INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION:Education, Law and Regulations, Economics

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INDIVIDUAL CULTURAL VARIABLES:Acceptable Dress, Manners >>

Lecture 13

INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

A Concept of Culture

Culture refers to the behavioral characteristic typical of a group this definition implies that

communication, oral and nonverbal within a group also are typical of that group and are unique.

Ethnocentrism: judging other group or countries by the cultural standards, of your group.

Cultural generalizations applicable to an entire national are impossible. Knowing core

characteristics of a country are basic to better international communication.

An Intercultural Communication Model

Studies have long determined that all of us are more comfortable with persons we know and who

hold similar beliefs. Lets look at the figure:

Major cultural overlap: 2

little cultural overlaps

countries might speak

Country 1

same language dress

similarly. Use common

form of address

Country 2

Country 4

Some cultural overlap

Country 4

Core similarities basic human

characteristics common to all of us.

Physical, anatomical traits are

common to humankind regardless of

race or cultural differences, acts of

walking, love of family etc.

An Intercultural Communication Model

United States

Other Cultures

Concern with diversity

Less tolerance for diversity

Tendency to be obsessed with time

time is flexible

Expect answers, quickly to faxes, Fax and E-mail slowly increasing in developing

letters, or email

countries

Few vacation periods

Many vacation days (about 17 in some countries).

Legalistic letter

more informal; a handshake is as good as a letter

Early starting time for work

start working later in the day

An Intercultural Communication Model

United States

Other Cultures

Much use of slang

less use of slang

Prefer deductive: it gets to the point prefer inductive: it is less arrogant

more quickly.

Prefer paragraph headings and visual Prefer bullets or numbers

divisions

Rank is less important

rank is important.

An Intercultural Communication Model

Ethnic diversity within a country plays a part

Before drawing conclusions form cultural data, it is necessary to consider many factors: a single cause rarely

produces a valid conclusion.

An Intercultural Communication Model

National Cultural Variable

While communicating, the message sender and the receiver are both affected by external and internal

stimuli. Communicating with business people in a foreign country you must realize that overall national and

individual cultural differences within the culture further affect these stimuli.

An Intercultural Communication Model

Following are the global or macro constrains and variable that communicators must face when working

with foreign receivers of their messages.

Some National Variables Individual Cultural Variables

Education

Time

Regulation

Space

Economics

Food

Politics

Accepted Dress

Social Norms

Manners

Language

Decision Making

Education

Many managers in foreign countries are not very well educated. Most Asian and Chinese managers have had

a less formal education than American and European managers.

Education levels of Chinese, Asian, and US Mangers

Less than high school

5.4

2.5

0.1

High school graduate

31.8

12.4

3.2

Some college

34.5

19.4

16.9

Undergraduate degree

27.6

65.4

79.8

Postgraduate degree

0.7

25.0

30.0

Education

Before drawing conclusions from date, it is necessary to consider many factors. Percent of managers

recommending specific courses as very impotent preparation for general management.

Course

Asian

China

Oral Communication

79.5%

71.8%

8.6%

Written Communication

78.0

69.7

8.0

1. Attitudes towards education

a. What is the level of education of middle managers?

b. To what degree is education of women supported in the country?

c. Does education constitutes a significant portion of the national budget?

Law and Regulations

In both the developed and developing nations, various government regulations affect business

communications and the sale of products. For example advertising directed at children is restricted in the

United States, Canada, and Scandinavia; also,. Other countries, such as France, Mexico, and the Province of

Quebec, have a restriction on the use of foreign languages in advertisements.

In some Muslim countries fashion magazines are not allowed in many countries, and cosmetic makeup is

also prohibited.

1. Laws and regulations: degree of formality

a. To what extent are the laws of the country codified?

b. Is there uniform enforcement for the laws and regulations of the country?

c. Are the laws and regulations of your country accepted and enforced?

Economics

Availability of capital and transportation and the standard of living per capita vary from nation to nation.

The opportunity to borrow money, the rate of inflation, and the exchange rates influence business and a

country's ability to communicate concerning that business.

In the US free enterprise system, competitors usually set their own prices. In contrast, OPEC (Organization

of Petroleum Exporting Countries), as a Cartel, sets oil prices.

Some Japanese businesses check with the government before initiating major production and trading

changes.

Economics: Past history and projections

a. Which economic changes have occurred within the past 5 years that will affect the future?

b. Is the government supportive of the economic changes occurring?

c. How welcome are outside investors in your host country?

Politics

Even concepts of democracy will vary as interpreted in Korea, the Philippines, or Great Britain. The

sweeping political changes in government will affect future business relations.

The event such as antigovernment demonstrations, arrests, assassinations, elections, exile, general strikes,

guerrilla warfare, government crises, revolutions and riots are important in determining the stability of a

country.

Politics:

a. which political changes have occurred within the past 5 years?

b. how supportive is the government of outside investors? of joint ventures?

c. what are the protocols, the conventions individuals must respect in the host country?

Religion

Be careful of religious beliefs within foreign countries. Although some basic beliefs overlap, there some

major differences In connection with religion there is great need for tolerance. Buddhism, Hinduism, and

Moslem religions are found in many parts of the world, affecting the values (and attire) of people professing

these faiths. For instances, these three religions forbid consumption of alcohol;

Religious holidays affect international communication, interrupting work schedules or delaying responses to

requests

Be aware too that religion can affect the status of women; their positions within an economy and even their

buying patterns and habits of dress.

Religion: Homogeneity and diversity of belief structure

a. Are you aware of the major religious beliefs that could affect your business relationships?

b. will the religious holidays affect your rhythm of conducting business?

c. what personal behavior is acceptable and nonacceptable?

Social Norms

In various ways any national environmental constraints education, law and regulations, economics,

politics, religion affect a nation's social norms. In many countries a male line of the family profoundly

influences some business decisions. Decisions, buying patterns, pooling of resources, special interests

affect behavior and business communication.

Beyond the immediate family a bond may exist between persons, based on caste, class, age, or even special

interests. Be aware of a nation's social norms.

Social Norms: importance of family, influence of past colonial influences:

a. are you aware of the social hierarchies of the country?

b. Is there a rank order of importance for participants at meetings?

c. Who will really make the business decision?

d. Which country's influence is still evident after previous colonial control?

Language

An important constraint that undergirds all the preceding variables is language. Obviously, unless both

sender and receiver understand a common language, the opportunities for successful business

communication are significantly limited.

Language

English is a world language and to a major extent the language of business.

Language problems are often core to communication misunderstanding.

Language: Use of English and other languages used in business relationships:

a. Is it necessary to have an interpreter at business sessions?

b. is English understood at the oral or written level?

c. Is there a protocol to follow for formal and informal communication.

Individual Cultural Variables

He or she exhibits a unique lifestyle of personal habits and ethnic diversity. Thus, within each culture, on

the micro and more personal level, are differences in verbal and nonverbal cues expressed through varying

concepts of time, individual speech, food, acceptable dress, managers at home and at work, decision-making

patterns, and other nonverbal variations.

Time (Chronemics)

Persons in Latin America and the Middle East treat time more casually then do Americans, prefer

promptness. Germans are time-precise. In Latin America and in Buddhist cultures you may wait an

hour; just reflecting a different concept of time; arriving late is a social accepted custom.

Individual Cultural Variables

Even when referring to seasons of a year, countries differ.

It should not take you long to recognize which is the time conscious culture and which is the one less

concerned with precision in time. Knowing cultural perceptions of time helps you understand why some

responses are slow by your standards.

Perceptions of time

a. Is the concept of time considered linear or circular?

b. What impact will time have upon business decisions?

c. Is time considered valuable or an intangible asset?

Individual Cultural Variables

Culture I

Culture II

"Let's get on with it."

"Manana" (tomorrow)

"Time-saving devices".

"Efficient devices".

"In how many minutes can you get here?"

"What will be will be."

"Let's set a phone appointment for 8:15."

"We'll give you a call."

"The future is now."

"The old way is a good way."

"Live for today."

"Traditions should be honored."

"8:15"

"Some time tomorrow"

"You're late."

"Oh? Didn't know I was."

"Dinner at eight."

"See you when we get there."

Individual Cultural Variables

Space (Proxemics)

How close may strangers stand to you?

How do you react in Saudi Arabia when someone's breath intentionally brushes you in conversation?

How do you like being literally pushed into a train in Tokyo?

How would you react hanging onto the outside of a bus in Pakistan?

How do you react to the cold stare of a German as your eyes invade the privacy of his or her yard?

Some cultures consider those who stand close to you as intrusive, rude, pushy, overbearing.

Concepts of office space differ

Perception of space What is the average acceptable personal space between natives of the host country?

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