Cross- cultural communications

By : Alok kumar singh

PONDICHERRY
UNIVERSITY

 Culture.

What is culture?

Culture is the arts elevated to a set of beliefs---Tom Wolfe

Culture is the lens through which we view the
world

Cultural differences
visible
Communication styles
Attitudes towards conflict
Decision making styles
Approaching to knowing
unvisible
Beliefs
Values
Expectation
Attitudes

communication
Communication is the sending of message from a source to a
receiver with the least possible loss of meaning .
The speaker sends a messages that is in some kind of code . The
listener decodes the messages and responds thereby giving the
speaker feedback

Why cross culture is

important ?
Globalization

Business
opportunities
Job opportunities
Sharing of views and ideas
Talent improvisation
An understanding of diverse market

Context cultures
High context culture--cultures that rely heavily on nonverbal and subtle situational cues in
communication .

Low context cultures--cultures that rely heavily on

words to convey meaning in
communication .

Japanese
Arabs
Latin Americans
Iitalians
British
French
North americans
Scandinavians
Germans
Swiss

Eye
In some cultures, looking people in the eyes is
assumed to indicate honesty and straightforwardness ,
in others it is seen as challenging and rude .
In Arab culture too little eye
contact is regarded as
disrespectful .
In English culture certain
amount of eye contact is
necessary but too much
makes people
uncomfortable
In South- Asian countries
direct eye contact is
regarded aggressive &
rude .

Gestures

US=OK

JAPAN = MONEY

RUSSIA =
ZERO

BRAZIL = INSULT

Blocks to cultural
communication
Stereotyping
Generalizing
about a person
while ignoring
presence of
individual
differences

Discrimination-differential
treatment of an individual due
to minority status ;actual &
percieved

Continued-----

Tone
differenceFormal tone
change becomes
embarrassing &
off-putting in some
cultures.

Cultural
imposition-

Skills to overcome
differences

To handle yourself ,use your

head
To handle others ,use your
heart.

Continued
--Respect differences while working
together

Continued
--Building trust across cultural
differences

Connecting
people

Precautions in cross- cultural

communication
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Slow down
Separate question
Use easy words
Write it down
Be supportive
Check meaning
Avoid Slang
Watch the humour
Avoid negative
question
10. Maintain etiquette