Cross-Cultural Communication

ZHANG WEIJIA

1183107

Cross-Cultural Communication

Abstract

Nowadays, many countries in the world will communicate with each other and cross-cultural communication have become increasing frequently. People who have different cultural background and use different languages work in some multinational companies play a huge role in promoting. Cross-Cultural communication is becoming very important in modern society. Because of the people living in different cultural backgrounds, have different faith of religion, personal values and so on, this differences will lead to unnecessary conflicts. Even in the same country, different areas of the people in business communication because of local cultural differences which take intervene to the communication of people. So it is very important for us to have a good understand of the barriers that exist in business communication and to surmount these barriers.

1. What are the barriers to effective cross-cultural communication?

1.1 Language Barriers

In cross-cultural communication language diversity and complexity are the

main cause of communication barriers because different cultures create different languages. Languages have its own unique cultural intensions. In general, the cooperation partners who have language barriers will communicate with each other through some interpreters. However the interpreter in the process of translation sometimes will be make the information translated into different degrees or even distorted, resulting in poor quality of communication or even failure. In some countries people with high implicit expression and situational characteristics. On many occasions is not used clear text or symbol information instead of use body language to communicate a particular scene or by context, when the high context and low context language that also easy to produce communication barriers, if do not solve the organizational communication problems caused by languages and different cultural, will lead to cross-cultural adaptation ability and operating efficiency.

Language is the convey information and feelings, expression of ideas and important tools of communication, but people from different cultural backgrounds and the same the symbolic meanings of cultural symbols are very different. In fact for language translation, it is very difficult to find the corresponding word perfect and even if people use the same language because differences in age, education and cultural background will also affect their language styles and the definition of the meaning of words, which are bound to affect the accuracy of the information exchanges between the both, thus causing misunderstanding. The language problem makes business environment more complex, market operations more difficult.

1.2 Personal Values

Personal values are a comprehensive standard for people to distinguish between good and evil, mainly displays in the people to the moral, the society, the benefit, the religion and other aspects of judgment and trade-offs. But probably you have taken your own cultural identity and values when you was born in your country. So in cross-cultural communication, if we cannot understand personal values of each other, these will lead to a barrier to cross-cultural communication. Differences values are the most difficult to grasp in different countries. As Cassirer (1985) said, As Cahill said, \"The real difference between languages is not in speech or mark difference, but ‘world view’ differences\". Therefore, we should be aware of the personal values of cross-cultural communication have an important impacts on cross-cultural communication.

For example in modern international trade, Chinese like to discuss some business at the dinner table, they hope to treat business partner as a close friend because the Chinese believe that have a good relationship is the key to ensure the success of the business. Chinese always make friends with other people in business communication in order to build a stable relationship with partner. However the Westerners believe that business is a serious thing, should not be subject to any interference. It can also reflect the two different values in different cultural backgrounds.

1.3 Different Modes of Thinking and Different Communication Styles

Different countries, different cultural have different ways of thinking, these will lead to differences in cognitive and communication styles. In the cross-cultural communication, people have to solve a lots of problems, but different ways of thinking perhaps lead to different negotiating styles. Cross-communication is a two-way interactive process, if the communication between different styles, it may bring communication barriers.

The cross-cultural communication barriers between managers and employees is mostly due to the different cognitive level because the enterprise managers and employees of the cultural backgrounds are different that the perception of things and modes of thinking are different. This will lead employees to produce negative ideas, affecting the development of enterprises.

2. How might these be surmounted?

2.1 Respect Differences and Working Together

There is a certain difference between different countries and nationalities in cross-cultural communication which is an objective fact, and it also a prerequisite for cross cultural communication. In order to achieve the success of cross-cultural communication, firstly we should be learn to respect others and treat others sincerely.

Before the cross-cultural communication, the two sides should be understand the differences in each other culture and their own cultural existence, make

psychological preparation in differences and the more detailed the better. What is more, in the process of communication, we can able to adopt as flexible as possible measures for communication to overcome the problems. After we communication with other people, we need to try to summarize the experiences and lessons. What’s more in several communication that we should to explore the relevant communication rules from communication.

2.2 Cultural Empathy

Cultural empathy means that a person to get rid of their own cultural constraints in another culture mode, according to the experience, insight and understanding of another culture. Hogan (1969) proposed empathy has two elements: first, the personal feeling of self-awareness: Second, the recognition of others. In the process of communication, the two sides should be obtain the feedback information from the other immediately, only through empathy obviously, we can determine both the mentality and knowledge structure. Otherwise they would not exchange ideas. Therefore, the cultural empathy plays an important role in cross-cultural communication. In order to ensure the communication between the two parties in different cultural backgrounds can be achieved successful, it is necessary to understand the culture related to the language, but also to consciously carry out cultural empathy. In cross-cultural communication, we should set up immerse yourself into the experience in the cultural atmosphere of each other, and obtain the relevant knowledge. The use of various forms, through various channels, to understand the culture of the other people.

2.3 Correct use of verbal and nonverbal communication

A good language skills can not only make the cross-cultural management successfully communicate with the local people, but also can make the local people treat you as your own. Compared with use translation to communicate with people on cross-cultural communication, which it is a kind of competitive advantage. Although sometimes we cannot familiar with each other’s language, but in the communication of non-verbal communication in the communication activities accounted for 90%, which is an important factor in cross-cultural communication effectively. Therefore, before we communicate, we must know the aspects of language of the other country and non-verbal what is different with your country. We need to pay attention to the use of nonverbal communication carefully, such as the same nonverbal communication may have different meanings in two different cultures and some nonverbal may be meaningless in one culture, but it has significance in another culture.

3. Two Theories of Cross-Cultural Communication

3.1 Face-negotiation theory

Face-negotiation theory was first proposed by Brown and Levinson (1978) to understand how to manage the relationship between people of different cultures and differences.

Goffman, the American sociologist who first systematically explored the face-

negotiation theory, uses the analogy of drama as a way of thinking that people interact with others and always want to make a certain impression on others by means of techniques and skills. The same as the actors during the performance, the use of reasonable performance skills to control the audience's own views. The so-called face, it is the people in the process of communication with others, showing an image of self. The image of self is including two aspects: first \"self-image\" is my image in the eyes of others; second, the \"my image\" can be manipulated. People have a natural tendency to manage and maintain an image of self. People pay more attention to their own face, which is the main psychological factor affecting our daily communication behavior.

In recent years, many scholars are more concerned about the face-negotiation theory proposed by Stella Ting-Toomey (1998), this is a kind of diversified theory. The theory is that the face-negotiation of the construction must be the process of negotiation, success depends on the efforts of the two sides of communication. In the process of communication, communication between the two sides actively construct their own face. At the same time also should be maintain each other face and maintain is complementary. Face-negotiation theory involves many aspects, including intercultural communication, conflict, politeness and \"face saving\". The application of this theory in cross-cultural communication research is the most outstanding. Different types of culture determine different ways of saving face, which determines the different ways of dealing with conflict. Ting-Toomey thought that the face has a negative face and positive face. Negative face means to maintain independence and freedom, individualistic culture is the pursuit of a negative face. Positive face is that we want to be important people like and worship, collectivism

culture is the pursuit of a positive face. Negative faces include \"Face-restoration\" and \"Face-saving.\"

On my experience in China, Chinese pay attention to “to honor somebody.” and to avoid \"to lose face\someone's feelings”. For example, when we are going to speak something, such as asking for, criticizing, or accusing, expressing comfort. In order to take care about both sides of the face and feeling, the Chinese strategy is often agree with your opinion firstly and then said your insufficient that is the so-called \"seek common ground\". In the Chinese culture only noticed yourself and other people's identity and social status, know how to protect others \"face\and the implementation of the speech act of proportion, to harmony, will be considered to be polite.

In additional, sometimes in China he Chinese people in the banquet advised you to eat a little food in order to show hospitality, which is actually a threat to each other's negative face, is reluctant to each other, hinder each other's personal freedom.

3.2 Communication Accommodation Theory

Communication accommodation theory (CAT) is a theory of communication developed by Howard Giles (1988). When people talk with each other, they often imitate each other's speech style and behavior. In general, we communication with people who speak the same language, have similar movements, or even speak the

speed of speech. Of course, we will also respond to other communicators in the same way. If you are talking to someone who has not attended college, you will avoid the use of special terms that are only used in high school or college - for example, during a mid-term or final exam, study, cafeteria, etc. when the conversation interaction, they will adjust the way of speaking, pronunciation and posture to adapt to others. Giles and his colleagues argue that speakers adapt to others for a variety of reasons because some of them want to get approval from the listener, others want to communicate more effectively, and others want positive social identity. But we do not always achieve our goals.

For example, during my studying in Japan, beginning Japanese will suddenly recognize me not their country, but after a period of time when I slowly adapt to the use of their language and imitation behavior will gradually integrate them, and cultural differences will become smaller.

4. What do these theories explain?

Face - negotiation theory has played an important role in the development of intercultural communication research. Face-negotiation theory provides a new perspective for us to better understand intercultural communication and gives us a chance to think about how to solve the communication barrier between different cultures. And it also explains the different definitions of compromise in different cultures.

Communication accommodation theory also has played an important role in

our lives. This theory is used by a large number of studies. In cross-cultural communication, it has been to explain cross-cultural communication behavior in many ways, such as why do we learn from each other in the second language and to use non-verbal express their own views. In additional when people enter a new environment for cross cultural communication, the speed of learning language and understanding of other country cultural can be very rapid.

What do they fail to explain?

An important aspect of the Face - negotiation theory is the study of differences in the differences in face work and conflict resolution styles between individualistic culture and collectivist culture, but the theory cannot fully explain or interpret the cultural differences among them. Some elements of the abstract is too abstract to explain some specific issues.

In communication adaptation theory, Jane Zuengler (1991) believes that over adaptation is used to indicate the speaker in the process of speaking too much to consider, too far. This concept is the expression of people although the behavior is good, but too much of each other, but each other as condescending, but give a person a kind of superior, favors in people's feeling. This cannot be a very good application in cross-cultural communication to solve the problem of language and culture conflict. On my opinion, there is still not enough to explain the degree of communication accommodation.

What are the implications of your insights for cross-cultural

communication in international business organizations?

Because of the difference of culture and national psychology will be affects the management and decision, and this decision than a technical problem in the agreement is more complex in international business activities. The cultural differences between different countries make between different countries. For example in the Sino-US joint venture, the Americans are mainly forced on profits, while the Chinese are interested in market share. In China, collectivism has a very big impact on our lives, but in the United States, individualism is more respected. People who speak different languages with different ways of thinking, have different insights for the world with different eyes, make different decisions in the same thing. Sometimes they seem to be talking about the same things, but actually does not know the true meaning of each other. The rigorous German Americans, flexible, calm the French, enthusiastic The Spaniard, Japanese and so on are elusive and is closely related to their language and cultural background. Therefore, in international business activities not only we need to be master the business rules, but also require to understand how they think about things. So as to be able to strategize in international business activities, invincible.

I think that the use of cross-cultural communication strategies flexibly, will be promote the success of the communication in international business organizations. Business cooperation should be well known with each other. To improve the sensitivity of cultural differences, which will cut down the instability because of cultural differences, so as to increase the behavior with each other. This will make the business communication more smoothly, and increase cooperation

opportunities. The cultivation of cross cultural awareness is important for business activities, with the awareness of intercultural communication, which is not only helps to overcome cultural barriers but also we can able to found that the cause of misunderstanding or opposing each other.

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3. Brown, P., & Levinson, S. C. (1978). Universals in language usage: Politeness phenomena. In Questions and politeness: Strategies in social interaction (pp. 56–311). Cambridge University Press.

4. Zuengler, J., and Bent, B. 1991. \"Relative Knowledge of Content Domain: An Influence on Native-Nonnative Conversations.\"

5. Ting-Toomey, S., & Kurogi, A. (1998). Intercultural conflict styles: A face negotiation theory.

6. Giles, Howard; Henwood, Karen (1988). \"Accommodating the elderly: Invoking and extending a theory\". Language in Society