This
week we were asked if we communicate differently with people from different
groups and cultures. After giving it some thought, I think that I am very
comfortable talking with people in my own race and others outside of my race. I
particularly feel comfortable speaking with other women. There is a comfortable
sense of sisterhood that I share with my friends that makes it easy for me to
communicate with them.
As I
was doing this assignment I can remember my husband sharing with me that he
noticed when I am with my family from Bermuda, we all tend to have the same
type of accent when we speak. I don’t notice it at all but he says that when we
talk in a group I also have the same accent as my family. When I was growing up
I spent many summers there and as soon as I would open my mouth, people would
say, “You’re from the states, aren’t you”. I didn’t think I sounded any
different than anyone else but they could tell by my southern accent that I
wasn’t from the island. By the time I went home, I felt like I blended in with
everyone else and it felt comfortable. I think when I’m around my family it
feels comfortable to use some of the same words that they use when speaking and
there is a sense of camaraderie that we share. As a child being told that I
sounded different made me feel uncomfortable when I was there so I did what I
could to “fit in” and sound like my cousins and their friends. They don’t speak
in another language but there are many British phrases that they use that we
don’t use as Americans.
Thesha,
ReplyDeleteI agree there is a sense of camaraderie that we share with family. I believe it is born out of mutual experiences. I love the sense of family and spending time together. It seems that you have a wonderful gift in communicating with others. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Thesha,
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate to your experience in talking with your family. I, too, find myself talking in a similar manner to the person I am talking to. For instance, when my family lived in Georgia, I almost developed a sort of Southern accent. The more I talked to people with a Southern accent, the more I talked with the accent myself. I also find myself doing the same thing with my friends from Chicago. I develop a Chicago accent. In fact, when I moved to Springfield, IL, which is in the middle of the state, I was told I had an accent from living up North. I said words like "pop" instead of "soda", which told them I was not from around Springfield. It just shows how much we adapt to the style of communication of the people we are talking to. :)
Thesha,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog post! You pointed out a great experience on how you communicate differently with your females than you do with males. So true, I didn't really think about that aspect of communication, but I totally agree and can relate to you!
Shawna
I agree that it is easier communicating with family and friends and also people that are in your gender. I think it is easier to relate Brady we feel we have more in common. Communication becomes harder when we don't know people. I believe the platinum rule helps especially with those that speak several languages.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is easier communicating with family and friends and also people that are in your gender. I think it is easier to relate Brady we feel we have more in common. Communication becomes harder when we don't know people. I believe the platinum rule helps especially with those that speak several languages.
ReplyDeleteIt is easier to communicate with family and individuals that you know. I feel comfortable communicating with people in my own race and outside of my race. That have not always been the case, since I have Caucasion family members has made it easier to relate and communicate with the white race. Truthfully, we have more things in common that I thought.
ReplyDeleteI communicate differently with people from different cultures and groups. I normally meet people at their level. It isn't because I am uncomfortable with who I am. I feel as though communicating with others meeting them at their level is similar to being a teacher; you wear different hats.
ReplyDelete