Cross Cultural

Communication
 GROUP 8

Nining Afriyanti
Suci Ananda
Fatimah Tuzzahra
Tri Ajeng Nurul Amin
Dina Maryana
Meri Eka Putri
Adinda Maharani
 CULTURE DEFINE
Culture is a group which
shapes a person's values and
identity. cultural identities can
stem from the following
differences: race, ethnicity,
gender, class, religion, country
of origin and geographic region
 COMMUNICATION
Communication is the sending of message from a
source to a receiver with the least possible loss of
meaning.
The speaker sends a messages that is in some
kind of code . The listener decodes the messages
and responds thereby giving the speaker feedback
 Cross Cultural Communication
We communicate the way we do because we are
raised in a particular culture and learn its
language, rules, and norms.

Different cultures (and subcultures) may

have different rules and norms.
Understanding the other's culture
facilitates cross-cultural communication
 Four Fundamental Patterns of
Cultural Differences

What is different ?
1. Communication Style
2. Attitudes toward conflicts
3. Decision making style
4. Approaches to knowing
Blocks to Cultural Communication
Stereotyping
Generalizing
about a person
while ignoring
presence of
individual
differences

Discrimination-differential
treatment of an individual due to
minority status ,actual & percieved
 Cultural imposition-
Tone difference- Belief that everyone
Formal tone change should conform to the
becomes majority.
embarrassing & off-
putting in some
cultures.
Cultural Blindness : Differences are
ignored and one proceed as though
differences did not exist.
 Gestures

US=OK JAPAN = MONEY

RUSSIA = BRAZIL = INSULT

ZERO
 Eye
In some cultures, looking people in the eyes is assumed to
indicate honesty and straightforwardness , in others it is seen
as challenging and rude .

In Arab culture too little eye contact is

regarded as disrespectful .

In English culture certain

amount of eye contact is
necessary but too much makes
people uncomfortable

In South- Asian countries direct

eye contact is regarded
aggressive & rude .
Example of miscommunication based cultural
differences

In some villages in Subang, if

someone wants to invite people to
come to the wedding ceremony,
she/he uses cigarettes as an
invitation.
If someone gets an expensive
cigarette, it means that she/he has to
give much money to the hostess and
vice versa
 Precautions in cross- cultural
communication
1. Slow down
2. Separate question
3. Use easy words
4. Write it down
5. Be supportive
6. Check meaning
7. Avoid Slang
8. Watch the humour
9. Avoid negative question
10. Maintain etiquette
Tips for effective
Cross Cultural
Communication
 1.Slow Down
Even when English is the common
language in a cross cultural situation,
this does not mean you should speak
at normal speed.
Slow down, speak clearly and ensure
your pronunciation is intelligible.
 2.Separate
Questions
Try not to ask double questions such
as, Do you want to carry on or shall
we stop here?
In a cross cultural situation only the
first or second question may have
been comprehended.
Let your listener answer one question
at a time.
 3.Avoid Negative
Many
Questions
cross cultural communication
misunderstandings have been caused by the
use of negative questions and answers.
In English we answer yes if the answer is
affirmative and no if it is negative.
In other cultures a yes or no may only be
indicating whether the questioner is right or
wrong.
For example, the response to Are you not
coming? may be yes, meaning Yes, I am
not coming.
 4.Take Turns
Cross cultural communication is
enhanced through taking turns to talk,
making a point and then listening to
the response.
 5.Write it Down
If you are unsure whether something
has been understood write it down and
check.
This can be useful when using large
figures.
For example, a billion in the USA is
1,000,000,000,000 while in the UK it is
1,000,000,000.
 6.Be Supportive
Effective cross cultural communication
is in essence about being comfortable.
Giving encouragement to those with
weak English gives them confidence,
support and a trust in you.
 7.Check Meanings
When communicating across cultures
never assume the other party has
understood.
Be an active listener.
Summarize what has been said in
order to verify it.
This is a very effective way of ensuring
accurate cross cultural communication
has taken place.
 8.Avoid Slang
Even the most well educated foreigner
will not have a complete knowledge of
slang, idioms and sayings.
The danger is that the words will be
understood but the meaning missed.
 9.Watch the humor
In many cultures business is taken very
seriously.
Professionalism and protocol are constantly
observed.
Many cultures will not appreciate the use of
humor and jokes in the business context.
When using humor think whether it will be
understood in the other culture.
For example, British sarcasm usually has a
negative effect abroad.
 10.Maintain
Etiquette
Many cultures have certain etiquette
when communicating.
It is always a good idea to undertake
some cross cultural awareness
training or at least do some research
on the target culture.
 Conclusion
Cross cultural communication is about
dealing with people from other cultures
in a way that minimizes
misunderstandings and maximizes
your potential to create strong cross
cultural relationships.
The above tips should be seen as a
starting point to greater cross cultural
awareness
By Saranya Vasudevan