Cross-cultural Communication

1. Cross-cultural Communication Lingnan College Professor Hartman

2. Focus on Key Competencies for Intercultural Communication

3. What is Culture?One Definition Values and perspectives shared by people who are conditioned by similar education and life experience

4. What is Culture?Key Characteristics • Culture is not inherent, but learned • Culture is rooted in deep-seated beliefs • Culture is the basis for self-identity and community • Culture is dynamic

5. Culture Can EncompassVariety of Experiences Culture Region Country Area Community Business Industry Company Department Group School Club

6. Individualism and collectivism High context and low context Perception of space Perception of time Importance of hierarchies Nature of change Perception of gender roles Criteria for/definitions of success Nature of authority Nature of humor Cultures Differ on Values and Perceptions

7. Cultures Differ on Communications Practices • Emphasis on task or relationship-building • Role of written communication • Role of meetings • Patterns of reasoning and argumentation • Level of formality in interpersonal communication • Oral presentation style

8. Observe Nonverbal Communication Behaviors • Eye contact • Facial expressions • Gestures • Showing anger • Space and spatial zones

9. Cultures May Be Classified asLow Context or High Context

10. Follow Culturally Responsive Strategies Knowledge of other culture Allow/Induce counterpart to follow own cultural script Improvise creatively High Counterpart Embrace counterpart’s cultural script Use mediator Low Knowledge of other culture Low High Self

11. Approach Cross Cultural Communication Openly • Avoid ethnocentrism • Look beyond stereotypes • Seek common ground • Observe non-verbal cues • Study your own and other cultures