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Coping with cultural filters. 1. Cultural Misconceptions. People are basically like me Others lack my advantages Differences don’t really matter, they get ironed out No probs, I speak the ‘lingo’ Everyone can see how sincere I am They have to respect my knowledge
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1. Cultural Misconceptions • People are basically like me • Others lack my advantages • Differences don’t really matter, they get ironed out • No probs, I speak the ‘lingo’ • Everyone can see how sincere I am • They have to respect my knowledge • We’re all interested in the bottom line
Areas of Misunderstandings • The way men relate to women and vv • The way people indicate ‘respect’ • The cultural view of time and space • The taboos • The way business commitments are made • Nonverbal cues • Language and translation • Dress • How people handle ‘persuasion’ • Religious and political influences on business • Prejudices they may have against you.
Categories of Cultural Difference (1) • Greetings • Visiting private homes • Public speaking • Meetings • Gestures • Personal Appearance • Attitudes (to nature, to expressing emotions etc
Categories of Cultural Difference (2) • Language • Religions • Special holidays • The family • Dating and Marriage • Social and economic levels • Distribution of group
Categories of Cultural Difference (3) • Work • Diet • Free time activities • History and government • Education • Transportation and communication • Health • Land and climate • Universal signals and nonverbal cues
What to do (1) • Find out about the target culture • Talk to people with experience • Study the language
What to do (2) • Remember those parameters! • Think about how communication might be when the interlocutor is from : • A high-context or low-context culture • A specific or a diffuse culture • An affective or a neutral culture
Communicating: What to do (3) • Avoid slang and idioms • Slow down your speech • Be an active listener • Check for comprehension
Audience, audience audience • Remember to focus on your audience • Remember it is the audience who gives meaning to your message • Design your messages and choose your format based on what you know about your audience
Writing • Write or call? • Translate or interpret? • Low-context or high-context?
Your Assignment • Present us with an analysis of underlying culturally-based parameters that determine communication in x country • Present us with advice and strategies for how to communicate with x culture