Intercultural management

Communication

Agenda
1.
2.
3.
4.

WarmUp
Verbalcommunication
Nonverbalcommunication
Feedback

Agenda
1. WarmUp
2. Verbalcommunication
3. Nonverbalcommunication
4. Feedback

Commentthis
picture

Often advertisings are

using stereotypes to
deliver a quick and clear
message
Here stereotypes are
displayed in a positive
fashion
On this ad they are
stereotypes about
subcultures:
chess players are thin men
that didnt care how they
are dressed and bikers are
big guys with tattoos.

Agenda
1. WarmUp

2. Verbalcommunication
3. Nonverbalcommunication
4. Feedback

Languages

Languageisthearchivesofhistory.
(RalphWaldoEmerson)
Thelimitsofmylanguagearethelimitsofmyuniverse.
(LudwigWittgenstein)
Youliveanewlifeforeverynewlanguageyouspeak.
Ifyouknowonlyonelanguage,youliveonlyonce.
(Czechproverb)

Activity:Babeltower

Recognizethelanguage

Babeltower:plenarysession
WhyEnglishascommonbusinesslanguage?
Putyourargumentsonapieceofpaper
(5minutes)

Problemoflanguagediversity

Language diversity:
communication
barrier

Common language:
towards
communication

CartoonfromaFrencheconomicnewspaper

We are thinking of giving

you the leadership of our
Finnish subsidiary

But I dont speak

Finnish
Wonderful learning
opportunity
for your employees
to learn French

Englishasanativelanguage

Englishspeakingintheworld
Already a global language
mother tongue of about
380 million
second language to
about 600 million
about a billion learning it

Englishspeakingintheworld
We are daily exposed to some form of English
Broadcasting
television

radio

internet

UsefulnessofEnglishforcompanies(1)

Advantages
Englishasthemeanofcommunication
Currentlinguafranca(commonlanguage)
Costeffective:employees,especiallymanagers
havetobeabletoworkinEnglish
Nonnativetononnative

UsefulnessofEnglishforcompanies(2)
Disadvantages
SeveralEnglish:
UKEnglish,USEnglish,AustralianEnglish,Hong
KongEnglish,IndianEnglish,
[JusthavealookoftheEnglishspellingchecking
ofMicrosoftword]
Pronunciationandspellingofwords
Grammar wordorder/syntax

Globishmap:lostintranslation

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2005/07/24/gibberish_narrowweb__200x223.jpg

Bewareaboutpronunciation(1)

Bewareaboutpronunciation(2)

Bewareofpronounciation (3)
LesEchos8&9/02/08

Frequency rangesperlanguage
English(UK)
French
Chinese
German
Spanish
English(US)
Italian
Dutch
Russian

Thehuman auditioncapacity hasarangeof11octaves

Thedevil
lives in
details

Bewareofdanger
Example:Yourunafarmingcompanyandyou
needtofeedyourpigs.
Doyouhavetoorderfor:
A)Wheat
B)Corn
C)Maize

Bewareofdanger:Solution
InUSEnglish:
Corn
(justthinkaboutpopcorn)
InUKEnglish:
Cornmeanswheat!!!

Bewareofdanger:Solution
AppropriateisMaize
Thesolutionistoaskfor
Maize
asMaizeasonlyonemeaning
possibleandnotcornascorn
hastwodifferentmeanings

Communicationbarrier

Realtragedy
We are running
out of fuel!!!

???

Realtragedy

73 DEAD

2000

Need
International
Language

2020

Historyofinternationallanguages

-900

1492

-100

1715 1844

900

1858

1878

Since 1850
1887

Source: Dont speak English, parlez Globish by J-P Nerriere

LetstryEsperanto
Estas beno tago

= Its a beautiful day

Virino

= Woman

Mi avas vin

I want wine
I want to win
= I love you

Languageasatoolofcommunication
Justthinkthatthecommonlanguageis
atoolofcommunication:ithastowork
theeasiestway:cheapestandquickest
notthebestlanguage:conversionsare
alwaysbetterwhenyouusethemother
tongueofoneparticipant

Globish:bedirectandexplicit

Source: http://accel19.mettre-put-idata.over-blog.com/0/13/99/50/Globish3.jpg

Conclusion
InpracticeinEuropewespeakmainlya
commonlanguagebaseduponEnglish
Inaprofessionalcontextwhatmattersistobe
clearlyunderstood
Alwayscheckforunderstanding
ThiscommonlanguageisaTOOL,asa
professionalTOOL
Bedirectandexplicit

Survey:EnglishinBelgiancompanies
80%ofBelgiancompanies
useEnglishintheir
externalcommunication
47%ofBelgiancompanies
useEnglishintheir
internalcommunication
Bron: tibem.be

Survey:FrenchemployeesusingEnglish
55%ofemployeessaythattheyhavean
advancedorexpertlevel
70%saythattheyusefortheirpaperblocksof
alreadywrittentext
66%struggletofindtheirwordswhenthey
speak
50%saythatthespeedoftalkingofforeignersis
tooquick
Source:ResearchInternational/Analog (2005)

Advertising foraCzech
school teaching French

Catanddogstory

Beingapolyglot
LaTribune19thFebruary2008

LaurentStrauss
ITEngineer
37,French
Speaksfluently7languages
Andhavesomeknowledgeof
others
Washiredbythecompanyonly
becauseofhislanguagesskills

Conclusion:usinglanguages
Accordingtous,thebest
foryoupersonallyis:
Masteringyourmother
tonguetheverybestway
Beperfectlyfluentina
commonlanguage:English
(alternativeforFrance:
SpanishandforBelgium:
French):forbusiness
Learnandpracticethe
languageofoneofyour
neighbour:for
cultural/personalinterest

Fromverbaltononverbalcommunication

Expressivenegotiators
Reservednegotiators
Japanesenegotiators

ExpressiveNegotiators
Overlappingeachother
1stSpeaker
2ndSpeaker

ReservedNegotiators
Takingturnstoavoidoverlap
1stSpeaker
2ndSpeaker

JapaneseNegotiators
Intervalsofsilencebetweenspeakers
1stSpeaker
2ndSpeaker

Agenda
1. WarmUp
2. Verbalcommunication

3. Nonverbalcommunication
4. Feedback

Nonverbalcommunication
Somewellknownnonverbaldifferences(1)

TheWesternway
ofsayingwelcome

Nonverbalcommunication
Business:Mistakesinbodylanguage(1)
Shakehandsfirmly

Nonverbalcommunication
Business:Mistakesinbodylanguage(2)

Touchinghisarmseems
friendlybutcanbe
understoodasanattempt
ofmanipulation

Nonverbalcommunication
Somewellknownnonverbaldifferences(2)
Eskimo kiss

Nonverbalcommunication
Somewellknownnonverbaldifferences(3)

TheArabwayof
sayingwelcome

Thebusinesscard
Howtodealwiththebusinesscardexchange
ritual?

Thebusinesscard
Howtodealwiththebusinesscardexchange
ritual?

Nonverbalcommunication
Business:Mistakesinbodylanguage(3)

Dontplaywiththebusiness
cards

Nom Prnom:aclassicnightmareforFrench

Nom:FamilyName,LastName,Surname
Prnom:GivenName,FirstName,Christian
Name,Name
Nom+Prnom:FullName
Inwhichorder?
FranoisCUDELorCUDELFranois
InChina:SURNAMEfirstthanName

Nonverbalcommunication
Somedifferences
arewellknown
Bodylanguage
Smalldetailscan
makethe
difference

Nonverbalcommunication
Hand gestures in the world (1)
Europe&NorthAmerica:
OK
Mediterranean,Russia,Turkey:
sexualinsult,gayman
Japan:
money
France,Belgium:
worthless

Advertising inEngega March2008,Magazineof

theUniversitat deGirona

Nonverbalcommunication
Hand gestures in the world (2)
UK,Australia,NewZealand:
Upyours!
USA:
two
France,Belgium:
peace
AncientRome:
JuliusCaesarordering5beers

Nonverbalcommunication
Hand gestures in the world (3)
Europe:
two
UK,Australia,NewZealand:
one
Japan:
insult
US:
waiter!

Nonverbalcommunication
Hand gestures in the world (4)
Westerncountries:
five
Greece,Turkey:
gotohell!
Iraq
comehere
Elsewhere:
stop

Nonverbalcommunication
Hand gestures in the world (5)
SouthAmerica:
Thin
Bali:
bad
Japan:
woman
Mediterranean:
smallpenis

Nonverbalcommunication
Hand gestures in the world (6)
USA:
TexasLonghornfootballteam
MaltaandItaly:
protectionagainsttheevileye
SouthAmerica:
protectionagainstbadluck
Mediterranean:
yourwifeisbeingunfaithful

AmericanisationofEuropeansociety

Americanfootballgesture

Spanish student andAmericangesture

Nonverbalcommunication
Hand gestures in the world (7)
Europe&NorthAmerica:
two
Greece:
gotohell!

Roberto unpo'tardi,io vado

Daniela Edove vai?
Roberto Hofame:vado amangiarmi due
spaghetti
Daniela Spaghetti?Mmm buoni!
Roberto Nonimmagini quanto.Albacio!
Daniela Miviene l'acquolina inbocca...
Roberto Andiamo insieme?
Daniela S?
Roberto Mas,andiamo!
Daniela S.
Roberto Allora vieni?
Daniela Solounmomento:devo fare una
telefonata.
Roberto Ma...una cosa veloce?
Daniela S s,solounmomento
Roberto Stringi,eh?.
Roberto Tagliadai...
Daniela Unmomentosolo.
Roberto Mataglia!!!
Daniela Eunmomento...guardacheti
picchio!

Roberto Chebarba!
Roberto Chepalle!
Daniela Unmomento...vaffanculo...
Roberto Vaffanculoame?Oh,maseimatta?
Mammamiaquesta...
Daniela Ecco.Finito.Uff....
Roberto Oh,finalmente.Tuttook,s?
Daniela Be',veramente...coscos...
Roberto Chec'?
Daniela Cio...io...soldi...niente.
Roberto Tusoldiniente?Eheh,seifurbinatu!
Molto.
Daniela Io?Masonounangioletto!
Roberto Ss,vabbe'...andiamodai!
Daniela S?Ioeteandiamoamangiare
questispaghetti?
Roberto Ioeteamangiareglispaghetti?No
guarda
Roberto Iomangioglispaghetti.Tuguardi!

Nonverbalcommunication

Hand gestures in the world (8)

Europe&NorthAmerica:
scr*y*
AncientRome:
Upyours!

Touchingornottouching?
Ifacouplefrom
PortoRicoexchanges
180touchingsignals
perhour,it
exchanges110in
Paris,2inGainesville
(Florida)andnonein
London.
SciencesHumaines137.

Spacedimension:Proxemics
French culture
Keepthegooddistance

Intimatedistance
Upto40cm
Interactivedistance
40cmto1,20m

Socialdistance
1,20mto2,40m

Spacedimension
TheGreekstudent/Finnishstudent
communication

Spacedimension
Areyouopenemotionally/psychologically,and
thereforethemoreopenwithphysical
boundariesaswell.Informationaboutyou
thatothersconsiderprivate,youcandivulge
fairlycomfortably.
Ifyes,inessenceyourpersonalspaceis
moreopen;youaremoreapproachableby
morepeoplewithvaryingrangesoffamiliarity.

RomanianpresidentministerBasescutryingtoconvinceFrenchpresidentSarkozy

Conclusion
Communicationconsistsof
7%verbal(language)
38%vocal(paralanguage)
55%bodymovements(bodylanguage)
Thismayalsobeculturallybound.
Comparee.g.lowcontextandhighcontextcultures
AccordingtoKoneya,M.&Barbour,A.(1976)LouderthanWords:NonverbalCommunication.

Agenda
1. WarmUp
2. Verbalcommunication
3. Nonverbalcommunication

4. Feedback

3.1.Foreignlanguagesare
[Selectoneproposal]

A.Ofnouse,Icando
everythinginmymother
tongue
B.Easytounderstand
C.Diverseanddifficultto
decipher
D.Alien,Iunderstand
nothing

3.2.WhydoweuseEnglishascommonlanguage
internationallyforbusiness[Makearanking]
A.Forpersonal
cost/efficiencyreasons.
B.Forcompanies
cost/efficiencyreasons.
C.Forhistoricaland
pragmaticreasons.
D.Becauseitsthe
easiestforeignlanguage
intheworld.
Doyou speak IKEA?

3.3.Howcanforeignlanguagesenhanceyour
jobopportunities[Makearanking]
A.

B.
C.
D.

Foreignlanguages
enableyouto
communicateinalarge
rangeofsituations
Foreignlanguagesbring
strengthtoyour
curriculumvitae
Foreignlanguages
stimulateyourbrain
Foreignlanguagesbring
toyoucultural
opportunities

3.4Nonverbalbarriersare[Selectoneproposal]

A.Easiertoovercome
thanverbalbarriers
B.Moredifficultto
overcomethanverbal
barriers

3.5Inaninternationalprofessionalcontext,givethreemain
advicesfornonverbaldimensiontoavoidculturalshock
[Threeadvices]

3.1.Foreignlanguagesare
[Selectoneproposal] Answer

D.Alien,Iunderstand
nothing
OR
C.Diverseanddifficultto
decipher

3.2.WhydoweuseEnglishascommonlanguage
internationallyforbusiness[Makearanking]
B.Forcompanies
cost/efficiencyreasons.
C.Forhistoricaland
pragmaticreasons.
A.Forpersonal
cost/efficiencyreasons.
NOT
D.Becauseitsthe
easiestforeignlanguage
intheworld.

Doyou speak IKEA?

3.3.Howcanforeignlanguagesenhanceyour
jobopportunities[Makearanking] Answer
A.Foreignlanguagesenable
youtocommunicateina
largerangeofsituations
D.Foreignlanguagesbring
toyouculturalopportunities
C.Foreignlanguages
stimulateyourbrain
B.Foreignlanguagesbring
strengthtoyourcurriculum
vitae

3.4Nonverbalbarriersare[Selectoneproposal]
Answer

B.Moredifficultto
overcomethanverbal
barriers

3.5Inaninternationalprofessionalcontext,givethreemain
advicesfornonverbaldimensiontoavoidculturalshock
[Threeadvices] Answer
1.Dontmimictheothersattitude.
2.Useprofessionalnonverbalattitudesthatare
internationallyadmitted.
3.Donttrytoanalyseeverysituation.

Intercultural management

Communication