All was set. The cameras were in the pelican casing, fully charged, with extra batteries ready for the day-long fieldwork in one of the remote project sites. This day was special because it was supposed to be a less intensive field visit, as we were taking my colleagues to see the work. It was a light-duty trip.
Then we got to the first site. I had prepared a smooth content-capturing strategy to guide me so that I didn’t miss out on any important component. I cross-checked the strategy and the activities for that site, reviewed the talking points before disembarking from the vehicle, and captured all the shots I needed. I collected the necessary footage and then thought an aerial shot would really be awesome. I didn’t have a drone, so I quickly climbed onto a rock to get an elevated position for an aerial shot of a conversation scene. That’s when I heard a serious blast.
It sounded like the curtain tearing in the temple at the moment of Jesus’ death. Soon after, I wondered where an air conditioner had come from as I felt a nice cold wind blowing in the scorching sun.
A quick mechanical examination of my trousers revealed a serious tear. I had a significant exposure, and the worst part was that I was supposed to take a group photo of the community and staff members. Two of my friends on the team noticed the struggle I was going through. It was the kind of tear that no matter what posture you tried, couldn’t be compensated for.
The two staff friends organised a motorbike to take me back to the hotel through a shortcut. The drivers were then instructed to drive slowly so that we could catch up with the team before reaching the next field site. Everybody needs these kinds of friends in the workplace.
The plan remained a top secret among the brothers, who kept assuring my colleagues that I was okay and would catch up later.
Later in the day, during our debrief, I told the team that I had a technical issue with my trousers earlier in the day. The room burst into laughter as they realised that what my friends had vaguely explained was actually that my trousers had torn, forcing me to go back to the hotel for a change. Luckily, most of my clothes are the same colour, so no one noticed the change.
Since then, “technical issue” has had an inside meaning for all who were on that trip. This is called shared meaning (inside jokes / group codes), where words acquire unique significance depending on the context in which they are used.
I used a skill called euphemistic communication, where you employ hidden or indirect language to express something embarrassing without being blunt. It is a powerful communication approach.
Now you know why it is important to understand how culture and communication shape interactions and conversations. It is explained in the Speech Codes Theory (Philipsen, 1997). This theory argues that different communities develop distinct codes of communication, shaped by culture, context, and shared experiences. These codes influence meaning, interpretation, and how members of the group understand each other.
Key Components of the Theory
- Distinct Codes Exist: Every cultural or social group develops its own communication code.
- Code Content: Each code carries symbols, meanings, and premises (e.g., “technical issue” meaning torn trousers).
- Code Use: Communication patterns and practices show how people use these codes.
- Code Interpretation: Members of the group understand the hidden or deeper meaning, while outsiders may miss it.
- Code Rules: Shared agreements guide what can be said directly or indirectly.
- Speech Communities: Groups (like your field team) create and sustain unique codes that define belonging.
References
Brown, P., & Levinson, S. C. (1987). Politeness: Some universals in language usage. Cambridge University Press.
Mead, G. H. (1934). Mind, self, and society. University of Chicago Press.
Philipsen, G. (1997). A theory of speech codes. In G. Philipsen & T. L. Albrecht (Eds.), Developing communication theories (pp. 119–156). State University of New York Press.