ibunka TB_U8

• Andrew (page 54) is Australian, but his communication style seems to be in line with those of the American respondents to our survey. In his culture, as he has experienced it, open disagreement is not taken very well. It can be equated with conYlict, and is synonymous with pressure. He says: “In Australia, disagreement can often be seen as disrespectful and quite arrogant, I think.” • The Spanish respondent (OSF no.6 on page 89) adds that in her experience Japanese people “clam up” when she talks about abstract subjects: “They quickly clam up so as to say nothing that could go against my ideas.” It makes her feel “uncomfortable” because “This makes me feel like I'm forcing them to accept my point of view.” The same Spanish respondent suggests that having open discussions with people is a necessary part of friendship. “For me to become friends with someone, conversation and discussion are important. I need to feel there is mutual trust between us, and that entails being able to broach almost any topic.” The French respondent (OSF no.7) explains: “I like to discover different points of view on a subject or a situation, even if I don't completely agree. It gives me a fresh perspective on the subjects in question.” • One Chinese respondent (OSF no.9) suggests that, in her experience of her home culture, people would tend to be closer to Japanese culture, as far as the expression of disagreement is concerned. Not all Westerners have the same discussion style Americans and French people (or other people raised in Latin cultures) therefore have a lot of potential for culture shock when interacting with each other (they comment that their conversion partner was “rude”, “boring”, “didn’t show any interest in what I was saying”, “didn’t open the discussion and try to include me”, etc.) This is potentially another interesting discovery for Japanese students, who can relate to either one or the other cultural styles of discussion. By and large, they are not accustomed to the act of discussing and debating abstract ideas. But it is good for them to realize that there are very distinct styles among Western cultures, and that even if general tendencies are shared (that it’s OK to talk about ideas and to accept some contradictions), there are subtle cultural rules that one needs to follow in order to communicate effectively in the culture in question. French people are careful of their discussion partners’ feelings, they respect certain ways of formulating their ideas (contradicting someone’s idea on an abstract topic is not a personal attack) and certain ways to inYluence the speaking turns of all people present. References and further reading • The Communicative Advantages of Interrupting ( Psychology Today article) • Talandis, J., Vannieu, B., Richmond, S. (2015), Conversations in Class, Third Edition . Kyoto: Alma Publishing (Golden Rules) • Contradiction is not avoided, and even welcomed as it makes for more interesting dialectics. But nobody takes it personally: one’s position on a topic and one’s affection or respect for the conversation partners are obviously two different things. One doesn’t automatically want to side with one’s friends or romantic partner during a discussion just because of personal or social ties. Vincenzo Yinds the American style of discussion boring: • Americans dislike being interrupted, which lack of respect (“Let me Yinish!”) • They therefore have longer turns of speech. • Their voice tone is calmer, lest they wouldn’t mind signalling tension or anger. • They don’t need to maintain constant eye contact, not expecting to have to gauge whether they can go on or if they should speed up / change the direction of what they are saying / let someone else intervene. Raymonde Carroll gives a great description of the processes involved during a discussion by French people (and by extension people from Latin cultures): • discussion partners keep steady eye contact with the persons they are talking with, to gauge their interest and be aware of their desire to speak • When someone wants to speak, intervene, they Yirst start with non-verbal clues (like leaning forward, opening their mouth as though they are going to speak) and verbal clues (starting a sentence but not Yinishing it: “Yes, but…”). • Participants’ tone is getting more and more animated; there is a real group warming up and people get “agitated” (when seen from an American point of view); the speed is increasing.

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UNIT 8 | CULTURAL COMMENTARY