Cross Cultural Communication

What is culture?

“Culture

-the attitudes and beliefs, ways of thinking, behaving and remembering shared by members of that community.” (Kramsch 1996).

What is culture?

• Anthropological Culture

The ways that people of a certain group behave/live among themselves.

• High culture

The art, music, theater, literature created by culture

• Popular culture

Contemporary music/films/trends

What is culture?

Surface culture• Dress• Clothing• Gestures• Music• Art• Architecture

Deep culture• Worldview• Language• Kinship systems• Social organization

Deep culture

• WorldviewOrientation toward religion, humanity, nature, and the universe.

• LanguageMedium to transmit culture

• Kinship systemsImportance of different family roles and the relationships between family members

• Social organizationImportance of relationship among group members

The importance of Values

• Cultural values identify behavioral characteristics that members of the society consider important and valuable.

• Serve as a mechanism of social controlby determining how members of a culture should behave.

• Core values vs. peripheral values

The importance of values

• Talk to a partner and discuss following questions:

• What are some important values in Thai society?

• What do you think are some important values in North American culture?

Dynamics of culture systems in one main culture

• Individual members of one culture may differ in the values and adopt several sub-cultures.

• Boundaries are only loosely definedCulture can be shared by people from different geographical locations.

• Values and systems can change over time

How we see other cultures

• Influence of our own culture

using our own cultural framework for interpretation

• Result

- a biased view which is may cause stereotypes

How we see other culturesPerson who is culturally more… …can perceive behavior of foreigners

from other cultures as…

Collectivists Insulting, stressed, heartless, rude

Individualist Dishonest, corrupt

Large Power Distance oriented Disrespectful, improper, rude

Small Power Distance oriented Bossy, arrogant (high status person)

Cowardly (low status person)

Feminine Aggressive, selfish

Masculine Weak (of men); unfeminine (of women)

Strong Uncertainty avoiding Unprincipled, not moral

Weak Uncertainty avoiding paranoid

Cross-cultural Communication

• Cross-cultural Communication is the process of sending and receiving messages between people whose cultural background could lead them to interpret verbal and non-verbal signs differently.

Why is Cross-Cultural Communication important ?

◦ Business Opportunities◦ Job Opportunities◦ Improves the contribution of employees in a diverse

workforce◦ Sharing of views and ideas◦ Talent improvisation◦ An understanding of diverse market

Globalization: Cross border movement of people, goods and data brings more and more cultures into contact with one another and increases the potential of cross culture communication.

Overcoming cross cultural communication barriers

Tips for improving cross cultural communication• Observe but don’t interpret according to your own culture –don’t

form stereotypes• Don’t assume you understand non-verbal signals• Don’t take behavior personally even if it’s insulting in your culture• Develop an awareness of your own non-verbal signals and how

they might be offensive• Understand your own stereotypes and learn about other cultures

with openness.• Don’t evaluate behavior as good or bad• Accept the fact that cross cultural communication causes stress