Essay on Non_Verbal Communication and Intercultural Communication

1414 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Importance of promoting cultural diversity

Part B

Essay on Non-Verbal Communication and Intercultural Communication

The important thing to remember about culture is that while it may be fundamental, it is not innate. Yet it’s often not discussed, analysed or critiqued but is seen as being ‘common sense’. Culture is made up of the shared values and assumptions of a particular group of people. Because these values and assumptions are shared, it is easy to take them for granted and believe that they are ‘normal’. In this way it is possible for people to believe that the ways in which they behave and the things they value are right and true for everyone.

Inter-, as you’ll probably know, comes from the Latin word for “between”, and the dictionary defines “communication” as “exchanging information”. Therefore, let’s draw the following conclusion: Intercultural communication refers to exchanging information between people from different cultures. Sounds very easy, don’t it? It’s the “cultures” part of this simple definition where things start getting a tad complicated.

Today the world we live in is “a global village” where no nation, group or culture can remain anonymous (Samovar & Porter, 1991). What happens in one part of the world affects all parts of the world. As the world is becoming smaller, we are increasingly interacting with people from many different cultures. While modern technology has made it easier for us to communicate with people anywhere in the world, such interactions can be difficult if we do not know how to deal with people and cultures different from our own. Here are examples of some of the obvious mistakes politicians and businesses have made when it comes to dealing with other languages cultures:

• In Germany, a Berliner is a jelly donut. In his s...

... middle of paper ...

...s encountered by Chinese background students in intercultural communications. This study also suggests including knowledge of nonverbal communication into EFL teaching so as to enable English learners to become fully competent in the targeted language, because nonverbal communication is used in everyday communication, and it is one of the prerequisites to acquire intercultural communicative competence.

References:

Allen, L. Q. (1999). Functions of Nonverbal Communication in Teaching and Learning a Foreign Language. The French Review, 72(3), 469-480.

Freire, P. (1970). Pedagogy of the oppressed (M. B. Ramos, Trans.). New York: Seabury.

Gudykunst, W. B. (1983). Intercultural communication theory: Current perspectives. Berverly Hills: Sage.

Jandt, F. E. (2001). Intercultural communication: An introduction (third ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Show More
Related

  • Culture Baggage By Barbara Ehrenreich Summary

    783 Words  | 2 Pages

    Culture often means an appreciation of the finer things in life; however, culture brings members of a society together. We have a sense of belonging because we share similar beliefs, values, and attitudes about what’s right and wrong. As a result, culture changes as people adapt to their surroundings. According to Bishop Donald, “let it begin with me and my children and grandchildren” (211). Among other things, culture influences what you eat; how you were raised and will raise your own children? If, when, and whom you will marry; how you make and spend money. Truth is culture is adaptive and always changing over time because

    Read More

  • Verbal Communication: Nonverbal Interpersonal Communication In The Workplace

    1269 Words  | 3 Pages

    Nonverbal interpersonal communication in the workplace is an essential role in the communication process. Nonverbal communication defined by Iosim, Vuici, Popescu, and Marin (2017), as representing a message, that is not expressed in words, but which can be decoded and can have a meaning. Though nonverbal communication is like verbal communication because of its symbolic characteristics, rule-guided tendencies, intentional and unintentional qualities, and that it reflects cultural background, it is different than verbal communication in a few ways. Nonverbal communication is perceived believable, it’s multichannel and it’s continuous. A teacher at South San Antonio Independent School District

    Read More

  • Nonverbal Communication and Cultural Differences

    1651 Words  | 4 Pages

    Nonverbal communication has always played an important role in the entire communication process. It may include gestures, kinesics, haptics and other means, which a person incorporates into the communication process. These acts make the communication process more effective and meaningful. However, nonverbal communication is highly influenced by cultural differences as the context of the culture defines how the message is interpreted. This essay will analyse several types of nonverbal communication such as proxemics, haptics, kinesics, semiotics and paralinguistic. It will also analyse the messages conveyed by these nonverbal communication types in different cultures and their impact on the non-verbal communication process in relative cultural contexts.

    Read More

  • Cultural Competence and Intercultural Communication

    1667 Words  | 4 Pages

    When individuals or groups from different cultures communicate, this process is called intercultural communication. The transaction process of listening and responding to people from different cultural backgrounds can be challenging. The greater the difference in culture between two people, the greater the potential of misunderstanding and mistrust. Misunderstanding and miscommunication occur between people from different cultures because of different coding rules and cultural norms, which play a major role in shaping the patterns of interaction (Jandt, 2012).

    Read More

  • Intercultural Communication and Nonverbal Communication

    586 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hall (as cited in Würtz, 2006) defined high context cultures have a preference for Nonverbal communication (p. 55). High context culture website uses implicit information, in which it is important to have related news information and some signs. Nonverbal communication mainly the emphasis on visual effects which are images, animation, links, buttons, music, video, symbols and messages related to particular topics (p. 274). A Nonverbal communication is one in which most of the information is in the physical forms, while very little is in the text. Singh, Zhao & Hu’s (as cited in Ahmed, Mouratidis & Preston, 2009) demonstrated that "the use of symbols and icons is more important, in Nonverbal communication" (p. 55). For instance, Indian websites regularly use Color, symbolism, animations, images and sometimes video clip and music also. According to Evers (as cited in Ahmed, Mouratidis & Preston, 2009) found that the 86.5 % of Asians strongly liked sound effects (Evers, 2001). In short, the high context culture country uses nonverbal communication which is India, China, Mexico, Brazil and Japan.

    Read More

  • The Importance of Being a Competent Communicator

    1108 Words  | 3 Pages

    Non-verbal communication decodes messages using body language and facial expressions. Therefore, non-verbal communication is a type of language as its own that can be used universally. This includes, touching behavior, proximity, eye contact, gestures and many more. Furthermore, non-verbal communication can be misinterpreted as well because people from other countries has different ways of interpreting gesture...

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Intercultural Communication

    1496 Words  | 3 Pages

    With an increase in globalization, many people venture into other countries to seek employment and education opportunities. The United States-based corporations employ over 100 million overseas workers. They also hire a large number of locals who then move to take roles in other countries where the company has operations (Reichard et al. 2015). This means that Americans are exposed to a high number of people from other nations with diverse cultures in their workplaces, schools, neighborhoods and other social places. Therefore, people need to improve their intercultural communication skills to enable them to interact efficiently with people with diverse cultures. The improvement of technology has made the media an agent for enhanced

    Read More

  • Intercultural Communication: An Eveolving Discipline

    1868 Words  | 4 Pages

    Intercultural communication is an evolving discipline that encapsulates the interactions between individuals or groups from different backgrounds. Diversity and the need for cultural awareness are forever increasing, and this solidifies the direction in which diversity will take in the future. Intercultural communication is going to be a tremendous part of our future and as individuals it will be part of our personal, social and professional relationships.

    Read More

  • Research Paper On Understanding Identity

    1325 Words  | 3 Pages

    Since we all learn and develop different identities trying to communicate with people of different identities is difficult and has its implications. We often try to communicate with others the way we would communicate with ourselves. In order to interact with other cultures and identities, we must learn those identities and learn to adapt to those other identities. In order to have successful intercultural communication, we must accept our differences but discover our similarities, as

    Read More

  • Cross Cultural Communication Essay

    1290 Words  | 3 Pages

    Cross culture communication basically describes one’s ability to successfully create, stimulate, develop relationships with member of a culture which is different from our own culture. The internet technology today has really helped to promote business to different cultures of the world. Cross culture communication is like a two way street if one side doesn’t know take responsibility of communication effectively and clearly then miscommunication is inevitable. Regardless of whom they are communicating with or in whatever situation, the desired to build bridge between the listener and the speaker is most important. If the communication is electronic then it becomes much easy but what if you have to communicate face-to-face? Cross culture communication is a significant issue in international business because the success of international business depends upon sophisticated interaction between different culture and subculture; it can be experienced by an employee who is transferred to another country with a whole new culture in order to accomplish a mutual task people from more or less different cultural and geographical background have to come and work together. Time is one of the most essential differences that separate cultural way of doing things. In our country time is seen as quantitative, present focused and sequential. In the east people like to do many things at a single time. There, time is seen as unlimited continuity. So that time can play a significant role in painful and dramatic ways in negotiation processes. It is also completely true that cultural approaches to communication is not always applied in good faith but may able to serve variety of motive. Communication is an important influenc...

    Read More

  • Intercultural Communication Reflection Paper

    1051 Words  | 3 Pages

    I wasn 't quite sure what I was getting into when I first enrolled in Intercultural Communications. I had assumptions as to the goals of the course such as I would be learning about the way cultures interact with each other, learn about communication in general, or I would be learning about the ways we use communication through our culture. I think that I achieve the latter goal, but I also gained knowledge about more then just my culture. I came to realize that there is more to a culture than just language, appearances, and customs, which are aspects of culture that could be seen above the waterline, or they are more noticeable/obvious to someone outside of that culture. There are aspects of culture that are below the waterline, or more

    Read More

  • Problems In Intercultural Communication

    1552 Words  | 4 Pages

    Humans have been communicating since four million years. On the other hand, the birth of culture is estimated to have taken place about 35,000 years ago. Today, both culture and communication have evolved considerably and have become interdependent of one another, to the point that communication is considered to be a product of culture. Thus, our own culture has a deep impact on our thoughts and behaviors. Since each culture has its distinct aspects, intercultural communication can be the cause of conflict and disorder. There are three main issues which are at the root of the problem of intercultural miscommunication : language as a barrier, cultural diversity and ethnocentrism. I will analyze these three notions in situations in which intercultural communication is frequent such as : the workplace, the classroom and vacation trips.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of International And Intercultural Communication

    1087 Words  | 3 Pages

    In order to be a good international communicator, we have to be able to “learn how to adapt and thrive in unfamiliar environments, and contribute to our planet in a constructive, peaceful manner” (Jackson, J. 2014, p. 4). We have to be fully aware of the culture to correctly use the language (Jackson, J. 2014, p.88), but as an international language this does not particularly account on a single culture. I believe it is crucial to be fully acquainted about the background of the English language to appreciate the fact that English is “no longer linked to a single culture or nation but serves both global and local needs as a language of wider communication” (McKay, S. 2002). Which allows us not to be xenophobic towards other cultures but to respect them in every way when interacting by using English, one of the international

    Read More

  • Essay On Intercultural Communication

    1092 Words  | 3 Pages

    Effective communication is a necessity in today’s world, especially for successful international business. Intercultural communication is becoming progressively imperative because of the rise of globalization and progressively multicultural work environments. Intercultural business communication tries to comprehend the extensive variety of communication issues that frequently show up inside a firm, recognizing that companies are often framed by individuals hailing from distinctive nations and/or districts, who have diverse instructive foundations, and who may be influenced by their religious convictions, their ethnic groups, or their social class.... ... middle of paper ...

    Read More

  • Culture Is Ordinary, by Raymond Williams

    1076 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the end, what we learn from this article is very realistic and logical. Furthermore, it is supported with real-life examples. Culture is ordinary, each individual has it, and it is both individual and common. It’s a result of both traditional values and an individual effort. Therefore, trying to fit it into certain sharp-edged models would be wrong.

    Read More

More about Essay on Non_Verbal Communication and Intercultural Communication

Open Document