Communication Across Cultural

Contexts
CULTURAL ADAPTATION

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Intercultural & Interlanguage Pragmatics

Pragmatics is the study of
Context
Why people say something
How people say something
What situation it is taking place in

Presupposition
Common ground
Assumptions

Inference

Interpretation of utterance

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Intercultural & Interlanguage Pragmatics

Speech Act Theory
Scripted and conventionalized types of regular linguistic
actions
Rules govern appropriateness of how speech acts are carried
out
Cultural differences in what speech acts are carried out, to
what extent they are scripted, when they are appropriate and
how they should be enacted
For speech acts to be successful, they have to be:
Said with right intentions
Interpreted in the way intended by the speaker
Meet cultural expectations
Comply with a cultures rules and regulations

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Intercultural & Interlanguage Pragmatics

Politeness Theory
Utterances are never innately polite/impolite
Cultural rules based on social and situational context
determine if and when something is polite

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Intercultural & Interlanguage Pragmatics

Sociopragmatic Factors
Power
Distance
Imposition

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Intercultural & Interlanguage Pragmatics

Interlanguage Pragmatics
Similarity between cultures
Transferrability of pragmatic norms

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Intercultural & Interlanguage Pragmatics

Pragmatic Transfer
Transfer of L1 norms to L2

Interference or facilitative

Depends on:
Perception of language distance between L1 and L2
Learning context/access to L2
Instructional effect
L2 proficiency

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Intercultural & Interlanguage Pragmatics

Pragmatic failure
Miscommunication
Communication breakdown
Based on overgeneralization
Based on simplification

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Adaptation The Basics

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Purpose of this Class

Get you ready for intercultural communication in

action
Help prepare you for your own exchange programme
or help you understand experiences that you have
already made abroad better
Introduce you to the concepts of culture shock &
stress
Discuss several adaptation process models with you
Explore personal growth and development through
intercultural adaptation processes

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Adaptation
Adaptation
Geographical mobility
Intracultural (moving within a culture)
Across cultures (moving abroad)
Temporary sojourn
Mid-term sojourn
Permanent

In situ

Cultural & technological changes in society

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Adaptation
Depends on
The personal drive
Voluntary
Involuntary

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Adaptation
Depends on
Outer circumstances for the move
Occupational
Promotion
Refugee

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Adaptation
Depends on
Sentiments for home country
Positive
Negative

Sentiments for host country

Positive
Negative

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Adaptation
Depends on
Length of stay
Short term
Long-term
Permanent

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Adaptation
Depends on
Personality type
Open/adventurous
Conservative/anxious

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Adaptation
Depends on
Area of adaptation
Public order
Religious beliefs

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Adaptation
Enculturation: childhood socialization processes
Acculturation: re-evaluation of ones behaviour and

adaptation to new culture

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Adaptation
Adaptation depends to a large degree on ethnic

proximity

The more similarity, the easier the adaptation process

The higher the compatibility, the easier the adaptation process

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Culture Shock and Stress

Misleading: the term culture shock implies a

sudden onset with immediate effects

Reality:

culture shock is a slow process

culture shock is accumulative

Time-frame:
the onset of culture shock varies between individuals
often delayed
Further factors: e.g. motivation, personality, coping

mechanisms, previous overseas experience

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Culture Shock and Stress

What does culture shock refer to?
A sense of loss and feeling of deprivation
Feelings of helplessness
Feelings of isolation
Confusion

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Culture Shock
Reactions differ between different people
Individualized impact

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Culture Shock and Stress

Potential effects of culture shock

Psychological

Anxiety
Depression
Frustration
Paranoia
Anger
Self-pity
Withdrawal
Excessive concern over cleanliness and health
Irritability
Home-sickness

Effect eating and sleeping habits

Minor illnesses
Loss of ability to work effectively

Physiological

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Case Study
Soon after arriving in the US from Peru, I cried almost every day. I was so
tense I heard without hearing, and this made me feel foolish. I also escaped
into sleeping more than twelve hours at a time and dreamed of my life,
family, and friends in Lima. After three months of isolating myself in the
house and speaking to no one, I ventured out. I then began to have severe
headaches. Finally I consulted a doctor, but she only gave me a lot of drugs
to relieve the pain. Neither my doctor nor my teachers ever mentioned the
two magic words that could have changed my life: culture shock! When I
learned about this, I began to see things from a new point of view and was
better able to accept myself and my feelings.
I now realize most of the Americans I met in Lima before I came to the US
were also in one of the stages of culture shock. They demonstrated a
somewhat hostile attitude toward Peru, which the Peruvians sensed and
usually moved from an initially friendly attitude to a defensive, aggressive
attitude or avoidance. The Americans mostly stayed within the safe cultural
familiarity of the embassy compound. Many seemed to feel that the
difficulties they were experiencing in Peru were specially created by
Peruvians to create discomfort for gringos. In other words, they displaced
their problem of adjustment and blamed everything on Peru.
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Culture Shock
Some researchers argue that culture shock is no

different/differs little from other forms of transition

shock
Culture shock is an emotional reaction to loss of the
familiar/change
In that sense it is no different from other forms of
transitions, such as

Divorce
Death of a loved one
Change of lifestyle related to passages

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Adaptation Process

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

U-curve model

Honeymoon

Hostility

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

At Home

Humour

Sergeants Model
Exploratory Phase: fight
Crisis Phase: flight
Adjustment Phase: filter

Accommodation Phase: flex

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

W-curve model
Home

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Host Country

Home

Reverse Culture Shock

Top 10 re-entry challenges
Boredom
No one wants to hear
You cant explain
Reverse homesickness
Relationships have changed
People see wrong changes
People misunderstand
Feelings of alienation
Loss of experience
Inability to apply new knowledge/skill
HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Kims Model of Adaptation

Adaptation

Growth over time

Stress
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Adaptation Process
Positive

Normality

Negative

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Adaptation Process
Honeymoon Phase
Crisis Phase
Recovery Phase

Adjustment Phase

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Adaptation
Intercultural adaptation requires 3 domains of

adaptation

Workplace
Interpersonal
Environment

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Adaptation
Adaptive domains interact
Spill-over links domains

General adjustment of expats is significantly related to work

adjustment, which in turn is related to interaction adjustment

Cross-over links people

Adjustment of one individual is linked to adjustment of other

individual(s)

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Cultural Adaptation Model

Managing the Ups and Downs of Living and

Studying (MUDLS)
A study on international student adaptation
conducted primarily at the University of Nottingham
in the UK by Gu, Q., Schweisfurth, M. and Day, C.

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

MUDLS: Alanna
Managing
Well (most
satisfied)

Satisfied

Not
Managing
Well (least
satisfied)

Chineal
friends; been
invite by
British girls
to their
parties;
though not
close friends,
but feeling
grateful!

Getting
good
results
in new
school

Missed people in school;

didnt get on with people
here
University
no guidance
lost

Different school, nice Ts,

learned a lot of things;
disappointed with British
girls cultural problems,
couldnt be friends

First school;
problems
with
roommate no
International
friends;
didnt get on school A-level
with host
family in 2nd
year
Jan Sep
Previous
Years
2006

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Oct Dec
2006

Didnt go to lectures; not

many friends

Felt good and

wanted to get
2.1

Difficulties in personal life

had negative impact on
study

Good
results
in
coursew
ork

Messy
personal
life
(mobile,
driving,
Spanish)

Felt
need
to
catch
up
with
uni.
work

Friends
getting her
well

Waiting
for result

Exams

plagiarism, other problems in

personal life (mobile phone,
driving lessons) ,lack of
motivation

Jan Mar
2007

Apr Jun
2007

Jul Sep
2007

Oct Dec
2007

Jan Mar
2008

Apr Jun
2008

MUDLS: Tristan
Results (Jan exam)
Managing
Well (most
satisfied)

During
semester

Christmas

Holidays summer

Christmas
Holidays

Back to
England

Exams

Back to
England
Exams

Satisfied

Exams 07
Not
Managing
Well (least
satisfied)

Previous
Years

Jan Sep
2006

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Oct Dec
2006

Jan Mar
2007

Apr Jun
2007

Jul Sep
2007

Oct Dec
2007

Jan Mar
2008

Apr Jun
2008

Adaptation
Predisposition to adaptation
Ethnic proximity
Overall similarity
Compatibility

Personality
Openness
Strength
Positivity

Preparedness
Knowledge
Realism

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Adaptation

Bennetts Model of Adaptation

Denial

Defense

Minimization

Ethnocentric Stages

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Acceptance

Adaptation

Integration

Ethnorelative Stages

Adaptation
Denial
Characteristics
Inability to construe cultural difference
Benign stereotyping
Superficial statements of tolerance

Cognitive Structure

Affective Quality

No categories
Benign on the surface

Behavioural Emphasis
Aggressive ignorance
Stress on the familiar

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Adaptation
Defence

Characteristics
Dualistic us/them thinking
Overt negative stereotyping
Exaggerating positive aspects of own culture

Cognitive Structure

Better elaborated categories for cultural difference, but protection of

original world view

Affective Quality
State of siege
Defense of identity

Behavioural Emphasis
Same-culture segregation
backlash actions

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Adaptation
Minimization
Characteristics
Recognition and acceptance of superficial cultural differences
Retains emphasis on similarity of people and commonality of
values

Cognitive Structure

Affective Quality

Worldview is protected by subsuming difference into familiar

categories
Insistently nice

Behavioural Emphasis

Active support for universal religious, moral or political principles

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Adaptation
Acceptance
Characteristics
Recognition and appreciation of cultural differences in behaviours
and values
Cultural relativity
Beginning of ability to interpret phenomena within context

Cognitive Structure

Affective Quality

Differentiation and elaboration of cultural categories

Curiosity

Behavioural Emphasis

Acquisition of knowledge about cultures, including own

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Adaptation
Adaptation

Characteristics
Development of communication skills (pertaining to intercultural
communication)
Effective use of empathy
Frame of reference shifting

Cognitive Structure
Knowledge and behaviour are linked by conscious intention
Category boundaries become more flexible and permeable

Affective Quality

Competence

Behavioural Emphasis
Intentional perspective-taking
Empathy

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Adaptation
Integration
Characteristics
Internalization of multiple frames of reference
Culture-independent identity

Cognitive Structure

Affective Quality

Worldview categories are seen as cultural constructs

Confusion, authenticity

Behavioural Emphasis

Formation and maintenance of constructed affiliation groups;

cultural mediation

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Adaptation
Degrees of Adaptation
Adjustment
Adaptation
Acculturation
Assimilation

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Assimilation or Adaptation?
What do you think?
Assimilation you should aim to become a member of the host
society
Adaptation you should remain who you are and only adjust
to a degree that allows you to function in the host society

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Adaptation
When in Rome do as the Romans do?
This advice has been given to international business

people for the past 2000 years, but is it really true?

This advice is based on the assumption that what works for

natives will also work for foreigners
It is assumed that
The more similar foreigners are the more they are accepted
Adaptation reduced the probability of inappropriate behaviours
and misunderstandings

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Adaptation
When in Rome?

However: this view fails to acknowledge that behaviour regarded as

appropriate for natives may be considered inappropriate for
foreigners
In certain situations similarity is disliked (e.g. in competitive
situations)
Research suggests that substantial adaptation can be viewed as
presumptuous
Moderate adaption is seen to reflect respect and sensitivity to the
other culture
Substantial adaptation, however, is disliked as it is perceived as
signalling a less positive view of the observers culture than moderate
or no adaptation
Substantial adaptation reduces interpersonal attraction

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Adaptation: A Choice or No Choice?

A Choice:
Do I want to even make an effort to integrate into a new
culture/society?
To what extent do I want to be integrated?
Isolate self
Function in society but keep a distance
Stay true to self, but adapt to local circumstances
Become part of local culture/society

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Adaptation: A Choice or No Choice?

No Choice:
Can you decide if you want to adapt?
Does host society make the decision for you?
Even if you may want to adapt, the host society might not be
receptive to letting you integrate
Some cultures embrace sojourners/immigrants
Some cultures exclude
Some cultures include some, but not other cultural groups

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler

Homework
Reading
Textbook Jackson (2014) - Chapter 8
Gu, Q., Schweisfurth, M. and Day, C. (2010). Insights into the
experiences of international students in the UK.

HG8004 Stefanie Stadler