Deck 10: Language and Intercultural Communication in the Global Workplace

Question 1

Diversity includes differences among humans in terms of culture, ethnicity, language, socioeconomic class, religious beliefs, and age.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Deep-level diversity generally relates to differences that are verifiable by a quick review of physical attributes.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Englishization refers to the teaching of English in first language contexts.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

A dual identity may include both local and global identifications in the same individual.

Question 5

Cultural synergy refers to the combination of various cultural elements that creates a greater impact than if they were separate.

Question 6

One's ability to understand business situations and make effective decisions is referred to as business drive.

Question 7

Jargon may serve as a barrier in intercultural communication in business contexts.

Question 8

Outsourcing often requires employees to work in a second language.

Question 9

Interpreting refers to the written form of mediation.

Question 10

Saying 'I'm not sure if this is what you are looking for but' is an example of direct language.

Question 11

A clash in values generally enhances intercultural communication in the workplace.

Question 12

A set of values based on discipline and hard work is known as a work ethic.

Question 13

Business netiquette refers to the face-to-face discourse, nonverbal communication, dress, and social conventions that are expected within a company.

Question 14

Unfair hiring practices and sexual harassment are examples of workplace discrimination.

Question 15

According to E.T. Hall, most meaning is conveyed nonverbally in 'conscious cultures'.

Question 16

Anthropologists Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck developed the 'cultural orientation frame-work' that centers around five challenges that all cultures face.

Question 17

Hofstede refers to culture as 'software of the mind'.

Question 18

Power distance refers to the extent to which gender roles are valued.

Question 19

Confucian dynamism was added to Hofstede's value-orientations framework to account for observed cultural characteristics and behaviors of people in East Asian nations.

Question 20

Business ethics refers to the unequal treatment of women in the workplace.

Question 21

Discuss the impact of globalization and Englishization on today's workforce.

Question 22

Define diversity and identify four benefits of diversity in the global workplace.

Question 23

Briefly discuss the role of language, culture, and power in the global workplace.

Question 24

Identify, discuss, and provide examples of four challenges to diversity in the global workplace.

Question 25

Explain how a new employee's use of an indirect style of communication in a work-place which favors directness may affect the quality and effectiveness of intercultural interactions.

Question 26

Describe and explain the key elements in one of the cultural difference frameworks employed by social scientists to explain intercultural communication in the workplace.

Question 27

Discuss and provide examples of the potential impact of the cultural difference frame-works on intercultural business education and diversity training.

Question 28

Identify and describe the limitations and dangers of the cultural difference frameworks in intercultural business education.

Question 29

Briefly explain the benefits of interpretive, experiential, and critical approaches to under-standing language and intercultural interactions in the global workplace.

Question 30

Identify and describe four constructive ways to enhance intercultural communication in today's globalized workplace.

Question 31

A consequence of globalization is _____________.

A) increasing diversity in the workplace
B) Englishization
C) more multinational corporations
D) all of the above

Question 32

___________ diversity refers to differences in such dimensions as attitudes, beliefs, and worldviews.

A) Surface-level
B) Deep-level
C) Easily verifiable
D) Physical

Question 33

The spread of English in organizations has led to ____________.

A) economic benefits for all nations
B) an increase in code-switching and code-mixing among bilingual staff
C) the use of a single, international code, 'business English'
D) the use of a native speaker standard of the language in business settings.

Question 34

In business contexts, language use is influenced by ____________.

A) social sanctions
B) attitudes
C) language proficiency
D) all of the above

Question 35

In the diverse workplace, cultural synergy can ____________.

A) serve as a powerful force for change.
B) stimulate creativity
C) both a and b
D) neither a nor b

Question 36

Companies may offer English for specific purposes courses for employees that ____________.

A) focus on the specific language needs of employees who perform similar tasks
B) are tailor-made for their language proficiency and work-related tasks
C) both a and b
D) neither a nor b

Question 37

_____________ refers to the act of interpreting while a speaker is talking, while _____________ takes place after the speaker has finished.

A) Simultaneous interpreting; consecutive interpreting
B) Consecutive interpreting; simultaneous interpreting
C) Translation; interpreting
D) Consecutive interpreting; post translation

Question 38

The act of mediating between groups or people in order to reduce conflict and/or effect positive change is referred to as _________________.

A) consecutive interpreting
B) culture broking
C) a 'go-between'
D) an intermediary

Question 39

When Rohit says 'It may be that' in a business meeting, he is__________.

A) hedging
B) using indirect language
C) telling it like it is
D) both a and b

Question 40

When a direct communicator presents a proposal in a meeting and a group remains silent, he is apt to assume that ________.

A) they have understood his plan
B) they support his ideas
C) both a and b
D) neither a nor b

Question 41

The 'we've always done it this way' can ______________ in the workplace.

A) destroy creativity
B) lead to conflict
C) make newcomers feel unwelcome
D) all of the above

Question 42

The exchange of business cards when first meeting is an example of ________.

A) business acumen
B) business netiquette
C) business etiquette
D) business gift giving

Question 43

Workplace discrimination can take the form of _______________.

A) unfair promotions
B) unfair hiring practices
C) sexual harassment
D) all of the above

Question 44

In a low-context cultural context, E.T. Hall suggests that ____________.

A) most of the meaning is conveyed nonverbally.
B) most of the meaning is transmitted through facial expressions and eye contact.
C) both a and b
D) neither a nor b

Question 45

In the _________________, the _______ orientation is concerned with the question: What is the temporal focus of human life?

A) value-orientations framework; power distance
B) value-orientations framework; human nature
C) cultural orientation framework; time
D) cultural orientation framework; activity

Question 46

___________ refers to the treatment of employees differently depending on interpersonal relationships, whereas ____________ is the application of the same rules for all employ-ees regardless of their status or relationship.

A) Universalism; particularism
B) Particularism; universalism
C) Discrimination; inequality
D) Ascription; Achievement

Question 47

According to Hofstede, ____________ promote gender equality, whereas __________ stress distinct differences in gender roles between men and women.

A) masculine cultures; feminine cultures
B) feminine cultures; masculine cultures
C) males; females
D) people in power; subordinates

Question 48

Hofstede's value-orientations framework indicates that _______________ stress collabo-ration and long-term relationships whereas ______________ tend to emphasize personal over group goals and have weaker organizational loyalty.

A) individualistic cultures; collectivist cultures
B) collectivist cultures; individualistic cultures
C) Confucian cultures; collectivist cultures
D) individualistic cultures; non-Confucian cultures

Question 49

The GLOBE (Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness) dimensions include __________________.

A) institutional collectivism
B) uncertainty avoidance
C) gender egalitarianism
D) all of the above

Question 50

Holliday argues that _____________ can lead to ____________.

A) a large culture orientation; stereotyping
B) a large culture orientation; enhanced intercultural relations
C) a small culture orientation; essentialism
D) a small culture orientation; stereotyping