Session 4:

Communicating Across
Cultures
AGUNG PRAPTAPA
UNSOED
Thursday, 2 April 2009
The important of intercultural
communication
 Globalization of Market
 Technological Advancements

 Multicultural Work Force

Understanding Culture
 Culture is complex system of values, traits,
morals, and customs shared by a society.
 Culture is a system for creating, sending,
storing, and processing information.
Characteristics of Culture
 Culture is learned
 In Asia, same sex people may walk hande in hand.
 In Arab, conversations are often held in close proximity,
sometimes nose to nose. In western culture, too close
means violation.
 Cultures are inherently logical
 In Japan, Barbie doll was a failure because of the toothy
smile
 Culture is the basis of self-identity and community
 Who we are and what we believe.
 Culture combines the visible and invisible
 In Japan, harmony with the environment is important.
 In India, people avoid stepping on ant or insects because
they believe in reincarnation.
 Culture is dinamic
 Culture change as a result of migration, disasters, and
wars
Stereotypes
 Stereotype is an oversimplified behavioral
pattern applied uncritically to group
 Fixed and rigid

 In Javanese: gebyah uyah

 Example:
All chinese is good in business
Prejudices
 Prejudice is stereotype that is based on
errorneous belief or preconception
 Rigid attitude

 Example:
Moslem supports terorism
Chinese tends to cheat
Prototypes
 Mental representations based on general
characteristics that are not fixed and rigid, but
rather are open to new definition.
 Dinamic abd may change

 Based on objective observations.

 Example:
Latin businesspeople often talk about their
families before getting down to business.
This prototype is generally accurate, butit may not
universally apply and it may change over time.
Generalization
 Necessary for learning and education
 When we find something new, then we try to
make generalization
Dimensions of Culture
 Context
 Individualism

 Communication style

 Time orientation
Context
 The dependence to environment of a situation
 Low-context cultures depend less on the
environment of a situation to convey meaning
than do high-context cultures.
 Low-context cultures: North America, Western
Europe
 High-context cultures: Japan, China, Arab.

 People in low-context cultures tend to be

logical, analytical, and action oriented.
Comparing Low and High Context Culture
Low Context
 Tend to prefer direct verbal
interaction
 Tend to understand meaning
at one level only
 Is generally less proficient in
reading nonverbal cues
 Values individualism
 Relies more on logic
 Employs linear logic
 Says no directly
 Communicates in highly
structured (contexted)
messages, provide details,
stresses literal meanings,
gives authority to written
information.
High Context
 Tends to prefer indirect verbal
interaction
 Tends to understand meanings
embedded at many
sociocultural levelss
 Is generally more proficient in
reading nonverbal cues
 Values group membership
 Relies more on context and
feeling
 Employs spiral logic
 Talks around points; avoid
saying no
 Communicates in simple,
ambiguous, noncontexted
messages; understands visual
messages readily.
Countries with Low – High Context
Cultures
Individualism
 An attitude of independence and freedom
from control.
 Members of many low-context cultures value
independence and freedom from control.
 Tradition, ceremony, and social rules are more
important in high-context culture.
Individualism
Low-Context Culture High-Context Culture

 Individualism  Collectivist
 Individual action and  Membership, group,
personal teams
responsibility  Group value, duties,
and decision
 Resist independence
Formality
 Some cultures place more emphasis on
tradition, ceremony, and social rules.
Communication Style
 Westeners value a direct, straightforward
communication style.
 Westeners: sound of words

 Asian: meaning of words.

Time Orientation
 North American tend to correlate time with
productivity, efficiency, and money.
 In other cultures time may be perceived as an
unlimited and never-enfing resource to be
enjoyed.
Achieving Intercultural Sensitivity
 Avoiding Ethnocentrism:
The belief in the superiority of one’s owned race.
 Bridging the Gap
Emphaty: trying to see the world through
another’s eyes.
Saving face: indirectly respect the feelings and
dignity of others
Patience: tolerance, patient, silent
Asignment 4: Act Int
April 2009 CULTURE
 Please find a special thing from culture
arround the world, that is considered
important and interesting to be shared, so we
can develop ourselves to be a successful
business communicator.
The answer should be in English and
Indonesian (should be both). Please post here
as comments. The latest is Wednesday 8 April
2009.
 www.apbuscom.blogspot.com
Thank you

 Agung Praptapa, the one who ALWAYS DO THE

BEST
Email: praptapa@yahoo.com
Web: www.praptapa.com
Blog: www.praptapa.unsoed.net
Elearning Web Blog for Business Communication:
www.apbuscom.blogspot.com

 TIPs for you today:

“Never give up. Keep trying. Keep learning.
Nothing is impossible. Every thing can be learned”