CROSSCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

What I say is this, and this I do not say to all Englishmen. God made us different, you and I, and your fathers and my fathers. For one thing, we have not the same notions of honesty and speaking the truth. That is not our fault, because we are made so. And look now what you do? You come and judge us by your own standards of morality. You are, of course, too hard on us. And again I tell you

you are great fools in this matter. Who are we to have your morals, or you to have ours?

—Rudyard Kipling,

East and West

Before you look at any culture in particular, it is helpful to understand what culture in general is and how it works.

The central focus here is on the relationship between culture in the abstract—the underlying values and assumptions of a society—and culture in the flesh—the specific behaviors that derive from those values.

(Culture is the shared set of assumptions, values, and beliefs of a group of people by which hey organize their common life. —Gary Wederspahn)

 

It is important to understand that what people do and say in a particular culture, is not spontaneous, but is consistent with what people in that culture value and believe in.

By knowing people’s values and beliefs, you can come to expect and predict their behavior. Once foreign country people are no longer shocking you with their actions and once you are no longer simply reacting to their actions, you are well on your way to successful cultural adjustment.

(Culture is the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one group from another. —Geert Hofstede )

 

Moreover, once you accept that people behave the way they do for a reason, whatever you may think of that reason, you can go beyond simply reacting to that behavior and figure out how to deal with it.

Knowing where foreign country behavior is coming from doesn’t mean that you have to like or accept it, but it should mean that you’re no longer surprised by it—and that is a considerable step toward successful interaction.

Every culture has its visible and invisible features.

 

facial expressions

notions of modesty

religious beliefs

foods

religious rituals

eating habits

importance of time

understanding of the natural world

paintings

concept of self

values

work ethic

literature

concept of beauty

childraising beliefs

music

concept of leadership

styles of dress

gestures

general world view

holiday customs

concept of personal space

concept of fairness

rules of social etiquette

nature of friendship

 

You can see that there is a relationship between those items. In most cases, the invisible aspects of culture influence or cause the visible ones. Religious beliefs, for example, are clearly manifested in certain holiday customs,and notions of modesty affect styles of dress.

(Culture is the outward expression of a unifying and consistent vision brought by a particular community to its confrontation with such core issues as the origins of the cosmos, the harsh unpredictability of the natural environment, the nature of society, and humankind’s place in the order of things. —Edward Hall)

 

Culture is only one category or dimension of human behavior, and it is therefore important to see it in relation to the other two dimensions: the universal and the personal.

The three can be distinguished as follows:

· universal refers to ways in which all people in all groups are the same

· cultural refers to what a particular group of people have in common with each other and how they are different from every other group

· personal describes the ways in which each one of us is different from everyone else, including those in our group

These are two important points for you to remember:

1.Because of universal behavior, not everything about people in a new culture is going to be different; some of what you already know about human behavior is going to apply in your host

country.

2.Because of personal behavior, not everything you learn about your host culture is going to apply in equal measure, or at all, to every individual in that culture.

 

Here is a list of behaviors. Point out which behavior is universal, cultural, or personal.

1.Sleeping with a bedroom window open.

2.Running from a dangerous animal.

3.Considering snakes to be “evil.”

4.Men opening doors for women.

5.Respecting older people.

6.Liking spicy food.

7.Preferring playing soccer to reading a book.

8.Eating regularly.

9.Eating with knife, fork, and spoon.

10.Being wary of strangers.

11.Calling a waiter with a hissing sound.

12.Regretting being the cause of an accident.

13.Feeling sad at the death of your mother.

14.Wearing white mourning robes for 30 days after the death of your mother.

15.Not liking wearing mourning robes for 30 days after the death of your mother.

The differences between universal, cultural, and personal behaviors occur in all cultures. Try to find examples of each in your own country.

FUNDAMENTALS OF CULTURE

Culture is a complex concept, with numerous dimensions and facets. The four most important, the building blocks of culture:

 

I THE CONCEPT OF THE SELF

II PERSONAL VS. SOCIETAL OBLIGATIONS

III THE CONCEPT OF TIME

IV THE LOCUS OF CONTROL

The most significant ways in which cultures differ are in how they view and react to these four concepts. Not everything people do can be explained through them, but because they are so fundamental, they are often the source of or ultimate reason behind a wide range of thought and behavior. They give you a structure for thinking about and analyzing culture that can help you explain why host country people think and behave the way they do, and why you think and behave the way you do.

The first of the four fundamentals of culture: the concept of the self. The two poles of this concept, individualism and collectivism

Individualist—

The individual identifies primarily with self, with the needs of the individual being satisfied before those of the group. Looking after and taking care of oneself, being self-sufficient, guarantees the well being of the group. Independence and self-reliance are greatly stressed and valued. In general, people tend to distance themselves psychologically and emotionally from each other. One may choose to join groups, but group membership is not essential to one’s identity or success. Individualist characteristics are often associated with men and people in urban settings.

Collectivist—

One’s identity is in large part a function of one’s membership and role in a group, e.g., the family or work team. The survival and success of the group ensures the well-being of the individual, so that by considering the needs and feelings of others, one protects oneself. Harmony and the interdependence of group members are stressed and valued. Group members are relatively close psychologically and emotionally, but distant toward nongroup members. Collectivist characteristics are often associated with women and people in rural settings.

Now look at the list of behaviors or characteristics given below. If you decide the statement is more likely to apply to people living in an individualist culture, write “I” in the underlined blank space; if you think it is characteristic of a collectivist culture, write “C.”