Shantia Spicer

Chapter 3 Cultural Diversity

Content Review Questions
September 4th, 2014
1. List (4) reasons for the importance of learning about diversity.
Gender
Sexual orientation
Regional affiliations
Religious beliefs
2. Explain the difference between enryo and sasshi in the Japanese model of
communication.
Enryo means to be discreet, hesitant, restrained. All possible things
that could get expressed. Sasshi means to be sympathetic, surmise,
guess what is understood based on empathy and sympathy.
3. Identity (6) cross-cultural communication principles discussed in the text.
Communication breakdowns increase with greater cultural/linguistic
differences between people.
Factors other than cultural differences can be the cause of crosscultural communication breakdowns.
Communication across cultures often leads people to be more
conscious of their own communication.
Dos and taboos vary among cultures.
Learning about norms and variations of cultural groups increases
understanding of those groups.
Seeing others as friendly, cooperative, and trustworthy helps overcome
barriers.
4. Explain the distinction between the following pairs of cross-cultural
communication value orientations:
Task vs. Relationship Orientation
Individualism vs. Collectivism
High vs. Low Power Distance
Masculinity vs. Femininity
High vs. Low Uncertainty Avoidance
5. What are hot buttons?
Hot buttons are words that evoke an emotional response in another person.
6. Define stereotyping.
Stereotyping occurs when you take what you have learned about a
group and apply that learning to all members of that group without
considering variations within that group.
7. Explain the barrier of language, vernacular, and accent bias.
Language comes identity, access to ideas, and a level of comfort.
Vernacular refers to the specific language used in particular
communities, such as Black English. It helps to identify your biases
about language, vernaculars, or accents and to actively work to
overcome these.

Shantia Spicer
Chapter 3 Cultural Diversity
Content Review Questions
September 4th, 2014
8. 5 specific tools for ensuring effective cross-cultural communication.
Overcome Personal Biases
Relate Culture to Communication
Empathize with those for whom English is not their first language.
Recognize your own privileges
Develop cross-cultural competence
9. Identify (6) cross-cultural competencies presented in the text :
An ability to acknowledge your own prejudices and biases ad the
lifelong work needed to overcome them
An ability to work toward equal status relationships with people who
are different from you.
An ability to challenge your own personal assumptions about the skills
and competencies of employees who are different.
An ability to learn as much as possible about how your own culture is
different from others and how that difference contributes to a
particular way of viewing yourself and others.
An ability to take risks in an effort to communicate with people from
other cultures.
An ability to learn about how individuals and groups of people like to
be treated and accommodate them as much as possible.
10.Note the basic guidelines presented in Chapter 3 for assuring effective crosscultural communication while using technology.
First, dont assume anything about the persons gender or race simply
by seeing a name.
Second, continue to apply all guidelines described earlier in this
chapter.
Third, recognize and appreciate the effort others are making to
communicate with you, usually in English, which may not be their first
language.
Fourth, refuse to send or pass on emails with jokes that might be
perceived, even by the most sensitive person, as offensive.