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How cross cultural communication problems can be reduced
Cultural differences in communication examples
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According to Robert Levine, a professor of psychology at California State University, Fresno, “social time” refers to how people from different countries define time, which varies from a culture to another. He studied time perspective in six diverse countries based on factors such as accuracy of country’s bank clocks, walking speed, and postal clerk average speed to sell a single stamp. (Levine, 1997)
In “Social Time: The Heartbeat of Culture,” Robert Levine, with Ellen Wolf stated, “When people of different cultures interact, the potential for misunderstanding exists on many levels” (p. 77). Robert Levine indicates that misinterpretation is common between people from different cultures. However, to avoid this confusion I suggest that when
someone is meeting another individual from a different country to know about his/her cultural background regarding punctuality on time or even handshakes. In addition, learning about other cultures may help us to understand others mentality, and why they behave in this manner. Sometimes we observe people and wonder why they act this way, when learning about their culture it is easier to interpret their behavior. This way no bewilderment shall be.
Ting-Toomey, Stella., & Chung, Leeva C. (2012). Understanding Intercultural Communication. Oxford University Press. 43, 159-160.
In Highbrow, Lowbrow, Levine argues that a distinction between high and low culture that did not exist in the first half of the 19th century emerged by the turn of the century and solidified during the 20th century, and that despite a move in the last few decades toward a more ecumenical interpretation of “culture,” the distinction between high art and popular entertainment and the revering of a canon of sacred, inalterable cultural works persists. In the prologue Levine states that one of his central arguments is that concepts of cultural boundaries have changed over the period he treats. Throughout Highbrow, Lowbrow, Levine defines culture as a process rather than a fixed entity, and as a product of interactions between the past and the present.
It is not uncommon for an individual to describe a culture that is not their own as exotic, unique, or dated. However, they would be overlooking the idea and importance of cultural relativism on a global scale. It is understandable that a cultural aspect, different from what an individual is used to interacting in, seems hard to understand or too complex to recognize, but it is important to look at one’s own culture and others from multiple angles. The lack of familiarity of another culture that often produces words like “exotic” can be put away with a proper amount of time researching, understanding, and appreciating the normal behavior of another culture. In the paper, I will discuss the concepts that go along with cultural relativism and relate these to the stories found in “Nest in the Wind” and examples from our current society.
Experiencing a society of multi-cultures is beneficial through a variety of concepts to epitomize each individual identity. A person may vary in the degree to which he or she identifies with, morals, or...
Ayse K. Uskul is a Reader at the University of Kent. She has a Ph.D. in Social/Personality Psychology from York University. Her main focus research interests are Culture and Ethnicity (Social Psychology Network. ,n.d.). Socio-cultural perspectives, focuses on social behavior based off of people’s culture. (PSY 530 Lecture1, 2016). In one of Ayse K. Uskul studies, she discusses the difference between East Asia, North America, and Western Europe people (culture wise). The objective of the study is to understand
A major observation that took notice was any adult or parent at any given time was using their phone, whether they were actively engaged or not. These two key patterns stood out to me because in a room full of people a person sit by themselves and not interact or converse with another adult, and the reason could be as easy as unfamiliarity, because it was obvious who knew each other prior and who did not. It is also plausible that with the expansive array of ethnicity's that cross-cultural communication or miscommunication was a barrier. This barrier in communication can happens “person from one culture sends a message to a person from another culture. Cross-cultural miscommunication occurs when the person from the second culture does not receive the sender's intended message. The greater the differences between the sender's and the receiver's cultures, the greater the chance for cross-cultural miscommunication” (Adler, n.d., p.2). It is a flaw for society to group Americans into a single culture, nonetheless there are
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).
The scientific definition of time is a measurement of progress that is relative to an individual’s perception of events (HowStuffWorks.com, 2010). A psychological study proves that these viewpoints are
A cross culture misunderstanding is when there is a difference between two cultures in the interpretation of a behavior, words, gesture that have different meanings in the different societies. In today’s multicultural business environment it is instrumental that managers are culturally aware so as to enable productivity and maximum efficiency of their human resource.
Effective communication with people of difference cultures can be especially challenging. The way people interpret the world can be strikingly different between cultures. Intercultural communication occurs when a member from one culture produces a message that is absorbed by a member of another culture. How that message is understood by the communicating party is a vital part in intercultural communication. For example, in Cambodia it would be considered rude to discuss business in a social setting (Language, culture, customs and etiquette, n.d.). However, in the United States this is a common practice and is almost an encouraged event. Another important factor and consideration in intercultural communication is the importance of understanding cultures, values, history and beliefs. For instance, in Cambodia, if you deliver a present that is wrapped in white paper, this is considered to represent mourning. This is one of the many reasons why it is important to assimilate into a culture and be mindful of communication between cultures (Language, culture, customs and etiquette, n.d.).
Four months ago I described culture as “a makeup of different groups that someone can relate to, which in the end will form that person’s identity”. To some extent I still stand by this definition, but ever since then I have come a long a way in understanding culture and even experiencing it in different ways. This by itself has led me to be more introspective of my definition of culture and has made me realize that things aren’t always how we assume them to be. I found this out through one of my best friend’s presentation that I had to attend for the cultural activities assignment. Mirada’s’ presentation has really helped illustrate the diversity of culture for me. This has made me more respectful of other people’s cultures and beliefs, which
unknown. (n.d.). The relationship between Culture and Communication. Retrieved November 20, 2010, from jrank.org: http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articles/pages/6491/culture-and-communication.html
Many people who go to visit or work in another country suffer some misunderstanding from the local people, because they have a different culture. Different culture will cause disparity points of view about almost everything. In the article, Intercultural Communication Stumbling Blocks by Laray M. Barna, there are five stumbling blocks mentioned that are seen in a cross-culture communication. These blocks are: language, nonverbal signs and symbols, preconceptions and stereotypes, the tendency to evaluate and high anxiety. Barna wants to use these stumbling blocks to show the common blockades between different cultures. I agree with what she thinks about the language, nonverbal signs and symbols, preconceptions and stereotypes, and the tendency
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.
To be human is to be social. We are, in essence, a reflection of our society, we are ‘the ensemble of social relationships’ we have experienced (Marx 1968:29). Humans have a primal need to communicate and interact with other humans (Keesing 1974:75). The way one interacts and communicates, however, is shaped by the society in which one lives (Benedict 1934:46). To be a social being, is to interact with and participate in one's society in a culturally acceptable way, to use and be used by society (Benedict 1934: 46). This leaves the experiences of social beings completely relative to the time and place of their culture.