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How communication is affected by different cultures
Introduction of intercultural communication and non-verbal communication
Non verbal intercultural communication
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As I went to the United States, I experienced the difference of communication style between Japanese and American. I had intended to show my curiosity without talking, but my uncle cannot realize my interests. He told me that I should have acted out my curiousness and express distinctly in the United States. Compared to the United States, many Japanese tend to express obscurely and hide their true feelings.
This experienced taught me how important express myself. Expressing myself is called self-disclosure. Fallows (2012) said that self-disclosure is purposely reveal personal information to another person. It means that self-disclosure is to express who they are and what value they have. Of course, there are many characteristics to help intercultural
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Different communication styles cause some difficulties of intercultural communication. Especially, between high-context and low-context cultures, there are many difficulties about communication. Self-disclosure is the best means to avoid some difficulties about different communication styles and provides intercultural communication efficiently. Self-disclosure can support the communication between high-context and low-context cultures. The characteristics of high-context and low-context cultures can describe the importance of self-disclosure. Edward T. Hall defined high-context and low-context …show more content…
Self-disclosure is the best aid to help people who are from different cultures to communicate effectively in verbal and non-verbal way. Bae stated that they do not need to have verbal communication to be self-disclosure (as cited in Tili and Barker, 2015, p.201). Using non-verbal expression also can explain the importance of self-disclosure. Non-verbal communication also can express who they are and what they think about. Of course, non-verbal communication might cause some misunderstandings among different cultures. However, even if people use non-verbal communication, expressing their feelings and thoughts can avoid misunderstandings and provide effect intercultural communication. There is an example of the useful of non-verbal communication and how non-verbal communication help intercultural communication. According to Sunaoshi (2005), she analyzed one conversation between American and Japanese. She found how they compensate the limitation of language and differences in communication style by paralinguistic elements (pp. 196-201). In their conversation, two people are in the situation that the language is limited. Instead of the language, they exploit many non-verbal cues to tell the information such as gaze, gesture, and positioning. Especially, during the confirmation of quantity, non-verbal communication has a great impact to communicate. Sunaoshi (2005) analyzed this conversation and found Japanese who
I understand that you have tried to speak to Sandy about your feelings but she has just accused you of not wanting to listen or be there for her. Although, it will be difficult it is important push the topic and share your true feelings with Sandy. I truly believe that by disclosing your feelings it will lead to a more balanced friendship.
Americans try to avoid miscommunication by being very clear and direct about what they are trying to say (Western Washington University, 2011). In typical day-to-day social interactions, people in the U.S. tend to be less formal and polite and are more physical than the Japanese (AngloINFO, 2014).
Japanese tend to feel stressful and nervous “with a lot of eye contact during the conversation” (Hattori 1987, 111). In addition, “Japanese children are taught by their parents that looking into other people's eyes is immodest.” (Hattori 1987, 112) It is because Japan is a “hierarchical and collective society”, in which individuals “at relatively lower social status” should show respect and obedience to people “at higher social status” by avoiding the direct eye contact (Hattori 1987, 111). In terms of its national character, Barnlund (1975) claims that Japanese have a small “public self”, who likes to show themselves to others; yet, they have a big “private self”, who prefers to be silent and hold on own ideas. LePape (1980) concludes this point as well “by analyzing Yasujiro Ozu's movies,” in which people talk to each other “side by side”, but “rarely hold mutual gaze” (Hattori 1987, 111). Japan was a traditional monarchy country, in which hierarchy shaped Japanese social values; hence, Japanese avoid the direct eye contact in order to display modesty and
That communication should be ethical. Ethical cross cultural communication improves intergroup relations and self-awareness. If you do not have self-awareness, it will be hard to connect with other people in general not just people from a culture different from your own. I personally believe being self-aware and acknowledging your biases are the best ways to communicate with different cultures effectively and authentically.
The Japanese mind is very pragmatic. They emphasize on immediate experience as opposed to the westernized analytical thinking. We see this through the character of Ryuji when he proposed to Fusako as he told her very bluntly without giving extra thought. We also see this through Noboru as he reacts to the actions of Ryuji very impulsively through his charges. We also establish that the Japanese are very introverted which is depicted through the characters of Ryuji, Noboru and Fusako as they keep very isolated and to themselves.
Culture has always been a driving force in understanding nonverbal communication as nonverbal communication is highly influenced by the cultural differences as the context of the culture defines how the communication/message is interpreted in certain cultures. “Communication occurs within a context but the context is particularly important in relation to non-verbal communication” (Tyler, Kossen & Ryan, 2005, p.185). Culture defines the messages perceived by the non-verbal communication. For instance, proxemics. “Proxemics refers to the spatial relationship or how we use space.” (Tyler, Kossen & Ryan, 2005, p.190) Culture plays an important role in defining the use of one’s personal space in the nonverbal communication process. For example, in North America people usually remain at a distance from one another when talking while Latin American people stay very close when talking. (Wood, 2009). This defines the use of the privacy or personal space in two different cultures. H...
Communication is an ongoing process in which individuals exchange messages whose meanings are influenced by the history of the relationship and the experiences of the participants. (Adler, p.384) Communication depends on relationships between the people who are communicating, and on common basics between them. Problems in communications between people may arise due to differences in cultures, perceptions, values, and expectations from life.
The Communication Accommodation Theory developed by Giles while broad and complex is undeniably important to the field of Communication Studies. The broad focus of CAT can be perceived as a drawback, but could also be viewed as a merit by allowing researchers to apply CAT principles in almost any situation dealing with communication between representatives of differing cultural backgrounds. By using CAT, Communication Researchers can objectively make observations of the communication strategies, as well as the motivations for those strategies on both small and large scales. By understanding such information, individuals and organizations alike could potentially make great strides in the improvement of relations with other cultural counterparts. In a sense, the Communication Accommodation Theory is significant because it can be applied to any cultural interaction, can help disseminate the causes of intercultural incongruity, and potentially help prevent future misunderstanding.
Everything we do in our life involves communication because it is a way for a sender to send message to the receiver by verbal and non-verbal communication. However, in some parts of the world messages that are delivered sometimes are not received in a way it is supposed to. A way to solve this is by using competent communicator and intercultural communication because it makes it easier for people from other cultures to communicate in general. On the other hand, there are also some problems faced because different cultures have different ways to express their way of communication. By understanding these types of communication and by defining them may solve this dilemma. In addition to that, there are also types of communication to consider that are commonly used, which is Proxemics, Gestures and body language.
Effective communication with people of difference cultures can be especially challenging. The way people interpret the world can be strikingly different between cultures. Intercultural communication occurs when a member from one culture produces a message that is absorbed by a member of another culture. How that message is understood by the communicating party is a vital part in intercultural communication. For example, in Cambodia it would be considered rude to discuss business in a social setting (Language, culture, customs and etiquette, n.d.). However, in the United States this is a common practice and is almost an encouraged event. Another important factor and consideration in intercultural communication is the importance of understanding cultures, values, history and beliefs. For instance, in Cambodia, if you deliver a present that is wrapped in white paper, this is considered to represent mourning. This is one of the many reasons why it is important to assimilate into a culture and be mindful of communication between cultures (Language, culture, customs and etiquette, n.d.).
Since we all learn and develop different identities trying to communicate with people of different identities is difficult and has its implications. We often try to communicate with others the way we would communicate with ourselves. In order to interact with other cultures and identities, we must learn those identities and learn to adapt to those other identities. In order to have successful intercultural communication, we must accept our differences but discover our similarities, as
Many people who go to visit or work in another country suffer some misunderstanding from the local people, because they have a different culture. Different culture will cause disparity points of view about almost everything. In the article, Intercultural Communication Stumbling Blocks by Laray M. Barna, there are five stumbling blocks mentioned that are seen in a cross-culture communication. These blocks are: language, nonverbal signs and symbols, preconceptions and stereotypes, the tendency to evaluate and high anxiety. Barna wants to use these stumbling blocks to show the common blockades between different cultures. I agree with what she thinks about the language, nonverbal signs and symbols, preconceptions and stereotypes, and the tendency
Humans have been communicating since four million years. On the other hand, the birth of culture is estimated to have taken place about 35,000 years ago. Today, both culture and communication have evolved considerably and have become interdependent of one another, to the point that communication is considered to be a product of culture. Thus, our own culture has a deep impact on our thoughts and behaviors. Since each culture has its distinct aspects, intercultural communication can be the cause of conflict and disorder. There are three main issues which are at the root of the problem of intercultural miscommunication : language as a barrier, cultural diversity and ethnocentrism. I will analyze these three notions in situations in which intercultural communication is frequent such as : the workplace, the classroom and vacation trips.
The presence, or absence, of skills that relate to communication with oneself (intrapersonal communication) are critical influencers of many other aspects of oneself (Beebe, 2015). In particular, one’s intrapersonal communication impresses on one’s intrapersonal communication: mutual communication between yourself and at least one other (Beebe, 2015). The relationship between these two types of communication is complex and worth exploring. Using examples from seminar and my own life, in this paper, I will analyze my own self-concept and perception, and relate my intrapersonal communication skills to their effects on my interpersonal communication skills. I
A high-context person is slow in getting to the point and does not foresee to have to be very specific. Thus, preference for indirect message is more marked, being specific about unpleasantness is particularly embarrassing in a relationship culture .in opposition Low-context individuals are quick to get to the point. However low-context and high-context communication takes place in every society and culture; cultures differ in the degree of context considered in business communication. High context culture in which people are deeply involved with others and where indirect messages with deep meaning flow freely, while low-context cultures are highly individualised, partially alienated, fragmented cultures in which there is little involvement with