Social cultural communication differences

Abstract

Social communication cannot be understood adequately without an understanding of the culture within which it is occurring. This chapter addresses multiple ways in which culture influences social communication. First, the linguistic, social-cognitive, and cognitive foundations for social communication are explained. Then frameworks for describing cultural variations are presented: the high- and low-context cultural characteristics proposed by the anthropologist, E. T. Hall, and the cultural dimensions theory proposed by the social psychologist, Geert Hofstede. These two frameworks are used to explain cultural variations found in communication patterns and how these patterns are influenced by cultural variations in memory; perception; emotional interpretation, emotional preferences, and emotional regulation; and approaches to reasoning. Culture and genetics interact to influence social interactions. Recommendations are given for assessing social communication skills of children from culturally/linguistically diverse backgrounds which involve clinicians conducting ethnographic interviewing of family and community members to become familiar with the expected communication patterns and family/client explanations for learning difficulties, disabilities, and illness. Finally, the chapter concludes by showing how an understanding of cultural values, beliefs, and expectations for social communication can be incorporated into the International Classification of Functioning (ICF) when evaluating persons with social communication disorders.