How social professional and cultural background effect the way we communicate

Different social, professional and cultural context may effect relationships and the way people communicate because of a lack of understanding into one another’s back ground and culture. This could be through their race, religion, and ethnicity or where they come from. Each one of these can have similar or different ways to communicate.

Social background

It has been suggested by Laing and Chazan in fontang 1984 that some children grow up within environmental and social circumstances which may restrict the children to explore their environment and develop language and communication skills through positive and stimulating interactions with others. Circumstances such as poverty, family size and parental background. For example – some people believe that poverty is a crucial factor affecting children’s learning and development. Research indicates that poverty and related problems may affect proving opportunity to stimulated language environment such as, not having access to a local library or travel costs to places.

Professional background

It is once suggested by Bernstein that working class children where at a disadvantage in schools because of their inability to use language in the same way as ‘middle class’ children. It depends on how individual families use language, some families see language and learning as very important and pass this on to their children, where as other families have different priorities. Since communication is rapidly changing due to increasing technology, things such as power points and visual aids can help in getting your point made. When communicating with other adults when in a meeting, giving feedback etc… it is important to avoid using technical language unless you are sure they understand the meaning. With regards to meeting it is important to prepare for them, this could be through reading the agenda or you may have been asked to provide information. This can give you opportunity to contribute in the meeting, ensuring your contributions are relevant and helpful to the staff team. When expressing your opinions it is important to be clear, official and demonstrate respect for other contributions made. Also make notes during the meeting to remind yourself of any action you need to take. Based on the style of communication, there can be two broad categories of communication, which are formal and informal communication that have their own set of characteristics features.

Formal communication

Formal communication includes all the instances where communication has to occur in a set formal format. Typically this can include all sorts of business communication. The style of communication in this form is very formal and official e.g., official conference’s, meetings and letters. Formal communication is generally straight forward, official, always precise and has a stringent and rigid tone.

Informal communication

Informal communication includes instances of free unrestrained communication between people who share a casual rapport with each other. Informal communication requires two people to have a similar wavelength and hence occurs between family and friends. Informal communication does not have any rigid rules and guidelines. Informal conversations need not necessarily have boundaries of time, place or even subjects for that matter.

For example

When in a professional meeting, weather you are talking to parents, members of staff, students or outside agencies’. It is important to think about the level of professionalism required. This could be through the way you conduct yourself and through body language. For example, if in a meeting and an important issue arises , you should take high interest at getting any issues dealt with but keep the situation calm and none threatening.. Sarcasm, inappropriate jokes and other behaviour should be left to your social time. This is not a place for informal attitudes, a professional stance is required with a level amount of understanding and respect.

Cultural background

We live in a multiracial and multicultural society. Children are brought up in a variety of different backgrounds for example, British society once considered that children should not speak until spoken to. Whereas children from many non-English speaking backgrounds may be used to be more adult patterns of speech and more direct instruction. It is important not to assume a stereotype attitude and when necessary a little research into some ones cultural background may be beneficial, for example, nodding your head means yes in most places but in some parts of Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey it means no. also eye contact is important in America and Europe but it can be rude in most of Asian countries and Africa. Lack of understanding or knowledge of one another’s background or culture can cause a breakdown in communication.