exam questions

Intercultural Communication

Topic 6. A Discourse Approach to Intercultural Communication

Dr. Oksana Shkurska Dalhousie University

A Discourse Approach to Intercultural Communication

—  What is a discourse approach?

—  The Topic and the Comment

—  Sentence meaning and interpretation process

—  Speech acts, events, and situations

—  Students’ presentation and discussion

Discourse

The use of language in a particular communicative situation (context)

communication + interpretation

because

language is ambiguous

(Scollon & Jones, 2011)

Discourse Analysis

Analysis of the language “beyond the sentence”

(not what the speech says, but what it does).

Discourse Analysis

Discourse Approach In contrast to the Conceptual Approach, Discourse Approach doesn’t focus on the meaning, but focuses on the interpretation of the meaning.

Discourse Approach — Language is ambiguous. — We must draw inferences about

meaning.

— Our inferences tend to be fixed, not tentative.

— Our inferences are drawn very quickly (Scollon & Jones, 2011, p. 6).

Ambiguity. Language level Different knowledge about the world è

—  Different assumptions about the purposes of communication

—  Different interpretation of the speaker’s expectations

Discourse

Communicative process in a discourse

persuading

modifying the intentions,

opinions and motivation of the

listeners

Discourse —  One way of influencing an addressee's opinion is to

put the main point in the right place to emphasize it and make it more expressive

Topic (background, known information, or reasons)

Comment (main point, suggestion, new information)

Speech Act: Sentence level Chinese:

Because of + Topic+ Comment

“Because most of our production is done in China now, it’s not even certain how the government will react to the run-up to 1997, and since I think a certain amount of caution in committing to TV advertisement is necessary because of the expense. So, I suggest that we delay making our decision until after Legco makes its decision”.

Speech Act: Sentence level English:

Comment + because of + Topic

“I suggest that we delay making our decision until after Legco makes its decision. That’s because I think a certain amount of caution in committing to TV advertisement is necessary because of the expense. In addition to that, most of our production is done in China now, and it’s not even certain how the government will react to the run-up to 1997”.

Speech Act: Text level Two or more sentences taken together in a particular situation can have a different meaning from those sentences taken separately èimportant role of context in interpreting messages

-What time is it? -It’s two o’clock. -Thank you.

-What time is it ? -It’s two o’clock. - Very good, Kim.

-What time is it ? -It’s two o’clock. - Oh, no! It’s time to go home.

Hymes’ Speaking Model

— Setting — Participants — Ends (purpose) — Act sequence (first, second…)

(in Paulston, Kiesling & Rangel, 2012, p. 80)

— Key =tone, manner —  Instrumentalities (the way

the speech is produced: channel & form)

—  Norms — Genre (formal vs. informal

style)

Speech Event Involves a number of Speech Acts:

“How would I say that” activity Objectives:

1.  Recognize the influence context has on communication style

2.  Explore how the purpose of the communication influences style.

3.  Observe ways cultural values influence communication style.

4.  Observe how status/power roles influence communication style.

Debriefing —  What was interesting?

—  What was challenging?

—  What conclusions did you draw?

Bibliography —  Jorgensen, M. & Phillips, L. (2002). Discourse Analysis

as theory and method. London: Sage Publications.

—  Paulston, C. B., Kiesling, S. F., & Rangel, E. S. (2012). The handbook of intercultural discourse and communication. Malden, MA: Malden, MA : John Wiley & Sons.

—  Scollon, S. B. K. & Jones, R. H. (2011), Intercultural communication: A discourse approach (3rd ed.). Hoboken: Hoboken : John Wiley & Sons.