cross cultural communication

By : Alok kumar singh PONDICHERRY UNIVERSITY

Cross- cultural communications

Culture is the arts elevated to a set of beliefs---Tom Wolfe

Culture is the lens through which we view the world

What is culture?• Culture.

visible

Cultural differences

Communication styles

Attitudes towards conflict

Decision making styles

Approaching to knowing

unvisible

Beliefs

Values

Expectation

Attitudes

communication

Communication is the sending of message from a source to a receiver with the least possible loss of meaning .

The speaker sends a messages that is in some kind of code . The listener decodes the messages and responds thereby giving the speaker feedback

Why cross culture is important ?

Globalization

Business opportunities

Job opportunities

Sharing of views and ideas

Talent improvisation

An understanding of diverse market

Context cultures

Low context cultures---cultures that rely heavily on words to convey meaning in communication .

High context culture---cultures that rely heavily on non-verbal and subtle situational cues in communication .

JapaneseArabs Latin AmericansIitaliansBritishFrenchNorth americansScandinavians Germans Swiss

Eye

In some cultures, looking people in the eyes is assumed to indicate honesty and straightforwardness , in others it is seen as challenging and rude .

In Arab culture too little eye contact is regarded as disrespectful .

In English culture certain amount of eye contact is necessary but too much makes people uncomfortable

In South- Asian countries direct eye contact is regarded aggressive & rude .

Gestures

U S = O K JAPAN = MONEY

RUSSIA = ZERO

BRAZIL = INSULT

Welcome topics during conversation

Indonesia – family, travel, sports, local cuisine

Germany – sports, politics,current events, beer.

Blocks to cultural communication

Discrimination-differential treatment of an individual due to minority status ;actual & percieved

Stereotyping—Generalizing about a person while ignoring presence of individual differences

Continued-----

Tone difference-Formal tone change becomes embarrassing & off-putting in some cultures.

Cultural imposition-

Skills to overcome differences

To handle yourself ,use your head To handle others ,use your heart.

Continued---

Respect differences while working together

Continued---

Building trust across cultural differences

Connecting people

Precautions in cross- cultural communication

1. Slow down2. Separate question3. Use easy words4. Write it down5. Be supportive 6. Check meaning7. Avoid Slang8. Watch the humour9. Avoid negative question10. Maintain etiquette