“The reasonable person adapts himself to the world, while the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt

the world to himself”

Meaning of Cross Culture Communication

It is the process of sending and receiving messages between people whose cultural background could lead them to interpret verbal and non-verbal signs differently.

Why Cross Culture Communication is important ?

Business OpportunitiesJob OpportunitiesImproves the contribution of

employees in a diverse workforceSharing of views and ideasTalent improvisation

Dimensions of Culture

o Context

o Communication style

o Time orientation

Low Context• These cultures rely more on content rather than on context.

• They give value to the written words rather than oral

statements.• Low-context cultures: North

America, Western Europe

High Context

• They infer information from message context, rather than

from content.• They rely heavily on nonverbal

sign and prefer indirectness & politeness.

• High-context cultures: Japan, China, Arab.

Communication Style

• Westerners value a direct, straightforward communication style.

Perception Of Time

o In some countries punctuality is considered important and being late would be considered as an insult.

However, in other countries being on time does not carry the same sense of urgency.

Non-Verbal Communication Differences

In USA, the cheapest, most effective way to connect with people is to look them into the eye.

Most people in Arab culture share a great deal of eye contact and may regard too little as disrespectful.

Gestures Difference

How can the same Gestures be treated differently in different cultures

United States of America

•Americans tend to refrain from greetings that involve hugging and other close physical contact.

•When sitting, U.S. citizens often look very relaxed. They may sometimes sit with the ankle of one leg on their knee. Arab Countries

•The left hand is considered unclean in the Arab countries.

•When sitting, keep both feet on the ground.

•The "thumbs up" sign is offensive throughout the Arab world.

South Korea

•Bows are used for expressing appreciation, making apologies and requests, as well as for greetings and farewells.

•When the Japanese want to give the impression that they are in deep

thought, they will sometimes fold their arms.

Difference in Body Language

Effects of culture on cross-cultural communication

• Culture is inappropriately blamed for some miscommunication. Often it is assumed to be the cause of miscommunication.

• One must take care not to over-generalize cultural practices. There might be differences of background like urban or rural, rich or poor within same culture and therefore can lead to miscommunication. Culture is a complex subject and though crucial, should never be over-generalized.

Points to be kept in mind for effective in Cultural Communication

1. Slow Down2. Separate Questions3. Avoid Negative Questions4. Take Turns5. Write it down6. Be Supportive7. Check Meanings8. Avoid Slangs9. Watch the humour10. Maintain Etiquette