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Understanding Cultural Differences: Germans, French, and Americans

This book explores the cultural differences between Germans, French, and Americans and provides insights to help American executives maximize success. It includes interviews with business people, writers, artists, and teachers, offering a comprehensive understanding of the three elements of the communicative process in culture: words, material things, and behavior.

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Understanding Cultural Differences: Germans, French, and Americans

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  1. Understanding Cultural Differences-Germans, French and AmericansEdward T. Hall & Mildred Reed Hall,1990 • Goal: intern. understanding & maximizing success for American executives • Research: interviews w/ buss. ppl, writers, artists, teachers

  2. The Three Elements of the communicative process in culture • Words • Material Things • Behavior • A “silent language”

  3. Culture is… • “a giant, extraordinarily complex, subtle computer” • Its programs guide actions • What causes system breakdown

  4. A few of the key concepts underlying culture…

  5. Fast and Slow Messages • = the speed at which a message can be decoded & acted on • See examples on handout • Applications to building relationships

  6. Context • Context= elements that contribute to producing a meaning; they differ in proportion depending on culture • Effective communication=knowing the degree of info(contexting) needed

  7. High & Low Context • H.C.=extensive information networks -> little need for background info • (Japanese, Arab & Mediterranean ppl.) • L.C.=compartmentalized relationships cause need for background info • (Germans, Swiss & Americans)

  8. Context shifting • Any shift in level of context is a communication: upscale=warming, downscale=cooling

  9. Monochronic vs. Polychronic • See handout • Both Germans & Americans=monochronic

  10. While both monochronic…. • Germans & Americans differ in relation to TIME • Germans: precise scheduling, slow pace • & Attention to detail & preoccupation w/ past (see quote on handout)

  11. ACHTUNG! • Grosse Generalizations komming…

  12. Americans from the German PerspectiveNegatives • Overly familiar, intrusive • Naïve (historically & politically) • Poorly educated, narrow-minded • Undisciplined, lacking taste • Shallow & over-confident • Needing ‘hand-holding’ in buss.

  13. Americans fr. the German PerspectivePositives • Friendly • Resourceful, energetic, innovative • Happier, more productive, greater freedom than most • Resilient • Amer. Society: great opportunity for success & upward mobility

  14. Germans from the American Perspective • Disciplined, well-educated • Neat, orderly • Systematic, well-organized • Reserved, private • Tough competitors

  15. Usefullness of this book? • If you’re an untravelled Amer. Buss. executive living in the 1990’s, this book may be for you… • Provides a cultural short hand for American businesspple (behaviors to enact & avoid to improve your bottom line!)

  16. For our students?? • For our students??--a more nuanced approach (that avoids saying “the Germans are…” would be better • But some cultural concepts (e.g.,high & low context) could be helpful

  17. Too conclude:a few mind-expanding quotes • “Until now [the publication of this book] there has been no way to translate behavior from one culture to another” (xix) • “Few people realize that space is perceived by all the senses, not by vision alone” (11) • “…Germans do not smile when introduced. Smiling is for friends” (39)

  18. Jennie vs. the Point of Power • After thirty years of avoidance, Jennie completes her first power point. She is not sure if she’s happy about it… • If she wants to continue down this dark & treacherous path, she will have to give in & get a tutorial…

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