CULTURAL COMMUNICATION BARRIERS

(Cont.) Week 4

Matakuliah : V0052Tahun : 2008

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Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit, the students should be able to identify and recognize major barriers to effective cross-cultural communication.Mahasiswa dapat mengidentifikasikan dan mengenali jenis-jenis hambatan pada komunikasi antar budaya.

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Subjects

•Non-verbal communication•Preconception and Stereotypes•Tendency to make judgment•Stress level and work place issue

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Week 4

Preconceptions and Stereotypes

• Stereotypes are sets of attitudes or beliefs in which qualities or characteristics are attributed to a person according to the group of people to which the individual belongs

• We create a stereotypes when we categorize people according to traits of dress, behavior, physical appearance, and ignore all else about them

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• Danger of stereotypes to effective communication:– Stereotypes are rigid, resistant to

change, often incorrect and usually unfavorable and judgemental

– The over generalized attitudes prevent objective perception and openness to individual differences

– They cause us to assume that a widely held believe is true when it may not be

Week 4

Negative Effects on Communication

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• Shaheen (1984) cited the four Western myths about Arabs as shown on television:

“Arabs are wealthy, barbaric, sex maniacs and terrorist-minded”

• Asian-American become associated with the stereotype of the “model minority” who achieved success through hard work, perseverance, silent stoicism, strong family ties, and strong support for education

Week 4

Example of Stereotypes

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Week 4Avoiding Preconceptions and Stereotypes

• Become aware of you own preconceptions and stereotypes of the guests’ culture

• Beware of media stereotyping• Re-interpret the guests’ behavior from their own

cultural perspective• Don’t make assumptions and take things for

granted• Be willing to adapt and change your own

stereotypes to fit your new experiences• Treat your international guests as you do all your

guests – as individuals

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Week 4

Prejudice

• Prejudice refers to the irrational suspicion or hatred of a particular group, race, religion, or sexual orientation (Rothenberg, 1992)

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Week 4

Tendency to Make Judgments

• Tendency to judge is largely due to ethnocentrism

• Ethnocentrism is negatively judging aspects of another culture by the standards of one’s own culture

• To be ethnocentric is to believe in the superiority of one’s own culture.

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Week 4

Avoiding Inappropriate Judgments

• Known your own cultural values• Be aware of ethnocentrism (making judgments based

on ones own standards and applying those standards in judging others from different cultural backgrounds)

• Be objective• Be aware of cultural differences in standards and

norms of behavior in other cultures• Don’t judge someone from another culture by your

own cultural values until you have to know them and their cultural values

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Week 4

High Level of Stress at Works

• Long hours• Late hours• Shift work• High level of customer contact• Physically demanding• Many cross-cultural situations

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Week 4

Reducing Stress and Anxiety

• Increase knowledge and understanding of the cultural backgrounds of your guests

• Aware of the stress factor

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Week 4

Identifying Workplace Issue

• With Guests:– Difficulty with language on menus, check-in,

hotel directory, facilities usages, signs, safety, medical needs

• With Colleagues:– Family obligations– Religion/holidays– Work ethics– Family structure

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QUESTIONS?

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Group Discussion

• Develop a list of situations that can cause communication problems in the workplace for international guests

• Suggest strategies to reduce the problems

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Review Questions 3

1. What are the negative effects of ethnocentrism on communication?

2. What is prejudice? Give examples.3. Explain why the level of stress at the work

place may cause barrier in communication.