Cultural Communication Practices Paper Final Draft
docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Grand Canyon University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
263
Subject
Arts Humanities
Date
Jan 9, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
7
Uploaded by PresidentCheetahPerson826
Cultural Communication Practices Paper
Ericka M. Simmons
College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Grand Canyon University
COM-263: Elements of Intercultural Communication
Tsihugwa Kikuyu
April 3, 2022
1
Cultural Communication Practices Paper
Communication patterns from different cultures are always interesting to learn about and the Norwegian culture is especially fascinating. Covid-19 created some hardship for a lot of people, but how they handled it in Norway was crucial. Learning about different food from different cultures seems to always pull an interest to someone, but the food in Norway is extremely refreshing to just hear about. Holidays are always fun to be a part of and celebrate, but
the level of celebration in Norway is mind blowing; especially how they celebrate constitution day. Some of the Norwegian communication patterns include how they dealt with Covid-19, how
they prepare food, and how they go all on out for holidays specifically constitution day. Just about anyone reading this knows how Americans had to deal with Covid-19 and social distancing as everyone has had to deal with it for the past couple years. Even though that everyone had to stay quarantined and weren’t supposed to leave their houses, imagine what it was like in Norway along with other European countries. They were threatened if they tried to leave their homes. Yes, their social distancing along with other protocols were practiced very well but imagine being threatened if the rules weren’t followed. In other words, in Norway they were basically forced to follow the protocols whether they agreed with them or not. With Norway’s harsh rules, they had to stop a lot of programs a lot like everywhere else in the world. According to Helsingen et al
(2020), “Norway closed educational institutions, and banned sports and cultural activities.” (para. 1). Along with the intense strictness of Covid-19 in Norway, it affected many people and their mental health. However, they found that physical activity helped boost their mental health and overall well being each day. According to Ernstsen and Havnen (2020), “A substantial body of evidence suggests that physical activity is associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety and that physical activity is associated with sleep.” (para 2).
This explains that with having the consistency of working out often, the overall mental health was better which is a blessing considering what they had to deal with in Norway. As many would
agree, Covid-19 has changed communication patterns all over. With this said, the people in Norway had an extra hard time with that because most communication had to be through technology and technology is not as advanced in Norway. A lot of older people especially had a hard time with this because they didn’t trust technology so much. According to Kjerkol et al
(2020), “although the older were familiar with the audio phone call and used it as a substitute for home visits, it reduced their security and quality of life” (para. 1). Along with communication changing for the older, it had changed for others as well. In Norway, people get judged on their characteristics and the way they speak, so not being able to do it in person changed their communication in the sense that it was weaker. “Mediums of communication were rated on a scale of “richness” based on their characteristics. Face-to-face (ftf) was classified as the best or “richest” form of communication, with telephone and written communication following in somewhat lesser degrees of richness.” (Kjerkol et al
, para. 4, 2020). Covid-19 was harsh for everyone in many ways but how Norway took on with it is peculiar. Some say that food is one of the best parts of life and when it’s unique and eccentric from
a place like Norway, that makes food in general so much better. The food that is made in Norway
is distinctive and is only truly the best in Norway because of the benefits that they have and how they get the food. According to Munsen (2002), “Norwegian cooking has been shaped by the country’s landscape, climate, and natural resources.” (p. 7). Someone in America could make a Norwegian dish but it wouldn’t be the same because the food purchased in order to make the food would be bought in America and not in Norway where the food would be more unique. The food in Norway is individualized and unique there because the crops are made in a different
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
climate and the animals that they use for meat are a different species as there are different animals in different climates and places in the world. Along with the crops being unique, imagine
how extraordinary and fresh the fruit would be if fruit in America is already so good. Also, according to Munsen (2002), “The many hours of light during summer allow for a slow ripening of berries and fruits, giving them a special flavor.” (p. 7). Along with the uniqueness of the food in Norway, the cooking that is done with it is extremely exhilarating. A lot of Norwegian recipes seem very similar to food that people would eat in America. However, people in Norway really like butter and put it on almost everything they eat, and they also eat fish for breakfast which is typically not what someone from America would have as their first choice for breakfast. According to Munsen (2002), “Breakfast is fairly substantial and often includes cheese, meat or fish, and bread.” (p. 28). As food is something that people think about every day, food in the Norwegian culture brings another whole aspect.
A lot of people like to dress up and go all on out for holidays, but the way they do it in Norway is a whole different substantial level. People all around the world celebrate Christmas and the way that they celebrate Christmas in Norway is a lot like the way people in America celebrate Christmas and this is because some of the Norwegian Christmas traditions turned into American traditions as well. According to book reviewer Kvideland, “Publishing of Christmas annuals is another Norwegian custom that the immigrants brought to America, and a whole chapter is devoted to the main Norwegian-American Christmas annual.” (para. 8). This explains that Christmas is celebrated all over the world and that some of the traditions that Americans participate in were adapted from Norwegians. Along with Norway celebrating Christmas, the holiday that they really go all on out for is Constitution Day. Constitution Day in Norway is a huge event where Norwegians all over dress in their Norwegian outfits and show their
Norwegian pride and celebrate all day long. This day is kind of like the fourth of July in America
where Americans dress all up and show their American Pride in red, white and blue. In Norway, they go all on out and celebrate their country and equality. This day is celebrated on May 17
th
each year and it’s called Syttende Mai. According to Elgenius, (2011), “Budding celebrations of the constitution and the adoption of a national flag emphasized unity and sameness, and drew different factions of society together.” (para. 4). This explains what the Norwegian country means and how important their constitution day is. Some say that holidays are just an excuse to have fun, but when there is meaning to the day whether it’s Christmas, Constitution Day or any other holiday, there is always an important meaning to it and meaning to its culture.
Norway may not be something that people think about every day, but when someone goes
deep into aspects of the Norwegian culture, they will most likely find it captivating. Some of the patterns in the Norwegian culture that were featured included how they grasped the protocols for Covid-19 and how their communication changed, the differences in how they get the food that they have, and the celebrations of holidays like Constitution Day. Learning about different cultures and patterns from everywhere can be absolutely stimulating, and the Norwegian culture for sure falls under that category.
References
Elgenius, G. (2011). The politics of recognition: symbols, nation building and rival nationalisms. Nations and Nationalism. 17(2), 396-418.
https://web-p-ebscohost-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/ehost/detail/detail?
vid=0&sid=00b11b28-6f09-4b03-b1bb-
1e32f3dcd013%40redis&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=a
2h&AN=59908790
Ernstsen, L. Havnen, A. (2020). Mental health and sleep disturbances in physically active adults
during the covid-19 lockdown in norway: does change in physical activity level matter?
ScienceDirect.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1389945720303968
Helsingen, M. Et Al. (2020). The covid-19 pandemic in Norway and Sweden-threats, trust, and
impact on daily life: a comparative survey. BMC Public Health.
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-020-09615-3
Kjerkol, I. Linset, K. Westeren, K. (2020). Effects of covid-19 on communication, services, and
life situation for older persons receiving municipal health and care services in stjordal
municipality in norway. Wiley Online Library.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/hbe2.244
Kvideland, R. (2002). Keeping Christmas: Yuletide traditions in norway and the land
. Proquest.
113(2), 270-272.
https://www.proquest.com/docview/202699658?accountid=7374
Munsen, S. (2002). Cooking the norwegian way. Google Books
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
https://books.google.com/books?
hl=en&lr=&id=GOBSPoLAGloC&oi=fnd&pg=PA7&dq=norwegian+recipes&ots=ibG8e
UIGLz&sig=gli3xEFz8i96yDDP_fFzOAmHnQY#v=onepage&q=norwegian
%20recipes&f=false