Assignment One

What is communication?

Communication is the activity of conveying meaningful information. Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast distances in time and space. Communication requires that the communicating parties share an area of communicative commonality. The communication process is complete once the receiver has understood the message of the sender.

Human spoken and picture languages can be described as a system of symbols and the grammars (rules) by which the symbols are manipulated. The word "language" also refers to common properties of languages. Language learning normally occurs most intensively during human childhood. Most of the thousands of human languages use patterns of sound or gesture for symbols which enable communication with others around them. Languages seem to share certain properties, although many of these include exceptions. There is no defined line between a language and a dialect. Constructed language such as Esperanto, programming language, and various mathematical formalisms are not necessarily restricted to the properties shared by human languages.

A variety of verbal and non-verbal means of communication exists such as body language, eye contact, sign language, para language, haptic communication, and media such as pictures, graphics, sound and writing.



What is Intercultural Communication?

Intercultural communication is a form of global communication. It is used to describe the wide range of communication problems that naturally appear within an organization made up of individuals from different religious, social, ethnic, and educational backgrounds. Intercultural is sometimes used synonymously with cross-cultural communication. In this sense is seeks to understand how people from different country and cultures act, communicate and perceive the world around them. As a separate notion, it studies situation where people from different cultural background interact. Aside from language, intercultural communication focuses on social attributes, thought patterns, and the cultures of different groups of people. It also involves understanding the different cultures, language and customs of people from other countries. Intercultural plays a role in anthropology, cultural studies, and linguistics, psychology, and communication studies. Intercultural communication is also referred to as the base for international businesses. There are several cross cultural service providers around who can assist with the development of intercultural communication skills. Research is a major part of the development of intercultural communication skills.

There are many researchers and academics of note within the intercultural field, which naturally all have different definitions of 'intercultural communication'. For example Karlfried Knapp defines it as "'Intercultural communication,' can...be defined as the interpersonal interaction between members of different groups, which differ from each other in respect of the knowledge shared by their members and in respect of their linguistic forms of symbolic behaviour." For those wanting to dig a bit deeper it may be a good idea to look into the works of Edward T. Hall, Geert Hofstede, Harry C. Triandis, Fons Trompenaars, Clifford Geertz and Shalom Schwartz.

The theories developed by the researchers and academics can and have been applied to many fields such as business, management, marketing, advertising and website design. As business becomes more and more international, many companies need to know how best to structure their companies manage staff and communicate with customers. Intercultural communication gives them an insight into the areas they need to address or understand. Intercultural communication theories are now also used within the education, health care and other public services due to growing multicultural populations.

Pirates of the Caribbean


Pirates of the Caribbean is a series of fantasy-adventure films directed by Gore Verbinski and Rob Marshall, written by Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio and produced by Jerry Brukheimer. All four films are based on the Walt Disney theme park ride of the same name, and follow the adventure of Captain Jack Sparrow, and many other characters including Will Turner, Elizabeth Swan, Captain Hactor Barbossa, Davy Jone, Angelica, Blackbeard, Philip Swift and the mermaid Syrena.

In above pictures is one of the films in the series of Pirates of Caribbean. This film is known as “The Pirates of Caribbean: On Stranger Tides”. This film is about Captain Jack Sparrow is on a quest to find the fabled Fountain of Youth and crosses paths with a former lover, Angelica. She forces Jack aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, a ship captained by the infamous pirate Blackbeard, Angelica's father. Both are also in search for the Fountain; Angelica to save her father's soul, the Spanish to destroy the fountain believing that the powers are an abomination against God, and Blackbeard to escape a prophecy of his fatal demise by a one legged man. Former pirate captain Barbossa, now a privateer in King George II Navy, is in search of the fountain with Britian, and to exact revenge against Blackbeard for having sunk the Black Pearl and losing his right leg.

This film employed 1,112 shots of computer generated imagery, which were done by ten visual effects company. The lead companies, with over 300 effects each, were Industrial Lights & Magic – responsible for, among others, the mermaid and most water effect, and Moving Picture Company, who created digital ships and environment extension, such as changing weather and designing cliffs and waterfalls. Filming the mermaids involved eight model-actresses, who portrayed them outside the water, as well as synchronized swimming athletes and stuntmen who wore motion capture suits and were later replaced by digital mermaids.

The film's score was written by Hans Zimmer, who had worked in all previous movies; he was the main composer for the second and third instalments. Zimmer said that he tried to incorporate a rock n' roll sound, as he felt "pirates were the rock 'n' rollers of many, many years ago”, and Spanish elements, which led to collaboration with Mexican guitarists Rodgio Y Gabriela and a tango song written by Penélope Cruz's brother Eduardo. American composer Eric Whitacre helped with choir-based songs, and Geoff Zanelli worked on many songs.

Some movie review in this film state that On Stranger Tides, to give the film its specific title, is really quite long at just over two and a quarter hours, and some fans might feel that they are getting an awful lot of a good thing. But director Rob Marshall keeps the hellzapoppin' atmosphere bubbling and gives you plenty of cannon-bang and cutlass-slash for your buck. There is less of a showcase for young, pretty people in this movie – the Orlando Bloom/Keira Knightley contingent – though there is a fetching young padre on board ship, who has a tendresse for a lovely mermaid, whose hair curls over her nipples in the traditional way. The emphasis here is on age and weatherbeaten experience. Of course, it is difficult to discern this or anything else clearly, given that the plot itself is so chaotic. There is sometimes a sense that what you are watching is a kaleidoscopic, two-hour-plus trailer. In the midst of the sensory assault, the shipborne battles and jungle-strife, kept expecting the action to be interrupted with the booming gravelly voice "This summer …"
Some might find their enthusiasm for the Pirates films sinking. Johnny Depp's Sparrow is a genuinely funny character and Johnny Depp still puts the ho-ho into yo-ho-ho.

Cultures of the movie

In this movie I have found some cultural. For example, in their dressing and make up, I found that have their own culture. Jack Sparrow’s dreadlocks, an aesthetic influenced rock and rolls approach to pirates. In addition to a red bandanna Sparrow wears numerous objects in his hair, influenced to a habit of collecting souvenir from his travel. Jack Sparrow also has a signature leather hat. In the series, the other character could not wear leather hat to make Sparrow’s unique. Sparrow's weapons are genuine 18th century pieces: his sword dates to the 1740s, while his pistol is from the 1760s. Both were made in London. Angelica's pirate costume is sexy because it allows women to show a bit of shoulder and cleavage (if desired) and empowering because the costume includes swords and wearing jackets, vest and pants. Moreover, soldier in this movie also have their own dressing. Costume in this movie is fancy and pirates style. Due to the movie’s place setting is at London, England; hence, their costume’s concept will be in English colonial period dressing style.

In addition, the culture is about their language. In the whole movie, all the character is using the British slang to communicate due to this story is set in the English Colonial Period, which could be anywhere from late 1600s to mid 1700s. British slang is English language slang used in Great Britain. Slang is informal language sometimes peculiar to a particular social class or group and its use in Britain dates back to before the 16th century. The language of slang, in common with the English language, is changing all the time; new words and phrases are being added and some are used so frequently by so many, they almost become mainstream. While American slang is slang words that used in America. British slang is different to American slang. For example, in American slang use the word “angry” while in British slang use the words “pissed off”. In addition, character Captain Jack Sparrow always using a word “savy”. This word is in early 60th century Spanish language which means understand.

Furthermore, there is some culture that I had found in the Pirate’s ship. From physical, pirate ship in this movie made from wood because of the lack of technology in the English colonial period. The picture above is one of the ship that shown in the movie. This ship name is Black Pearl. It owned by Captain Jack Sparrow. There are some lifestyles in the ship that scene in the movie. For example, when the weather was nice there wasn't a lot to do. The pirates usually took the time to fix damaged ropes and sails. In bad weather or when they were in pursuit of a potential target, they were very busy. The pirates would have to climb the rigging to change the sails, prepare the cannon, and keep a lookout on the main mast.

In addition, cleaning a ship was very important. A dirty hull would slow the pirates down when they were in pursuit of a target. To clean a ship, they would drag the vessel onto a beach and scrape the hull. They would scrape off barnacles, weeds, and other items that might be attached. In the movie, Captain Jack Sparrow always led his crew members in cleaning the ship. While they cleaning he ship, they also will sang songs to show their team spirit. In the movie, I discovered that their food was awful and the cook was usually a pirate who lost his arm and couldn't do anything else on the ship. The menu aboard the pirate ship usually consisted of pickled meat and dry biscuits. When they landed on an island they hunted for new game and looked for fresh water.

In conclusion, by watching this movie, Pirates of the Caribbean, I have known a lot of cultures about the pirates and English Colonial Period; such as their language, dressing and lifestyle.