Communication
1. What is meant by the phrase “communication is rule governed”? Compare some of the different
“rules” that govern your communication in the following contexts:
(a) A meeting with your professor to discuss grades
and a meeting at a social event.
(b) Giving your professional opinion to the company president and to a co-worker.
(c) Discussing a medical concern with a doctor and with a close friend.
2. In almost any context, first-time meetings will involve initial conversational talk. The rules
governing what are appropriate or inappropriate topics for these interactions vary across
cultures. Work with other classmates to compile a list of what would be correct and
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incorrect topics among Euro-Americans (or
another culture you are interested in).
3. In the globalized marketplace, contemporary business leaders must manage a variety of cultural
expectations and adapt them to the workplace.What cultural differences of values and behaviors
are most important for a manager to be aware of? How could a business manager best handle cultural conflicts?
4. What are some of the ways that a culture’s attitude toward education can become manifest in
the classroom? In the workplace? Identify some of the outcomes of a culture’s overemphasis and
underemphasis on education.
5. Examine you own beliefs about the causes and prevention of disease. Which healthcare perspective do you most identify with? Why? Do you engage in health practices that would be considered a part of one of the other traditions? If so, why?
6. Recall the Consider This example of Hanako’s visit to the medical laboratory. How could the lab tech have better phrased his question to promote understanding?
7. Imagine you are a doctor and have just diagnosed one of your patients with a terminal illness. How would you present the news to a German American, a Mexican immigrant, and someone from
China?
