Instrumental vs. Affective Conversation Styles

There are two different uses for language visible in different cultures. Cultures that have an instrumental use of language use conversation to achieve certain goals. Cultures that have an affective use of language are concerned with developing relationships between the speakers. While America is an instrumental culture, Greece tends to be more affective, creating yet another tension between these cultures.

Instrumental vs. Affective Conversation Styles in Greece

According to Benjamin J. Broome's Exploring the Greek Mosaic: A Guide to Intercultural Communication in Greece, in Greek culture, "it is through conversation that personal relationships are developed and maintained. Establishing a social bond through conversation allows individuals to place each other within the in-group, thus promoting warmer feelings and a greater degree of trust" (1996).

Since conversation is so important in Greek culture to maintaining relationships, certain tensions surely arise between the Greeks. Broome quotes Renee Hirschon's belief that in Greek culture, "isolation and withdrawal […] are equivalent to social death; to engage in verbal exchange is thus a recognition of the other's existence" (1996). Therefore, Greeks who are not comfortable holding lengthy conversations with people might find themselves alone. The Greek culture, therefore, does not appear to be conducive to introverted personalities, creating problems for such individuals.

The only solution to solve this problem maybe for the Greeks to recognize that individuals who are not participating as heavily in conversations are not trying to remove themselves from the social group. However, this would be like asking Americans to accept that certain individuals do not hold conversations to achieve a goal. It would be a difficult task, especially considering conversation styles are so embedded in
cultures.

Instrumental vs. Affective Conversation between Americans and Greeks

Americans use conversation in order to reach certain goals. Therefore, when we hold conversations with the Greeks, we are surprised to find that they are not trying to achieve anything more than a relationship by talking with us. Many Americans believe that the salesmen in the tourist shops are just trying to get us to buy their merchandise. But many of them simply want to know more about you and share information about themselves.

The best way to deal with this tension seems to be altering our conversation style to match that of the Greeks. If they are trying to establish some sort of connection with you, you would be in the wrong to brush off their attempts for the sake of getting something beyond human connection out of the conversation. Therefore, it seems like being aware of the Greek style of communication and accommodating this style would be most beneficial to conversations between the cultures.