CultureCulture&&

Effective Effective CommunicationCommunication

Pamela HeatliePamela HeatlieOffice of Institutional EquityOffice of Institutional Equity

University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1061776432653343493&q=intercultural+communication&total=72&start=10&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

Beginning Points• Generalizations, not stereotypes

• Automatic pilot

• Culture clash has emotional impact

• Ethnocentrism - things are right or wrong viewed from the perspective of your culture

• Differences, not better than and worse than

Culture is like an iceberg…

Language and Verbal SymbolsLanguage and Verbal Symbols

Nonverbal SymbolsNonverbal Symbols

Symbolic MeaningsSymbolic Meanings

Cultural NormsCultural Norms

Cultural ValuesCultural Values

Cultural BeliefsCultural Beliefs

Cultural TraditionsCultural Traditions

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UNIVERSAL HUMAN NEEDSUNIVERSAL HUMAN NEEDS

Cultural ArtifactsCultural Artifacts ((e.g., fashion, popular culture)e.g., fashion, popular culture)

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American Culture• Value individual freedom • Value achievement, hard

work and action (and material results)

• Value time• Value equality• Value privacy (but are open)• Value directness• Value informality• Future Oriented

Film Clip

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1061776432653343493&q=intercultural+communication&total=72&start=10&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

Culture is like an iceberg…

Language and Verbal SymbolsLanguage and Verbal Symbols

Nonverbal SymbolsNonverbal Symbols

Cultural ArtifactsCultural Artifacts ((e.g., fashion, popular culture)e.g., fashion, popular culture)

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Are you speaking English or are you speaking English?

Moving down the iceberg…

Language and Verbal SymbolsLanguage and Verbal Symbols

Nonverbal SymbolsNonverbal Symbols

Symbolic MeaningsSymbolic Meanings

Cultural NormsCultural Norms

Cultural ValuesCultural Values

Cultural BeliefsCultural Beliefs

Cultural TraditionsCultural Traditions

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UNIVERSAL HUMAN NEEDSUNIVERSAL HUMAN NEEDS

Cultural ArtifactsCultural Artifacts ((e.g., fashion, popular culture)e.g., fashion, popular culture)

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Collectivism ↔ IndividualismExtended Family Nuclear Family

Cooperation Competition

Equal Distribution of Rewards

Individual Rewards

Group Belongingness Individual Privacy

Confirming and Interdependent

Unique and Independent

Group Goals Personal Goals

Group Oriented Self-Oriented

Group Unity and Harmony Individual Autonomy

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2098296093114652442&q=intercultural+communication&total=72&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=4

Emphasis on Collectivism

↕

Emphasis on Individualism

China

Countries in the Middle East

Countries in South America

Ethiopia

Greece and Portugal

Finland

France

Scandanavian Countries

Australia

United States

High Context ↔ Low ContextHigh Orientation to In-Groups Low In-Group/Out-Group Distinction

Relies Heavily on Nonverbal Communication

Relies More on Verbal Communication

Discussion Very Wide Ranging Discussion More Task Focused

Emphasize Relationships and Processes

Emphasizes Practical Outcomes

Supportive Relationships Common Individual Self-Reliance Common

Open and Flexible Time Highly Organized Time

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-949673987039303775&q=intercultural+communication&total=72&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=8

High Context

↕

Low Context

Japan

Countries in the Middle East

Greece

Spain

Italy

England

France

US/Canada

Scandinavian Countries

Germany

How loud do you talk?

Proxemics

To interrupt or to not interrupt

Achieved v. Ascribed Status

Time

Expressing Emotions

Touch

Symbolic Meaning

Eye Contact

The The 8 8 HabitsHabits of of Interculturally Competent CommunicatorsInterculturally Competent Communicators

• Be aware that what you understood may not be what was meantBe aware that what you understood may not be what was meant• Try not to assume sameness, especially when you share a Try not to assume sameness, especially when you share a

languagelanguage• What you think of as “normal behavior” maybe only be culturalWhat you think of as “normal behavior” maybe only be cultural• be aware that familiar behaviors may have different meaningsbe aware that familiar behaviors may have different meanings• It’s okay not to feel good about “different” behavior, but try to It’s okay not to feel good about “different” behavior, but try to

understand where it comes fromunderstand where it comes from• Keep in mind that people from other cultures are not acting a Keep in mind that people from other cultures are not acting a

certain way just to make you mad. Most people behave rationally; certain way just to make you mad. Most people behave rationally; you just have to discover the rationale. you just have to discover the rationale.

• If you know that you’re going to be interacting with another If you know that you’re going to be interacting with another culture, try to learn as much as you can about what makes up that culture, try to learn as much as you can about what makes up that culture’s iceberg.culture’s iceberg.

• Allow yourself (and others) to make mistakesAllow yourself (and others) to make mistakes

Questions?