Translated from Indonesian to English - www.onlinedoctranslator.

com

PAPER
Communication Strategies in Overcoming Cultural Differences

Lecturers: Lulut Handayani, S.Kep, Ns, M.Kes

Arranged by :

1. Wizda WahyuAryadinata (P1337420523097)

2. SekarInantri Nur 'Aisyah (P1337420523098)
3. Ratifah Nur Azizah (P1337420523099)
4. Karinka Putri Chandrika (P1337420523101)

DIII NURSING PROJECT MAGELANG

SEMARANG MINISTRY OF HEALTH POLYTECHNIC
 2023
FOREWORD

Praise be to the presence of God Almighty. By His grace and guidance, we were able
to complete the paper assignment entitled "Communication Strategies in Overcoming
Cultural Differences" on time.

This paper was prepared to fulfill the assignment for the Communication Course.
Apart from that, this paper aims to increase insight into Communication Strategies in
Overcoming Cultural Differences for readers and also for us.

We would like to thank Mrs. Lulut Handayani as lecturer in the Communication

Course. Thanks are also expressed to friends who have helped complete this paper.
We realize that this paper is still far from perfect. Therefore, suggestions and
constructive criticism are expected for the perfection of this paper.

Magelang, 31 October 2023

Compiler,

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 LIST OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD.............................................................................................................................ii
LIST OF CONTENTS..............................................................................................................iii
PIG.............................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................1
A. Background.....................................................................................................................1
B. Formulation of the problem............................................................................................1
C. Objective.........................................................................................................................1
CHAPTER II..............................................................................................................................3
DISCUSSION............................................................................................................................3
A. Understanding Intercultural Communication..................................................................3
B. Principles of Intercultural Communication.....................................................................3
C. Functions of Intercultural Communication.....................................................................5
D. Forms of Intercultural Communication...........................................................................6
E. Barriers to Intercultural Communication........................................................................6
F. How to Handle Communication in Different Cultures...................................................7
G. Understanding Culture Shock.........................................................................................9
CHAPTER III...........................................................................................................................10
CLOSING................................................................................................................................10
A. Conclusion.....................................................................................................................10
BIBLIOGRAPHY....................................................................................................................11

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 PIG
INTRODUCTION

A. Background

Communication is important for personal formation and development for

mutual social contact. Through communication, someone can grow and learn
together, discovering the personality of themselves and others. Communication is
the link between all social interactions that occur. Communication can determine
whether a system can strengthen, unite and facilitate activities in a company and
society. In communication there is an exchange of words with certain meanings

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 and significance and the conveying of meaning in the form of ideas or information
from one person to another through a particular medium used.

Recently, there have been many problems due to misunderstandings in

communication, especially intercultural communication. Intercultural
communication must be studied so as not to cause misunderstandings in
communication. Another goal is to minimize the occurrence of conflict in our
country.

B. Formulation of the problem

1. What is meant by intercultural communication?

2. What are the principles of intercultural communication?

3. What is the function of intercultural communication?

4. To find out forms of intercultural communication?

5. What are the barriers to intercultural communication?

6. How to deal with communication in different cultures?

7. What is meant by culture shock?

C. Objective

1. To understand the meaning of intercultural communication

2. To know the principles of intercultural communication

3. To understand the function of intercultural communication

4. To understand forms of intercultural communication

5. To find out barriers to intercultural communication

6. To know how to handle communication in different cultures

7. To understand the meaning of culture shock

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 CHAPTER II
DISCUSSION

A. Understanding Intercultural Communication

Intercultural communication is communication between communication

participants with different cultural backgrounds. Therefore, the effectiveness of
communication is largely determined by the extent to which the communicator and
communicant provide the same meaning to a message conveyed. A sincere desire to
carry out effective communication is important, because successful communication
may not only be hampered by cultural differences, but also by hostile attitudes
resulting from social prejudice towards each other.

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 Intercultural communication is a communication process that occurs when
individuals or groups with different cultural backgrounds interact, exchange
information, and communicate with each other. It covers all aspects of
communication, including verbal and non-verbal language, social norms, values,
beliefs, and practices understood and used by different cultural groups.

B. Principles of Intercultural Communication

1. Relativity of Language

The general idea that language influences thought and behavior is most widely
expressed by linguistic anthropologists. In the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s, it
was formulated that language characteristics influence our cognitive processes. And
because the world's languages vary widely in terms of their semantic characteristics
and structure, it seems reasonable to say that people who speak different languages
will also differ in how they perceive and think about the world.

2. Language as a mirror of culture

Language reflects culture. The greater the cultural disparities, the greater the diversity
of communication both in language and in nonverbal signals. The greater the diversity
between cultures (and, therefore, the greater the diversity of communication), the
more difficult communication is. This difficulty can lead, for example, to more
communication errors, more sentence errors, a greater likelihood of
misunderstandings, more misperceptions, and more bypassing.

3. Reducing Uncertainty

The greater the differences between cultures, the greater the uncertainty and
ambiguity in communication. Much of our communication seeks to reduce this
uncertainty so that we can better describe, predict, and explain the behavior of others.
Because of this greater uncertainty and ambiguity, more time and effort is required to
reduce uncertainty and to communicate more meaningfully.

4. self-awareness and diversity between cultures

The greater the diversity between cultures, the greater the self-enlightenment
(mindfulness) of the participants during communication. This has positive as well as
negative consequences. On the positive side, this self-enlightenment may make us
more alert. This prevents us from saying things that might feel insensitive or
inappropriate. Negatively, this results in us being too careful, not impulsive, and
lacking self-confidence.

5. early relationships and diversity between cultures

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 Intercultural differences are especially important in early interactions and gradually
decrease in importance as the relationship becomes more intimate. Although there is
always the possibility of misperception and misjudgment of others, this possibility is
especially great in intercultural communication situations.

6. Maximizing relationship outcomes

In intercultural communication there are actions that try to maximize the impact of the
relationship. 3 consequences imply important consequences for intercultural
communication. First, people will interact with other people who they predict will
produce positive results. Second, if you receive positive results, the person
communicating will continue to involve themselves and increase communication. If
negative results are obtained, the perpetrator begins to withdraw and reduces
communication. Third, the actor makes predictions about which attitudes will produce
positive outcomes. The perpetrator will try to predict the outcome from, for example,
the choice of topic, the position taken, the nonverbal behavior displayed, and so on.
The communicator then does what he thinks will give positive results and tries not to
do what he thinks will give negative results.

C. Functions of Intercultural Communication

1. Cultural Understanding and Awareness

One of the main functions of intercultural communication is to help individuals and

groups understand other people's cultures. This includes an understanding of
language, social norms, values, beliefs, traditions, and cultural practices. With a better
understanding of other people's cultures, individuals can reduce prejudice and
stereotypes, and increase cultural awareness.

2. Facilitate Global Collaboration

In the era of globalization, many organizations and companies operate internationally.

Intercultural communication plays an important role in facilitating collaboration and
cooperation between individuals and teams coming from different cultures. This helps
in achieving common goals and overcoming cultural barriers that may arise.

3. Improving Diplomacy and Relations Between Countries

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 Intercultural communication is key in diplomacy and relations between countries in
the world. Cultural diplomacy and cultural exchange are often used to promote peace,
cooperation, and understanding across countries.

4. Development of Interpersonal Abilities

Through intercultural communication, individuals can develop better interpersonal

skills. They learn to respect differences, listen carefully, and handle conflict more
effectively in different cultural contexts.

5. Individual Empowerment

Intercultural communication can help individuals feel more confident in interacting

with people from other cultures. This can provide a sense of confidence in cross-
cultural situations and help individuals feel more comfortable in diverse situations.

6. Introduction to Cultural Ideas and Values

Intercultural communication also allows individuals to introduce their cultural ideas,

values, and practices to people from other cultures. This can broaden understanding of
cultural diversity around the world.

7. Career development

The ability to communicate effectively in an intercultural context is becoming a

valuable asset in an increasingly global world of work. Individuals who are able to
communicate well across cultures have a greater chance of being successful in their
careers.

D. Forms of Intercultural Communication

1. International Communications

International Communications or international communication is a form of

intercultural communication that occurs between two or more countries. This form
can be seen from various kinds of diplomatic and propaganda activities which are
often related to intercultural or intercultural and interracial or interracial conditions.
This form of communication tends to be related to the interests of one country and
other countries which include economic, political, defense and other issues.

2. Interracial Communication

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 Interracial communication or interracial communication is a form of communication
that occurs when there is interaction or communication process between individuals
or groups of different races. This form of communication has the main characteristic,
namely that the communicant and communicator come from different races. Race
itself is a classification of a group of individuals based on biological characteristics.

3. Inter-Ethnic Communication

Interethnic communication or Interethnic Communication is a form of communication

where the communication process comes from different ethnic groups. An ethnic
group is a group of people characterized by a common language and origin.
Therefore, inter-ethnic communication is intercultural communication.

E. Barriers to Intercultural Communication

1. Similarity Search

In communication, a person tends to choose people who he thinks have something

in common with him. This will really hinder intercultural communication, because
basically people from different cultures tend to have greater differences.
2. Uncertainty reduction

In this case, the difficulty of getting accurate information about people from other
cultures that they encounter in communicating becomes an obstacle to
intercultural communication.

3. Diversity of ways and goals of communication

Everyone has different ways and goals of communication. Especially if the people
involved in communication are of different cultures

4. Withdrawal

Withdrawal can be interpreted as withdrawing from society. In the context of

intercultural communication, someone who fails to communicate interculturally
will very likely withdraw from another cultural group that he has joined.

5. Ethnocentrism

Ethnocentrism is the tendency to evaluate the values, beliefs, and behavior of

one's own culture as better, more logical, more natural, than those believed by
other cultures.

6. Stereotypes and prejudice

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 A stereotype is a subjective assessment of a group that is based on a person's
experience of a particular group or group members.

F. How to Handle Communication in Different Cultures

1. Improving and increasing intercultural competence

The first way to overcome cross-cultural communication barriers is by improving

and increasing cross-cultural competence. Cross-cultural competence itself is
defined as the ability to participate in a series of communication activities. This
ability can be in the form of knowledge, skills and attitudes. This competency is
based on three things, namely sensitivity, ability and awareness.

2. Avoid assumptions and judgments

The next way to overcome cross-cultural communication barriers is to avoid

various assumptions and judgments as much as possible. In other words, we
should not assume that other people will act in the same way or apply the same
values and beliefs or use the same language and symbols. In addition, we should
also avoid passing judgment without knowing or understanding what is
happening. For example, when someone acts differently, we should not rush to
conclude that the person's method is wrong or incorrect. Usually assumptions or
judgments like this arise due to the development of ethnosetrism and stereotypes
within oneself which often become obstacles to cross-cultural communication.

3. Sensitive

Apart from avoiding various assumptions and judgments about other people's
cultures, another way to overcome cross-cultural communication barriers is to
develop a sensitive attitude towards existing differences. The way to do this is to
learn everything from the people we meet, especially regarding the culture and
sub-culture of the people we meet before entering a communication situation. For
this reason, it is better for us to try to spend a little time studying other people's
cultures rather than forcing ourselves to communicate with other people with
different cultural backgrounds but we have no understanding at all about the
culture of the person we are talking to. If this happens, misunderstandings can
easily occur

4. Recognize and appreciate differences

Barriers to cross-cultural communication can also be overcome by recognizing

and appreciating existing differences. This is very important because basically
every human being is created differently. No one can deny when and where he
was born, the religion he adheres to, cultural background, and so on. Such

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 differences should be used as a reason to continue building good relationships and
not as a reason to judge other people.

5. Empathy

Empathy As a part of interpersonal sensitivity and social competence, empathy is

defined as a person's ability to realize and understand the perceptions and feelings
of other people, and convey this understanding in the form of an accepting
response. In a cultural context, empathy is defined as the desire to place ourselves
in the world of another person's different culture and to experience what other
people experience. An empathetic attitude is developed in several ways such as
providing attention, communicative empathy, or learning to accept differences.
Developing an empathetic attitude is another way to overcome cross-cultural
communication barriers because with empathy we can learn to accept and
appreciate existing differences.

6. Active listening

One of the effective communication techniques or techniques for wise

communication is active listening. Active listening is also a very important
activity in cross-cultural communication and is also a requirement for us to
develop an empathetic attitude. By listening actively, we can understand and
appreciate existing cultural differences so that misunderstandings can be reduced.

7. Supportive

The next way to overcome cross-cultural communication barriers is to be

supportive. Supportive here relates to supportive communication behavior.
Supportive behavior such as empathy can encourage an effective cross-cultural
communication process. On the other hand, defensive behavior tends to bring the
cross-cultural communication process towards ineffectiveness. 8. Communication
motivation. Communication motivation is also one way to overcome cross-
cultural communication barriers. As humans, we are generally very motivated

7. Managing conflict

The final way to overcome cross-cultural communication barriers is to manage

existing conflicts. The conflict in question is related to a clash of different values
or beliefs. When faced with this situation, we must be able to manage these
differences or clashes well and without offending other people's feelings

G. Understanding Culture Shock

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 Culture Shock is a term used to describe the anxiety and feelings (surprise,
confusion, etc.) that are felt when someone lives in a completely different culture,
such as when in a foreign country. This feeling arises from difficulties in assimilating
a new culture, making it difficult for a person to recognize what is normal and what is
not. Often these feelings are combined with strong moral or aesthetic hatred regarding
some aspect of the different or new culture.

CHAPTER III
CLOSING
A. Conclusion

Intercultural communication is a communication process that occurs between

individuals or groups with different cultural backgrounds. The effectiveness of
communication in this context is largely determined by the extent to which the
communicator and communicant provide the same meaning to the message conveyed.
A genuine desire for effective communication is essential, because successful
communication can be hampered by cultural differences and hostile attitudes such as
social prejudice.

Principles of intercultural communication include the relativity of language,

where language characteristics influence thought and behavior; language as a mirror
of culture, where language reflects culture; uncertainty reduction, to reduce
uncertainty in communications; self-awareness and cultural differences, where self-
awareness is important in communication; initial relationships and cultural
differences, where cultural differences greatly influence initial interactions; and
maximizing relationship outcomes, where people will interact with others in a way
that will hopefully produce positive outcomes.

The function of intercultural communication includes cultural understanding

and awareness, facilitating global collaboration, improving diplomacy and relations
between countries, developing interpersonal skills, empowering individuals,
introducing cultural ideas and values, and career development.

Barriers to intercultural communication include the search for similarities,

uncertainty reduction, diversity in communication methods and goals, withdrawal,
ethnocentrism, stereotypes and prejudice.

Ways to overcome intercultural communication barriers include increasing

intercultural competence, avoiding assumptions and judgments, developing a sensitive
attitude, recognizing and appreciating differences, being empathetic, listening
actively, being supportive, having the motivation to communicate, and managing
conflict.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://repository.uinsu.ac.id/16659/2/BAB%20I%20SKRIPSI%20KHAIRANI%20SUKMA
%20DAMANIK.pdf

https://fisip.umsu.ac.id/komunikasi-antar-kultur-pengertian-function-dan-besarnya/

https://ilmukomunikasi.uma.ac.id/2022/02/05/komunikasiantar-kultur/

https://www.kompas.com/skola/read/2023/07/03/120000369/hamban-hamtangan-dalam-
komunikasi-antarkultur?page=all

https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gegar_kultur

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