Chap_16CrossCultaral

8/4/2019 Chap_16CrossCultaral

1/16

Techniques of Cross-echniques of Cross-CulturalulturalCommunicationommunication

Chapter -16Chapter -16


2/16

Cross-Cultural Communicationross-Cultural Communication Business has become more global.Business has become more global. Communicating across cultures effectivelyCommunicating across cultures effectively

improves your productivity and efficiencyimproves your productivity and efficiencyand promotes harmonious workand promotes harmonious workenvironments.environments.

Cross-cultural communication involvesCross-cultural communication involvesunderstanding cultural differences andunderstanding cultural differences andovercoming language problems.overcoming language problems.


3/16

PROBLEMS OF CULTURALROBLEMS OF CULTURALDIFFERENCESIFFERENCES Two qualifying statements begin this study ofTwo qualifying statements begin this study of

culture:culture:

(1) It is improperly blamed for some(1) It is improperly blamed for some

miscommunication.miscommunication.

(2) It is easy to overgeneralize cultural practices.(2) It is easy to overgeneralize cultural practices.

Culture is shared ways groups of people viewCulture is shared ways groups of people viewthe world.the world.

Two major kinds of cultural differences affectTwo major kinds of cultural differences affectcommunication.communication.


4/16

Body Positions and MovementsBody Positions and Movements

Body positions and movements differ amongBody positions and movements differ amongcultures. For example, in some cultures, peoplecultures. For example, in some cultures, peoplesit; in other cultures, they squat.sit; in other cultures, they squat.

Manners of walking differ among culturesManners of walking differ among cultures Communication with body parts (hands, arms,Communication with body parts (hands, arms,

head, etc.) varies by culture.head, etc.) varies by culture.

Hand gestures differ by culture.Hand gestures differ by culture. So do eye movementsSo do eye movements Touching, and handshakingTouching, and handshaking


5/16

Culture HandshakesAmericans Firm

Germans Brusque, firm, repeatedupon arrival anddeparture

French Light, quick, not offeredto superiors, repeatedupon arrival anddeparture

British Soft

A smile can be a sign of weakness, and thesmile can be a s ign of weakness, and theleft hand may be tabooeft hand may be taboo


6/16

Views and Practicesiews and PracticesConcerning Factors of Humanoncerning Factors of HumanRelationshipselationships

Differing attitudes toward various factors of humanDiffering attitudes toward various factors of humanrelationships cause communication problems.relationships cause communication problems.

Timeime Views about time differ widely. Some cultures stressViews about time differ widely. Some cultures stress

punctuality; some do not.punctuality; some do not.

Odorsdors Some cultures view body odors as bad; others view them asSome cultures view body odors as bad; others view them as

normal.normal.

Spacepace Space is viewed differently by different cultures. In someSpace is viewed differently by different cultures. In some

cultures, people want to be far apart; in other cultures, the ycultures, people want to be far apart; in other cultures, the y

want to be close.want to be close.


7/16

Continue.nt nue. Franknessrankness

Low-context cultures are more frank and explicit than high-contextLow-context cultures are more frank and explicit than high-contextcultures.cultures.

Intimacy of Relationshipsntimacy of Relationships Intimacy among people varies in different cultures.Intimacy among people varies in different cultures. How people view superior-subordinate relations also differs.How people view superior-subordinate relations also differs. So does the role of woman.So does the role of woman.

Valuesalues Each culture has different values concerning such matters as attitudeEach culture has different values concerning such matters as attitude

toward work.toward work. Employee-employer relations.Employee-employer relations.

and authorityand authority Expression of Emotionsxpression of Emotions Social behavior varies by culture, such as practices concerning affection,Social behavior varies by culture, such as practices concerning affection,

laughter, and emotion.laughter, and emotion. Included is the degree of animation displayedIncluded is the degree of animation displayed Many more such practices exist.Many more such practices exist. We must recognize them, look for them, and understand them.We must recognize them, look for them, and understand them.


8/16

Effects on Businessffects on BusinessCommunication Techniquesommunication Techniques Cultural differences affect communication.Cultural differences affect communication.

Our communication techniques are notOur communication techniques are notuniversally acceptableuniversally acceptable

The Indians and even the British have practicesThe Indians and even the British have practicesdifferent from ours.different from ours.

You must modify your communications to fitYou must modify your communications to fit

the culture of your recipient.the culture of your recipient.


9/16

PROBLEMS OF LANGUAGEROBLEMS OF LANGUAGE Communication problems are caused byCommunication problems are caused by

the existence of many languages.the existence of many languages.


10/16

Lack of Language Equivalencyack of Language Equivalency Differences among languages make equivalentDifferences among languages make equivalent

translations difficulttranslations difficult Examples prove the pointExamples prove the point Grammar and syntax differences add to the difficultyGrammar and syntax differences add to the difficulty

So do the multiple meaning of words.So do the multiple meaning of words. Certain of our expressions don't mean what theirCertain of our expressions don't mean what theirdictionary and grammatical structures say they mean.dictionary and grammatical structures say they mean.

Even words with same meaning can differ in usage byEven words with same meaning can differ in usage by

culture.culture. Overcome such language problems by knowingOvercome such language problems by knowing

language well and by questioning.language well and by questioning.

Use back translating for important communications.Use back translating for important communications.


11/16

Difficulties in Using Englishiff icult ies in Using English English is the primarily language of internationalEnglish is the primarily language of international

businessbusiness

But many nonnative have problems using English.But many nonnative have problems using English. Two-Words Verbswo-Words Verbs

Two-word verbs are hard for nonnatives to understand.Two-word verbs are hard for nonnatives to understand.

As in these combinations.As in these combinations.Verb PlusAway Verb PlusIn Verb PlusOut Verb PlusUpGive away Cash in Blow out Blow up

Keep away Cave in cut out Build up

Pass away Close in crowd out Call up


12/16

ContinueContinue Use two-word verbs sparingly. FindUse two-word verbs sparingly. Find

substitutes, as shown here.substitutes, as shown here.Two-Word Verbs Suggested SubstitutesGive up surrender

Speed up, hurry up Accelerate

Go on, keep on Continue

Put off defer

Some two-word verbs have noun and adjectiveforms. Use these sparingly.


13/16

A GENERAL SUGGESTION FORA GENERAL SUGGESTION FOR

COMMUNICATING ACROSS CULTURESCOMMUNICATING ACROSS CULTURES

Use simple, basic EnglishUse simple, basic English

Word questions carefully to elicit the responseWord questions carefully to elicit the response

intended.intended.

Continually check the accuracy of theContinually check the accuracy of thecommunication.communication.


14/16

Case Studyase Study Women and the WorkplaceWomen and the Workplace

The role of women in the workplace is changing every year. InThe role of women in the workplace is changing every year. Inmany countries such as the United States, women are enteringmany countries such as the United States, women are enteringoccupations that were traditionally filled only by men and areoccupations that were traditionally filled only by men and arebecoming more visible at managerial and decision-making levels.becoming more visible at managerial and decision-making levels.Many other countries, however, remain male dominated and notMany other countries, however, remain male dominated and not

receptive to the presence of women in such positions. Althoughreceptive to the presence of women in such positions. Althoughthe business world is changing, some experts still advise againstthe business world is changing, some experts still advise againstsending a woman as a negotiator not receptive to womensending a woman as a negotiator not receptive to womendecision makers. If a woman is sent to such a country, they saydecision makers. If a woman is sent to such a country, they sayshe should go as a member of a team. Therefore, sending ashe should go as a member of a team. Therefore, sending a

woman who is successful in her home country to negotiatewoman who is successful in her home country to negotiateoverseas is not always a simple or easy decision.overseas is not always a simple or easy decision.

The following story describes one female K-Mart executive'sThe following story describes one female K-Mart executive's

successful experience negotiating in Saudi Arabia, a countrysuccessful experience negotiating in Saudi Arabia, a countryknown for not acce tin women in its business world.known for not accepting women in its business world.


15/16

A Saudi Arabian AmericanSaudi Arabian AmericanEncounterncounter

I went with another gentleman of our company whoI went with another gentleman of our company whohas a lesser position than I do. We met with a grouphas a lesser position than I do. We met with a groupof Saudis who epitomized the feelings of men in thatof Saudis who epitomized the feelings of men in thatcountry toward women. We were in office of chairmancountry toward women. We were in office of chairmanof the Saudi firm, and for the first hour he continuallyof the Saudi firm, and for the first hour he continually

addressed my associate, ignoring me, because headdressed my associate, ignoring me, because hewould not accept my presence as a woman. Finally Iwould not accept my presence as a woman. Finally Iturned to him and said: Mr. X, you are directing yourturned to him and said: Mr. X, you are directing yourquestions and answers to my associate. If you arequestions and answers to my associate. If you areseriously interested in doing business with ourseriously interested in doing business with our

company, I suggest you direct them to me, because itcompany, I suggest you direct them to me, because itis me with whom you will have to negotiate. I thinkis me with whom you will have to negotiate. I thinkhe respected my approach. I didnt feel indignant orhe respected my approach. I didnt feel indignant orslighted as a woman. It was a matter of who it is thatslighted as a woman. It was a matter of who it is thata person wants to seek out. I had no problems aftera person wants to seek out. I had no problems afterthat.that.


16/16

Discussioniscussion Answer the following questions:Answer the following questions:

1.1. Why do you think the woman spoke as sheWhy do you think the woman spoke as shedid to the chairman? What persuasive styledid to the chairman? What persuasive styledid she use and why?did she use and why?

2.2. Once she spoke, why do you think theOnce she spoke, why do you think thechairman responded to her as he did?chairman responded to her as he did?

3.3. In your country, are foreign businesswomanIn your country, are foreign businesswoman

treated differently form nationaltreated differently form nationalbusinesswomen? If so, how?businesswomen? If so, how?

4.4. What advice would you give to a foreignWhat advice would you give to a foreignbusinesswoman in a similar position sent tobusinesswoman in a similar position sent to

your country to negotiate?your country to negotiate?

Chap_16CrossCultaral

Documents