Cross Cultural

Communication: Perceptions,

Perspectives, and

Assumptions in our World

2017

Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistants Training

Leyah Bergman Lanier, Ph.D.

Words Give Meaning to

People

Culture Gives Meaning to

Words

It’s true even in the Animal World

Culture: Context and Meaning

“One of the functions of culture is to provide a highly selective screen between man and the outside world. In its many forms, culture therefore designates what we pay attention to and what we ignore. This screening function provides structure for the world and protects the nervous system from ‘information overload.’”

– Beyond Culture

Edward T. Hall

Anchor Books, 1977

What you see is how you

interpret the world around you

Defining Terms

Perception

Perspective

Expectation

Assumption

Assumptions of Similarity

Experience

Or, is it just a matter of Perspective?

How Many?

The Cultural Being

Organizations

Goals

Science

Politics

ReligionSuperstitions

Emotions

Language

Attitudes

Knowledge

Beliefs

Customs

Communication

7% Words Used (WHAT is said)

38% Tone of Voice (HOW it is said)

55% Non-Verbal (What is NOT said)

Nature of Language

Language and Emotion

Language and Perception

Language and Non-verbal

Language and Values

Cultural ValuesValue Low Context High Context

Self Concept Individualistic Group/Family

Personal Conduct Self-sufficient Dependent on Group

Humans/nature Humans in charge Humans adapt to environment

Time Fast moving – Future oriented Slow moving – past and present oriented

Achievement Individual effort

Competitive

Fate decides

Cooperative

Status All equal – more or less -egalitarian

Structured - hierarchical

What you see is what you get…..or is it

really?

Symbolic Interaction –What do we do?

More of the Iceberg

Cultural DifferencesLow Context High Context

Extremely valuable commodity, not to be wasted (especially on unproductive things)

Patience is not a virtue

1.

Time

Unlimited. To be used as needed and in terms of however long it takes.

Patience is a virtue.

Strong task orientation.

High value placed on task completion, even at cost of social cohesion.

2.

Task

Strong social cohesion orientation. Value is placed on task, but task accomplishment should be enjoyable and not at cost of group harmony

People are equal and should be treated as equals. Strong egalitarian ethic.

3.

Equality

People are not inherently equal and should be treated according to their rank and station in life.

Cultural Differences

Low Context High Context

Strong emphasis on the individual moreso the group. Individual identity

4.

Individualism

Strong emphasis on the group, group harmony.

Group identity

Open, direct, frank, informal 5. Communication

Indirect, polite, circuitous, formal

Frank, confrontational, direct person-to-person

6.

Problem-Solving

Non-confrontational, indirect, third party mediation

Merit-based, individual accomplishment

7.

Achievement

Ascriptive (e.g., age, race, family background, gender)

Cultural Differences

Low Context High Context

Based mainly on occupation 8.

Status

Based on family background, race, gender

Can be openly displayed 9.

Emotion

Reserved. Can not be openly displayed

Analytical, linear, logical 10. Learning Style

Holistic, intuitive

Prepared by R. Michael Paige, Ph.D.

May, 1990

Moving from Challenge to Ease:

The Adjustment Cycle