Rondi Acker

Gordon Storrs
Comm. 2150-002
Final Paper
Development in Cultural Communication
Unashamed openness is how this classes started. As the class continued, you could see
lines crossed, and faces even crosser. How interesting it is to see an unashamed sense of
superiority in the cultural environment of each individual placed within the dynamics of a
cultural communications class. Each period a time to reflect on the chapters and reading topics
to bring us to an emotional, logical, and/or physical reaction to the material placed within their
pages. As time continued on in this class, you could read the softening mindsets of those once
obstinate natures and a new outlook to replace their depreciating appearance. However not all
senses of being right without fault were abandoned, some even clung onto their cultural habits.
Cultural Communications is the bridge or gap creating studies that revolutionizes the
mindset of each person for good or bad, and even into the gray area of uncertainty. Redefining
personal identification leads to experiences that open doors to new understandings. Such
experiences were introduced through assessments of culture in areas such as influence in
historically written documentation, language barriers in interpreting meaning, and even personal
identification with varying factors like social standing. Though all these areas seem to have
nothing in common when placed next to each subject, each leads to the development of society
norms among the minority and majority of a class system.
Historical documents which for the average U.S. citizen that is read in grade school
history books are influenced by the cultures that wrote them. Such things as our breaking away
from England is seen as a victorious step forward into the independent and amazing country we
live in today. However if you were to take the mindset of an English person, you might receive
an opposing view to the U.S. opinion. It may come across as aggravated, angry, or disrespectful
from that group of people who didnt know how to mind their manners. How amazing it is to see

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an angle of history written so contrarily in two parts of the world, but even that clashing view
exists between schools systems of different states. Truly spectacular is the understanding that
people depending on the view point they stand will tell a dissimilar story from someone who saw
it from an altered angle.
This dissimilar approach can even be pragmatic in language barriers. These so called
blocks are determined by the meaning of words within each cultural group, and the context in
which they are applied. Each language spoken has its verbal and non-verbal cues inside the
cultural structure of every group within society constructs. Unavoidably when intermingling
cultural structures of varying groups outside of traditional ideals, misunderstandings are bound to
happen. Yet development of new standards are created to unify these differences. These binding
concepts do come in the form of conformance in cultural customs on both sides, but lead to
innovative forms of communication. In order to jump over hurdles, first there must be change.
Transformation in persons of diverse upbringings must first recognize the obstacle of
differences as not being a barrier at all, but an opportunity to learn and appreciate the beauty in
dissimilar societies. It is not necessary to accept but respect all distinctions as being a chosen
lifestyle of a person or group. By teaching themselves how to be strong and to stand strong
against contempt, one can't replace a person who the most important part of being themselves is
to remain steadfast in respecting others!
These differences may be opposing to the social standing of the cultural makeup of an
individual who searches for self-identification among the mass of followers. Their continuous
curiosity will determine the viewpoint of religious, ethnical, sexual, and social identity. To do so
questions must be asked, many groups find this practice taboo and against tradition, yet is the
means to define the person they want to be. Determining the final outcome of their identification
will be through submersion of communications between differing communities. By taking what
they have learned from their communication experiences and conforming them into the desired

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outcome to find their own personal identity. For example when two people of differing races
marry, it is the combining of two culturally diverse groups. Yet these diversities can strengthen a
marriage in more areas then say a same race couple. Due to the fact that more challenges are met
through the continuous overcoming of alterations to create success in the relationship.
Overcoming obstacles, like in said married couple can help us reexamine the standards
we ourselves place on societies rules. By defining the Minority and Majority rules in cultural
societies, in the classroom, we can help break down and redefine values in society. Where
mindsets can be changed from black to white, and even left undetermined. These values were
first governed by the words you read in a book for school, then reevaluated because a classmates
altered attitude. In addition to languages creation of obstacles to understanding each other in a
clear form of communication. Then finally determining the outcome of an individuals selfassessment in who they truly are. Seeming as if all three of these things have nothing in
common, but when written out and evaluated brings to life all the things that culturally are
ingrained into our very selves by accepted cultural majority norms. Yet when painting a bigger
picture and opening ourselves to the learning of cultures not our own we give the voice back the
minorities, and become stronger in our own values. This is the purpose behind Cultural
Communications, to give the students a change to reassess themselves, and give voice to the
unknown.