India has a unique culture that is rich in social harmony despite social groups being based on gender and financial status. Their communication style emphasizes respect, including indirect statements and proposals rather than direct assertions. Proper greetings and introductions follow certain protocols depending on gender. During meals, hosts and higher status individuals are served first and people are allotted turns to speak. The U.S. emphasizes equality but also has traditional roles, and individuals have more freedom but also social issues. Both cultures ultimately seek universal respect.

1. Cultural Communications
Project-India
By Krystina M. L. Stanley
March, 8th
, of 2015

2. India is a beautiful, spiritual, and universally dynamic culture. It is a unique geographical region
that is rich with eloquent solidarity and unionized harmony within its social groups. While the
national confinement of these social groups is primarily based on gender and financial status, it
does seem to somehow integrate harmony with its sometimes dehumanizing and negative
qualities. Despite the negative qualities which can be found in any region on earth, their
communication style varies minimally throughout the nation and appears to cordially bring
universal respect to others outside of certain segregated groups.
India is the second most populated country in the world. It is culturally rich, yet stricken with
poverty in some areas. Many who have traveled abroad to this nation have witnessed its
interesting concepts including common residential behavior to keep one’s housing interior clean
and even immaculate, while the exterior may remain almost untouched. Cow’s and other animals
are generally free ranged and unconfined to roam in the streets, children are often introduced yet
not encouraged to talk or ask questions until the approximant age of five, and the people of this
nation are very proud and prefer communication by action rather than direct verbal statements.
Despite Hindi being their main form of communication while interacting and corresponding with
others, English is often their secondary language, especially while doing business transactions
with foreigners. Their universal communication lies within their ability to respect others and
others opinions in their often indirect statements, inquiries, and addresses. Their statements,
even in business meetings are generally presented in a proposal type manner rather than a telling
presumptions manner. In similar communication transmissions, they remain highly formal and
find it respectable to use last names to address others as opposed to first names. Depending on
the region and type of relationships developed, a first name basis may be used although not
common in formal interactions.

3. In addition to Indian’s universal respect, yet class driven society, it is important to follow lead of
the main inhibitor who brings forth the gathering. Regardless of the type of gathering, it is
common for men to shake hands with other men to introduce themselves or to bind an
agreement. It may also be appropriate for women to introduce themselves to women in the same
means. However, for opposite genders to shake hands upon greeting or introduction is not quite
as common, and there should be attention and acknowledgement shown to the main group figure
to dictate this type of communication regarding the sexes. Regardless of who may be shaking
hands while introducing themselves or in form of greeting, it is important to always do so with
the right hand.
In regard to gender roles while dinning may take place during interaction, it is again important to
follow lead as to see what is and is not appropriate. During dinning experiences with people of
this culture, it is typical for the host to serve the food and in order of social standing or respect
for that individual. The host may delegate this task to the women in the group, and if they are not
served last, they generally will serve the food to participating individuals and eat once everyone
is done. The host may also delegate this serving task to a guest, however it should be known that
it is taken disrespectfully for one to take it upon themselves to serve their own food or to others.
Serving is always done with the right hand as it is deemed as disrespectful to do otherwise.
During gatherings, everyone is allotted their time to speak and silently take information in, until
gestured for another to include their part in the conversation. In social type gatherings, one may
witness that it is appropriate and appreciated to often remain silent and simply enjoy one’s
presence vs. always conversing and thus breaking the harmony of the visit. Whether it be in
happy events, grievance gatherings, business meetings, or social visits, it is seen as respectful to
include everyone, with the exception of children (other than their introduction) into the

4. conversations. Sometimes it is appropriate to include everyone rather than segregating social
groups within a dominant group by taking them to the side for privet conversation vs. openly
conversation to disperse it properly. Their communication lies in respect and seems to be the
foundation of their ways, although different from the people who inhibit the western part of the
hemisphere.
In comparison and contrast, the United States handles their interactions in similar, yet very
different means in regards to respect. In America, everyone is deemed and encouraged to be
equals. We shake hands with one another upon introduction or greeting, despite our gender.
While we may also carry out traditional gender roles, we are not confined to them. Upon our
dinning experiences, we gradate toward a similar standpoint of what the host dictates, but
entitled to be inclined to do otherwise and if done respectfully. The United States also has areas
in which are poverty stricken, but our richness I believe comes from our democratic view of
respecting others rights to be their own individual; even if causes chaos and destruction, which
can be found in any place in the world. Upon the research conducted, the U.S. and India may be
unique to each other, but similar in various ways. On our way toward unitedness, we find
challenges and difficulties, but ultimately, we both seem to be in search and triumphing for
universal respect toward one another.
While interacting with people of India, please consider the following list of do’s and don’ts:
 Be punctual as it is deemed as a quality of formal and mutual respect
 Do not ask questions in a direct manner, rather purpose them to lead to communication
openness

5.  Do not speak for someone else, not even children, as it should be the right of each individual
to speak for themselves
 Do not touch a Indian on the head, as it is their common belief that the soul resides within
their head
 Leave room for silence, even at length to ensure respect remains mutual amounts a group
 Ensure everyone gets their own time to speak within a group
 Do not gaze at someone who is speaking during the duration of their speech, evening
disperse eye contact, while ensuring the appearance you are reflecting on the transmissions
recieved

6. Bibliography
Bradley Sarah, Santa Clara University, (2010, December 01) More Than I Could Ever Describe
Gender, Culture, India Retrieved From:
http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/focusareas/global_ethics/gender-india.html
Anonymous, The Center for South Asian & Middle Eastern Studies (January, 2012 01)
Professional Travel in India Retrieved From:
http://international.illinois.edu/travel/IndiaCultural%20Competence%20for%20Professional%20
Travel.pdf
Heit Mary, (March, 1987 01) Communnication Styles of Inidan Peoples Retrieved From:
http://cosmicserpent.org/uploads/downloadables/Communication%20Styles%20of%20Indian%2
0People.pdf