Unless you live alone on a mountain top, you are involved in negotiations every single day. (And even hermits have to drive a ruthless bargain with themselves every once in a while - yes, negotiations can be intrapersonal too). Even though the term sounds fancy, each time you try to persuade another person to do … Continue reading Your 3 Best Friends in a Negotiation
Tag: intercultural training Romania-Germany
Social Interactions via Language – Politeness
Now, another theory I absolutely love in terms of conversation analysis and pragmatics (speaker meaning) is Brown and Levinson's "Politeness theory". According to Yule (2014), politeness is showing awareness and consideration for another person's emotional and social sense of self (or "face"). Psychology tells us there are at least two basic psychological needs we all … Continue reading Social Interactions via Language – Politeness
Social Interaction Via Language – The Co-operative Principle in Conversation
The usual underlying assumption in conversation is that the participants are co-operating with each other. But are they? Always? Have you ever had a conversation that was not only ineffective, but it left you completely unfulfilled and bamboozled? I know. Been there, done that. The reason for this is probably quite simple. Either you or … Continue reading Social Interaction Via Language – The Co-operative Principle in Conversation
What is meaning?
The crux of every successful translation and human communication is how to accurately and effectively convey meaning. When the meaning intended by the speaker or by the producer of the text is not understood or interpreted correctly by the recipient of the message, communication breaks down and can even lead to conflict. But how is … Continue reading What is meaning?
Economic Migration And The Romanian Diasporas
A net record of 429,000 immigrants arrived in Germany in 2013 alone, making it the second most favored place of immigration after the United States. According to Aktiv Zeitung, an publication of the German metal industry, 500,000 more are expected this year. (And yet, Germany does not see itself as a country of immigrants.) The … Continue reading Economic Migration And The Romanian Diasporas
How To Make Sense of Culture – Watch Out For These Cultural Dimensions
"No society is healthy or creative or strong unless that society has a set of common values that give meaning and purpose to group life (...) and that do not outrage men's reason, and, at the same time, appeal to their emotions." Clyde Kluckhohn - Culture and Behavior. But what is culture, really? Culture is … Continue reading How To Make Sense of Culture – Watch Out For These Cultural Dimensions