Chronemics: the interpersonal management of time. Chronemics can include punctuality and somebody’s willingness to wait. If somebody is always on time to meetings and appointments it shows they believe in punctuality, while somebody who is always late can indicate a bad work ethic and that they do not find punctuality to be very important. This can differ between individuals and different cultures. For example, in the United States it is expected for people to show up to business meetings on time, while it is socially acceptable to arrive to a party late (louisville.edu).
Collectivism: the behavior of putting value or priority on the interests of the group over the individual members of a group. This is done to help create a sense of unity and to help the members cooperate more efficiently in order to get a task done;otherwise, the group members would be pulling in different directions (DeFleur, Kearney, Plax, & Defleur, 2005).
Connotative meaning: the meaning of a word based on what it describes to the individual hearing it as well as any past experiences or meanings that the word or its referent may elicit in the individual. Different individuals may associate different connotative meanings to the word “pitbull” depending on any past occurrences or incidents they may have had with the referent (work911.com).
Context: the location or situation where communication takes place. The context will dictate what kind of information and ideas that will be communicated at the time. For example, if you are in church you will speak quietly and not about inappropriate thoughts, where as if you are at home with your best friend you can speak loudly and about anything you want to share at that time. Context also includes situations where communication takes place which will also dictate what kind of communication takes place. For example, if you are speaking to a professor it will most likely be about school, where as if you are speaking to another student, then you may be speaking about your weekend plans (DeFleur, Kearney, Plax, & DeFleur, 2005).Example of how the context where your communication takes place effects what is said and done.
Cost-Benefit Ratio: when people in a relationship look at the costs of keeping the relationships going are worth the benefits of the relationship. If the costs outweigh the benefits, then the relationship may most likely end. For example, if you constantly need to give up time with your friends, or stay home from events you want to attend in order to spend time with your significant other, but all you do is argue with them, then the costs are outweighing the benefits of the relationship (DeFleur, Kearney, Plax, & DeFleur, 2005).
Cultural exclusion: the practice of not making accommodations to other individuals who think or act differently; the belief that one’s own way of thinking and acting is the only right way. This is considered to be detrimental in a working or school environment and severely limits the exchange of ideas and other intercultural information (DeFleur, Kearney, Plax, & DeFleur, 2005).
Cultural inclusion: the practice of making others with a different social background feel welcome and accepted in one’s own cultural setting. This is often a priority of large organizations, ranging from schools to corporations, as it promotes a healthier learning/work environment. Promoting diversity is a large part of practicing this behavior (DeFleur, Kearney, Plax, & Defleur, 2005).
Cultural pluralism: the circumstance where different groups in a society are able to coexist and maintain their own separate identities and beliefs. It is another way to describe ethnic diversity in a population, where many different cultures can be represented and still be considered one unique group in itself (DeFleur, Kearney, Plax, & Defleur, 2005).
Culture: the patterns of human behavior and beliefs that are defining of a population and passed to future generations; the customs, religion, music, and behaviors of a population. Culture is important to the context of a message transmitted between a sender and receiver (merriam-webster.com).
