CULTURAL ASPECT OF COMMUNICATION

Communication:
Communication is a process of transferring information from one entity to other. In other word it impart or interchange thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs.

Culture:
Culture is the complex system of values, traits, morals, and customs shared by the society Intra or subculture:
Residents of same country showing difference in culture.

Intercultural Communication
Intercultural communication

is the process of sending and receiving messages between people whose cultural background leads them to interpret verbal and nonverbal signs differently.

UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATING ACROSS THE CULTURE

 Globalization of market  Technological advancement  A multicultural workforce General global interconnectivity

Understanding Culture
How is culture like a computer program? Society, gender, race, age, religion, and other factors control our reactions and behavior.

CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE:
Culture is learned Culture are inherently logical Culture is the basic of self-identity and community Culture combines the visible and invisible Culture is dynamic

Approaches to the study of Culture

Hofstedes Cultural Typology Culture A better indicator than Material & Structural Conditions of Cultural Attributes.
Constructs or Indices of Research
Power Distance Social Equality or vice a versa

Individualism Individual Responsibility v/s Integration Masculinity - Emphasis on work goals, as opposed to personal goals and nurturance Uncertainty Avoidance Openness or Resistance to Change Confucian Dynamism Professional Hierarchy v/s Social Obligations

Approaches to the study of Culture

Hofstedes Model
Symbols Heroes

Rituals

Values

Practices

Expressions of culture at different levels of depth

Hofstedes Cultural Factors

High Individualism : US, Australia, Great Britain, Canada Low Individualism: Japan, Venezuela, Thailand, Japan, Mexico, China Individualism vs collectivism

High : Korea, Japan, Mexico Low: India, Australia, US, Germany

Power Distance

Hofstedes Cultural Factors

Masculinity Vs Femininity

Long term orientation Long Term: Hong Kong, Japan Short Term: Great Britain, US, Germany

Uncertainty avoidance High : France, Japan, Mexico Low: India, Hong Kong, US, Great Britain

HOW TO IMPROVE INTERCULTURAL SENSITIVITY

RECOGNIZE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

Contextual

Legal and Ethical

Social

Nonverbal

Ethnocentrism
the tendency to judge all other groups according

to your own group s standards, behaviors, and customs. When making such comparisons, people too often decide that their group is superior.

Overcome Ethnocentrism
Acknowledge and accept distinctions. Don t ignore differences between another person s culture and your own. Avoid assumptions. Don t assume that others will act the same way you do, that they will operate from the same assumptions, or that they will use language and symbols the same way you do. Avoid judgments. When people act differently, don t conclude that they are in error, that their way is invalid, or that their customs are inferior to your own.

CONTEXTUAL DIFFERENCE
CONTEXT: context refers to the stimuli, environment, or ambience surrounding an event. Communicators low context culture like Germany assume that listeners know very little and must be told practically everything. In high context culture like Japan, the listener is already contexed and does need to be given much background information.

Low Context
y Tends to prefer direct y y y y y y

High Context
y Tends to prefer indirect y

verbal interaction. Tends 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.

y y y

verbal interaction. Tends to understand meaning embedded at many socioculture levels. Is Generally more proficient in reading nonverbal cues. Values group membership. Relies more on context and feeling. Employs spiral logic.

SOCIAL DIFFERENCE
y ATTITUDE TOWARDS

MATERIALISM
y ROLE AND STATUS y USE OF MANNER y CONCEPT OF TIME

LEGAL AND ETHICAL

WHEN COMMUNICATING ACROSS CULTURE, KEEP YOUR MESSAGE ETHICAL BY APPLYING FOUR BASIC PRINCIPLES
y ACTIVLY SEEK MUTUAL GROUND y SEND AND RECEIVE MESSAGES WITH OUT JUDGMENT y SEND MESSAGES THAT ARE HONEST y SHOE RESPECT FOR CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

NONVERBAL DIFFRENCES
Personal Space

Body Language

INTERPERSONAL DISTANCE IN DIFFRENT CULTURES

Cultures have conventions for the appropriate distance apart for two people to stand while conversing. In White British culture the usual distance for conversation is approximately arm s length, 2-3 feet, and anyone approaching nearer may be seen as aggressive. People from southern Europe, Turkey, Arabic countries and Latin America expect to stand closer and may interpret a White British person s preferred distance as cold or arrogant.

TOUCH IN DIFFERENT CULTURES

Each culture has clear rules about who may touch who in different circumstances.
In some cultures, touching in public is only acceptable between people of the same sex. In some cultures touching in public is only acceptable between people of opposite sexes. In some cultures high levels of touch are normal (e.g. Latin American, southern European and Arab). In some cultures (e.g. Japan) public touching is extremely unusual. In White British culture, public touching is normally confined to a greeting handshake, but touching as an expression of sympathy may be acceptable.

Communicating Across Cultures

Study Other Cultures Overcome Language Barriers Develop Skills in Communication

Social Customs

English as a Second Language

Writing Skills

Business Protocols
Prentice Hall, 2005

Foreign Language
Excellence in Business Communication

Speaking Skills
Chapter 3 21

Study Other Cultures

y Ass

e iffere ces si ility e t ersta i ity ) l j res ect at ize (

y a e res y y y y

it

lerate a

Assume differences until similarity is proved. Don t assume that others are more similar to you than they actually are. Take responsibility for communication. Don t assume it s the other person s job to communicate with you. Withhold judgment. Learn to listen to the whole story and accept differences in others without judging them. Show respect. Learn how respect is communicated in various cultures (through gesture, eye contact, and so on). Empathize. Before sending a message, put yourself in the receiver s shoes. Imagine the receiver s feelings and point of view. Tolerate ambiguity. Learn to control your frustration when placed in an unfamiliar or confusing situation.

Foreign Language Barriers

Learn Another Language Use an Intermediary Hire a Translator

Offer Training In foreign language

Written Communication

When sending written communication to businesspeople from another culture, familiarize yourself with their written communication preferences and adapt your approach, style, and tone to meet your audiences expectations. To help you prepare effective written communications, follow these recommendations: Use plain language: short, precise words that say exactly what you mean. Be clear by using specific terms and concrete examples. Address international correspondence properly. Cite numbers carefully. Use figures (27) instead of spelling them out twenty-seven).

Written Communication
Avoid slang, jargon, and. Be brief. Construct sentences that are shorter and simpler that you might use when writing to someone fluent in your own language. Use short paragraphs. Each paragraph should stick to one topic and be no more than eight to ten lines long. Use transitional elements. Help readers follow your train thought by using transitional words and phrases.

Oral Communication
When speaking in English (other language) to people who speak that language as a second

Minimize Noise

Obtain Feedback

Speak Slowly

Clarify Intent

Do Not Talk Down

Use Accurate Language

Oral Communication
Learn common Foreign Phrases Listen Carefully & patiently Adapt Your conversation Style to the other person

Check frequently for Understanding

Clarify the Next Step

Watch Body Language

Contin
Use simple English. Encourage accurate feedback. Accept blame.  Remember to smile.

Basic expressions in other languages

Country Arabic Spanish German Italian Norwegian Good Morning Please Thank you Yes NO Goodbye
saBAH al-khayr Buenos dias Guten morgen Buon giorno God morgen minFUDIak Con permiso Bitte per favore Vaer sa snill ShookRAAN Gracias NAA-Am LAA Si ja Si Ja No Nein No Nei MAA-asalAAMuh Adios Auf wiedersehen Arrivederia Adjo

Danke Grazie

Takk

Cultural Awareness

Cultural Flexibility

Cultural Sensitivity

Effective Intercultural Communication

Communication Skill

Cultural Languages Cultural exposure

Cultural Technique

Workforce diversity
You must understand and accept the values of Differences

Dimensions Race Ethnicity Age Religion Gender National Origin Physical ability

Dividends of Diversity
Benefits To:1.Consumers 2. Work Teams 3. Business Organizations

Consumers
Specialized goods and services. Deals with companies respect their values.! Different products for different people.

Work Teams
More Creative. Effective. Problem solving techniques.

Business Organizations
Employee Relationship Increase Productivity Cooperative in nature

Divisiveness of Diversity
Discontent Clashes Glass ceiling( invisible barrier of attitude, prejudice)

Ways to improve communication among Diverse workplace

Seek Training. Understand the value of Difference. Don t expect Conformity. Build on similarity.

Make fewer assumptions. You have to learn to listen. Learn about your culture self.