Communication is simply the act of transferring information from one place to another. It is an exchange of thoughts between two or more people. It is the medium through which people correspond in order to send across or receive information, feelings, emotions, etc. In an act of communication there's usually at least one speaker or sender, a message which is transmitted, and a person or persons for whom this message is intended; the receiver. Communication is not only the importance of the transfer of messages but also information creation and sharing (Reisinger, 2009). The word communication often suggests similarity, agreement, or consensus in the thoughts or experiences shared in communication.

There are three major types of communication: Verbal or dialog, Non-verbal, and visual.Dialog or verbal communicationis aconversationbetween two or more entities in which they use their speech organs to convey a message. Verbal communication refers to the use of sounds and language to relay a message. It serves as a vehicle for expressing desires, ideas and concepts and is vital to the processes of learning and teaching (Hanes, 2013). Effective verbal or spoken communication is dependant on a number of factors and cannot be fully isolated from other important interpersonal skills such asnon-verbal communication,listening skillsandclarification. In combination with nonverbal forms of communication, verbal communication acts as the primary tool for expression between two or more people. Clarity of speech, remaining calm and being focused and being polite constitute abet the process of verbal communication.

On the other hand Nnonverbal communicationis the process of communicating by through sending and receiving wordless messages throughgestures,body languageorposture,facial expression, eye contact, object communication such asclothing, andhairstyles, or evenarchitectureor symbols, all of which are influenced significantly by a persons cultural background.In his book The Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals, Charles Darwin examined how nonverbal behaviors communicate emotion in socially adaptive ways. The majority of communication is transmitted through non-verbal means. Non-verbal signals can give clues and additional information and meaning over and above spoken (verbal) communication.

Verbal and nonverbal forms of communication are both essential parts of human interaction. It is difficult for humans to imagine a world that is completely nonverbal. When people visit foreign countries where they do not speak the language, they may try to use nonverbal communication such as pointing and facial expressions to get their message across, but without a common language to speak, interaction can be frustrating and counterproductive. Similarly, parents are overjoyed when their baby first starts to speak. Although children could previously communicate with their parents nonverbally, language opens up a whole new avenue of communication, allowing for more precise and intricate exchanges of information. Even though both forms of communication can be used alone, they are more frequently used together. Interpersonal communication not only involves theexplicitmeaning of words, the information or message conveyed, but also refers toimplicitmessages, whether intentional or not, which are expressed through non-verbal behaviors.

As the world has shrunk drastically and have is becoming more and more united and globalized with due to the catalyst of free movement of people and workforce, it is imperative that one should be able to communicate effectively within various cultures. Cross-cultural communication occurs when two people have a need to communicate with one another but do not share a common language or cultural background. It is a communication process in which people from different cultures try to understand what others from different cultures try to communicate and what their messages mean. It indicates the presence of at least two individuals who are culturally different from each other in their value orientations, preferred communication codes, or expectations from communication. (Lustig & Koester, 1993).

Cross-cultural communications can be done on two spheres: verbal and non-verbal. Communicating in a culturally different context can be very difficult considering the large number of complex dimensions on which cultures differ and which may create difficulties in intercultural communication. Intercultural communication is never perfect. The differences of interpretation of nonverbal behavior may lead to conflict, or escalate existing conflict. There are often more problems in cross-cultural communication which happens between people of different cultural backgrounds than in communication between people of the same cultural background. Each participant may interpret the other's speech according to his/her own cultural conventions and expectations. The difficulties are caused by cultural differences in verbal and non-verbal signals, relationship patterns, conversation and interaction styles, cultural values, and time and context orientations. If the cultural conventions of the speaker are widely different, misinterpretations and misunderstandings can easily arise, even result in total breakdown of communication (Richards, 1985). Serious problems can occur when communication is confused by cultural misunderstandings. A misunderstanding may be due to ignorance, misinformation or incorrect stereotypes or may simply occur when a person misinterprets the message that someone was trying to convey.

For successful intercultural communication, people need to open themselves to new experiences and accept their own and others uniqueness and differences.A flourishing cross-cultural communication is dependent on clear and open verbal or non-verbal communication and an understanding of cultural influences on communication. For intercultural communication to be successful, people need to open themselves to new experiences. They should become more flexible, willing to accept other viewpoints without judging or dismissing them. Greater sensitivity to nonverbal differences is a beginning step towards better cross-cultural communication. Proper communication depends on getting to know people as individuals, asking questions, and seeking to understand their perspective.

As the global community integrates, all of us, willingly or unwillingly,we have to respect and understand try to assimilate different cultures. Intercultural communication occurs whenever a person from one culture sends a verbal or nonverbal message to be processed by a person from a different culture. These may seem simple and undemanding. However it requires a thorough understanding of two key ingredients namely communication and culture.It is very important to understandsomething about cultural starting-points and values in order to interpret silent messages in cross-cultural interactions. Real and authentic communication is not about sharing meanings; it is about the ability to see, acknowledge and respect the difference and uniqueness of other people rather than similarities or commonalities. Real communication is about the ability to see how different people are, so that they can appreciate their own and others uniqueness. Real communication is about the ability to open up and see multiple identities and perspectives.

Check the last two paragraphs and group the similar points . Also end the essay on a lighter note or by reffering to the same story as you started with Rest seems to be fine.

Referenceshttp://translationjournal.net/journal/50culture.htm Volume 13, No. 4October 2009 Translation Journal, Cross-Cultural Communication and Translation by Forogh Karimipur Davaninezhad, Islamic Azad University, Shahreza Branch, Isfahan, Iran

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http://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/nonverbal-communication.html#ixzz34IRrN8qA

(Kratiuk-Wall, S, Shanley,C &Russell, K 2005,Cultural Diversity and Dementia, Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Sydney)

Diversity tip sheet, cross-cultural communication translating non verbal cues, Diversity council, 2008)

http://www.interestingarticles.com/psychology/the-role-of-nonverbal-elements-in-intercultural-communication-877.html#ixzz34J37ELPq

AleksandraKovrlija, Sept, 2008, The Role of Nonverbal Elements in Intercultural Communication, Interesting Articles.com