Everyone in the world communicates interpersonally at one point of his or her life. Some use interpersonal communication more often than others and some are able to do so more effectively than others. Culture can play a large part in interpersonal communication and occasionally needs to be taken into consideration. The act of “members of two or more cultures [exchanging] messages in a manner that is influenced by their different cultural perceptions and symbol systems” (Adler 33) is known as intercultural communication. However, I have learned that communication does not always have to be referred to as intercultural communication even between people of different cultures. When it is, there are varying degrees, or salience, of intercultural …show more content…
Although there are different degrees of how much cultural significance influences communication, often times it can create a misunderstanding in the way we perceive how another culture acts. For example, upon visiting Taiwan recently this past summer, I tried to make “small talk” with a stranger with the little knowledge of Chinese that I had. I made sure to be friendly and smile so I would come off as pleasant. All I received during that conversation were brief responses with a neutral expression on her face, almost as if she completely disregarded and had no interest in what I had to say. Immediately, I was offended and thought of her as being rude. But thinking more about it now, making “small talk” isn’t as normal in Taiwan as it is in the United States. I believe a part of this is because the Asian culture is more reserved and quiet compared to how the United States is. That is when I came to conclusion that the woman was not being rude. It just was not part of her culture to talk to a stranger as openly as I had done …show more content…
I have first handedly experienced the generalizations people make about certain cultures. Being part of an Asian culture, I was often associated with being an “academic overachiever” or a “nerd lacking social and communication skills”. But in all reality, I was often lazy to do homework and hung out with my friends quite frequently. I was often frustrated by the generalizations made of me from my culture that I realized it’s important that these generalizations do not apply to every member of a group. It may be true that our Asian culture performs better academically as a whole as compared to other cultures, but I think it is important for everyone to realize that these generalizations do not define everyone in the culture
Intercultural communication is a significant, unavoidable element of communication in the 21st century. With the vast movements of population throughout history, as well as the growing prominence of technology, the ability to interact and come into contact with different cultures, both ethnic and sub-cultures, has never been easier. However, with this growing role of intercultural communication, there is a large opportunity for the existence and perpetuation of stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination. In order to avoid offence and miscommunication when partaking in intercultural communication, a person must be willing to understand a person as an individual entity, and not as a representation of their culture or of what the host culture may believe it to be.
Durant, A. & Shepherd, I. (2009).Cultural and communication in intercultural communication.Retrieved November 5, 2013 fromEbscohost online.http://web.ebscohost.com.libproxy.troy.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=156ad285-9697-4852-955e-40fe40b75b83%40sessionmgr110&vid=6&hid=118
Hamid, a student at State University has received his Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree and is currently in the final year of completion of his PhD. During his attendance at State University Hamid utilized the Foreign Student Advisors Office where he developed a close relationship with the advisor of that particular time. During the following years the student advisor was replaced by another student and the relationship between the advisor and Hamid was in its early phases. While not being a close friend, they were in fact friends. Hamid assumed that the role of a friend was to employ favors for one another. The ideal of doing nice things for each other in return for friendship was assumed on the part of Hamid.
Intercultural communication studies investigate the effectiveness of communication, especially cross-culturally, and the ways that members from different cultures come into an interaction with different cultural frames. The theory is critical to the understanding of the intercultural studies discipline as it can be applied in intercultural, interpersonal, and cross-cultural communication. The communicators usually have different frameworks in viewing the world which includes the difference in beliefs and values (J. Reichheld, personal communication, February 8, 2016). When anxiety and uncertainty reach the catastrophe point, where stress is too high, communicators are not able to remain mindful and tend to communicate based on their own predetermined frameworks (J. Reichheld, personal communication, October 25, 2016). It can easily offend the other party by not being mindful, leading to ineffective communication or unwillingness to communicate at all (Imamura & Zhang, 2014). It can bring out ethnocentrism since the communicator represents the culture where cultural patterns are shown through communication (J. Reichheld, personal communication, February 8, 2016). The maintenance of an optimal level will allow for effective communication between members of different cultures. Successful communication then allows for cultural
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.).
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...
Communicating across Culture had plenty of very useful point. Carol Kinsey Goman mentions that communicating with people from other cultures is a challenging process, there is lots of things to take into account like rules, beliefs, values, phobia and anxieties. (Carol Kinsey Goman, 2011)
I have learned a great deal about different cultures and the communication between those cultures. I didn’t really think I would learn as much as I did. I am from an older cohort than most of the people in my class; therefore my experience level is a little greater. This did not prevent me from learning a few things and enhancing the knowledge I already have.
Therefore, it is essential to study nonverbal and verbal communication Nonverbal communication is all forms of communication other than words themselves, which includes “body motions; vocal qualities; and the use of time, space, and even smell” (Neuliep, 2011, p. 269). On the other hand verbal communication or language “consists of symbols in the form of spoken or written words (Wood, 2014, p. 67). Thus cultures have different representations of symbols and what one culture interprets another may define or view differently. Communication is closely related to culture because communication expresses and alters culture. In a culture you learn behaviors and acceptable ideologies. This can be seen in verbal and nonverbal communication. For example, the tone of your voice is based on culture. Without communication you are unable to establish cultural differences. Your own culture directly shapes how one communicates, such as when it is appropriate to make eye contact. We are not born knowing when and how we should speak; this is a learned behavior that is taught by interaction with others. This is not an easy task because nonverbal signals differ from culture to culture. Charles Braithwaite stated, “One of the fundamental components of cultural and linguistic competence is knowing how and when to use silence as a communication tactic” (Neuliep, 2011, p. 64). Before one can communicate effectively one must understand the context in which the culture exchanges information. One must have a working awareness of how each society conveys meaning, hence high vs. low context cultures. According to the Central Michigan University text, organizational dynamics and human behavior (2009), to become a successful international manager one must develop “cross-cultural skills”. One part of the skill set involves the comprehension of the difference between high-context and low-context
In The Silent Language, Edward Hall’s (1959) seminal examination of non-verbal communication, it is ambiguous asserted that “culture is communication and communication is culture,” (217). Though this statement is obviously lacks for broad explanatory power, Hall nevertheless aptly articulates the crucial roles that culture plays in communication research. From its role in theories of communication to its treatment as a both the independent and the dependent variable in experimental studies, culture shapes the nature of what communication researchers, and speaks to the very heart of what communication is. This literature review will first briefly mention the historical origins of culture in communication research, and identify what has become the primary area of quantitative communication research into culture: intercultural communication. Next, we will examine the definition of culture that intercultural communication researchers have adopted. Last, we will explore how this definition is applied through an exploration of the variables, levels of analysis, and other salient dimensions of communication.
Cultural sensitivity occurs when people recognize and are aware that each country or various ethnic groups of people have their own set of experiences, beliefs, values, and language that affect their perceptions toward life. Addressing Cultural sensitivity permits people to comprehend that there are differences between cultures. Furthermore, having awareness in the differences between cultures permits a culturally competent person to communicate effectively with others that are outside of one’s realm. Some of the differences of Cultural sensitivity can be discovered while traveling outside of the country, such as through Cross-cultural sensitivity experiences. Likewise, a culture has its own norms and beliefs to how one should dress; how one should greet others, such as by referring to a significant individual by his or her first name or surname (comprehending which name should be stated first in foreign names); and/or what foods are permitted to eat or forbidden to eat or understanding what may offend a person (e.g. not accepting a home cooked meal). There are norms, taboos, cultural cues, and cultural etiquette standards that are significant to learning about one’s culture before exploring another country or while working with people who are from your country but who are part of another racial group. It takes time and patience to build a high level of Cultural sensitivity. Educating oneself with a culture’s psychology and its norms is significant toward achieving an increasing awareness toward Cultural sensitivity.
One also has to be mindful of unspoken language. Unspoken language includes implied hands gestures, facial expressions, physical greetings, eye contact, and the manipulation of personal space (Moreno, 2006). One great example illustrating the body language barrier between different cultures can be taken from a simple thumbs up. In the US, it is perceived as "all right" or "ok", but in Italy this gesture is professed as being vulgar! Languages are only the beginning when coming to conclusions about cultural differences, religion also plays a huge role.
The way people communicate varies widely between, and even within, cultures. One aspect of communication style is language usage. Language has always been perceived as a link between people but it can also constitute a barrier. Across cultures, some words and phrases are used in different ways. For example, even in countries that share the English language, the meaning of "yes" varies from "maybe, I'll consider it" to "definitely so," with many shades in between . Furthermore, communication between cultures which do not share the same language is considerably more difficult . Each culture, has its distinct syntax, expressions and structure which causes confusion in intercultural communication. For example , in Asian countries the word “no” is rarely used, so that “yea” can mean “no” or “perhaps”. Therefore, an American traveling to Japan might be considered impolite if he ignores this rule. Furthermore, individuals who are not comfortable with a certain language may not be taken seriously. Such is the case in the classroom, where a student who has a perfect knowledge of the subject in question may have difficulty expressing his idea due to his inability to write properly and therefore he would not receive the grade he truly deserves. Similarly intercultural communication is dominant in the workplace. In the past, many companies and organizations could operate entirely within their country of origin and conduct their activities exclusively in their own native language. But now, due...
According to Hofstede’s (1980), ‘culture is the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one human group from another… culture in the sense, includes systems of values: and values are among the building blocks of culture.’ It is necessary to determine how culture impacts our communication behavior as culture directly influences our perception and understanding of the message that is transmitted from one party to another. People from different cultures encode and decode messages differently; this therefore increases the chances of misunderstanding. Intercultural communication refers to interactions between people whose cultural assumptions are so different that the communication between them is altered. Verderber, Verderber, & Sellnow, (2010).
Communicating with other cultures characterizes today’s business, classroom, and community. Hence, the art of knowing how to communicate with other cultures should be a workplace skill that is emphasized. Various authors have studied on intercultural communication; however, their studies have diverse perspectives and emphasis. The various views give a balanced approach to intercultural communication. This paper outlines the various facets that authors have on the importance of intercultural communication in the field of education, business, medicine and counseling. In addition, perspectives that various authors have on intercultural communicate are