Symbols carry important meaning

Why is the U.S. flag so important?

Proper Etiquette: Standards of Respect

--The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.

--The flag should not be used as a drapery, or for covering a speaker’s desk, draping a platform, or for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.

--The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard

--The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.

--The flag should never have placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind.

--The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

The U.S. flag providing pride--

The flag brings a sense of pride for those who live here, it’s representational of the U.S. and is a daily part of our lives because it’s everywhere.

In Huston, Texas for example—the U.S. flag is flown at the same level as its state flag.  I think this is interesting to note because of all the foreign-born residents there, and may even provide a different sense of unity for those who live there.  However, it is also said that this diversity could also pose a challenge to any sense of unity that might revolve around the flag.

The U.S. flag in protest--

However, the flag can also be used in protest.  People use the flag constantly to show their displeasure with policies or view that people may have.  Growing up in Topeka, you can see the flag hung upside down on the Phelps' church, and often times, on their signs they hold while picketing outside of local churches, etc.  Because they are so displeased, they are showing this by bashing people’s beliefs and the flag in general because they feel this isn’t how the U.S. should be represented.

The U.S. flag means different things to each person and holds significant meaning in America.  In times like this, it can extend character through another character—meaning that it can provide safety and security for those who live here, especially after and during war.  For those who move here, or live here, it can provide a sense of hope, security, patriotism, and loyalty to the U.S.

 

Defining Ethnocentrism & why it's important

In the article by Qingwen Dong, Kenneth D. Day and Christine M. Collaco titled Overcoming Ethnocentrism through Developing Intercultural Communication Sensitivity and Multiculturalism – it states that one’s one group is the center of everything, and all other things are related to or dependent on it.

Why is this important?
On the positive side, it means that a person has patriotism and a willingness to sacrifice for their group.

This seems like a bad thing because someone can be viewed as having apathy for all other groups besides his or her own.  Additionally, a lack of acceptance and intolerance happens when a person is really ethnocentric.  It can lead to misunderstandings, as well.

The authors measure ethnocentrism by a person’s own culture.  I don’t think this captures ethnocentrism as the authors define it because a person is just responding to how they feel regarding their own culture.  It then says that the scale was modified for communication researchers.

If they want to measure it accurately, they aren’t promoting the right thing.  They’re promoting misunderstandings, and one person may think that their group is the ‘center of everything.’  I just don’t understand how this would measure accurately if they were trying to avoid the topic of ‘apathy towards all outer groups.’  They didn’t test people outside of their own culture groups.

Why is this important to me?
I think ethnocentrism is important because it ‘promotes an individual’s ability to respect cultural differences, foster multiple cultural identities, and maintain coexistence.’  Meaning, you can respect someone of another culture, define yourself as more than one culture, and live that way.  It then states that those people can be successful in a place like the United States.

This article also states that the “United States is expected to continue its leading position in appreciating cultural diversity and respecting ethnic/cultural identities.”  In order for the U.S. to be a leader in this, it’s important to have communication sensitivity and know about multiculturalism.

Intercultural sensitivity are the things we deal with daily.  It also has two other factors: intercultural communication awareness and intercultural communication sensitivity.  Cultural awareness is important in being culturally sensitive, as well.  Those who have sensitivity do better in intercultural settings.

Multiculturalism focuses on cultural diversity, which is perceived differently by group members.  It is said to be paradox of accommodating rights of minority groups.  Those in minority groups believe that it protects culture and self-identity.  Those in majority groups have a mixed view—believing that multiculturalism brings diverse views and stronger economic forces.

Freedom of religion is a great thing

Religion is defined as human thought, which usually includes a set of narratives, symbols, beliefs, and practices that give meaning to life through a higher power or ultimate truth.

I am thankful that we are able to pick our own religion, without someone telling us we have to believe in something.  While there are people who would like you to be a certain religion or faith—again, it isn’t something that we have to believe in.

I often think that sometimes, people take that for granted.  They think that they just won’t believe because someone isn’t telling them they have to.  They call themselves atheist because they’ve never been ‘exposed.’  But if they wanted something bad enough, they’d search for it.  Why is this different when it comes to the topic of religion?  Why is it that people don’t want to search—even if they come to find it’s too big of a concept for them to grasp (and then maybe even declare agnostic?)  Personally, I’ve found that it’s such a scary concept..something so much bigger than all of us.  But without the experience and exposure I’ve had, I don’t think I’d be writing this is a blog right now.

Ottawa defines this school as faith based—but again, they aren’t forcing their students to become Baptist.  And just like I was raised, I think that if someone wants it enough—they’ll go searching for it.

I also think studying other types of religion are important because you gain an understanding that you might not have otherwise.  Just like understanding other cultures, religion is part of a person’s values and beliefs and it’s important to be aware of why a person may believe a certain thing (like not eating meat.)  It’s important to be sensitive and take into account the things they grew up with—and why they decided to have faith in something else.

Politeness Theory

The Politeness Theory accounts for the redressing of the affronts to face posed by face-threatening acts to addresses. 
Face is a public self-image that a person tries to project.

When someone is trying to portray positive face, they want to be desirable to others.  Additionally, this positive face must be appreciated and approved by others.

So, in a classroom, a student usually doesn’t want to say something out of context because they don’t want to lose positive face.  When a person goes on a date, it’s the same way.  You want to be appreciated by the person you’re with—you want to be desirable on that date.  At the same time, a person who in constantly worried about what others think of them could be considered passive. 

When someone has negative face, they usually have a claim to territory and personal preserves.  So, if a person said “It’s hot in here, is it not?” that’s an example of negative face.  There are many ways a person could interpret that phrase.

The ‘bald on’ record enlists public pressure, and gets credit for honesty and outspokenness.  Doing this makes a person outspoken, which avoids the danger of seeming manipulative.  It also prevents a person from being misunderstood.  So, if a person said, “shut the door” it would be an example of the bald on theory because there is no politeness.

When thinking about face in real life situations, social distance and power are things people must take into consideration.  For example, we may use positive face rather than negative face when speaking with family.  When talking about power, you must take into account social status (aka if I’m trying to do homework in my room and my roommate is being really loud in the living area, I would tell her to be quiet differently then I would a stranger.)

What makes up a culture?

Culture is:

Laws—What we have to abide by.  Murder, robbery, vandalism are examples of this.

Values—What is considered good and bad.  Honesty and theft are examples of this.

Rules—What society says we should do.  Marriage is an example of this, having the perfect family, having a job—the picture perfect life.

Social Status—People being ‘types,’ such as ‘kings,’ ‘friends,’ etc.

Beliefs – Things a person cherishes.  These include religion, faith, love, etc.

These things can be learned, patterned, symbolic, internalized, mutual, arbitrary, and influence the way we interact.

How is a particular subculture considered a culture?
Subcultures have traits that are different than main cultures; every culture has smaller cultures inside it.  Some examples of sub-cultures you may find in a high school are goths, punks, preps, jocks, nerds, etc.  These groups of people have certain behaviors or customs that are all different than the others.  Some may even have different languages, or use of slang.  

Ethnicity and religion also have subgroups, and are considered a culture because they each have their own laws, rules, values, etc.

It’s all about a mental blueprint, or a mental code—all of the things you do when you’re younger, the things you continue to do as a teen, and how you shape your own family. 

For example -- I grew up in a household that valued honesty.  Even if we knew we did something wrong, as long as we were honest, it helped my sister and I in the long run.  It was also important to my parents to let my sister and I lead our own lives, make our own mistakes, and learn from them.  Because of that, my sister and I have shaped our own values, beliefs, etc. They may not be learned through family, it may be something you teach yourself.  But whatever way a person decides to describe their culture, each person is different.

Culture & the formation of identity

Can culture be developed and not just genetic?

Some anthropologists believe that culture is ‘human nature’ and that all people have a capacity to classify experiences and encode classifications symbolically (like language.)

I believe this is true.  If you spend 10 years in the United States, and then decide to live in another country, you can develop another sense of culture that way.  If you were born in France, and you moved to the U.S. when you were a baby, your sense of culture is your life in the U.S. (because you would’ve been so young when you moved.)

In the Culture Anthropology reading by James Ferguson and Akhil Gupta, they examine the differences between society and culture.   They also talk about how our maps of territories are so different from each other and mean different things to us.  Something also mentioned in the reading it is it means to be a multicultural being.

Something I found interesting about this reading was the topic of an ‘ethnographic map.’  I think this is something to take note of because of the way we go define people.  It states that we name and define cultures because it’s easiest to do, and that we describe people to meet their territories.  The article states that we do this because it’s the only way of making a ‘cultural grid’ that lets us describe people and where they live.

The only thing I didn’t like about this term is the fact that someone can’t define themselves as two cultures here.  That it had just been talking about multiculturalism, but then it’s taking what that means away.

If I was born in Poland, and raised in the United States, I would have to define myself as one culture.  If I lived on the Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri border—it would be the same thing.   What about those who spend half a year in one country and half in another?  These people are conflicted with how to define themselves, and are then living out pieces of what make them who they are.  No subcultures would exist, and we definitely wouldn’t be diverse.  People would come to America just to taste ‘american food,’ etc.  Our way of life now and what we’ve been brought up to have (walking down the street and being able to get Chinese food, having diversity in our college classes, etc.) wouldn’t exist.

What does my culture mean to me?

I define my culture as the way I was raised.  Being able to make my own decisions about politics, religion, etc..have made me the person I am today.  I was raised that my decisions are mine alone, and I can be the only person to determine who I am.  Both of my parents, raised conservative Catholics, wanted my older sister and I to explore and take advantage of the options they didn’t have.  I consider my immediate family a part of my culture, and some of the things my family celebrates or does are part of my ‘culture.’  I also consider culture through those experiences I’ve been given.  Having the option to explore the world of religion, politics, and life in general have defined my ‘own’ culture and what it means to me.

It's written all over your face.

When talking about facial expression in Intercultural Communication, we all laughed about it.  Half of us were on the side that we could control our facial expressions, and the other half said we couldn't.  But I'm serious.  This is one non-verbal expression I can't fix.  

So when there's a kid in class that just blurts out something non-related to discussion?  Yeah, they get a look; I can't control it.  So, I decided to do some research.  In a study done by Howard Berenbaum and Ann Rotter (titled The Relationship Between Spontaneous Facial Expressions of Emotion and Voluntary Control of Facial Muscles), they state:

"It is possible that some individuals are more facially expressive than others because they are more likely to have emotions elicited in them than are other individuals. It is also possible, however, that some individuals are more facially expressive, not because the emotions that are elicited in them are more numerous or intense, but because the same input to the motor system leads to more intense output."

I agree with this statement. I do think it's some sort of 'motor system' reflex.  Even when I try to control it, I just end up looking silly, start laughing, or someone asks me what's wrong with my face. (I tried it the other day..)  

I think it's something we've been doing for so long, that we can't control it.  When something surprising happens, we can't help but let our jaw drop.  We've all had points where we're mad and we keep trying to hold that serious face while a friend is trying to get us to smile.  It's just those shocking, sad or happy moments that happen unexpectedly - we can't help but show our non-verbal message.

So we know what we show?

I'll compare singing and acting.  

While I believe both singers and actors may learn how to try and control facial expressions, I believe it's harder to do for singers.  When you're trying hard to hit those notes or sing a sad song, it's a different kind of emotion than when you're 'acting' a part.  It's like smiling and being surprised.  You can control a smile, it's something that tends to come naturally.  But when you're surprised, it catches you off guard.  Therefore, I don't believe it can be controlled.

Does gender matter when expressing emotion?

In a study done by J. Hall (titled Smiling and Gazing), he states that "women are more facially expressive then men.  Women may be less expressive than men with displays of anger, yet more expressive with positive feelings and smiling."

I disagree with this statement.  I know women who can get really angry and men who are positive and frequently smile.  I think expression as form on non-verbal communication has nothing to do with the sex of a person; I feel this statement is a gender stereotype.

No matter if you're surprised, angry, happy, confused, man or woman I believe facial expressions are hard to control--and even if controlled will still have a micro-expression.  I've never met a person that hasn't shown a sudden facial reaction to something around them, and with studies done to prove that some sort of reaction comes from everyone, it's hard to say this isn't true.

:)

Why do language barriers happen?

Language and life-

The key to communicating effectively is language.  If two people don’t speak the same language, chances are, they won’t communicate very effectively.  If a person is traveling abroad, say in Japan, and they are lost, how do you communicate effectively?  You start asking those around you if they speak English, until you find someone around you who can help.

Will this eventually not be the case?  It’s hard to say.  If people become more interested in being bilingual, I think we can eventually communicate effectively.  With the amount of people who speak Spanish in the United States, we are becoming more bilingual each year.  In my high school, we had to take two years of a foreign language, and they really pushed Spanish on their students because we are becoming more of a bilingual nation.  I think as more people have to learn a language to ‘survive’ and communicate effectively, these are the steps to, in a way, bring us all together.

How do we construct this type of society?  I think this is all about multiculturalism and accommodating the rights of our minority groups.  If everyone was an ethnocentric, (having apathy towards all groups outside of their own) we wouldn’t have patriotism, we wouldn’t know what it’s like to being able to sacrifice for our own cultural groups.

Language and Sapir-Whorf-

This hypothesis stresses that thoughts and behavior are determined by our language.    That ‘one cannot think outside the confines of their language.’  This is divided in two different groups – linguistic determinism (how one thinks is determined by their language) and linguistic relativity (states that the difference in language reflect the different views of different people) 

Whorf thinks that the type of society where we all would understand and live together as we are cannot be done.  He believes that in our world view, people are so severely affected by their structure of language, therefore we can’t live in a cross-cultural society.

Language and technology-

But as the years continue, I believe that our gap is slowly closing with the help of technology.  With technology, many people demand things be translated in different languages.  Companies realize that their content should be visible in many languages.  This is also true with search engines.  If a web site operator couldn’t translate himself, he would pay to have it translated to another language.

People will always want to translate what they find interesting.   I think that over time, when something is google’d, there will eventually be sites that will come up in different languages, or have the option to select a language when you enter a site.  I think this will also interconnect us because it will have a larger audience.

Language and non-verbals-

Non-verbals also come into play when talking about language barriers.  There are many many things that mean the same thing in other countries.  We don’t always have to speak to get what we want or to get our point across.    In the article titled ‘The Whorf Hypothesis Examined,’ Amy Stafford states that ‘there is no question that the lexicon of a specific language mirrors whatever the nonverbal culture emphasizes.’  Like the author, I agree with the statement.  If we have enough describing words for the word snow, we can get a point across.  We can make phrases to get people to understand them as well.  I would agree in saying that this doesn’t make our ‘cognitive world perception’ any different than, say, someone who lived in Japan.

Why International Communication?

People from different groups have different ways of communicating.  Difficulties arise when conclusions are drawn from those different ways of communicating.  In an argument an unexpected tone of voice can cause misunderstanding, someone can stereotype that person. (Communicating through interethnic communication.)

In the reading by Matthew Scott and Grant Sherson titled ‘Intercultural Communication as a Dominant Paradigm,’ the writers say this is because we are of two broad groupings.  The first one titled the mentalists believe that aspects of culture exist in the mind; through they are evidenced in the world.  This would include beliefs, concepts, values and rules.  

The second group extends the boundaries of culture into the external world to the outcomes of the interior beliefs—even through physical artifacts.

The passage above is a good example to describe international communication.  One group (the mentalists) are interested in explanation, while the other group wants us to be effective communicators, taking us into the external world.

I think both of these groups describe why intercultural communication is important.  We should want to know all of the above; what is cultural and what is interest.  All of us have a view of what culture is because of what we’ve been told or raised to believe.  However, we might not really know without seeing it firsthand, without traveling, without that external world to guide us.

Edward T. Hall’s study of the history of International Communication within the United States and Japan can be tied in with what I said above.  In his findings, Hall discovered that systems of beliefs, values and worldviews are involved in the exchange of words and in non-verbal communication.  I believe this is saying that many of the people in Japan may have been mentalists before the 1960’s.

But Hall also said that in dealing with English-speaking people verses the Japanese, introducing concepts such as intercultural communication were needed.  Here, he extended the boundaries by saying that the Japanese explored international communication non-verbally by facial expressions, hand gestures, bowing, (etc.) in their lives, because he said the Japanese were said to rely less on verbal communication than English-speaking people.

Once again, all of this ties together with the very first statement I made.  For example, the Japanese and English-speaking people have completely different ways of communicating, and depending on which you are, or how you were raised—your view on this is different.  You could be a mentalist, and stick to what you were told—or you could explore and physically find out the boundaries between the two.  It’s important to notice the different ways that other counties communicate, or we could get lost when taking that physical leap into another country.  International communication means simply understanding not only the cultural differences, but why they are that way.

What is communication?

We need meaning for our words, so we search for it through some sort of communication.  Communication is our window through academics, relationships, friendships, etc.

Where would we be without Skype?  Facebook? IM? E-mail?  Even this blog?  Simple things we don’t seem to think about anymore are here because we need places to communication to each other.  And while these places may not be ideal for some, no one can deny their popularity and the fact people are using them at some point in their day-to-day lives.

It’s a two-way process.

We are born with the ability to talk and speak with each other, however, the way we communicate is learned.  When we’re in a group of students some of us may sit back before we add to conversation because we want to observe the communication methods of our peers.  If we do not communicate with our professors, do not speak appropriately in our papers, our way of communication is misunderstood.

You wouldn’t talk to a friend the same way you’d talk to your parents.  This is because over time, we’ve developed different, and newer ways to communicate.  Skype gives people the option to video chat at any moment in time, with anyone.  Instant messaging, text messaging and various other web sites provide a way of communication that our parents never had.

Does this mean our parents are better face-to-face communicators?  Does that mean we’re better on the Internet?

Non-verbal communication is also a huge part of communicating.  This is how a relationship, or a friendship starts.  That wink you give someone across the room can say more than needed when you’re trying to grab someone’s attention.  Once a relationship or a friendship starts, communication is key to keep it together.  Talking on a daily basis, learning about each other, it’s all part of communicating and keeping things together.

When we travel, we may often step out of our comfort zones when we visit another country.  What we are so use to in our day-to-day lives is now completely thrown out the window.  A wave in the states may mean a friendly hello, but in another country; it could be some sort of terrorist symbol.  Just like we were brought up to communicate the way we do, in other countries, they were taught the same overall concept, just with different meaning.  The way we would communicate in other countries is similar, in terms of the technological aspect.  Skype, social networking, and e-mail are also popular in other countries.

In today’s job market, if you’re bilingual, your chances of getting a job are a lot better.  This is easier to do, as you can minor or even major in another language while you're in college.  This is because as we’re growing, more people are moving to other countries.  As this happens, our need for another language will become more ideal in society. 

What it means to be an American..

We're traditionalists by nature, we can't help it.

The idea of having pride for our country is my first thought.  The American flag t-shirt, the flag waving outside of our homes, and the support our troops bumper stickers show our 'support' or thoughts for what/who we are as a country.

Government, the idea of freedom with rules.  Conforming, but still doing what we please..all of these things come to mind when I think about what it means to be an American.  Forming a line at the movies just because it's what we've been taught to do.  Driving within the lines and following the speed limits.  Saying we're got all the freedom in the world, but we cannot commit murder or another crime without punishment.  

Freedom of religion, speech and just thought in general also come with a price.  It's defined in so many ways--what it is to be an american.  Those beliefs we grow up with form our political parties, our religion, what is right and wrong, which laws to abide by..and so on.  Our culture, the way we communicate, it also sets all of us apart.

Growing up in Topeka, I've encountered a popular protesting group quite often.  Is that their idea of American?  Showing their dislike towards someone else's freedom?  So often, they stood across the street of my old high school, looking proud to show their opinion and protest the beliefs of others.

So often, we discuss politics and religion with those around us.  Is that was makes us an American?  How about stopping at McDonalds because we're hungry?  We're also viewed as the nation that spoils ourselves, the nation that put everything in it's occupants hands.  We only do it to ourselves.  We're the ones to blame for being called the 'fast food nation.'

We have a voice in our media, we have a voice in our government.  We can distribute movies and pictures with free right--any John Doe can be involved in this.  We all have a notion of 'social liberalism' in America.  But how does one person define what being an American is..?  And what makes that person correct?

We pride ourselves in that social liberalism, that positive freedom, but I believe we put ourselves in situations as a country that aren't so full of pride.

Most of all, when I think about being an American, I think that you must have love for your country above all others.  

But that love we may or may not have for our country can be defineable in so many ways.