What conflicts in styles of communication might be contributing to the puzzlement?
While assessments have been developed to evaluate the impact of a second language, there often is less attention to the influences of communication style. Cultural groups vary considerably in their norms for communication (Heath, 1982; Taylor, 1989; Irvine & York, 1995). For example, cultural groups can indicate respect in a variety of ways such as averted eyes, bowed heads, or female silence in public. The definition of personal space and physical contact can carry different meanings. Cultural variations in the meaning of silence or the format of questions can also influence communication behavior. In one situation, volunteers working in an inner city school with African American students routinely asked students to “look” at them when they were speaking. Frequently the students were reluctant to comply and on one occasion a student cried. A better understanding of the culture revealed that eye contact with adults was made primarily in situations where the adult was shaming or blaming
