Communicating Among Different Cultures
Every culture is different so sometimes communicating
with people of different cultures can be challenging. As the world change the
need for intercultural communication is growing, especially within the
workforce. Almost every job ask in their job description if one at least speaks
one language other than their own. We are all individuals, and no two people
belonging to the same culture are guaranteed to respond in exactly the same
way. However, generalizations are valid to the extent that they provide clues
on what you will most likely encounter when dealing with members of a
particular culture (Goman 2001 para. 3). Being able to learn about different
cultures and their language is one of the reasons that I like to travel. My
dream is to someday travel to Paris and spend a month there, particularly in
the country side. I feel that being able to effectively communicate with people
who are of different cultures is a trait of most global citizens, which are people who place their identity of being part of a
global community above that of their identity as a citizen of a particular
nation or place (http://www.buildingpeace.org/forums/how-do-you-define-global-citizenship).
I am sure that I am not the only one who switches up
their communication styles in different situations. In place like work, church,
playground, hair salon, etc.!. I don’t talk the same with my boss as I would do
a family member. Even among family depending on their title the communication is
different. When it comes to communicating with people of cultures I am very
cautious as to what I say, especially if I don’t know their language. There are
so many different dialects if languages, you have to make sure not to offend
the person you are talking to. We had a parents who spoke mostly Spanish one
time, so quite naturally we would call on the help of our translator who spoke
Spanish to help with communicating with her. One day we noticed that she was
frustrated after talking to our translator. After asking her what was wrong she
said she could not understand the Spanish that our translator spoke because it
was not the same dialect. Out parent was from Honduras and our translator was
from Spain. Who would have thought that the difference in their language would
have been so different?
When
I am communicating with someone of a different culture, I also try to find out
as much about where they are from as possible. I am also very flexible when
talking to them so that we both don’t get frustrated trying to understand each
other. I am also respectful to them as I am to everyone that I communicate with.
I also speak as much of their language as I can, along with using nonverbal
language. I talk with my hands naturally so I use my hands as well but always
in a respectful way. It is also a good idea to listen actively and
empathetically. Try to put yourself in the other person's shoes. Especially
when another person's perceptions or ideas are very different from your own,
you might need to operate at the edge of your own comfort zone. I would also recommend
Stop, suspend judgment, and try to look at
the situation as an outsider. Be prepared for a discussion of the past. Use
this as an opportunity to develop an understanding from "the other's"
point of view, rather than getting defensive or impatient. Acknowledge
historical events that have taken place. Be open to learning more about them.
Honest acknowledgment of the mistreatment and oppression that have taken place
on the basis of cultural difference is vital for effective communication
(Dupraw, Axner 1997 p.1). There is a lot to keep in mind when communicating
with people of other cultures, however when we do so it broadens our knowledge.
So the next time that co-worker from a different culture looks lonely during lunch,
go have a seat with them and start a conversation you will be surprised at what
you might learn.
(https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.financialsecurityfirst.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F10%2FMillenialsAndInsurance_LeadPhoto_FinancialSecurityFirst.jpeg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.financialsecurityfirst.com%2Fcategory%2Ftalking-about-my-generation%2F&docid=EhLJOBqJWWaZxM&tbnid=uRqx5-oJGI_7eM%3A&vet=1&w=3000&h=2000&bih=612&biw=1301&q=people%20from%20different%20cultures%20talking&ved=0ahUKEwi9zbCa8OXRAhUJOCYKHRSZCVwQMwhQKCowKg&iact=mrc&uact=8)
References
Dupraw E. Marcelle, Axner, Marya
(1997) Working
on Common
Cross-cultural Communication Challenges retrieved http://www.pbs.org/ampu/crosscult.html
Cross-cultural Communication Challenges retrieved http://www.pbs.org/ampu/crosscult.html
Goman, Carol, Kinsey PHD
Communicating Across Cultures retrieved from https://www.asme.org/engineering-topics/articles/business-communication/communicating-across-cultures
(Picture)
Leah,
ReplyDeleteI, too, enjoy traveling to learn about the world and open myself to different cultures and styles of communication. When traveling abroad, I at times have felt at a disadvantage because in America we typically learn English, with little exposure to other languages unless we specifically try to seek them out. We can also expect individuals in other countries to speak English and adapt to our culture, which I do not believe is appropriate. While traveling in Europe especially I am always in awe of the variety in their language speaking ability, it is not uncommon for Europeans to speak two, three, or more languages; I wish this was the case for myself! They also promote their culture while celebrating it in a beautiful way. I am jealous at their abilities to accept and celebrate so many cultures and speak so many languages. I wish Americans as a whole were more open minded in these areas, instead of assuming cultures and languages should cater to us. Just my opinion! Thank you for sharing this week!
Julie Ringle
Leah,
ReplyDeleteI think it is awesome that you want to travel! I think your idea of stop and suspend judgement is very wise. It is amazing what you can learn about someone when you do not judge. I love your pictures that you include. Thank you for the insight and inspiration.
Ruthanne