Japan's Culture Affects the Verbal and Nonverbal Communication Patterns

Japan's Culture Affects the Verbal and Nonverbal Communication Patterns

Introduction

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the nature of communication patterns among Japanese culture. Communication style in this study refers to the way people use d different strategies to communicate. More specifically, it refers to the manner s of talking an d listening in small group communication. Small group communication in this study is defined as communication that takes p lace in a face-to-face situation in a group of two to five persons. In other word s, this study is designed to examine how people talk an d listen , how they exchange ideas, express agreement and disagreement, and how they decline, respond to compliments, and apologizes and criticize, etc.

When we visit another country where a different language is spoken, it is obvious that it is necessary for someone to speak the other's language in order to surmount this barrier and verbally communicate. What is not so obvious, however, is that cultural barriers are greater than language barriers and they frequently provoke reactions that are both negative and emotional. What is considerate behavior in one country may be rude in another. What is a sensitive issue to one culture, to another may not be a point of any consequence. Therefore, we really need to learn to “speak” the culture.

It is often pointed out that throughout the long history of Japan , the Japanese have cultivated their unique communication styles which are based on their high-context , collectivistic, and almost homogeneous society. The Japanese are reported to be reserved, cautious, evasive, silent , and ambiguous, p lacing an emphasis on not hurting others an d keeping harmonious relations with each other . This emphasis on harmony has helped to mold a society where the ability to assimilate differences an d to engineer consensus is valued above a talent for argument. The purpose of dialogue is not to clarify the points on which disagreement exist , but to conform to the views of the other party. In this communication-passive society of Japan, modesty, humility, an d suppression of self are considered being moral ideals, an d people are rather reluctant to disclose their true feelings.

Discussion

Of all the aspects of dealing with the Japanese, the ones which probably cause the biggest dilemmas concern communication difficulties. Japanese communications are epitomised by subtlety and nuance, where how one appears and what one publicly states (tatemae) and what one really thinks (honne) are often poles apart. There is often a huge distance between the expressed 'tatemae' and the felt 'honne' — they can often even be contradictory.

The development of relationships in Japan is often dependent on people's ability to read the underlying truth which may underpin the spoken rhetoric. It can, of course, be very difficult for the non-Japanese to navigate these very confusing paradoxes. It is probably best to say that everything should be questioned in order to ensure that clear understanding has been ...