Communication Between Cultures

Language Variations

In addition to the differences discussed to this point, cultures are also characterized by

a number of internal linguistic variations. These differences are culturally influenced

and frequently offer hints as to the nation or region where a person lives or grew up

and his or her age, level of education, and socioeconomic status.^20 It is particularly

important to have both an awareness of these distinctions and an appreciation of

their role in intercultural communication.

Accents

While later we look at those occasions when the participants are speaking different lan-

guages, we begin with those countless occasions when English is the language being

used by all parties to the transaction. However, we should not be fooled into believing

that language problems cannot occur. As Cargile reminds us,“it must be realized that

even when interacting people speak the same language, such as English, they don’t

always speak the same‘language.’”^21 A good example of Cargile’s assertion can be

found in accented language. Novinger explains an accent and its relationship to inter-

cultural communication in the following,“An accent can range from perfectly native

pronunciation (no discernible foreign accent) to pronunciation of the foreign language

using the same sounds that the non-native learned in order to speak his or her own

mother tongue (a very heavy foreign accent).”^22 As you can tell from Novinger’s

description, accents can take a variety of forms. These often result from geographical

or historical differences, such as those among English speakers in Australia, Canada,

England, South Africa, and the United States. In the United States you also often

hear regional accents characterized as“Southern,”“New England,”or“New York.”

Accents have the potential to create two problems in intercultural exchanges.

First, if the speaker’s accent is prominent, comprehension might be impeded. For

example, people from the United States might be able to understand an accent used

by someone from New England but might encounter a problem with a speaker from

India who is speaking English with a Hindi accent. Second, as Schmidt and his coau-

thors point out,“Speakers may be negatively stereotyped by their accent. Speaking

with an accent may create negative impressions with the listener when the speaker’s

accent differs significantly from that of the dominant group.”^23

TABLE 8.1 English and Japanese Words Reflecting Culturally Important Items

U.S. CUTS OF BEEF JAPANESE RICE

• chuck


• rib


• shortloin


• sirloin


• round


• brisket


• fore shank


• short plank
  
  
  • ine–rice growing in the field
  
  
  • momi–rice with the husk still on
  
  
  • genmai–unpolished (brown) rice
  
  
  • kome–uncooked white rice (e.g., at the store)
  
  
  • shinmai–rice harvested this year
  
  
  • komai–rice harvested last year
  
  
  • gohan–steamed glutinous rice
  
  
  • okayu–rice gruel
  
  
  
  

Language Variations 273

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