CULTURE &

COMMUNICATION
DIANA
KARAMACOSKA

Culture & Communication

Communicating with people from culturally and
linguistically diverse backgrounds
• Strategies for improving communication

Culture
A common collective of beliefs, values, and shared
understandings and patterns of behaviour of a
designated group of people (Leininger, 1977, as cited in Arnold & Boggs,
1999). It includes:
• personal patterns of dress
• emotional expression & language
• child rearing practices
• rules & values
• Approximately 27% of Australians were born
overseas (ABS, 2011)

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Components of Culture
What are the components of culture?
• Dress
• Customs
• Beliefs
• Values
• Practices
• Foods
• Spiritual practices/beliefs

Intercultural Communication
Communication in which the sender of an intended
message is a member of one culture and the receiver
of the message is from a different culture.
• Is more than an issue of language translation.
• Cultural interpretation of illness, behaviours &
symptoms are important considerations (Arnold & Boggs,
1999)

Culture and Behaviour

Culture can influence, not necessarily predict how
people think feel and behave
• Health professionals needs to first understand that:
• cultures differ
• each person has diverse experiences,
worldviews and values
• culture influences health beliefs
• Health professionals need to behave with
compassionate acceptance of different cultures
of their clients.

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Culture Viewpoints
• Individual & relationship
issues
• Gender and gender roles
• Decision making
• Attitudes of extended
family
• Who is perceived to be the
natural helper?

Culture Viewpoints
• Perceptions of time
• Use of language
• Spirituality
• Physical or emotional
issues
• Experience of trauma
(Geldard & Geldard, 2001)

Example
Indigenous Australians
and people from the
Pacific Nations have a
relaxed sense of time.
• Hence the phrase “Pacific
Time”

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Example
Refugees from war torn
countries may be
especially distrustful and
limit communication or
hold back information.

Example
People’s belief systems
may be vastly different
to ours.

CULTURE &
COMMUNICATION
DIANA
KARAMACOSKA

4
 STRATEGIES FOR
CROSS-CULTURAL
COMMUNICATION
DIANA
KARAMACOSKA

Strategies for Effective Communication

• Self awareness • Treat others as you
• Commitment to would like to be treated
understanding • Demonstrate empathy
differences • Communicate respect
• Exposure and learning • Be open-minded to
• Do not attribute national alternatives
/ cultural stereotypes to • Don’t assume - ask
individuals
(O’Toole, 2008)

Language Barriers
When language is a barrier to
communication use an interpreter.
• All patients have the right to
an interpreter
• Interpreters ensure equal
access to knowledge and
quality of services.

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Language Barriers
Health services employ qualified and
accredited interpreters who are familiar
with:
• health services
• health terminology
• cultures
• They should be used for important/legal
matters, such as seeking consent.

Types of Interpreting
Simultaneous Interpretation
• The interpreting occurs at the same time
as the original information.
• Generally not used when speaking to
one person but rather for groups
• E.g. AUSLAN

Types of Interpreting
Sequential Interpretation
• Interpreting occurs in small portions.
• Most commonly used when dealing
with clients
Transliteration
• The literal translation of every word
Interpretation
• Interpreting the meaning of the content

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Effective Use of an Interpreter
• Established interpreter is required
• Check the language and the dialect
• Schedule & book in advance with all required
parties
• Prepare the questions and information for
discussion
• Clarify any areas of uncertainty in the mind of the
interpreter
• Introduce everyone

Effective Use of an Interpreter

• Speak to & look at the client, not the interpreter
• Use small chunks of information
• Observe the non-verbal reactions of the person
carefully
• Ask questions in response to the non-verbal
reactions
• Ask the client to summarise to demonstrate their
understanding

Use of Family & Other Staff

Disadvantages
• Family and staff are not professional interpreters
• Cannot ensure accuracy of the interpretations
• Cannot determine what they censor,
misunderstand or deliberately mistranslate
• Clients may not feel comfortable discussing
sensitive information in front of people they know

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Use of Family & Other Staff
Advantages
• Convenient
• Incorporates the family in the
treatment
• Useful for less sensitive, less
important information

Take Home Messages

Culture can influence, not necessarily predict
how people think, feel, and behave
• Cultural communication is more than just a
language issue
• Health professionals need to behave with
compassionate acceptance of all cultures

STRATEGIES FOR
CROSS-CULTURAL
COMMUNICATION
DIANA
KARAMACOSKA