INTERCULTURAL SKILLS

INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION (CONTINUED)

SEMINAR 4
PROF. CHRISTIAN TRSTER, PHD
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOUR

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

DIRECT & INDIRECT COMMUNICATION

Low-context communication: Explicit and direct
messages in which meanings are contained
mainly in the transmitted messages.
High-context communication: Use of implicit
and indirect messages in which meanings are
embedded in the the sociocultural context.
High Context - indirect communication

Low Context direct communication

Message culturally coded

Explicit, verbal messages

Read between the lines

Straight to the point

Implicit context

Distinction content vs. relation

Harmony is very important in a

conversation

Honesty is very important in a

conversation

Sender and receiver are responsible for

understanding

Sender is responsible for understanding

Hall, E. T. (1976). Beyond culture. New York: Doubleday.

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

EXERCISE: DIRECT AND INDIRECT

COMMUNICATION
In dyads.

(10 min.)

Complete the worksheet together.

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

A LISTENER CAN PERCEIVE EITHER SIDE OF THE

MESSAGE
What are the
objective facts?

Self-disclosure
What I reveal
about myself

What is going on
with him/her ?

Content
What I talk to you
about

Message

Relationship
What I think about
you/ us

What does s/he

want from me?

Appeal
What I want
you to do

What does s/he

think of me?

X4
2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

INTERCULTURAL MISUNDERSTANDING ARE ABOUT

LOST AND IMAGINED MESSAGES
A Japanese and a German are neighbors in a student dorm. The German frequently
practices piano. Because of this the Japanese feels annoyed at times. When both
meet in the hallway the Japanese says: You practice a lot. The German answers:
Yes, I even take piano lessens with a teacher.
Content
The piano is being
frequently practiced.
Self-disclosure
Your piano play
annoys me.

Japanese
sends

Appeal
Play less often
or softer!
Content
The piano is being
frequently practiced.
Self-disclosure
I like your
piano play.

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

German
receives

Appeal
Play more
often!

EXERCISE: SETTING A DEADLINE

In small groups based on cultural clusters: Read and analyze the case.

(15 min.)

Describe the intercultural misunderstanding: Which messages got lost? Which

messages were imagined? On which dimensions of the communication square?

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

PREPARING FOR A CONVERSATION: YOU ARE

PLAYING ON FOUR FIELDS
Content
Which topic do I want to address?
What are my arguments?
Self-disclosure
What do I like to reveal
about myself?

Message

Appeal
What do I want the
other to do?

Relationship
What kind of relationship do I want to
establish?

X4
2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

EXERCISE: TRANSCULTURAL EMAILS PART I

1. Cross-cultural Dyads (relative high & low context) (30 min.):
2. One partner takes on role A and another role B.
3. Your respective tasks is to write each other an email. The task is
further explained on the worksheet.
4. If possible write an actual email and send it to your partner and me
(christian.troester@the-klu.org)

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster