I NTERCULTURA L COMM UNI CAT ION

Introduction to Culture
What is culture?

Culture is the characteristics of a particular group of people, defined by everything

from language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts.
Why do cultures differ? :
History
Educational Backgrounds
Social backgrounds
Ethnic

Religion
Ecology
Technology
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Cross Culture
Communication
Intercultural 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.

Four Fundamental Patterns of Cultural Difference

What is different?
1. Communication Styles
2.

Attitudes toward conflicts

3.

Decision making style

4.

Approaches to knowing

DIFFERENCES TO CONSIDER IN CROSS

CULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Frequency of eye Contact
Assertiveness
Use of Hands While Talking
Physical Distance Between
Communicators
Speed of Speech
Use of First Names vs. Titles
Volume of Speech
Use of Facial Expressions

Examples for Cultural differences

In America, people
shake hands ,and
even hug each other.
But in India, for
example, hands are
joined
to
say
namaskar.

Need for Intercultural Communication

Success of any International business
Allows workers from different cultures

to work together as a group.

Worldwide marketing campaign.
An increase in international business.

Blocks to Cultural Communication

1. Ethnocentrism : Inability to accept another culture's
world view;
"my way is the best."
2. Discrimination : Differential treatment of an individual
due to
minority status; actual and perceived;
e.g., "we just aren't equipped to serve people like that."
3. Stereotyping : Generalizing about a person while
ignoring presence of individual difference;
e.g., "she's like that because she's Asian all Asians are
nonverbal."

Blocks to Cultural Communication Cont

4.Cultural Blindness: Differences are ignored and one
proceeds as
though differences did not exist; e.g., "there's no need to
worry about a
person's culture
5.Cultural Imposition: Belief that everyone should conform to
the
majority; e.g., "we know what's best for you, if you don't
like it you can
go elsewhere."
6.Tone Difference : Formal tone change becomes embarrassing
and off-putting in some cultures.

DOS OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Avoid Assumptions, jokes which are misunderstood
Use symbols, diagrams and pictures.
Avoid using slang and idioms, choosing words that will convey only the

most specific meaning;

Investigate their culture's perception
Take cultural and local differences into account.
Say what you do and do what you say.
Make sure that your communication is line with the audience; use
understandable language.
Find out what cultural factors may hinder effective communication

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DONTS OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Use the same approach world-wide.
Consider traditional knowledge and practices as backward.
Let cultural differences become a source of conflict that hinder the

process or work.
Fail to take language barriers into account.

DONTS OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

For example:

North Americans view direct eye contact as a sign of honesty

Asians view direct eye contact as a form of disrespect

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DONTS OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

The thumbs up sign in
America and most of Europe
means that something is
good, or that you approve.
This sign is considered rude
in many Asian and Islamic
countries.

Raising your hand up

means stop in America
or England. In some
Asian countries this
gesture is used when
asking for permission
to speak.
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CONCLUSION
Intercultural communication has existed since the earliest times of history and
civilization of mankind, and due to large developments and discoveries in science
and technology, the evolution of media , the Internet has made it possible to access
and create social networks and links between people from all over the globe.
Not practicing effective intercultural communication can lead to accidentally
offending another individual.
When conducting business internationally, entrepreneurs learn
that cultures have different expectations and protocols when it
comes to meetings and interpersonal discussions.