Intercultural Communication
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
A Concept of Culture
Culture refers to the behavioral characteristic typical of a group, this definition implies that communication, oral and nonverbal within a group also is typical of that group and is unique.
Ethnocentrism: judging other group or countries by the cultural standards, of your group.
Cultural generalizations applicable to an entire national are impossible. Knowing core characteristics of a country are basic to better international communication.
An Intercultural Communication Model
United States Other Cultures
Concern with diversity Less tolerance for diversity
Tendency to be obsessed with time time is flexible
Early starting time for work start working later in the day
An Intercultural Communication Model
United States Other Cultures
Much use of slang less use of slang
Rank is less important rank is important.
An Intercultural Communication Model
An Intercultural Communication Model
National Cultural Variable
While communicating, the message sender and the receiver are both affected by external and internal stimuli. Communicating with business people in a foreign country you must realize that overall national and individual cultural differences within the culture further affect these stimuli.
An Intercultural Communication Model
Following are the global or macro constrains and variable that communicators must face when working with foreign receivers of their messages.
Some National Variables Individual Cultural Variables
Education Time
Regulation Space
Economics Food
Politics Accepted Dress
Social Norms Manners
Language Decision Making
Education
Many managers in foreign countries are not very well educated. Most Asian and Chinese managers have had a less formal education than American and European managers.
Education levels of Chinese, Asian, and US Mangers
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Less than high school 5.4 2.5 0.1
High school graduate 31.8 12.4 3.2
Some college 34.5 19.4 16.9
Undergraduate degree 27.6 65.4 79.8
Postgraduate degree 0.7 25.0 30.0
Education
Before drawing conclusions from date, it is necessary to consider many factors. Percent of managers recommending specific courses as very impotent preparation for general management.
Course US Asian China
Oral Communication 79.5% 71.8% 8.6%
Written Communication 78.0 69.7 8.0
1. Attitudes towards education
a. What is the level of education of middle managers?
b. To what degree is education of women supported in the country?
c. Does education constitutes a significant portion of the national budget?
Law and Regulations
In both the developed and developing nations, various government regulations affect business communications and the sale of products. For example advertising directed at children is restricted in the United States, Canada, and Scandinavia; also,. Other countries, such as France, Mexico, and the Province of Quebec, have a restriction on the use of foreign languages in advertisements.
In some Muslim countries fashion magazines are not allowed in many countries, and cosmetic makeup is also prohibited.
1. Laws and regulations: degree of formality
a. To what extent are the laws of the country codified?
b. Is there uniform enforcement for the laws and regulations of the country?
c. Are the laws and regulations of your country accepted and enforced?
Economics
Availability of capital and transportation and the standard of living per capita vary from nation to nation. The opportunity to borrow money, the rate of inflation, and the exchange rates influence business and a country’s ability to communicate concerning that business.
In the US free enterprise system, competitors usually set their own prices. In contrast, OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries), as a Cartel, sets oil prices.
Some Japanese businesses check with the government before initiating major production and trading changes.
Economics: Past history and projections
a. Which economic changes have occurred within the past 5 years that will affect the future?
b. Is the government supportive of the economic changes occurring?
c. How welcome are outside investors in your host country?
Politics
Even concepts of democracy will vary as interpreted in Korea, the Philippines, or Great Britain. The sweeping political changes in government will affect future business relations.
The event – such as antigovernment demonstrations, arrests, assassinations, elections, exile, general strikes, guerrilla warfare, government crises, revolutions and riots – are important in determining the stability of a country.
Politics:
a. which political changes have occurred within the past 5 years?
b. how supportive is the government of outside investors? of joint ventures?
c. what are the protocols, the conventions individuals must respect in the host country?
Religion
Be careful of religious beliefs within foreign countries. Although some basic beliefs overlap, there some major differences In connection with religion there is great need for tolerance. Buddhism, Hinduism, and Moslem religions are found in many parts of the world, affecting the values (and attire) of people professing these faiths. For instances, these three religions forbid consumption of alcohol;
Religious holidays affect international communication, interrupting work schedules or delaying responses to requests
Be aware too that religion can affect the status of women; their positions within an economy and even their buying patterns and habits of dress.
Religion: Homogeneity and diversity of belief structure
a. Are you aware of the major religious beliefs that could affect your business relationships?
b. will the religious holidays affect your rhythm of conducting business?
c. what personal behavior is acceptable and nonacceptable?
Social Norms
In various ways any national environmental constraints – education, law and regulations, economics, politics, religion – affect a nation’s social norms. In many countries a male line of the family profoundly influences some business decisions. Decisions, buying patterns, pooling of resources, special interests affect behavior and business communication.
Beyond the immediate family a bond may exist between persons, based on caste, class, age, or even special interests. Be aware of a nation’s social norms.
Social Norms: importance of family, influence of past colonial influences:
a. are you aware of the social hierarchies of the country?
b. Is there a rank order of importance for participants at meetings?
c. Who will really make the business decision?
d. Which country’s influence is still evident after previous colonial control?
Language
An important constraint that supersedes all the preceding variables is language. Obviously, unless both sender and receiver understand a common language, the opportunities for successful business communication are significantly limited.
Language
English is a world language – and to a major extent the language of business.
Language problems are often core to communication misunderstanding.
Language: Use of English and other languages used in business relationships:
a. Is it necessary to have an interpreter at business sessions?
b. is English understood at the oral or written level?
c. Is there a protocol to follow for formal and informal communication.
Individual Cultural Variables
He or she exhibits a unique lifestyle of personal habits and ethnic diversity. Thus, within each culture, on the micro and more personal level, are differences in verbal and nonverbal cues expressed through varying concepts of time, individual speech, food, acceptable dress, managers at home and at work, decision-making patterns, and other nonverbal variations.
Time (Chronemics)
Persons in Latin America and the Middle East treat time more casually then do Americans, prefer promptness. Germans are time-precise. In Latin America – and in Buddhist cultures – you may wait an hour; just reflecting a different concept of time; arriving late is a social accepted custom.
Individual Cultural Variables
Even when referring to seasons of a year, countries differ.
It should not take you long to recognize which is the time conscious culture and which is the one less concerned with precision in time. Knowing cultural perceptions of time helps you understand why some responses are slow – by your standards.
Perceptions of time
a. Is the concept of time considered linear or circular?
b. What impact will time have upon business decisions?
c. Is time considered valuable or an intangible asset?
Individual Cultural Variables
Space (Proxemics)
How close may strangers stand to you?
How do you react in Saudi Arabia when someone’s breath intentionally brushes you in conversation?
How do you like being literally pushed into a train in Tokyo?
How would you react hanging onto the outside of a bus in Pakistan?
How do you react to the cold stare of a German as your eyes invade the privacy of his or her yard?
Some cultures consider those who stand close to you as intrusive, rude, pushy, overbearing.
Concepts of office space differ
Perception of space – What is the average acceptable personal space between natives of the host country?
INDIVIDUAL CULTURAL VARIABLES
Food
It may be a good idea prior to visiting your host country to visit various ethnic restaurants in your home country. Then you’ll have an initial idea as to the kinds of foods available: how they are served, fixed or eaten.
Perceptions of Food
a. Are you aware of the eating habits of your hosts?
b. Are there table conventions you should be aware of?
c. Are there foods you might find disagreeable?
Individual Cultural Variables
Acceptable Dress
It is better to ask about the mode of dress for an occasion in your host country than to risk making an embarrassing mistake.
It most American businesses men wear the business suit whereas women wear dressed or tailored suits.
Some British people might still wear the bowler along with a dark suit and carry an umbrella.
In Middle East long cotton coat are acceptable.
Perception of Dress
a. How much skin may be exposed in both an informal and in a formal situation?
b. Are certain colors disturbing?
c. Will western attire be accepted?
Individual Cultural Variables
Manners
Knowing manner is also very important. Children shake your hand in Germany, hug you in Italy, and often stay in the background in Pakistan/India. In fact, the ritual of the greeting and the farewell is more formal many countries with children and adults. You avoid gifts of red roses in Germany or white chrysanthemums in France, Belgium and Japan.
Be prepared to sit close together in Asia. In Saudi Arabia sons
Defer to their fathers. At the heart of their system is the family.
Perceptions of Manners
a. What is the protocol regarding the introduction of persons in a business situation?
b. What are the “rules” of gift giving?
Decision Making
Patience – above all – is needed in intercultural communication, in doing business with other countries. Americans are typecast as moving too quickly in asking for a decision. Give more thought to inductive communication.
American are accused of being brusk, curt, impolite; we wish to get to the point – fast, “Getting down to business” is a trait of the western culture. The Germans, Singaporeans, Swiss, Dutch, and Scandinavians are similar, quickly getting to the issue. Chinese, Pakistani, French, and British prefer more pleasuring social amenities.
In Japan, decision time is held back as group consensus moves toward a decision.
Ringi process (stamps of approval by many people on a proposal)
Your understanding of the decision process – add to your success in dealing with a foreign environment.
Perceptions of decision making
a. Is the pattern for making decisions consistent from one company to another?
b. Is placement of the major decision maker consistent in meeting situations?
c. Is an inductive or a deductive pattern of decision making preferred?
Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
Verbal
A kind of verbal sparring occurs when strangers meet each seeking to determine which topics are acceptable and uncontroversial the tone of voice of one’s initial words can influence you initial perception of whether the meeting is positive or negative ‘see you later’ can mean the same day to Asian workers or some indefinite time in the future to Americans
Arabs are loud and some Japanese use little volume
Cantonese demand more volume to suggest changes in word meaning
Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
A. Accept cultural differences
1. Studying your own culture
2. Learn about other cultures through books, articles, videos, and other resources.
3. Encourages employees to discuss their culture’s customs
4. Avoid being judgmental
5. Create a formal forum to teach employees about the customers of all cultures represented in the firm reader’s forum.
6. Train employees to see and overcome ethnocentric stereotyping.
Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
B. improve oral and written communications
1. Define the terms people need to know on the job
2. Emphasize major points with repetition and reap.
3. Use familiar words whenever possible.
4. Be concise.
5. Don’t cover too much information at one time.
6. Adjust your message to employees’ education level.
7. Be specific and explicit – using descriptive words, exact measurements, and examples when possible.
8. Give the reason for asking employees to follow a certain procedure and explain what will happen if the procedure is not followed.
9. Use written summaries and visual aids (when appropriate) to clarify your points.
10. Demonstrate and encourage the right way to complete a task, use a tool, and so on.
11. Reduce language barriers: Train managers in the language of their employees, train employees in the language of most customers and of most people in the company, ask bilingual employees to serve as translators, print important health and safety instructions in as many languages as necessary.
C. Access how well you’ve been understood
1. Research the nonverbal reactions of other cultures; then be alert to facial expressions and other nonverbal signs that indicate confusion or embarrassment.
2. Probe for comprehension.
3. Encourage employees to ask questions in private and in writing.
4. Observe how employees use the information you’ve provided, and review any misunderstood points.
D. Offer feedback to improve communication
1. Focus on the positive by explaining that should be done rather than what shouldn’t be done.
2. Discuss a person’s behaviors and the situation, rather than making a judgment about the person.
3. Be supportive as you offer feedback, and reassure individuals that their skills and contribution are important
A Kind of verbal sparring occurs when we judge people to a great extent by their voice. Some native languages demand many tonal variations, giving the impression to a nonnative of loudness, even arrogance.
Nonverbal
A Myriad of nonverbal symbols exists for every culture, even in subcultures. Knowing the major desirable and undesirable cues helps knowing both intended and unintended communication errors.
