MODULE IN PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION

MODULE 8
Formal Language vs. Informal Language
Challenges of Intercultural
Communication

OBJECTIVES: At the end of the period, the students must be able to:
1. Differentiate formal from informal language.
2. Explain the challenges in intercultural communication

What is Formal Language?

Formal language does not use colloquialisms, contractions or first-person pronouns such as
'I' or 'We'. Informal language is more casual and spontaneous. It is used when communicating with
friends or family either in writing or in conversation.

10 Differences Between Formal and Informal Language

Knowing when to use formal or informal English at work will depend on the business, the industry, who
you are speaking with, and what you are talking about. When you are working cross-culturally or with people
you do not know very well, using formal language helps eliminate any misunderstandings and helps you sound
polite and professional.

Here are 10 tips on how to use formal and informal language.

1. Know in which situations you can use informal language
This table shows the main scenarios in which it is best to use formal language. Using very formal
English in everyday situations can sound pompous, so always think about the context and your target audience.

Formal Language Informal Language

1.When you are communicating with someone that Situations that are more relaxed and that involve
you don’t know very well people that you know well or know each other
well
2. Business emails Some business correspondence
3. Academic writing/ articles In everyday conversations
4. Professional academic situations Personal emails
5. Presentations Social media
6. Reports Advertising
7. Public tenders Spontaneous speech
8. Official documents Text messages
9. Talking to superiors Talking to peers
10. Legal documents Some meeting minutes
11. Public speaking (speeches, lectures, etc) Networking or socializing with clients
12.Job interviews Team meetings
2. Grammar
In formal language, grammar is more complex and sentences are generally longer. For example:
F. We regret to inform you that the delivery will be delayed due to adverse weather conditions [formal]
In. Sorry, but the delivery will be late because of the weather [informal]

F. Have you seen my glasses? [formal]

In. Seen my glasses? [informal]
F. I am sorry to have kept you waiting [formal]
In. Sorry to keep you waiting [informal]

3. Modal verbs
Formal language uses modal verbs. For example:
1. We would be grateful if….
2. Could you kindly inform us as to whether..?

4. Pronouns
Formal language is less personal, and is more likely to use the ‘we’ as a pronoun rather than ‘I’:
For example:
We can assist in the resolution of this matter. Contact us on our help line number [formal]
I can help you solve this problem. Call me! [informal]
We regret to inform you that……
[formal] I’m sorry, but…. [informal]
We have pleasure in announcing….
[formal] I’m happy to say…[informal]

5. Vocabulary
In formal language, words are generally longer. For
example: Require [formal] vs need [informal]
Purchase [formal] vs buy [informal]
Acceptable [formal] vs okay [informal]
Assistance [formal] vs help [informal]
Require [formal] vs want [informal]

6. Pronunciation
Speech is generally slower in formal language, allowing for correct and clear pronunciation, and the
tone of the voice is more serious.

7.Contractions
These are not used in formal language. In informal language they are used for easier flow and faster
speech.
For example:
She has decided to accept the job offer [formal]
She’s decided to accept the job offer [informal]

8. Abbreviations and acronyms

These are not used in formal
language. For example:
‘As soon as possible’ [formal] vs ‘asap’ [informal]
Advertisement’ [formal] vs ‘ad’ or ‘advert’
[informal] ‘Photograph’ [formal] vs ‘photo’
[informal]
9. Colloquial language
This is not used in formal
language. For example:
Would you like a cup of tea? [formal] vs Fancy a cuppa?
[informal] Would you like to…’ [formal] vs ‘Do you want….’
[informal]

10. Emojis are never used in formal language!

Glossary
Eliminate: to remove or eliminate
something. Pompous: grand, solemn, or self-
important.
Resolution: a firm decision to do or not to do something.
Serious: grave, thoughtful or subdued.

Six Fundamental Patterns of Cultural Differences

As people from different cultural groups take on the exciting challenge of working together, cultural
values sometimes conflict. We can misunderstand each other, and react in ways that can hinder what are
otherwise promising partnerships. Oftentimes, we aren't aware that culture is acting upon us. Sometimes, we are
not even aware that we have cultural values or assumptions that are different from others.

Different Communication Styles

1. Different Attitudes Toward Conflict
Some cultures view conflict as a positive thing, while others view it as something to be avoided. In the
U.S., conflict is not usually desirable; but people often are encouraged to deal directly with conflicts that do
arise. In fact, face-to-face meetings customarily are recommended as the way to work through whatever
problems exist. In contrast, in many Eastern countries, open conflict is experienced as embarrassing or
demeaning; as a rule, differences are best worked out quietly. A written exchange might be the favored means
to address the conflict.

2. Different Approaches to Completing Tasks

From culture to culture, there are different ways that people move toward completing tasks. Some
reasons include different access to resources, different judgments of the rewards associated with task
completion, different notions of time, and varied ideas about how relationship-building and task-oriented work
should go together.
When it comes to working together effectively on a task, cultures differ with respect to the
importance placed on establishing relationships early on in the collaboration. A case in point, Asian and
Hispanic cultures tend to attach more value to developing relationships at the beginning of a shared
project and more emphasis on task completion toward the end as compared with European-Americans.
European-Americans tend to focus immediately on the task at hand, and let relationships develop as
they work on the task. This does not mean that people from any one of these cultural backgrounds are more or
less committed to accomplishing the task, or value relationships more or less; it means they may pursue them
differently.

3. Different Decision-Making Styles

The roles individuals play in decision-making vary widely from culture to culture. For example, in the
U.S., decisions are frequently delegated -- that is, an official assigns responsibility for a particular matter to a
subordinate. In many Southern European and Latin American countries, there is a strong value placed on
holding decision-making responsibilities oneself. When decisions are made by groups of people, majority
rule is a common approach in the U.S.; in Japan consensus is the preferred mode. Be aware that individuals'
expectations about their own roles in shaping a decision may be influenced by their cultural frame of reference.
 4. Different Attitudes Toward Disclosure
In some cultures, it is not appropriate to be frank about emotions, about the reasons behind a conflict or
a misunderstanding, or about personal information. Keep this in mind when you are in a dialogue or when you
are working with others. When you are dealing with a conflict, be mindful that people may differ in what
they feel comfortable revealing. Questions that may seem natural to you -- What was the conflict about?
What was your role in the conflict? What was the sequence of events? -- may seem intrusive to others. The
variation among cultures in attitudes toward disclosure is also something to consider before you conclude that
you have an accurate reading of the views, experiences, and goals of the people with whom you are working.

5. Different Approaches to Knowing

Notable differences occur among cultural groups when it comes to epistemologies -- that is, the ways
people come to know things. European cultures tend to consider information acquired through cognitive
means, such as counting and measuring, more valid than other ways of coming to know things. Compare that
to African cultures' preference for affective ways of knowing, including symbolic imagery and rhythm.
Asian cultures' epistemologies tend to emphasize the validity of knowledge gained through striving toward
transcendence.
Recent popular works demonstrate that our own society is paying more attention to previously
overlooked ways of knowing. Indeed, these different approaches to knowing could affect ways of analyzing a
community problem or finding ways to resolve it. Some members of your group may want to do library
research to understand a shared problem better and identify possible solutions. Others may prefer to visit
places and people who have experienced challenges like the ones you are facing, and get a feeling for what has
worked elsewhere.

Guidelines for Multicultural Collaboration

 Learn from generalizations about other cultures, but don't use those generalizations to stereotype,
"write off," or oversimplify your ideas about another person. The best use of a generalization is to add it to your
storehouse of knowledge so that you better understand and appreciate other interesting, multi-faceted human
beings.

 Practice, practice, practice. That's the first rule, because it's in the doing that we actually get better at
cross-cultural communication.

 Don't assume that there is one right way (yours!) to communicate. Keep questioning your
assumptions about the "right way" to communicate. For example, think about your body language; postures that
indicate receptivity in one culture might indicate aggressiveness in another.

 Don't assume that breakdowns in communication occur because other people are on the wrong
track. Search for ways to make the communication work, rather than searching for who should receive the
blame for the breakdown.

 Listen actively and empathetically. Try to put yourself in the other person's shoes. Especially when
another person's perceptions or ideas are very different from your own, you might need to operate at the edge
of your own comfort zone

 Respect others' choices about whether to engage in communication with you. Honor their opinions
about what is going on.

 Stop, suspend judgment, and try to look at the situation as an outsider.

 Be prepared for a discussion of the past. Use this as an opportunity to develop an understanding from
"the other's" point of view, rather than getting defensive or impatient. Acknowledge historical events that
have
taken place. Be open to learning more about them. Honest acknowledgment of the mistreatment and
oppression that have taken place on the basis of cultural difference is vital for effective
communication.

 Awareness of current power imbalances -- and an openness to hearing each other's

perceptions of those imbalances -- is also necessary for understanding each other and working
together.

 Remember that cultural norms may not apply to the behavior of any particular individual.
We are all shaped by many, many factors -- our ethnic background, our family, our education, our
personalities -- and are more complicated than any cultural norm could suggest. Check your
interpretations if you are uncertain what is meant.

Breathe, Ponder then Answer!

1. What is the importance of knowing when to use formal and informal language?
2. Explain the challenges in intercultural communication