'UBUNTU': A PERSON IS A PERSON THROUGH OTHER PERSONS

~ U B U N T U ~

A Person is a Person Through other Persons

Master`s Degree: Written Thesis and Documentary

Dorothy R. Jolley Southern Utah University

Spring 2011

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HUMAN BEING

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Abstract This discussion presents human communication, locally and globally, in relation to theory and experience. Thus questions arise such as, why does violence and conflict reign in society when social media allows efficient communication? It is also evident that expensive ongoing research of theory has not assisted human communication and statistics do show a decline in human communication. Thus, the question of how much human communication theory is available and applied to the regular man? Clearly the questions of where, when, and who, teaches human communication in society to improve relationships? Furthermore, the ideas of past and present researchers, and a contribution of personal experience of 39 years in apartheid, on board a ship for 25000 miles with 50 different cultures, living in France for 18 months, and traveling independently around the world, found individuals in these societies lacking in human communication. Therefore, a solution to the dilemma is an exotic African philosophy called "Ubuntu," or in other words, to be humane. Ubuntu embellishes cultural beliefs and values and is the essence of being human. It comes in many guises in many cultures. Initially Ubuntu created in African villages to knit together humans with respect and love, and effectively strengthened human intrapersonal communication and communication with others, including family and community, and thus, strengthened town and country. Although present atrocities evident by the absence of Ubuntu communication are prevalent in Africa and significantly obvious throughout the world, attention is imperative and necessary to be humane to one another to prevent this decline. Therefore, to teach Ubuntu or humaneness could begin with lower and higher education, organizations, and businesses. Further, to teach Ubuntu in a religious environment, in families, in communities, and marriage counseling is and has been effective. Thus, Ubuntu seeps into society, to gain a foothold and assist individuals, families, and communities, leaders, and managers to increase respect and dignity in communities. Finally, humans could practice Ubuntu communication using social media and theory to create worthwhile local and foreign relationships.

Keywords: Ubuntu, humane, humanity, communication, theory, education

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I N D E X

PAGE NO. 1. ABSTRACT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 3. WRITTEN THESIS - 'Ubuntu': A Person is a Person through other Persons. . . . . . . . . 6 4. OUTLINE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5. SCRIPT - Documentary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6. COPYRIGHT PERMISSIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7. DVD - 'Ubuntu' video ? envelope insert in the back of the written thesis

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'Ubuntu': A Person is a Person through other Persons Written MA Thesis by Dorothy Jolley

Southern Utah University December, 2010

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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LITERATURE REVIEW

Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Chapter 1: Ubuntu review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Chapter 2: Ubuntu concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Chapter 3: An experience with Ubuntu in South Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Chapter 4: Communication Theory review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Chapter 5: Symbolic Interaction Theory (SIT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Chapter 6: Cognitive Dissonance Theory (CDT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Chapter 7: Social Exchange Theory (SET) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Chapter 8: Intercultural Communications: Humanity, culture and values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Chapter 9: A Gift from Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Chapter 10: Interculture and Ubuntu (Tables 1-11). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Chapter 11: An Intercultural Approach to Ubuntu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

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