Multi-Cultural Ethnic Groups: A Communication = Strategy

From: Subject: Multi-Cultural Ethnic Groups: A Communication Strategy Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2008 15:21:09 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="text/html"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0000_01C8CA44.720D24B0" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3198 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C8CA44.720D24B0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://orvillejenkins.com/ethnicity/multicultural.html Multi-Cultural Ethnic Groups: A Communication = Strategy

Orville Jenkins = Articles=20 Menu

Orville Jenkins=20 = Home

What is=20 Worldview? What is a = People=20 Group? Ethnicity in = the=20 Cities
Culture, = Learning=20 and Communication How to Do = Research on=20 the Web=20

Multi-Cultural Ethnic Groups: = A=20 Communication Strategy
Ethnic Group Identification and Communication Strategy = Approaches for=20 Multi-Lingual, Multi-Cultural or International People=20 Segments

In this article the terms = people=20 group and ethnic group are used more or less interchangeably. = The=20 term ethnic segment is used somewhat interchangeably, but more=20 specifically, it normally refers to a smaller division within an = ethnic/people=20 group. Likewise the term segment generally refers to an = identifiable=20 social grouping across the broader society.

Orville Boyd=20 Jenkins

In trying to implement a = culturally=20 sensitive approach to a people group, challenges sometimes arise when=20 encountering a multi-lingual people group. Likewise in determining = effective=20 communication strategies, we must give more than passing consideration = to=20 multi-cultural groupings made up of segments of different ethnic groups = who=20 speak the same language.

The English-language setting of = some work=20 assignments makes it difficult to determine the appropriate language for = community access. This is critical in situations where deep decisions = are=20 involved, such as changes in social structures, behavior or basic = worldview=20 concepts.

Even with an individual ethnic group (people group), international = settings=20 present situations which do not fit the simple "tribal" concept of = "people=20 group." Particularly this is true for service to international = populations in=20 Europe, where the only common language is English.

Often there are also many local = languages in=20 one setting, making it difficult to concentrate on or gain consistent = practice=20 and support in one language while carrying out the job assignment = effectively=20 with others of a different language group. Usually English is not the = mother=20 tongue (native language) of any of the people segments that otherwise = make up a=20 common "international" group.

Here are some thoughts on the = planning of=20 strategy for international, multi-cultural or multi-lingual=20 populations.

Basic = Question

The basic strategy = approach=20 is:

What language is needed to = effect deep=20 community commitment ("buy-in") to a new concept or practice for an=20 identified people or segment? In some cases this might be English. In=20 international settings, the common integrating factor of a multi-lingual = and=20 multi-cultural grouping is often in the common international = language.=20 This language is often also the primary (most-used) language of = many in=20 each associated ethnic group of the international = setting.

Additionally English (or other = international=20 tongue) is often the mother tongue or primary (most-used) language of = the=20 children in all segments of the international group. Thus we may = see the=20 early transitional stages of a new multi-ethnic people group in = the=20 making. See Cities=20 and Peoples by this author.

The specific national, = linguistic or ethnic=20 groups comprising the larger international segment may offer additional = defining=20 characteristics for the larger international group as a = whole.

Strategy = Steps

(1) identify the target = group: ethnic=20 group, age group or social group=20

This will involve both formal = and informal=20 research to learn who the people group as a whole are. Standard people = group=20 profile formats may be used, even for a particular social segment. Such = profile=20 formats can be enhanced with any sociological and demographic tools and=20 information. Ideally a worldview investigation will be conducted over a = long=20 period of relationship.

This is the same = procedure in=20 principle for a multi-cultural or international group as for a unitary = tribe or=20 ethnic group. A more complex multi-cultural group, however, will require = more=20 careful investigation to understand its segment and sub-identities, = which are=20 identified by the same factors as any ethno-linguistic group and = its=20 various socio-economic segments.

Much of this is accomplished = through initial=20 language learning in the community setting. Language, social interaction = and=20 underlying worldview values are all intertwined and will be involved in = the=20 overall interaction with the ethnic community or segment. Where English = is the=20 common language of the target group, more intense focus can be placed on = the=20 cultural worldview investigation.

Identification in a people group = format=20 would identify common factors like:
          &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;=20 Displacement in a foreign country.
          &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;=20 Necessity to use a language other than the mother tongue (aside from = what the=20 mother tongue is).
          &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;=20 Education of children in international school, often = English.=20
          &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;=20 Temporariness of location or situation.
          &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;=20 Need for job training, etc.

(2) determine what = language=20 serves as the primary vehicle of social interaction and cultural = exchange for=20 that group.

An early finding of strategy = step 1 will=20 involve this step. In this stage it is helpful to identify secondary = languages=20 or specific languages of sub-groups. This is particularly critical in=20 multi-cultural people groups or urban multi-cultural segments.

Where the access worker is already fluent in the target language or = national=20 language, efforts should be focused on culture-intensive learning. Much = of the=20 worldview will be learned this way through participation in the life of = the=20 people in ever-deepening levels and ever-widening circles of experience = and=20 relationship.

(3) design a = strategy based on=20 the findings, with ongoing revision and development as more insight is = gained=20 into the culture and felt needs of the community. The change agent or=20 communicator must know the worldview of the people to make an effective = impact=20 in the culture and social life of the people.

By worldview we mean=20 the shared mental concepts of the unseen universe at large and how the=20 individual and society relate to it. This is where basic beliefs and = commitments=20 lie.

Life decisions are made in this = deep=20 worldview level of self-identity, in the heart language.

Where English is the common = language of the=20 multi-cultural or international community, the strategy will ideally = focus on=20 cultural identity and integration of the access worker into the = community, just=20 as for any other ethnic group. It might entail learning a = language of a=20 representative sub-group of the group. Perhaps this will be the = national=20 language of the host country of that international community = (e.g.,=20 German in Germany, French in France), or the language of a large = international=20 group in the larger international community (e.g., English in a = European=20 country).

(4) design an = entry orientation = program to=20 equip the minister for that cultural setting, using the identified = language as=20 the medium for cultural orientation

A cultural Entry Orientation = will include=20 cultural investigation and community contact experiences through the = medium of=20 one primary language of the target people. A company will recoup = multiple=20 returns for this critical but often overlooked first step in = effectiveness in=20 any cross-cultural situation.

This is more than a couple of hours of "Dos and Don'ts" tips during = the first=20 few hours of jet lag upon arrival! It involves serious cultural = mentoring in a=20 community setting, learning how to relate to the people on their own = cultural=20 terms.

Cultural Orientation
In the case=20 of an international segment including identifiable ethnic segments, it = is highly=20 advantageous to conduct cultural orientation in the context of = that=20 community, through the language of that particular ethnic segment, or = sub-group.=20 This fosters identification with a representative ethnic segment = of the=20 larger multi-cultural or international population = group.

This facilitates the = relational=20 factors necessary for culturally-appropriate communication, = building=20 of trust among the community, fostering ethnic awareness = for the=20 learner-worker, and enabling the learner-worker to gain social = skills and=20 to build relationships which might bring openness to the = contribution or=20 innovations of the foreign worker.

As identification is thereby = earned=20 with the chosen ethnic segment, entrees develop into the larger = community, as=20 credible visibility develops.

Summary
We must start = with a=20 focus on the people group or segment themselves. Strategy = is=20 determined largely by the cultural identity of the people and their felt = needs,=20 and prior beliefs or values, focused on a worldview-sensitive = approach and=20 relationsihp-oriented focus. Otherwise efforts will be superficial = and=20 ineffective.

Ideally, companies will prepare = Life=20 Descriptions (descriptions of the living and working situations and=20 expectations) for cross-cultural access workers. Such Life Descriptions = will=20 describe the basic beliefs structures and social concepts of the = people=20 group or population segment, providing the foundation for defining and=20 implementing the specifics of meaningful cultural engagement, resulting = in true=20 communication and meaningful options for change.

Christian Agencies
For Christian aid and ministry = agencies, the=20 core value that expresses this culturally-appropriate approach is=20 incarnational ministry. Thus gospel strategy aims at that basic = level of=20 human identity and worldview.

The ideal is a direct = ministry in the=20 heart language. In multi-lingual groups, relating and communicating at = that=20 level is complicated. This is even more complex in an international = setting=20 where many ethnic groups with different languages come together around a = common=20 international identity in an international language that is not a mother = tongue=20 to most.

Yet the deep decision-making level is = still a=20 given for the gospel access to the heart. This relational ministry is = critical.=20 This entails identification of the outsider/access worker with the = target=20 community, or a segment of it.

Where a language other than a mother = tongue is the=20 medium of communication we consider it a mediated ministry. This = may be=20 facilitated in a variety of ways, notably by a believer with the same = mother=20 tongue.

See Related Article
3D[TXT]=20 Ethnicity in = the=20 Cities
Culture, = Learning=20 and Communication
How to Do = Research on=20 the Web
Multi-Level Ethnicity: Illustrating Different = Views of the=20 Same Ethnic Group at Different Levels
What is a = People=20 Group?
What is=20 Worldview?

OBJ

First written in 2000 in answer to a query arising in a workshop on=20 cross-cultural communication
Finalized as an article for Thoughts = and=20 Resources Posted 28 October 2001
Last updated 21 = March=20 2008

Orville Boyd Jenkins, = Ed.D.,=20 Ph.D.
Orville's Ideas and = Interests=20

Copyright =A9 2000, 2004 = Orville Boyd=20 Jenkins
Permission granted for = free=20 download and transmission for personal or educational use. Other rights=20 reserved.

Email: researchguy@iname.com

Orville Jenkins = Articles=20 Menu Orville Jenkins=20 = Home

&nbs= p;=20 ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C8CA44.720D24B0 Content-Type: image/gif Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 Content-Location: http://orvillejenkins.com/graphics/text.gif R0lGODlhFAAWAMIAAP///8z//5mZmTMzMwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACH+TlRoaXMgYXJ0IGlzIGluIHRo ZSBwdWJsaWMgZG9tYWluLiBLZXZpbiBIdWdoZXMsIGtldmluaEBlaXQuY29tLCBTZXB0ZW1iZXIg MTk5NQAh+QQBAAABACwAAAAAFAAWAAADWDi6vPEwDECrnSO+aTvPEddVIriN1wVxROtSxBDPJwq7 bo23luALhJqt8gtKbrsXBSgcEo2spBLAPDp7UKT02bxWRdrp94rtbpdZMrrr/A5+8LhPFpHajQkA Ow== ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C8CA44.720D24B0--