Chapter 4Communicating Across Cultures.ppt

Chapter 4Communicating Across Cultures Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 5e Copyright ? 2006 Increasing Importance of Intercultural Communication Technological advancements General global interconnectivity Globalization of markets Intercultural workforce Understanding Culture How is culture like a computer program? Society, gender, race, age, religion, and other factors control our reactions and behavior. Characteristics of Culture 1. Culture is learned. 2. Cultures are inherently logical. 3. Culture forms our self-identity and community. 4. Culture combines the visible and the invisible. 5. Culture is dynamic. Selected Dimensions of Culture Context High-context cultures (in Japan, China, and Arab countries) tend to be relational, collectivist, intuitive, and contemplative. Low-context cultures (in North America, Scandinavia, and Germany) tend to be logical, linear, and action-oriented. Selected Dimensions of Culture Individualism High-context cultures prefer group values, duties, and decisions. Low-context cultures tend to prefer individual initiative, self-assertion, personal achievement. Selected Dimensions of Culture Formality Other cultures may prefer more formality. North Americans place less emphasis on tradition, ceremony, and social rules. Selected Dimensions of Culture Communication Style High-context cultures rely on nonverbal cues and the total picture to communicate. Meanings are embedded at many social levels. Low-context cultures emphasize words, straightforwardness, openness. People tend to be informal, impatient, literal. Selected Dimensions of Culture Time Orientation Time is unlimited and never-ending in some cultures. Relaxed attitude toward time. Time is precious to North Americans. It correlates with productivity, efficiency, and money. High-Context and Low-Context Cultures Improving Communication With Intercultural Audiences Learn foreign phrases. Use simple English. Speak slowly