is significantly important. News reporters have to ensure they do not violate cultural norms and expectation when reporting. Stephanie a foreigner is new employee at a local TV station in the foreign country. She is currently undergoing training to enhance her understanding of cultural communication. She needs to learn appropriate cultural norms and expectations in her new community to avoid violating cultural norms and expectations causing conflicts (Chornet & Parr, 2017).
References
Uono & Hietanen, S. U. (2015). Eye Contact Perception in the West and East: A Cross-Cultural Study. PLOS ONE , doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0118094.
Yogya, R. M. (2016 йил April). A First Look at Communication Theory 8th Edition. From ebook: http://rosalia.mercubuana-yogya.ac.id/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/ebooksclub.org__A_First_Look_at_Communication_Theory___8th_Edition_.pdf
Chornet & Parr, D. C. (2017). Speech Codes Theory Applied to Problematic Situations in Intercultural Communication. Journal of Intercultural Communication , 43.