Explain why communication can be fraught with misunderstanding, misinterpretations, and disconnects between cultures. In the module notes, I described this as a potential “quagmire.” In this discussion activity, I’d like to look at this issue in light of nonverbals and overlapping cultures. For these questions, I really want you to zero in on our film, Lion; on an episode of the former hit TV show The Office; and on the articles “Love in Translation” and “Sarcasm in Written Communication” (about emoticons). This activity aligns with module outcomes 1 and 2.
Please choose one of the following to answer as thoroughly as possibly, using evidence from our readings to support your own critical thinking:
The television program the office is fraught with nonverbals that often add significant messages and context, or that outright undermine the literal verbal messages. As you watch this episode, take notes on the nonverbal communication (keeping in mind the types of nonverbal communication I listed for you in the module notes), and describe what they tell you about “the culture” in this organization. That is, how do they tell a story and paint a picture that is not communicated via speech?
References
“Love in Translation: Learning about Culture, Communication, and Intimacy in My Husbands Native French (Links to an external site.)” by Collins, L. in The New Yorker (August 2016). Open access at http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/08/08/lauren-collins-learns-to-love-in-french
Office episode the LION
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