An Introduction to

Culture and
Communication
Rizka Indahyanti
  The term "culture" refers to the
complex collection of knowledge,
folklore, language, rules, rituals,
What is habits, lifestyles, attitudes, beliefs,
Culture? and customs that link and give a
common identity to a particular
group of people at a specific point
in time.
 1. Cultures are complex
Characteristics 2. Cultures are subjective
of Culture 3. Cultures change overtime
  Communication is the process of sending and
receiving messages through verbal or
What is nonverbal means, including speech, or oral
communication? communication; writing and graphical
representations (such as infographics, maps, and
charts); and signs , signals, and behavior.
  The main use of language is to transfer
thoughts from one mind to another
Language mind. The dots of linguistic information
that enter into one person’s mind from
influences another, cause people to entertain a new
thought thought with preferred effects on his
knowledge, inferences and subsequent
behavior.
 The relationship between communication and
culture is a very complex and intimate one.
First, cultures are created through
communication; that is, communication is the
means of human interaction through which
cultural characteristics— whether customs,
roles, rules, rituals, laws, or other patterns—are
created and shared.
 Without communication and
communication media, it would be
impossible to preserve and pass along
cultural characteristics from one place
and time to another. One can say,
therefore, that culture is created,
shaped, transmitted, and learned
through communication. The reverse is
also the case; that is, communication
practices are largely created, shaped,
and transmitted by culture.
 As humans, we are intimately acquainted with both culture and
communication. Culture is the sum, evolving total of social behavior
and norms found in a group of people. At its largest level, a culture
encompasses beliefs, laws, art, laws, and many other things. But
How does culture cultures can be more niche. Jazz is a culture. Cinema is a culture.
affect Eco-conscious business is a culture.
communication?
Any group of people, organization, or business can through time and
effort create a culture. To do so, there must be open lines of
communication. In that way, communication helps create culture.
But, once a culture has been created, whether it be in a company or
some other organization, how does culture affect communication?
 Culture affects communication in verbal and nonverbal ways. Culture
can influence how we communicate verbally via the words, phrases,
metaphors, and culture-specific slang between two or more people. It also
affects what topics are deemed appropriate for conversation based on
cultural norms/values present within a culture’s social environment.

 For example, if someone within the culture uses profanity, this would
likely be an appropriate topic of conversation among members of that
culture. In Japanese culture, silence is often considered a more polite way
to communicate than speaking one’s mind verbally [citation needed].
Cultural norms can influence how we use our hands while talking and
body language when communicating verbally on a nonverbal level. For
example, some cultures may use gestures that do not have a specific
meaning when communicating verbally. In contrast, others may choose to
display in what might be considered an indirect way.
 • Listen and observe to understand the other person’s culture well
enough to adapt your communication style appropriately before
speaking or acting out.
Tips for • Be sensitive, respectful, and open-minded about their beliefs,
values, and customs that are different from your own.
Effective • Be aware of your culture’s communication style and values because
Communicati this will help you understand others better when communicating
with them.
on in Culture • Do not be too fast to make assumptions or judgments about another
culture, people, or country because it may lead to
misunderstandings in communication between the two parties
involved
 • Avoid making jokes about other culture’s customs
because you could offend someone or be
misunderstood.
• Avoid pointing out negative aspects of different
culture’s habits, values, and beliefs; focus on the
Cont. positive instead.
• When speaking with someone from another culture,
speak directly toward them rather than turning your
back to walk away as this is considered rude in some
cultures like Indonesian culture