In different cultures there are often important differences in the way
that information is shared. These differences relate to cultural beliefs
about the nature and production of knowledge as well as preferred ways
of talking which structure interactions.
In biomedical discourse question and answer routines are a central feature. In contrast, Yolŋu favoured highly detailed, even-focused narrative when sharing information about their renal experiences (this only occurred in the interviews as the opportunities for Yolŋu to influence the structure of interactions were almost non-existent).
The question and answer approach to information sharing is complicated
by a number of factors including who has the right to ask for or give
specific information which may be quite inconsistent with Western cultural
expectations. This is also important - and often problematic - when considering
who has the right to give consent for medical intervention as it may not
be the right of the individual alone, even for adults.
Differences in communication routines are only one of the sources of miscommunication between Yolŋu and Balanda. There are many other sources of difficulty related to different ways of talking and listening. Click on the links below for some examples.
Roles and responsibilities related to communication can also be a source of misunderstanding across different cultural contexts. In a medical encounter these are structured by professional boundaries and priorities. In Yolŋu interactions these are more often structured by relationship and their concerns interlinked, not segmented into unconnected physical, social, cultural and economic issues.