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How cross cultural communication problems can be reduced
Challenges in cross cultural communication
How cross cultural communication problems can be reduced
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In the essay “My Pen Writes in Blue and White”, Cremona explains the mechanics of his unique, varied writing style by reflecting on his experience with the blue-collar and white-collar working environments. Where his father worked in a blue-collar atmosphere, and his mother worked in a white-collar atmosphere, Cremona was easily exposed to both, which invoked a duality-based perspective of writing and culture, which Cremona took as to “see things in blue and white.” (Cremona 195) In Cremona’s view, “When I say that I see things as blue, I mean that I view them as basic, bold, and workman-like.” (195) Basically, Cremona is saying that the blue-collar point of view, as he sees it, focuses on a down-to-earth type of view, emphasizing traditional values of solidarity, and upfront communication. …show more content…
With his father being a blue-collar laborer, and a union member, Cremona recognized the empathetic nature of blue-collar speech; his father and his fellow union members would speak in a rowdily simplistic manner.
(Cremona 195) Although this manner of communication wouldn’t sound impressive to a superior, this simplistic manner of speech allows for fellow union members to share a degree of compassion, and express biases more effectively through tone and gestures. In contrast to the brash nature of blue-collar values, Cremona sees white-collar etiquette as a more impressing, less personal manner-of-speech. According to Cremona, “My mother is all about being proper, no matter what the situation.” (196) To this end, Cremona sees his mother’s utilization of speech as precise and particular. This is due to his mother’s idea that one’s career is directly influenced by one’s demeanor, and verbal
manner. (Cremona 196) To reinforce this statement, Cremona’s mother takes inspiration from Emily post, a 19th century novelist renowned for her works on etiquette. Inspired by his mother’s eloquent manner of speech and his father’s bold presence, Cremona himself writes, “All of my writing, now, I can see as either blue, or white, or some shade thereof.” In this quote, not only does Cremona state that he can pick up both of his parents’ manners, but he can also blend the two styles together. By doing so, Cremona can utilize the authoritative terminology of white-collar speech, while exhibiting the “loud and brash” (Cremona 195) nature of blue-collar speech in one format to achieve greater results. This point is demonstrated in one of Cremona’s experiences: Because an airline canceled a flight that caused Cremona much annoyance, Cremona had filed a complaint while using this format, in which he received compensation from the airline for his inconvenience soon after. Cremona’s experience had not only led him to develop a writing structure that pertains to both the blue and white-collar worlds, it has also allowed him to gain insight, shaping his worldview, and expanding his
In the two texts “Sonny Blues” by James Baldwin and “I Stand Here Ironing” by Tillie Olsen, the authors focus on relationships between family members. The stories are narrated by the brother in “Sonny Blues” and mother “I Stand Here Ironing”, therefore the story are only told through the point of view of the family member. Olsen conveys to readers that the mother does not have control over how her daughter, Emily, is raised and the internal conflict that comes along with mother. However, Baldwin shows a lack of family ties between Sonny’s and his brother. As a result, conflicts arise between the brothers in “Sonny’s Blues”. The conflicts in Baldwin and Olsen stories determine the stagnation relationships between families.
"I don't want loose women in my family," he had cautioned all his daughters. Warnings were delivered communally, for even though there was usually the offending daughter of the moment, every woman's character could use extra scolding” (Alvarez,
Expressions of fierce diction that Anthony manipulates throughout the text are “whole people”, “union”, and “posterity” (Anthony). She exercises concise and strong diction, which supports her ethos, unites her audience, and shows that she is educated just as well as any man. If she is well educated just like the men in her time, then why do women not have the right to vote and not have equality? Women work just as hard as men and can do anything that men are able to do, but they do not have the right to vote. They are also paid less and not treated as equals. With her assertive tone, she stands up to the men listening and exhibits her claim just as well as any male would’ve done. A woman must talk to a man with confidence and power because using a timid, meek tone will create no effect. She puts down the idea that men are superior to
James Baldwin’s short story “Sonny’s Blues” illustrates the inner struggle of breaking the hold of lifestyles unfamiliar to those normally accepted by society. Through the use of common fictitious tools such as plot, characters, conflict, and symbolic irony, Baldwin is able to explore the complex difficulties that challenge one in the acceptance of differences in one another. This essay will attempt to understand these thematic concepts through the use of such devises essential in fiction, as well as to come to an understanding of how the particular elements of fiction assist the author in exploring the conflict.
All three of these symbolical details are woven together in "Sonny's Blues" to create a non-literal meaning directly beneath the words. The end result is an enriched message about urban struggles for expression, happiness, and chemical independance. Ultimately, Sonny's revival concludes the readers' literary tour of world in which he lives. What is begun with a presentation of hardships is finally concluded with Sonny's triumph, a chance at a better future.
In the early months of their marriage, Jody is able to transform Janie into a wife representative of his newly acquired wealth and rank as he instructs her to wear her finest dress for the opening of the store (Hurston, p. 41). Her submission to this request allows Jody to believe that Janie can be made in to an obedient wife who will bolster his reputation and connections within their community. Therefore, as their marriage progresses Jody’s attempts at dominance increase. For example, when Jody is elected mayor of Eatonville Janie is asked to give a speech in celebration of his accomplishment and Jody answers for her saying she will not speak because “She’s uh woman” (Hurston, p. 43). Here, in particular, control is intertwined with language and speech because allowing Janie to speak would be allowing her to assert her identity in her own words. Janie is taken aback by her husband’s decision but does not speak against him instead she “made her face laugh after a short pause, but it wasn’t too easy” (Hurston, p. 43). Her reluctance to speak against him and her forced laugh are significant because they indicate once again that Janie is willing to submit to her husband in order to share in his
In the setting of “Sonny’s Blues” the element of illusion is used to create above all a world of beauty, illness and horror. Baldwin uses the sense of sight in his work. Using colors of vast difference to express to his readers their definition of what good vs bad, and light vs dark is. However it is so much more than that, he gives his readers the opportunity to consider truth. He introduces Sonny a character who fall’s victim to subjectivity and bias. With the tremendous use if illusion and color, Baldwin paints a picture and Sonny’s character is reviled in an almost angelic way. This theme is prevalent throughout the story, and Baldwin’s use of illusion really captures the truth in the story. He uses such colors as yellow to signify the illness of the streets and the drugs that consume them in the character of Sonny’s friend. The color of blue is one that is used often in the story but in different contrasts; blue signifies the beauty of Sonny’s conquering to his addiction...
In the introduction of Deborah Tannen’s “Conversation Style: Talking on the Job”, she compares and contrasts the ways men and women communicate. This reminds me of what I tell people that are struggling in their relationships. Women and men express themselves differently. Women think, but men act. If you can’t wrap your head around this, being in a relationship with anyone is going to be hard. Yet, this is such a basic way of looking at this issue. Not only are the genders vastly different, but each person relates to the world around them in a certain way. He or she also needs to be related to in a specific way. Looking at personalities and personal histories can give a better look at the way we communicate with each other. Tannen examines
In an empty room at the Timken Museum of Art hangs one of the most iconic paintings of Johannes Vermeer, the astonishing painting, Woman in Blue Reading a Letter. In the painting a pale woman’s stands patiently while reading a letter. The woman appears to be wearing a blue jacket and a long gray skirt, and only gazing at the letter, ignoring all of her surroundings. The top right of the painting seems to be a map of the Netherlands, which attracts the viewer because it explains the setting of where the painting took place. The blue jacket around the woman’s torso appears to exaggerate the woman’s stomach, giving the impression that she might be pregnant. The blue chairs resemble a sign of absence as if she lives alone. The light on the top left shines on her face which enhances the viewer’s view of the woman’s facial expression. Johannes Vermeer’s interpretation of complex colors, the light, and her body language inflicts a persuasion on the viewer that the women is traumatized by the news in the letter.
In the 1920s, women struggled to develop a work identity that would give them professional status and preserve their femininity (Walkowitz, 1051). They wanted to be eligible for an executive position, but at the same time they also wanted to be Women finally began working outside the home, but not yet at the level, status, and rank they deserved. They deserved
In “The Revolt of Mother,” written by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, along with the narrator, we can experience how human beings communicate. Time and setting are the most important definitions of a person’s life. A person cannot change the time he lives in. He lives in the present, the past, or the future. However, his place in location, he is able to choose himself. If a person lives in a city, on a farm, in the mountains, or by the ocean—this can define the nature of his daily activities and even his character. The heroes of this story lived nearly a century ago. They resided on a farm. This was a time when there weren’t a lot of modern accommodations. That’s why Mother and Father had to do everything themselves. Mother raised the children, milked the cow, and cooked the food, which she produced on her own farm. Father also had many responsibilities, such as tending to the animals and farming. They both worked a lot—completed their own given tasks. This separates them from each other, and at the same time, adds to their character.
Ognibene, Elaine R. "Black Literature Revisited: "Sonny's Blues"" The English Journal 60.1 (1971): 36-37. National Council of Teachers of English. Web. Apr.-May 2014.
.... Through the evaluation of reactions from both myself and others, I have realized the significant impact the misuse of a particular listening style may have. These effects reach beyond social and professional environments, and in some cases may produce unintended negative effects with family. I had not realized that the two listening styles I use most commonly could be so incredibly polarized when it comes to employing critical listening. As a result, I have devised appropriate steps which I feel will assist in creating a more balanced conversational environment and improve my overall effectiveness in communication. I was surprised to discover that my listening styles are not always conducive to the environment in which I am listening; however, I am consequently compelled to take the steps necessary to achieve higher-quality communication in every aspect of life.
Jenkins, M (1980). Woman to woman: speaking the common language. In C. Kramarae (Ed.). The voices and words of women and men (pp. 319-323). Elmsford, NY: Pergamon Press Inc.
The book An Intorduction of Sociolinguistics is an outstanding introductary book in the field of sociolinguistics. It encompasses a wide range of language issues. In chapter 13, Wardhaugh provides a good insight to the relationship between language and gender. He explains gender differences of language-in-use with concise examples. Wardhaugh riases questions about sexist language and guides readers to look closer at how people use language differently because of their own gender in daily life. According to the Whorfian hypothesis, which indicates that the way people use language reflects their thoughts, different genders adapt different communication strategies.