International Communications Understanding Communication

International Communications

UnderstandingCommunication

The Importance of Communication

There are many different ways to communicate everyday. Words, gestures, facial expressions, posture, the clothes you wear, hair style, personal hygiene.

Effective communication holds things together such as relationships, friends, organizations, and entire nations.


Understanding communication in a single culture is difficult. Trying to understand communication across cultures is a far greater challenge.

This chapter will describe the basic forms of communication and relate them to international business.


Communication- means transmitting, receiving, and processing information.

When the process takes place between one person and another, it is interpersonal communication

When it takes place in a company, it is organizational communication


Language- is the medium of communication through words, symbols, numbers, characters, or nonverbal cues. See figure 3-1 on page 53. (Sender and Receiver)


Verbal Communication- is sending messages by using words that are either spoken or written.


Language and International Business- See figure 3-2. one country with

the most people speaking 1 language vs many countries speaking 1 language.

Language and word gender- in some countries nouns are assigned a male or female gender. Cat spoken in Spanish is gato, which is masculine.


Adjectives change in order to fit a noun’s gender.

Using Nouns and Verbs- another complication in learning a language is the sequence or order, or order of nouns and verbs. In English sentences, the noun usually comes first, and then the verb follows.


In many other languages the opposite is true.

Using Alphabets and Characters- perhaps the biggest difference between languages is the form they are written in. See figure 3.3 on page 55.


Using English- Different languages makes communication more difficult. Many companies choose to use the English language when doing business, or they include text in English on their Websites. English is becoming the most dominate language on the internet.


Verbal Communication Challenges- there are several challenges that business people face when speaking various languages in other environments, and they are as follows:

How people speak- some people talk very fast in their native tongues. It may be hard to understand them.


Another challenge on how people speak is their use of slang words which is speech used on the street, or recreational situations. A person from Greece may not understand the word Bling used here in America.


Technical Terms- in world languages also vary. Everything is unique, from names for computer parts to math symbols and terms. A person must know these terms to communicate well.

Time for Translation- pace of conversation is important. A person needs time to digest words spoken.


Social Behavior and Communication- Social behavior affects methods of communications around the world.

High Context culture vs Low Context culture.


In a high context culture, language is more figurative, or symbolic, than literal. The context of words is highly important. In Japan, avoiding being embarrassed is a priority. Keeping a positive public image is crucial. A Japanese businessperson would never give a negative response in a direct manner.


In Low context cultures, such as those in North America, words are taken more literally, and people are less concerned with personal embarrassment. Being self effacing or telling jokes can be ways to create bonds with people from this type of culture.


Other challenges- complications can develop when you speak or interpret a language in a foreign country. These can lead to incorrect translations. It is important to pay attention to several language issues.

Noun-Verb agreement- some people may say, I try hard, instead of, I am trying hard. Matching the exact noun to the verb is hard to do.


Singular-Plural Issues- sometimes a person speaking a world language might not identify something as plural or singular. The words “my hair” can take on a singular or plural characteristic depending on who said it. Whole head of hair vs a single strand. The use of adding s’s to the end of words can be confusing. He bought three dozen roses vs he bought three dozen rose.


Imprecise translations- inaccurate translation of one language to the other can be a huge problem when conducting business. In Germany the slogan for Pepsi was Come alive with Pepsi. In German it was translated to Come out of the grave with Pepsi.


English as a second language- consider when speaking to someone is has English as a second language. Pace yourself, Be clear, and confirm what you say.


Verbal Communication Strategies- it is clear that effective verbal communication skills are a vital part of working with companies in other countries. To succeed, it is helpful to apply several strategies:

Learning Key Phrases- know what language is the most appropriate to use in a business situation. See figure 3.4 on page 58.


Using Names- the use of names, titles, and rank is very helpful in conducting business in a foreign land. Do you use someone’s first name or use Mr. or Mrs. Do you use Your Honor, Mr. President, Dr., etc, etc. In some countries, lower ranked workers never make eye contact with the upper management.


Using Business Cards- in the U.S., it is common practice to hand out business cards. Giving cards without the permission in some foreign countries is look upon as an insult.

Other Differences to consider are: Time Zones- Know what time it is, and

when to conduct business. Currency- know what the exchange

rate is and what currency you are using.


The Metric System- Most of the world except the U.S. uses the metric system. Meters and Kilometers vs. Feet and Miles, and Liters vs. Gallons. Know the conversions to be able to make sound decisions when working with the metric System.


Trade Documentation- (International Trade Documentation) is the legal paper work involved in closing a deal. The papers must be prepared accurately and read by all parties involved before signing on the dotted line.

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International Communications Understanding Communication