This document discusses communicating across cultures. It emphasizes that culture is complex, learned, dynamic, and has visible and invisible aspects. Culture influences context, communication styles, views of individualism and time. High context cultures rely more on implicit communication and collectivism, while low context cultures favor explicit communication and individualism. To improve intercultural communication, one must avoid ethnocentrism, bridge cultural gaps through empathy and patience, and adapt to different cultural norms of space, etiquette, trust and habits.

1. Communicating Across Culture

2. The importance of interculturalcommunicationGlobalization of MarketTechnological Advancements Multicultural Work Force

3. Understanding Culture Culture is complex system of values, traits, morals, and customs shared by a society. Culture is a system for creating, sending, storing, and processing information.

4. Characteristics of CultureCulture is learned In western culture, too close means violation. Cultures are inherently logical In Japan, Barbie doll was a failure because of the toothy smile.Culture combines the visible and invisible In Japan, harmony with the environment is importantCulture is dynamic Culture change as a result of migration, disasters, and wars

5. PrototypesMental representations based on general characteristics that are not fixed and rigid, but rather are open to new definition. Dynamic abed may change Based on objective observations. Example Latin businesspeople often talk about their families before getting down to business. This prototype is generally accurate, but it may not universally apply and it may change over time.

6. Dimensions of CultureContext Individualism Communication style Time orientation

7. ContextThe dependence to environment of a situationLow-context cultures depend less on the environment of a situation to convey meaning than do high-context cultures. Low-context cultures: North America, Western EuropeHigh-context cultures: Japan, China, Arab. People in low-context cultures tend to be logical, analytical, and action oriented

8. Explicit and Implicit CommunicationHigh-context/implicit communication culturesLow-context/explicit communication culturesJapaneseArabsLatin AmericansItaliansEnglishFrenchNorth AmericansScandinaviansGermansSwiss Germans

9. IndividualismAn attitude of independence and freedom from control. Members of many low-context cultures value independence and freedom from control. Tradition, ceremony, and social rules are more important in high-context culture

10. IndividualismLow-Context CultureHigh-Context CultureIndividualism Individual action and personal responsibilityCollectivistMembership, group, teamsGroup value, duties, and decision Resist independence

11. Time OrientationNorth American tend to correlate time with productivity, efficiency. In other cultures time may be perceived as an unlimited resource. Westerners value a direct, straightforward communication style. Westerners: sound of words Asian: meaning of wordsCommunication Style

12. Achieving Intercultural SensitivityAvoiding Ethnocentrism: The belief in the superiority of one’s owned race. Bridging the Gap Empathy: trying to see the world through another’s eyes. Saving face: indirectly respect the feelings and dignity of others Patience: tolerance, patient, silent

13. Personal Space in the USAIntimate distance18”Personal distance18” to 4’Social distance4’ to 8’

14. The Barriers of Cross Cultural CommunicationsBody LanguageEtiquetteEstablishing trustReligious BeliefSocial habits

15. Improving Cross-Culture CommunicationImproving Intercultural Proficiency &CommunicationStudy your own culture first. Learn about other culture. Curb ethnocentrism Seek common ground Observe nonverbal cues in your culture Use simple English Adapt to local Preferences