Intercultural Communication- Unraveling the other side

“Differences simply act as a yarn of curiosity unraveling until we get to the other side.” — Ciore
Taylor.

Human beings are inherently curious creatures, and yet we also fear the unknown. We
yearn for knowledge and crave for what's different, but once it is within our grasp, we turn away
from it out of fear. As the quote implies, the lingering feeling of curiosity will not just subside
it'll remain at the back of our head, slowly creeping inside until we yield and finally reach out to
what piqued our curiosity and unravel it slowly. 
Intercultural communication is like that. Intercultural communication is the verbal and nonverbal
interaction between people from different cultural backgrounds. 

In other words, it's the process of communicating with people from another culture, a
culture that differs from ours, a foreign culture. Intercultural communication is about much more
than just language since so much of communication is nonverbal.
Intercultural communication is about connecting with others whose culture differs from ours,
people whose beliefs might coincide or contrast with ours, and armed with knowledge we know
nothing of. Our curiosity and interest are piqued, but something is still holding us back.
Connection with people we deem different would always feel like we're treading on foreign
waters. 

We are wary of our every move and every word. We are afraid of crossing the line and
destroying the barrier that separates us. But essentially, we need to let ourselves be guided by our
curiosity. Once we notice a type of difference from other people that makes us feel strange or
even defensive, or which makes us wonder about what the meaning behind it really is, we then
need to follow that curiosity. Following that curiosity means that we need to try to find where the
behavior is coming from. Which beliefs are underlying it? What the motivations behind this
behavior really are. In order to do so, we must overcome the barriers to intercultural
communication. But how?

First and foremost, we need to check our own attitude towards different cultures. We
have to get to know them, their backgrounds and origins, and find out a bit about how they do
things and how they communicate in their part of the world. For instance, “I’ll finish this soon”
can mean a lot of things in different countries, and if we don’t seem to understand each other
when it comes to certain phrases or ideas, we shouldn't automatically blame it on the person’s
laziness or irresponsibility.
In other words, we shouldn't be too rigid from the very beginning. If this different interpretation
of expressions or concepts doesn’t slow us down nor violates any rules, we can try being tolerant
about it.

On the other hand, if it does go against certain procedures or disrupts the atmosphere,
then we have to be open about it. Show that we're patient and understanding, but that there’s a
line that shouldn’t be crossed. Of course, we’ll have to understand these different cultures in
order to pinpoint the problem and solve it together with the person in question.
Also, we shouldn't go over the top by showing everyone how open and tolerant we are. In other
words, it’s very nice if we decide to learn some words in that person's language, but being too
obvious about it or shouting phrases in this language across the room all the time may be a bit
invasive and embarrassing for them. Sure, they might even like it, but we'll have to be careful
and check if they’re happy about it or just uncomfortable. We shouldn't make a show out of it if
they feel awkward when we do it.

We also need to communicate with non-native speakers in a clear, polite manner. Make it
a point to use simple words and phrases as much as possible, and stay away from potentially-
confusing slang terms or sayings unless we’re sure that the person knows what we mean. It can
be hard enough to get our point across to someone who speaks the same language as we do, let
alone someone who’s struggling to master a second or third language. 
 
Then Make an effort to learn more about other people’s cultures. Read up on Taiwanese
holiday celebrations, watch French films, try some Ethiopian food, or ask an expat coworker
what life is like in St. Petersburg. Through this kind of first-hand research, we can begin the
process of building bridges between our own culture and less familiar ones. We’ll probably even
have fun doing it. Even just taking the time to memorize a few key phrases in the other person's
native language can be enough to demonstrate our goodwill and desire to connect on a more
personal level.

We should also ask polite questions when faced with cultural quirks. If one of our
associates has a habit of doing something that we find unusual or perplexing, we shouldn't be
afraid to voice our curiosity—just make sure we do so genially. Chances are, the person will be
delighted that we’re showing an interest in their way of life. Instead of asking a Japanese
colleague, “Why do you always call me by my last name? I thought we were friends!”, you
might try phrasing the question in a less pointed way, such as, “Is it customary in Japan to refer
to a coworker by their formal title?” Asking questions is often the best way to learn. However,
it’s important to form our questions tactfully to avoid offending the person or making them feel
singled out.

Then encourage others to share their cultural experience. Strive to create a hospitable
atmosphere where everyone feels welcome to open up about how they view the world. This is
not only good for morale but can be personally enriching, as well. We never know what you
might gain another person’s insights.

Also, avoid buying into damaging stereotypes. Nobody likes being put in a box. We need to be
aware of the cultural baggage we’re bringing to the table when engaging with those who are
different from us, especially if that difference is ethnic. Despite the similarities that exist between
the members of a cultural group, people are still individuals and tend to like being treated as
such. It’s always better to ask someone for their perspective directly rather than assuming we
know how they think or feel based on cultural categories. At best, acting on preconceived
notions is annoying. At worst, it can lead to hurt feelings, mistrust, or even smoldering
resentment.
 As well as resist the urge to criticize others’ beliefs or customs. Unless a given difference
is having a negative impact on productivity or interactions between individuals, we keep our
judgmental opinions to ourselves. It’s not our place to tell someone else what to value or how to
act, at school, work, or anywhere else. The world, and the break room, is big enough for
everyone. If for some reason circumstances require us to comment on another person’s behavior,
make sure it’s coming from a place of professional obligation rather than a personal objection.
Keep in mind that our own beliefs, attitudes, and mannerisms may seem just as odd to someone
from another culture as theirs do to us. 

Lastly, Have a sense of humor. Think of the occasional miscommunication or social faux
pas as something to laugh off, not something to be ashamed of. Humor is one human trait that
has universal appeal. When used in the right way at the right time, it also has the capacity to
transcend language, culture, and other perceived sources of separation. Being able to laugh at
will also help put the other person at ease when they might otherwise feel embarrassed.

All in all, cultural diversity can help us satiate our curiosity but most of all grow and
evolve, but only if we make it a pleasant place for all people to work and interact with each
other. The only way to fix cultural communication issues is to nurture the ideas of understanding,
openness, and embracing differences. This is the starting point, and we should always have it in
mind when trying to bridge communication gaps. Now we'll be a

Lane, N. (n.d.). 10 Ways to Overcome the Cultural Barriers for Communication in the
Workplace. Brosix.
WikiHow. (2020, April 01). How to Overcome Cultural Barriers. Retrieved December 13, 2020,
from https://www.wikihow.com/Overcome-Cultural-Barriers