Cross-cultural Communication

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Cross-cultural Communication

• Lingnan College
• Professor Hartman

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Focus on Key Competencies for Intercultural
Communication
Analytic Understanding beliefs, values and practices of other cultures Emotional Intercultural empathy respect
Creative Ability to see the synergistic potential of diverse perspectives Behavioral Ability to discern different cultural messages (verbal and nonverbal)
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What is Culture?One Definition

• Values and perspectives shared by people who are
  conditioned by similar education and life
  experience

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What is Culture?Key Characteristics

• Culture is not inherent, but learned
• Culture is rooted in deep-seated beliefs
• Culture is the basis for self-identity and
  community
• Culture is dynamic

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Culture Can EncompassVariety of Experiences
Culture
Region Country Area Community
Group School Club
Business Industry Company Department
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Cultures Differ on Values and Perceptions

• Individualism and collectivism
• High context and low context
• Perception of space
• Perception of time
• Importance of hierarchies

• Nature of change
• Perception of gender roles
• Criteria for/definitions of success
• Nature of authority
• Nature of humor

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Cultures Differ on Communications Practices

• Emphasis on task or relationship-building
• Role of written communication
• Role of meetings
• Patterns of reasoning and argumentation
• Level of formality in interpersonal communication
• Oral presentation style

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Observe Nonverbal Communication Behaviors

• Eye contact
• Facial expressions
• Gestures
• Showing anger
• Space and spatial zones

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Cultures May Be Classified asLow Context or High
Context
Low Context Cultures Tend to High Context Cultures Tend to
Prefer direct verbal interaction Prefer indirect verbal interaction
Understand meaning at one level only Understand meanings embedded at many levels
Be less proficient in reading non-verbal cues Be more proficient in reading non-verbal cues
Value individualism Value group membership
Say no directly Talk around point avoid saying no
Communicate in highly structured messages Rely more on context and feelings
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Follow Culturally Responsive Strategies
Knowledge of other culture
Allow/Induce counterpart to follow own cultural
script
Improvise creatively
High
Counterpart
Embrace counterparts cultural script
Use mediator
Low
Knowledge of other culture
Low
High
Self
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Approach Cross Cultural Communication Openly

• Avoid ethnocentrism
• Look beyond stereotypes
• Seek common ground
• Observe non-verbal cues
• Study your own and other cultures