Analysis: The Culture Of Lawrence Dental Center

Wrenn Paden

Dr. Schaefer

CO237 Intro Intercultural Communications

17 April 2023

The Culture of Lawrence Dental Center Within every town, city, state, and country there is a tremendous amount of cultures available to each individual. Even though we are a part of more cultures than we believe exist, the magnitude of cultures across the whole world does not seem comprehensible. One of the many cultures within the city of Lawrence, Kansas is called Lawrence Dental Center. This place of work offers dental services to the community. There are many different roles assumed by the employees which make the business as a whole, run and operate smoothly when executed properly. The specific roles witnessed were the patients, receptionists, dental hygienists,

The jargon observed was specific to the work of dental hygiene. According to Micheal Agar, “Most jargon, in academics or any other line of work, puts an outsider off” (Agar, 1994, pg. 35). A couple examples of the jargon observed were terms such as “projection number”, “bridge”, or something along the lines of “Let’s test that tissue there…”. Each of these statements refer to the culture observed in some way. Without being a part of this culture, there is no way to understand what these people are talking about. The meanings of these words or phrases are reserved for the individuals who obtain the identity of the culture. Jargon is “...understood inside the department, but are unintelligible to outsiders. That is true jargon” (Hudson, 1978, pg. 2). The jargon observed that is specific to the staff of Lawrence Dental Center should not be known by the patients or the community. Jargon is a part of each culture which contributes to why cultures are different. Jargon is important as it separates the in-groups from the out-groups as well as the different roles assumed within the Lawrence Dental

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