CULTURE
A Group which shapes a persons values and identity.
COMMUNICATION
Draws on speech patterns, language and non- verbal messages.
CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION
is a field of study that looks at how people from differing cultural backgrounds communicate, in similar and different ways among themselves, and how they endeavour to communicate across cultures.
High-Context Cultures
Cultures that rely heavily on non-verbal & subtle situational cues in communication. Ex: North America, Western Europe
Low-Context Cultures
Cultures that rely heavily on words to convey meaning in communication. Ex: Middle East.
High context
refers to societies or groups where people have close connections over a long period of time.
Low context culture
Refers to societies where people tend to have many connections but of shorter duration or for some specific reason.
VERBAL COMMUNICATION
Use of sounds and words to express yourself.
NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
Communication through sending and receiving wordless clues
EYE-CONTACT
Some cultures, looking people in the eyes is honesty and straight forwardness and in others it is seen as challenging and rude
In US
if you have good eye contact with a person, it generally signifies that you are interested in the person.
In Middle East
In this region, eye contact is much less common and considered less appropriate
In many Asian
African and Latin American cultures, extended eye contact can be taken as an affront or a challenge of authority
In Western Europe
it is considered proper and polite to maintain almost constant eye contact with another person.
gestures
a movement of part of the body, especially a hand or the head, to express an idea or meaning
single color
a _____________can have many different meanings in different cultures.
orange
In Asia __________ is a positive, spiritually enlightened, and life-affirming color.
Green
is considered the traditional colour of Islam. It is also the national colour of Egypt.
Green
is a symbol of Ireland; is a strong trend in the Irish holiday St. Patrick’s Day.
White
is the traditional colour of bridal dresses in Western cultures.
blue-coloured
In China __________ gifts are associated with death
Traditional clothing
is an important part of a region’s history and identity.
Sari
The traditional dress for an Indian woman is a
suit jackets and ties
Men tend not to wear __________in Colombia and the Middle East.
Western Countries
In this country women can wear what they want
Pardha & compulsory
Gulf countries women's have to wear ________ for every women who visits Saudi
Bow
is the customary greeting in Japan
Westerner’s
They always start with a handshake
Most Latinos
They are more accustomed to physical contact. Even people who know each other only slightly may embrace when greeting.
kissing on both cheeks
People from France, Spain, Italy, and Portugal greet friends by
Indian’s
They usually collide their hands for greeting others.
CULTURAL CONFLICTS IN WORK PLACE
It arises because of the difference in value and norms of behaviour from different cultures.
Ethnocentrism
: Inability to accept another cultures world view. Ex: “ my way is the best way”
Discrimination
: Treatment to an individual due to minority status, actual and perceived. Ex: “we just aren't equipped to serve people like that.”
Stereotyping
: Generalizing about a person. Ex: “she’s like that …because she is Asian”
Cultural Blindness
: Differences are ignored and one proceeds though differences did not exist. Ex: ‘there is no need to worry about a persons culture”
Cultural Imposition
: Belief that everyone should conform to majority. Ex: “we know what's best for you, if you don’t like it you can go elsewhere”
Tone Difference
: Formal tone change becomes embarrassing and off-putting in some culture