Communication and Culture

Yes, I do communicate differently with different groups and cultures.  I realized early in life that it was imperative to know how to speak to different people and groups.  I spoke to adults at; school, church, library, concerts, home, and I also  have friends.  I had to know what language that was necessary to use for each of the groups.  Of cause I used slang to my friends on the block, howeve,r I had a different slang for my friends at school because they were of another culture.  I dared not use slang to adults, howeve,r the language I used with my family was less formal than the language I used to the adults at my church, school, and library.  The early lessons in communication aided my in the communication skills that I had to develop later in life.   

     Now I try to understand the different culture communication patterns, than I try to stay within those cultural guidelines.  My Latino families’ culture recognizes the father as the head of household, and all question must be posed to him until he gives his wife permission to speak on his behalf.  The same protocol is used for the Middle Eastern families, however, they rarely emit their authority to any female in the family.   For some of my younger neighborhood parents, I have found the best way to enter their circle is to speak a little ghetto-eese with them, this lightens up our relationship because it gives them a sense that I understand where they are coming from, and that I do not think that I am  above them.  Of cause I speak to my grandparents very respectfully, and based on their understanding of the subject matter, I try to explain slowly and clearly.

     We all have a culture regardless of where we are from, and if someone disrespects our culture that someone will close the communication doors shut.  I am always aware of who I am speaking to, this allows me to address them properly.

What is Communication?

Grandmas' Wisdom

 

 

My grandmother exhibited the best communication skills that I can recall.  She had a way of explaining a situation that gave us both cause and effect with the history of the family. She usually based her communications one her wealth of knowledge and experience.  She was always very explicit and gave clear examples of the information she was communicating.  

     One day I remember my cousin kept repeating the same statement several times.  My grandmother said “Say what you have to say one time, that is enough!”  She went on to explain to us “ cousin John Thomas was not all there", and he would just walk around repeating himself, no one took him serious, in fact we thought  of him as being "one short of being all there”. She went on to say that the town had a catch phrase for anyone who said anything more than once, they called them John Thomas, and everyone knew that people in question were repeating themselves.  From that point “John” became the term we used for a repeater.  I could be in a crowded room and when I heard her whisper “John” in my ear I held my mouth and said 'oops' because I knew I was being redundant.   She had a gift of communicating words which gave her the ability to paint a picture in my mind’s eye. When she was finished explaining (painting) a situation, I was able to see the whole scenario in the mind.  The explanations are now over fifty year old, but when I think of them I can see the pictures clearly.

     I have adopted some of my grandmother’s communication skills.  I explain in detail to my children and parents using familiar examples and phrases, it works well for me.  By the way everyone in the office knows what I mean when I say “John”, normally we just start laughing. It is wonderful to be able to communicate with so few words.  She taught how to illustrate through words and experiences and my listeners enjoy and learn as I did.