COMMUNICATING ACROSS CULTURES

Communicating Across Cultures

Communicating Across Cultures

Communicating Cross-Culturally

All communication is cultural -- it draws on ways we have learned to speak and give nonverbal messages. We do not always communicate the same way from day to day? since factors like context? individual personality? and mood interact with the variety of cultural influences we have internalized that influence our choices. Communication is interactive? so an important influence on its effectiveness is our relationship with others. (Abbassi? 1991? 24-32)

The challenge is that even with all the good will in the world? miscommunication is likely to happen? especially when there are significant cultural differences between communicators. Miscommunication may lead to conflict? or aggravate conflict that already exists. (Abbassi? 1991? 24-32) We make -- whether it is clear to us or not -- quite different meaning of the world? our places in it? and our relationships with others. In this module? cross-cultural communication will be outlined and demonstrated by examples of ideas? attitudes? and behaviors involving four variables:

Time and Space

Fate and Personal Responsibility

Face and Face-Saving

Nonverbal Communication

As our familiarity with these different starting points increases? we are cultivating cultural fluency -- awareness of the ways cultures operate in communication and conflict? and the ability to respond effectively to these differences. (Abbassi? 1991? 24-32)

Fate and Personal Responsibility

Another important variable affecting communication across cultures is fate and personal responsibility. This refers to the degree to which we feel ourselves the masters of our lives? versus the degree to which we see ourselves as subject to things outside our control. Another way to look at this is to ask how much we see ourselves able to change and maneuver? to choose the course of our lives and relationships. Some have drawn a parallel between the emphasis on personal responsibility in North American settings and the landscape itself. (Boam? 1992)

In this expansive landscape? many children grow up with an epic sense of life? where ideas are big? and hope springs eternal. When they experience setbacks? they are encouraged to redouble their efforts? to "try? try again." Action? efficacy? and achievement are emphasized and expected. Free will is enshrined in laws and enforced by courts. (Boam? 1992)

Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal communication is hugely important in any interaction with others; its importance is multiplied across cultures. This is because we tend to look for nonverbal cues when verbal messages are unclear or ambiguous? as they are more likely to be across cultures (especially when different languages are being used). (Boam? 1992) Since nonverbal behavior arises from our cultural common sense -- our ideas about what is appropriate? normal? and effective as communication in relationships -- we use different systems of understanding gestures? posture? silence? spacial relations? emotional expression? touch? physical appearance? and other nonverbal cues. Cultures also attribute different degrees of importance to verbal and nonverbal behavior. (Boam? 1992)

A culturally-fluent approach to conflict means working over time to understand these and other ways communication varies across cultures? and applying these understandings in order to enhance relationships across ...