Cultural Communication

We communicate with others all the time whether its in our homes or workplace. No matter how well we think we understand each other, communication can sometimes be difficult. Cultural differences are often the cause of communication challenges. Our culture influences how we approach problems and how we participate in groups. When we participate in groups we are often surprised at how differently people approach problems.

Effective communication with people of different cultures can be challenging. Cultures provide people with ways of thinking, seeing, hearing, and interpreting the world. The same words can mean different things to people from different cultures, even when they speak the same language. Culture is not only ethnicity, it also includes groups we join or become part of. For example, someone can acquire a new culture by moving to a new region or by a change in economic status.

Every culture has its own rules regarding proper behavior that can affect verbal and nonverbal communication. Some of the rules may include whether one looks the other person in the eye-or not, says what they mean or talks around the issue, and how close they people stand to one another when they are talking. These are just a few examples of politeness and differ from culture to culture.

The way people communicate varies widely between cultures. One aspect of communication style is language usage. Across cultures, some words and phrases are used in different ways. For example, even in countries that share the English language, the meaning of "yes" varies from "maybe, I'll consider it" to "definitely so".

Another major aspect of communication style is the degree of importance given to non-verbal communication. Non-verbal communication includes not only facial expressions and gestures, but it also involves seating arrangements, personal distance, and sense of time. Additionally, different norms regarding the appropriate degree of assertiveness in communicating can add to cultural misunderstandings. For example, some white Americans typically consider raised voices to be a sign that a fight has begun, while some black, Jewish and Italian Americans often feel that an increase in volume is a sign of an exciting conversation among friends. Therefore, some white Americans may react with greater alarm to a loud discussion than would members of some American ethnic or non-white racial groups

Different cultures also display of emotions differently. Some cultures get very emotional when they are debating an issue. They may yell, cry, or display anger, fear, frustration, and other feelings openly. Other cultures may try to keep their emotions hidden. Some cultures do not think it is appropriate to be open about emotions, the reasons behind a conflict, or personal information. As a professional, it is important to keep this in mind when engaged in a dialogue or when working with others. Professional