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Business Communication

CHAPTER 2

COMMUNICATING ACROSS CULTURES

BUS 251: WASIK ALI KHAN

COMMUNICATING ACROSS CULTURES

The Growing Importance of Cross-Cultural


Communication
International Businesses
Globalisation
Reasons for interest in cross-cultural communication
International customer needs
More effective employee
Less misinterpretations

Enrich business and personal life

Adapt words, sentences and overall message


Learn about the special problems our language presents

BUS 251: WASIK ALI KHAN

COMMUNICATING ACROSS CULTURES

Dimensions of Cultural Difference


Culture
Collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members
of one category of people from another

Our dominant culture affects everything about us


Even within cultures we have got subcultures

Understanding them will improve interpretive and interaction


skills

BUS 251: WASIK ALI KHAN

COMMUNICATING ACROSS CULTURES

Three Major Factors that Affect Culture


What is the topography of the country you are studying?
What is the countrys history?
What role does religion play in the culture?

Next two sections on physical differences and mental and social


differences
Sensitivity to these dimensions will help you avoid ethnocentrism

BUS 251: WASIK ALI KHAN

COMMUNICATING ACROSS CULTURES

Body Positions and Movement


Differ from culture to culture
Short steps Vs. Long steps
Squatting [Indonesia and Zimbabwe] Vs. Sitting
Head movement to say yes/no
2 fingered sign, Okay sign
Eye Contact
Using left-hand to collect something

BUS 251: WASIK ALI KHAN

COMMUNICATING ACROSS CULTURES

Factors of Human Relationships


Time [Monochronic Vs Polychronic]
Space [Talking face-to-face, Queues]
Odours [body, breath]
Frankness [Low-context Vs High-context]
Social Hierarchy (power distance) [Personal Questions]
Workplace Values
Expression of Emotions

BUS 251: WASIK ALI KHAN

COMMUNICATING ACROSS CULTURES

Problems of Language
Lack of language equivalency

Based on concepts, experiences and views

Difficulties
One word, no corresponding word in another language
Grammatical differences
One word Multiple meaning
Manners of expression We could never be too nice to our customers

Back translating: involves using two translators, one with first-language skills in
one of the languages involved and one with first-language skills in the other
language
If translations are good, then second translation matches the original

BUS 251: WASIK ALI KHAN

COMMUNICATING ACROSS CULTURES

Problems of Language
Difficulties with English
Two-word verbs (Page 39)
Give away, keep on, think up

Slang and colloquialism (Page 40)

BUS 251: WASIK ALI KHAN

COMMUNICATING ACROSS CULTURES

Advice for Communicating Across Cultures


Do Your Research
Know yourself and Your Company
Be Aware and Wary of Stereotypes
Adapt Your English to Your Audience
Be Open to Change

BUS 251: WASIK ALI KHAN

COMMUNICATING ACROSS CULTURES

THANK YOU

BUS 251: WASIK ALI KHAN

COMMUNICATING ACROSS CULTURES

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