上海交通大学：《跨文化交流》教学资源_课后阅读_reading for unit 1_Defining communication

Defining communication Communication is complex and multidimensional,then it can be defined in the following way:"communication is a dynamic,systematic process in which meanings are created and reflected in human interaction with symbols." Communication is a dynamic process First,and perhaps most important,communication is an ongoing activity.It is like a motion picture,not a single snapshot.A word or action does not stay frozen when we communicate;it is immediately replaced with yet another word or action. We constantly are affected by other people's messages and,as consequence,are always changing. Second,communication is dynamic because once a word or an action is employed,it cannot be retracted.Once an event takes place,we cannot have it over. An Asian proverb makes much the same point:"Once the arrow has been shot it cannot be recalled..” Third,all the elements of communication constantly interact with each other. We send words,create actions,watch the response of those around us,and listen to our partners all at the same time. Finally,communication is dynamic because inattention pervades our communication behavior.Briefly survey your own actions and you will realize that your mind often does not like what it is doing and hence dashes from idea to idea, seeking something it does like.We often shift topics in the middle of a sentence,and research shows that when we listen,our attention span is brief.This trait of communication is so common that in the writings of Buddha it is said,"The mind is fickle and flighty,it flies after fancies wherever it likes:it is difficult indeed to restrain.” Communication is systemic Communication does not occur in a vacuum,but rather is part of a larger system We send and receive messages not in isolation,but in a specific setting.Put more simply,setting and environment help determine the words and actions we generate and the meanings we give the symbols produced by other people.Dress, language,topic selection,and the like are all adapted to context. Elements associated with the systemic nature of communication are place, occasion,time,and number of participants.Even though these are found in all communication encounters,culture influences how we respond to them.Either consciously or unconsciously,we know the prevailing rules,many of which are rooted in our culture.For example,nearly all cultures have religious buildings,but the rules of behavior in those buildings are culturally based.In Mexico,men and women go to church together and remain quiet.In Iran,men and women do not worship together, and chanting instead of silence is the rule. The occasion of the communication encounter also controls the behavior of

Defining communication Communication is complex and multidimensional, then it can be defined in the following way: “communication is a dynamic, systematic process in which meanings are created and reflected in human interaction with symbols.” Communication is a dynamic process First, and perhaps most important, communication is an ongoing activity. It is like a motion picture, not a single snapshot. A word or action does not stay frozen when we communicate; it is immediately replaced with yet another word or action. We constantly are affected by other people’s messages and, as consequence, are always changing. Second, communication is dynamic because once a word or an action is employed, it cannot be retracted. Once an event takes place, we cannot have it over. An Asian proverb makes much the same point: “Once the arrow has been shot it cannot be recalled.” Third, all the elements of communication constantly interact with each other. We send words, create actions, watch the response of those around us, and listen to our partners all at the same time. Finally, communication is dynamic because inattention pervades our communication behavior. Briefly survey your own actions and you will realize that your mind often does not like what it is doing and hence dashes from idea to idea, seeking something it does like. We often shift topics in the middle of a sentence, and research shows that when we listen, our attention span is brief. This trait of communication is so common that in the writings of Buddha it is said, “The mind is fickle and flighty, it flies after fancies wherever it likes: it is difficult indeed to restrain.” Communication is systemic Communication does not occur in a vacuum, but rather is part of a larger system.We send and receive messages not in isolation, but in a specific setting. Put more simply, setting and environment help determine the words and actions we generate and the meanings we give the symbols produced by other people. Dress, language, topic selection, and the like are all adapted to context. Elements associated with the systemic nature of communication are place, occasion, time, and number of participants. Even though these are found in all communication encounters, culture influences how we respond to them. Either consciously or unconsciously, we know the prevailing rules, many of which are rooted in our culture. For example, nearly all cultures have religious buildings, but the rules of behavior in those buildings are culturally based. In Mexico, men and women go to church together and remain quiet. In Iran, men and women do not worship together, and chanting instead of silence is the rule. The occasion of the communication encounter also controls the behavior of

the participants.You know from your own experience that an auditorium can be the occasion for a graduation ceremony,play,dance,or memorial service.Each of these occasions calls for a distinctly different type of behavior,and each culture has its own specifications for these behaviors. The influence of time on communication is so subtle that its impact is often overlooked.How do you feel when someone keeps you waiting for a long time?Do you respond to a phone call at 2:00 A.M.the same way you do to one at 2:00 P.M.? Do you find yourself rushing the conversation when you know you have very little time to spend with someone?The answers to these questions show that the clock often controls our actions. The number of people with whom you communicate also affects the flow of communication.You feel and act differently if you are speaking with one person,in a group,or before a great many people.Cultures also respond to changes in number. For example,people in Japan find group interaction much to their liking,yet feel extremely uncomfortable when they have to give a formal public speech. Communication is symbolic Part of our definition calls attention to the fact the humans are symbol-making creatures.We employ symbols to share our internal states.Other animals may participate in the communication process,but none of them has our unique communication capabilities:through millions of years of physical evolution,and thousands of years of cultural evolution,we are able to generate,receive,store,and manipulate symbols.This sophisticated system allows us to use a symbol-be it a sound,a mark on paper,a stature,Braille,a movement,or a painting-to represent something else. Although all cultures use symbols,they usually assign their own meanings to them.Not only do Mexicans say perro for dog,but the image they form when they hear the sound is quite different from the one American form.In addition to having different meanings for symbols,cultures also use these symbols for different purposes In America and much of Europe,the prevalent view is that communication is used to get things done.In contrast,people in Japan and China believe information is internalized by most members of the culture,so not much needs to be coded.Symbols are at the core of communication and symbols,by virtue of their standing for something else,give us an opportunity to share our personal realities

the participants. You know from your own experience that an auditorium can be the occasion for a graduation ceremony, play, dance, or memorial service. Each of these occasions calls for a distinctly different type of behavior, and each culture has its own specifications for these behaviors. The influence of time on communication is so subtle that its impact is often overlooked. How do you feel when someone keeps you waiting for a long time? Do you respond to a phone call at 2:00 A .M. the same way you do to one at 2:00 P.M.? Do you find yourself rushing the conversation when you know you have very little time to spend with someone? The answers to these questions show that the clock often controls our actions. The number of people with whom you communicate also affects the flow of communication. You feel and act differently if you are speaking with one person, in a group, or before a great many people. Cultures also respond to changes in number. For example, people in Japan find group interaction much to their liking, yet feel extremely uncomfortable when they have to give a formal public speech. Communication is symbolic Part of our definition calls attention to the fact the humans are symbol-making creatures. We employ symbols to share our internal states. Other animals may participate in the communication process, but none of them has our unique communication capabilities: through millions of years of physical evolution, and thousands of years of cultural evolution, we are able to generate, receive, store, and manipulate symbols. This sophisticated system allows us to use a symbol – be it a sound, a mark on paper, a stature, Braille, a movement, or a painting – to represent something else. Although all cultures use symbols, they usually assign their own meanings to them. Not only do Mexicans say perro for dog, but the image they form when they hear the sound is quite different from the one American form. In addition to having different meanings for symbols, cultures also use these symbols for different purposes. In America and much of Europe, the prevalent view is that communication is used to get things done. In contrast, people in Japan and China believe information is internalized by most members of the culture, so not much needs to be coded. Symbols are at the core of communication and symbols, by virtue of their standing for something else, give us an opportunity to share our personal realities