FUNCTIONAL ENGLISH ASSIGNMENT

ASSIG
NMEN
T #3
SUBMITTED BY:
DANIYAL ABBAS
ROLL NO:
24021519-061
CLASS:
BSCS-IA
SECTION:
A
SUBMITTED TO:
SIR ABU BAKAR

1
 The Effect of Gender
and Culture on
Communication:
Introduction:
Communication forms the very foundation of the
human pursuit, facilitating a person to convey
information, ideas, and emotions from one to another.
However, people who communicate are vulnerable to
several factors which determine how they express and
interpret messages. These two broad influences,
gender and culture, are evident in these areas.
Understanding the interaction between gender and
culture in communication is crucial, especially in a
progressively globalized environment where
interactions often cross cultural and gender
boundaries. This paper explores the effects of gender
and culture on communicative practices, including
communication styles, nonverbal communication,
topics of discussion, and listening behavior, as it
simultaneously engages with the issue of
intersectionality.

1) Communication styles
Gender profoundly influences communication patterns
in a number of ways. It is observed that women and
men usually have different purposes for
communicating with one another. Women tend to be

2
 relationship-builders who focus on mutual experiences
and emotional expression. Their mode of
communication is often collaborative, empathetic, and
helpful. For example, a woman may use phrases such
as "How do you feel about that?" to encourage
interaction and elicit emotional sharing.

In contrast, men are typically goal-oriented in their

communication. Men will focus on solving problems,
expressing opinions, and delivering results. This direct
approach sometimes can be perceived as being
competitive or confrontational. A man may value
concision and effectiveness in words while often
avoiding elaborate emotional expression.

2) Nonverbal
Communication:
Nonverbal communication is another area where
differences in gender can be seen. Women tend to be
more expressive in their nonverbal language, using their
bodies, faces, and movement to convey messages. They
smile more, nod more, and maintain eye contact more in
order to show they are paying attention and that they
care. For instance, a woman may slightly lean forward
during a conversation to show her interest.
By comparison, nonverbal communicators amongst men
normally display less expressive behavior. A man often
appears blank-faced or otherwise restrained; his
gestures would be meager. As a consequence of this

3
expressiveness sometimes causing misreadings, his lack
of exuberance could be thought to be evidence that he
lacked interest or is emotionally aloof.

3) Topics of Conversation
The choice of topics for discussion often reflects
traditional gender roles and social expectations. Women
are more likely to discuss personal and relational issues,
such as family, emotions, and group experiences. Such
discussions usually aim to strengthen relationships.
On the other hand, men usually focus on topics related to
activities, achievements, or factual information.
Discussions may revolve around topics like sports,
technology, or current events, with less emphasis on
personal or emotional matters. This distinction highlights
the social norms that influence communication
preferences according to gender.

4) Listening Behaviors:
Listening behaviors have gender variations. Generally,
female listeners typically use active listening. To achieve
this, they utilize both verbal and nonverbal cues - such
as nodding, using a simple "yes," and maintaining eye
contact - to enhance their sense of hearing and
understanding for the speaker as if they are "being
understood."

4
Men, on the other hand, tend to listen more quietly and
provide minimal feedback cues. This listening style is
occasionally mistaken for inattentiveness, although it is
intended more as a sign of respect by allowing the
speaker to express themselves without interruption.

TABLE:
Aspect Men Women
Childho Grow up in a competitive Develop in a relational
od world with hierarchy and world where talk is used to
Development control; often engage in build closeness and
larger,competitive games. cooperation; engage in
smaller, cooperative
activities.
Use talk as a tool for action Use talk to build and sustain
Purpose of —giving information, relationships through
Communication solving problems, asserting shared experiences and
opinions. emotions.
Speakin Direct and outcome- Indirect and process-
g Style focused; tend to dominate focused; take turns speaking
the floor in discussions to and use overlapping speech
assert control. to show support.
Responding to Resist direct responses to Respond collaboratively and
Requests avoid feeling subordinate empathetically to maintain
or in a "one-down" relational harmony.
position.
Use of Less likely to ask questions Frequently ask questions to
Questions to avoid appearing seek information and show
uninformed. interest or connection.
Focus in Present facts, arguments, Share personal experiences
Discussions and ideas to establish and feelings to foster
autonomy and connection and sustain
independence. discussions.
Listening Listen silently or minimally, Use verbal and nonverbal
Behavior often to gather information encouragers (e.g., nodding,

5
 or plan a response. "mm-hmm") to actively
support the speaker.
Speech Use words for competition, Use speech rituals (e.g., tag
Rituals taking a stand, or questions like "Isn’t it?") to
establishing hierarchy. seek agreement and show
connection.
Emotional Suppress overt emotional Freely express emotions and
Expression talk to maintain composure use empathetic language to
and independence. build relationships.
Overlapping Overlap Frequently. Overlap Rarely.
Speech

The Effect of Culture on

Communication:
The term "culture" refers to the complex collection of
knowledge, folklore, language, rules, rituals, habits,
lifestyles, attitudes, beliefs, and customs that link and
give a common identity to a particular group of people at
a specific point in time.
Culture plays an equally significant role in shaping
communication. Cultural norms, values, and traditions
influence not only how people communicate but also
what they communicate.

1) High-context vs Low-
context cultures:
Cultures can be broadly labeled high-context and low-
context regarding their communication styles. Where

6
cultures like Japan, China, and Saudi Arabia believe and
are high-context nations and cultures, there really seems
to be an abundant trust in nonverbal expression, implicit
meanings as well as shared cultural experiences among
them. Words can bring on many layers of meaning, and
the message behind words is often expected.

On the contrary, the low-context cultures-the United

States, Germany, and Australia-value direct and
straightforward communication. There is an accentuated
focus on clarity and concision, where a speaker is
expected to convey what he or she wants explicitly. Such
differences may lead to misunderstandings across
cultures as a low-context communicator may perceive
the high-context communicator's style as vague or
evasive.

2) Power Distance :
Power distance is the degree to which people in a
culture accept and endorse hierarchical differences in
power and authority. In high power distance cultures,
communication with authorities is formal as well as
deferential. Even the subordinates avoid direct
disagreement or confrontation with the leader by using
indirect language to convey dissent.

In low power distance cultures, such as Sweden,

Denmark, and the Netherlands, communication tends to

7
be more egalitarian in nature. People are motivated to
express their opinions candidly, regardless of their
hierarchical status. Such differences can significantly
affect workplace communication, negotiations, and
interpersonal relationships.

3) Individualism vs
Collectivism :
Cultural differences in individualism and collectivism
significantly influence communication. Individualistic
cultures, such as the United States and the United
Kingdom, value self-expression and personal opinions as
well as assertiveness. People are encouraged to speak
their minds and prioritize their individual needs.

Collectivist cultures like China, Pakistan, and Nigeria

focus more on the harmony of a group, consensus, and
the avoidance of conflict. For that reason, the use of
indirect communication would always aim to preserve a
relationship or maintain social cohesiveness. This can
easily become an appreciation for not having aggressive
words and veiled meaning.

4) Language and Symbolism:

Language is inherently linked with cultural contexts and
can easily become a significant barrier to good
communication. Idioms, metaphors, and culturally
specific symbols that are immediately clear in one

8
culture may cause confusion or be misunderstood in
another. For example, the English expression "break a
leg," which is, in fact, a wish for good fortune, may raise
concern or confusion in someone whose culture does not
understand this idiom.

 Synthesis of Gender and

Culture:
The intersectionality of gender and culture complicates
communication. Cultural norms determine the roles of
genders, which are then reflected in their styles of
communication. In some traditional cultures, for
instance, women are socialized to be submissive or to
adopt a deferential style of communication, while men
are encouraged to be assertive and authoritative.

In more progressive societies, gender roles tend to be

less constrained, thereby facilitating increased
adaptability in modes of communication. Nevertheless,
even within these environments, nuanced gendered
expectations may continue to exist. For example, women
occupying leadership positions may encounter
difficulties in reconciling assertiveness with societal
norms regarding femininity.

This relates especially to cross-cultural communication

by difference in gender equality. Differences relating to
gender equality between genders may be a factor with a
woman from a traditionally gender-equal culture likely

9
getting distressed in a traditionally gender conservative
culture where her assertive nature may be seen
inapplicable or disrespectful, perhaps even both.

 Results of Successful
Communication:
Understanding the impact of gender and culture on
communication is essential to encourage the effective
and inclusive exchange. The following are some
techniques to handle these disparities:

1. Increase Cultural Awareness:

Understanding and learning the norms and values of
different cultures will help people avoid the guilt of
misinterpretation. The process includes the study of
other cultures as well as introspection about one's own
cultural predispositions.

2. Practice Active Listening:

Listening is a universal tool in communication, and it's a
bridge between gaps. Good attentiveness to the verbal as
well as the nonverbal cue and in facilitation of
clarification gives mutual understanding.

3. Revise Communication
Methods:
10
Flexibility while executing over-gender and over-cultural
communication is required. Adjusting the communication
style to the taste as well as the expectation of the other
interlocutor would make rapport building easier and
reduce conflict.

4. Encourage Open
Communication:

This provides a scenario in which individuals can voice

their thoughts and fears without fear of judgment. This is
especially critical where cultural and gender
relationships are likely to intersect. Conclusion: Both are
gigantic forces that shape how individuals communicate.
Just like gender can be an influence on communication
style, nonverbal behavior, and conversational
preference, culture can influence context, tone, and
structure of communication. While the two intersect in
complexity, cultural sensitivity and gender awareness
speak to maintaining effective communication. It has a
more critical importance in today's increasingly global
and interconnected environment-in understanding and
appreciating all the different ways that individuals
express themselves-in building stronger relationships,
accomplishing better cooperative endeavors, and
creating a more inclusive society.

11