2 Hour session delivered to volunteer mediators of the King County Dispute Resolution Center, as well as additional participants from the general public. Humans communicate on many levels: spoken language, tone, body language, style and personality. The fact that we have complex cultural identities and a host of differing past experiences increases the probability of cross-cultural miscommunications. This workshop presents major cross-cultural communication theories, ways that cultural values, power, privilege and differences affect the way we communicate, tools for questioning assumptions, and ways to improve cross-cultural communications skills.

1. What I Said and What I Meant:
Cross Cultural Communication
King County Dispute Resolution Center
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee
Seattle Girls’ School
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

2. About Seattle Girls’ School
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3. Agenda

Cross Cultural Communication

Cultural Values, Norms of
Behavior, and Communication

Cultural Identifiers, Power, and
Communication

So What? Now What?
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

4. Dimensions of Identity and Culture
This model of identifiers and culture was created by Karen Bradberry and Johnnie Foreman for NAIS Summer Diversity Institute,
adapted from Loden and Rosener’s Workforce America! (1991) and from Diverse Teams at Work, Gardenswartz & Rowe (SHRM 2003).
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

5. Cross Cultural Communication

What is it?

How is it Different from Intercultural
Communication?

CCC Theories
–
–
–
–
–
Face-Negotiation Theory
Conversational Constraints Theory
Expectancy Violation Theory
Anxiety/Uncertainty Management Theory
Communication Accommodation Theory
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

6. Dimensions of Variability
Individual - Collectivistic
Low Context - High Context
Task - Relationship
Low Uncertainty - High Uncertainty
Vertical - Horizontal
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

7. Factors that Influence

Personality Orientation

Individual Values
- Allocentric
- Idiocentric

Self Construal
- Independent
- Interdependent

Individual Socialization

Cultural Norms and Rules
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

8. Discussion: My Style
In hearing about
communication
differences, what would
you describe as your
cultural communication
style? Have you noticed
stark differences
compared to others?
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

9. Cultural Values
Norms, and Rules

Values

Value Priorities

Norms of Behavior

Non-Verbal
Communication
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

10. Cultural Value Differences
RELATIONAL
Individualism
Collectivism
group interdependence
self-reliance, independence
(mindless follower)
(selfis h )
Informality
Formality
directness, give and take discussion
indirectness, protect "face"
(rude and abrupt)
(stiff and impersonal)
Competition
Cooperation
individual achievement
group achievement
(egotistical, show-off)
(avoiding doing work or taking responsibility)
AUTHORITY
Egalitarianism
Hierarchy
fairness, belief in equal opportunity
privilege of status or rank
(being picky, on a soapbox)
(power hungry or avoiding accountability)
TEMPORAL
Use of Time
Passage of Time
"Time is money"
"Time is for life"
(doesn’t get the important things in life)
(lazy and irresponsible)
Change/Future
Tradition/Past
Adaptability ensures survival
Stability ensures survival
(muckraker, stirs up trouble)
(old-school, afraid of change)
ACTIVITY
Action orientation
"Being" orientation
"Make things happen"
"Let things happen"
(rushes without thinkin g )
(indecisive and slow)
Practicality
Idealism
Efficiency is always best
Always maintain principles
(impersonal and unscrupulous)
(naïve and impractical)
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

11. Exercise: Non-Verbal Violations
1: Please pick a partner and stand.
2: You and your partner will receive
different instructions for nonverbal
behaviors. Do not share the
information.
3: Begin to converse about your interests
and hobbies.
4: INCREMENTALLY dramatize the
nonverbal behavior.
5: Make note of thoughts or feelings you
experience.
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

12. Non-Verbal Violations: Partner 1
You signal respect by standing
physically close to your partner. Stand
Approximately 6 inches away from
him/her. You enjoy asking a lot of
questions to signal conversational
excitement and involvement. You also
like to touch your partner's arm from
time-to-time to signal approval for a
good idea.
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

13. Non-Verbal Violations: Partner 2
You signal respect by standing at
least an arm's length away from your
partner. You constantly check your
watch or the clock for fear of running
out of time in the conversation. You
also like to make loud sounds (ahs,
oohs, uh-huhs, sighs, etc.) to signal
your approval and great contentment
of the conversation.
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

14. Debrief: Nonverbal Violations
Did the INTENT of your described
behaviors allow you to display
them more enthusiastically?
What was the IMPACT of the
behaviors of your partner?
Did knowing that “odd” behaviors
may be part of the exercise
help you accept your partner’s
behavior?
In working with people from
various communities, what do
you take away from this
exercise?
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15. Break
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16. Identifiers, Power,
and Communication
Internalized Oppression/Dominance
Stereotype Threat
Microaggressions/Accumulated Impact
Code/Mode Switching
Fish Seeing the Water
“Norm” “Normal” “Good”
“Intent” versus “Impact”
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

17. Discussion: Cross Cultural Conflict
Think about a recent conflict which you
now know to be true to be at heart an
identity and power difference. Using
some of the terminology introduced,
discuss with a partner or group of three
what was going on to cause the conflict.
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

18. So What? Now What?
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19. Assumptions and Interpretations
• Mental Models
• Ladder of Inference
Belief
Conclusions
Selective Data
Observable Data
• Tools of Action
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

20. Checking Assumptions and
Interpretations: Steps to Analyze
1. What did you see/hear (raw data)?
2. What are your personal filters (cultural
values, norms, identifiers, experiences)?
3. What was your interpretation of what you
saw/heard (inference)?
4. How did you feel as a result?
5. What do you want?
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21. Developmental Model of
Intercultural Sensitivity
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22. Discussion:
How Will I Apply All This?
1. How do you see materials
from this workshop applying
to your roles?
2. What questions do you still
have?
3. What are your personal action
steps?
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

23. Cultural Effectiveness
“To be culturally effective doesn’t
mean you are an authority in the
values and beliefs of every culture.
What it means is that you hold a
deep respect for cultural differences
and are eager to learn, and willing to
accept, that there are many ways of
viewing the world”
Okokon O. Udo
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24. Final Questions or Comments?
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25. Resources
• “Stereotype Threat” by Joshua Aronson
• David K. Berlo, The Process of Communication (New York: Holt,
Rinehart, and Winston, 1960)
• Brenda J. Allen, Difference Matters: Communicating Social Identity
• William Gudykunst, Cross-Cultural and Intercultural Comunication
• Milton Bennett, PhD, Intercultural Communication Institute
www.intercultural.org
• National Coalition Building Institute
• “Non-Verbal Communication Across Cultures” by Erica Hagen,
Intercultural Communication Resources
• Thiagi.com
• Thrive! Team Dynamics
• Nonverbal Violations by Stella Ting-Toomey
• http://www.analytictech.com/mb021/action_science_ history.htm
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

26. Presenter Information
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee
6th Faculty and
Professional Outreach
Seattle Girls’ School
2706 S Jackson Street
Seattle WA 98144
(206) 805-6562
rlee@seattlegirlsschool.org
http://tiny.cc/rosettalee
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)