The document discusses cross-cultural communication and conflict, comparing communication styles between the United States and Mexico, such as differences in nonverbal communication practices and the importance of group decision making in Mexican culture versus individual decision making in U.S. culture. Ethnocentrism and how culture affects the communication process in international business are examined, along with strategies for improving cross-cultural communication like increasing cultural awareness and speaking slowly.

1. Cross-Culture Communication
Conflict
ENG 310 Advanced Interpersonal Communication
California College San Diego
Aaron Ephraim
Elizabeth Sanchez

2. What is Cross-Culture Communication?
• A study about how people from differing cultural
backgrounds communicate.
(Best-Career-Match.com, 2008)

3. Cross-Cultural Communication Comparison.
United States Mexico
(Individualism) (Collectivism)
• Loose • Strong
• Personal freedom is • Societal norms is
valued valued
• individual decision • Group decision-making
making (Hofstede, (Hofstede, 1980).
1980).

4. Cross-Culture • http://www.youtube.com
Communication /watch?v=P8t8DCSP020
Conflict
Ethnocentrism:
• The process of
judging another
culture using the
standards of your
own culture (West &
Turner, 2006).
• A belief in the
superiority of your
own culture (West &
Turner, 2006).

5. Nonverbal Communication Practices
Mexico United States
• Mexico is a touching • United States mostly
culture, more so than limits business touching
most cultures. to handshakes.
• In Mexico back- • U.S. people tend to
patting, greeting hugs, slouch more, but
handshakes using both slouching in Mexico is a
arms are common sign of boredom and
during business disconnection.
relations.

6. The Conflict
Culture directly affects the communication process in
an international business setting through seven
variables:
• Language
• Environmental and technological considerations
• Social organization
• Contexting and face-saving
• Authority conception
• Nonverbal communication behavior
• Time conception
(Reference for business 2012)

7. Strategies to Increase Cross-Cultural
Communication
• Knowledge of cultural diversity
• Awareness of cultures
• Tolerance
• Simplicity
• Slow down & speak slowly and annunciate clearly
• Don't jump to conclusions, listen and then
summarize what you believe the speaker has said.

8. References
• West, R., & Turner, H. L. (2006). Understanding
Interpersonal Communication– Making Choices in
Changing Times. Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing.
• N., A. (2012). Cross-cultural international
communication. Retrieved from
http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/encyclopedi
a/Cos-Des/Cross-Cultural-International-
Communication.html