Definitions

Here are some key definitions of words used in this web site, including terms and jargon used in the areas of Community Development, Cultural Awareness, and in defining cultural interactions.

Balanda

N, People or person of European Descent. It also refers collectively to the English speaking Dominant culture of Australia and all other "Western" nations. Its origin comes the Macassan term 'Belanda' which is derived from 'Hollander' to describe the Dutch and is still used in Bahasa Indonesian today.

Capacity

1. n, the ability to contain , absorb, or hold
2. n, mental ability
3. n, the power, ability or possibility of doing something
4. n, the maximum out put

In community development and educational areas capacity usually refers to sense 2, 3 & 4 in reference to an individual, group or community A persons capacity in this sense is a very holistic term inferring his mental, physical, emotional, spiritual & social power and ability, unless specifically defined.

Build Capacity

v, (alt. Capacity Building, building capacity) to improve someones power, ability and potential to suceed in life. Through interaction or intervention in their life, through education, encouragement, help and support in such a way that does not reduce that persons influence and control but instead increases inflence, control and skills in their life. This applies also to groups and communities where the group as a whole is impacted as above through the building of capacity in many individuals in that community.

Cross Cultural (Cross-Cultural)

1. adj, Non-specifically, anything that involves the interaction of 2 cultures or interacting with a culture other than ones own culture.
2. adj, More specifically describes something that transverses, or overcomes cultural barriers such as differences in languages, world-view, values etc. which normally prevent effective interaction between cultures. The term is better understood in context, thus we will expand on the following composite terms which are regularly used to talk in relation to about working between 2 cultures.

Cross-cultural Communication

1. n, In a non-specific sense, any communication between 2 different cultural groups.
2. n, Specifically, effective communications between 2 different cultural groups as a result of efforts by one or both parties to improve the quality of their communication in a way that is appropriate for the culture they are interacting with. For example the common methods are; to use the language of the other group, to use communication mores of the other group, consider difference that may exist in world view.

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Cross-cultural education

1. n, Non-specifically, any education where the student is learning about a culture other than their own, or the teacher is teaching students from a different culture.
2. n, Specifically education as described above that effectively achieves educational outcomes because of the use methods designed to overcome cultural barriers

Cross-cultural experience

n, an experience that involves interaction with a culture of which one unfamiliar, usually resulting in an improved or renewed appreciation of cultural differences.

Cross-cultural training

n, Training that makes one aware of the problems faced in working in a cross-cultural context and teaches skills, and methodologies to help overcome these problems.

View our Cross Cultural training solutions for working with Aboriginal people or view our free online content

Note :On this site where it is not clear which sense is being used we clarify our meaning by describing the effectiveness of the cross-cultural activity (eg. Effective cross-cultural communication, ineffective cross-cultural education)"

Dominant Culture

n ,When 2 diverse cultures or ethnic groups come together and interact closely, particularly when colonisation or invasion occurs, one group will become culturally dominant over the other. The "Dominant culture" refers to all whose primary peer group comes from this dominant cultural group whatever their racial back ground. They will all speak a common language, have a common world-view, and generally agree on most core values. These systems and values conflict with the dominated cultural group and where conflict occurs the interests of this subjugated culture are undermined. In most countries with a British colonial background the dominant culture is English speaking & incorporates"western" legal, judicial and social systems and values, while the indigenous cultures are subjugate. In Australia people of the Dominant culture generally speak English as their first language and ascribe to an Anglo-American social system and values.

World view (World-view)

n, One's "World-view" is simply the way that any particular individual perceives the world. It is the world - the environment, social structures, concepts, relationships etc. - from the perspective of any particular person. Ones experiences, language, knowledge and culture will effect how one sees the world. This also applies to any particular social group or cultural group, each also has a unique perspective common to that group. Within a cultural group the way people understand the world will be only slightly different. However, between two cultural groups the world-views can be vastly different because of the different experiences etc. of each group. A simple example; 400 years ago with the use of microscopes the European world discovered that tiny living things where the main causes for disease. Germs have been a major part of the western world-view since then and this explains our obsession with cleaning. However, for Australia Aboriginal peoples there was no microscope and thus their world-view has been, and still is for many, that things smaller than the eye can see simply don't exist.

Yolŋu (Yolngu)

N, The people or a person from north-east Arnhem Land. The word Traditionally means person or people, human. Following the convention used by many other indigenous people their own term for person has been adopted by the people of this region to identify themselves. The Yolngu people also use the term to refer to all Aboriginal people from Australia. This word is used in this site to refer to specifically to the indigenous people or an indigenous person from north-east Arnhem Land.

Terms defined

Balanda

Cross Cultural

Cross-cultural Communication

Cross-cultural education

Cross-cultural experience

Cross-cultural training

Dominant Culture. 3

World view

Yolngu

Training Solutions

Why Warriors Pty Ltd provides training for personnel and Organisations working with Indigenous people or communities.

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