Communication in a global organisation: culture and gender

1
Communication in a global organisation culture
and gender

• Anne Pauwels
• The University of Western Australia

2
Communication technologies in a global world

• Internet - email - web
• Chatrooms
• Mobile phone
• Satellite communications
• Digital TV -Video -CD-DVD

3
Impact of communication technologies on global
organisations

• Constant contact across continents
• Alternatives to face-to -face contacts eg. tele-
  and videoconferencing, ICR
• Alternatives to traditional modes of writing eg.
  email, SMS
• Alternatives to publications eg. on-line
  journals, magazines, websites
• Need for communication plans opportunities and
  limitations of communication technologies

4
Communication issues for a global organisation

• Choice of language(s) for global communication
  internal, external
• Methods and modes of communication

5
Which language or languages?

• Membership make-up
• Contexts meetings, conventions, correspondence,
  newsletters, websites
• Translation and interpreting

6
Which modes of communication?

• Internet and email
• Access
• Ethics
• Style of communication

7
Internet - email

• Access to internet and email is a major issue in
  a large number of countries
• Ethics Email is a postcard
• Style of communication Not too long, not too
  frequent and not too complex

8
Language issues to consider in global
communications

• Language is a major vehicle for transmitting
  information
• Language is a major means to initiate action
• Language is a strong marker of identity
  gender-age-ethnicity etc.

9
Using English as a global language

• How to structure information?
• How to address people?
• Abbreviations and terminology
• Culture and language

10
Using gender-inclusive language

• Language which treats women and men equally and
  equitably
• More information
• Pauwels, A. 1998 Women Changing Language.
  London Longman.
• Pauwels, A. 1991 Non-discriminatory language use.
  Canberra AGPS.
• http//www.teagirl.arts.uwa.edu.au
• Tertiary-educated women as major agents of change