What communication is done between people from different cultural backgrounds?

The business environment of the 21st century is expanding to include people from cultures and countries around the world. It takes special skills to communicate across these many cultures. Your courtesy and respect help establish a good foundation for effective communication. People respond to courtesy and feel comfortable when they know they have your respect. This helps them to be open and willing to ask questions when they don't understand something. By making people feel comfortable, you help them to be better listeners.

1. Slow down when you speak. Allow those who don't have the same native language as you the time to interpret what you are saying.

2. Speak clearly and concisely. Make eye contact and enunciate plainly. Avoid using ambiguous or dual-meaning words. One of the problems non-native-English-speaking cultures have with the English language is misunderstanding the many meanings one word can have.

3. Keep it simple. Think in terms of your audience, and speak to their understanding. Don't make long speeches that lose your group. Allow listeners the time to soak in what you have said. Pay attention to your audience and be an active speaker and listener. You can ascertain a group's grasp of your communication by their response to your words.

4. Maintain respect and courtesy for people who come from different cultures. When you respect the people you communicate with, this helps reduce the stress they feel when trying to understand what you are saying. Doing basic research on specific ways to interact with the cultures you will be coming into contact with is a great way to show your multi-cultural group that you respect them.

5. Smile and be open. Your body language communicates your acceptance -- or non-acceptance -- and respect, as it helps put listeners at ease. Your body language conveys unspoken communication. Avoid large gestures with your hands, as this can be intimidating to people who might misunderstand your meaning. Keeping your arms crossed often makes people think you are not open to what they have to say.

6. Avoid slang. Slang words are unique to individual cultures and not always interpreted correctly. To ensure effective cross-cultural communication, don't use slang words others might not know.

7. Shun humor. What is funny in one culture might not be in another. Humor might be misunderstood and interpreted in a bad light. While humor is a good icebreaker, it can backfire when the cross-cultural group misses humor's meaning. When in doubt, avoid using humor when communicating with people from many cultures.

8. Adopt a formal communication approach until you develop a rapport with your group. A casual, informal approach can be upsetting to people from different cultures, especially when you have just met them. Use a respectful and formal mode of speech until you have developed a relationship with your cross-cultural group.

9. Stay away from using negative questions or answers. Double negatives are confusing enough to those with English as their native language. In a cross-cultural situation, double negatives are easily misunderstood. Keep questions and answers simple so everyone understands.

10. Ask for feedback. Request members of the cross-cultural group to speak up and provide interaction or ask questions. When you permit two-way communication, this helps prevent misunderstandings and clears up questions people might have.

11. Summarize what you have said. Don't assume that just because you said it everyone understands. Repeat what you have said in a different way, summarize it and allow people the time to grasp what you have said. By summarizing what you have said, you can verify that everyone is on the same page.

    Misunderstandings are common between native speakers of the same language, Imagine what more it will cause to people with different language or cultural group. With continuous globalization, these kinds of problems may arise. That is why cross-cultural knowledge is now becoming a must. So, here we will discuss 4 important keys to effective cross cultural communication:

    

    RESPECT

    Respect is the first key to effective communication. Etiquette and good manners should never be forgotten. Do not be selective on who you give your regards to. This means that you should be respectful to everyone not just to people who you perceive as having a higher status than you. Keep in mind that we have different cultural values than others, but basic values of respect are universal. Just put yourself in their shoes and think how you would like to be treated in that situation and you’ll do just fine.

    AWARENESS

    Each culture greatly influences the way people think, see, speak, listen and understand. Even in the way they act, cultural values plays a big part. It is a huge advantage for you if you know a second language because it will be easier for you to understand that individual who belongs to a certain cultural group. If not, at least try to make an effort to learn their culture as much as you can. Our cultural differences plays a big role in this part. Some expressions and gestures differs from one cultural group to another. Some gestures we are accustomed to may be insulting to others. For example, many nationalities view eye contact as a sign of respect when talking to someone but for some it is not that important. Many differences like these may cause conflict especially in our workplace. That’s why it would be better if we understand how to manage these differences.

    LISTEN

    Hearing is not listening. When you listen, you have the intention or the conscious effort to process the meaning of the words that is being said to you. By doing this, you give the person you are talking to, the time for him to finish what he or she needs to say before you begin.

    But it is also important to listen to him/her with an open mind. Keep his/her cultural background in mind. Does he/she mean what he/she says exactly or not. Most English speaking countries tend to be more specific and direct, these are called low-context communicators, while some are high-context communicators which tends to be more elaborate. It is better to be mindful of the non-verbal gestures or cues from high context communicators to effectively understand them.

    ACCEPTANCE

    Sometimes it is not enough to listen to someone. It is much better if you comprehend what they really mean. And accept the fact that we have cultural dissimilarity. If we accept these differences, the more we will be able to communicate to them properly. Many global leaders use interpreters when dealing with other nationalities but the potential for misunderstanding grows. That’s why adapting to this challenge is necessary. Cross cultural knowledge is essential to anyone’s growth and success. Accept that cultural disparity are not barriers, just challenges that we have to welcome and find ways to work with.

    So, those are the 4 keys on effective cross-cultural communication. Remember those tips to guide you on resolving cultural conflicts, issues and problems. But remember, this does not stop in just learning a new language, it is a continuous acquisition of knowledge and skills in making good relationship to members of other cultural groups.

    At English Express and other Crystal Learning language schools, we see language, first of all, as a tool.

    Every small improvement makes a difference immediately. You may never be perfect, and that’s ok. Even native speakers make mistakes. But as you become more confident in your ability to communicate in English, you’ll see the benefits.

    We strongly believe that confidence is built through doing. That’s why our teachers will always encourage you to take the next step. Speak out, and try to speak out faster.

    Practice and application are more important. To improve your conversational skills in English, you need to “do more” and “understand less”. That’s why we focus on practical topics that you can apply at the office the next day.

    What is cultural background in communication?

    The culture in which individuals are socialized influences the way they communicate, and the way individuals communicate can change the culture. Culture provides its members with an implicit knowledge about how to behave in different situations and how to interpret others' behavior in such situations.

    Is the communication between people from different cultures?

    Intercultural communication is a discipline that studies communication across different cultures and social groups, or how culture affects communication.

    What communication techniques could you use when communicating with different cultural groups?

    Published by: LifeWorks, 1st April 2021.

    Use clear language. When you are communicating with a culturally diverse audience, keep your language clear, concise, and straightforward. ... .

    Understand differences in body language. ... .

    Practise reflective listening or paraphrasing. ... .

    Be open and inclusive of other cultures..

    What are the 4 cultural styles of communication?

    There are four basic communication styles: passive, aggressive, passive-aggressive and assertive. It's important to understand each communication style, and why individuals use them.