Communication
and Culture
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Throughout
this course, we have touched on issues related to communication and culture.
It has been noted that different cultures favor different sorts of
communication methods and styles. Moreover, it is quite easy for
misunderstandings to arise in the course of cross-cultural communication. In
one of your assignments for this course, you were asked to record a 5-minute
audio clip describing communication differences between Americans and
Zambians. This exercise should have helped you begin to think about culture
and communication. |
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Cultural
differences can also exist at other levels. For example, differences in
regional culture can result in variations in communication. Variations can
include vocabulary, pronunciation, style, proximity, etc. In Zambia, one
might see differences of communication style from tribe to tribe, for
example, or from region to region (such as Sikalongo
compared to Macha). Segments of society can also be considered to have
“cultural identities.” So in Zambia, for example, the Indian population has a
distinctive communication style with vocabulary preferences, pronunciation
characteristics, and vocal style. The textbook,
Business Communication for Success, outlines a number of aspects of
cross-cultural and international communication. You can read the text at the
following link (be sure to read each section): Chapter 18
of Business
Communication for Success describes the negative effects of “ethnocentrism” on
inter-cultural communication. One can easily be aware of cultural differences
but choose to ignore them or intentionally violate them. Mirriam-Webster Dictionary defines “Ethnocentrism” as “the attitude that one's own group, ethnicity, or nationality is
superior to others.” If one begins communication with the assumption that
one’s own perspectives and values are inherently superior to others, the
communication will inevitably be biased by that assumption. Ethnocentrism can
thus influence that way we communicate, the vocabulary we use, the images or
metaphors we use, and the ideas we promote. Chapter 18 of Business Communication for Success also describes other aspects of cross-cultural communication such as: o
Rites of
initiation o
Common history
and traditions o
Common values
and principles o
Common purpose
and sense of mission o
Common symbols,
status, boundaries, language and rituals o
Individual
versus collective cultures o
Explicit-rule
cultures versus implicit-rule cultures o
Uncertainty-accepting
cultures versus uncertainty-rejecting cultures o
Time
orientation o
Short-term
versus long-term orientation o
Masculine
versus feminine orientation o
Direct versus
indirect o
Materialism
versus relationships o
Low-power
versus high-power distance Finally, Chapter 18 of Business
Communication for Success examines some of the dynamics involved in
today’s internationalized and globalized environment. It goes without saying
that anyone wanting to succeed in today’s world must have an understanding of
the dynamics of global or international communication. The authors note that
contemporary global communication is influenced by a number of key factors: o
Political
systems o
Legal systems o
Economic
systems o
Ethnical
systems o
The global
village Be sure to
read Chapter 18 of Business
Communication for Success and acquaint yourself with these various
aspects of cultural and cross-cultural communication. |
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